Hello everyone.

New heading picture this week, Chuffers Pat and Colin. I'm moving  the castles down to be part of the post - which will continue below.

Last post it was this castle in Carmarthenshire. Some may have identified it - Dryslwyn:

 

In 1287 the castle was laid to siege and wrecked by the English in just two weeks. I guess the outcome may have been different had there been an Italian referee overseeing the action - but we wont dwell on that...

 

How many can identify this weeks castle? (it's in Pembrokeshire)

 

 

 

Got a mixed bag for Chuffers this week. We are still in isolation mode, but nevertheless we have managed to do a little bit between ourselves.

Kicking off with my efforts out in the wilds of Pentrecagal, I have managed a passable image of Login in N gauge ready for the new Museum layout. It's representational, so not all that accurate. Trying to model in 3mm was bad enough, but dropping down to 2mm... admiration for Colin increases in leaps and bounds.

The idea is to have pictorial displays of the stations on the wall above each one, and more details of the area below, possibly with brochures etc advertising the products/attractions available in the area around each station. All to be discussed when the Society can next meet.

Moving on. I mentioned Colin and N gauge - the two are synonymous, we think of N gauge, and automatically Colin pops up.

On his home layout, he has a turntable:

Perfect, you would think. But oh no... It's not prototypical. There are no alignment stops, which the GWR had on their turntables. So, Colin makes them... (less than half an inch wide)

By the side of the turntable a grounded carriage has appeared to do duty as a workmans mess room:

And to improve the running of a couple of his Grange class locomotives (which he had converted from Graham Farish Hall class engines), he added electrical pickups to the tenders.

The locos ( well, one of them ) at quite a busy time at the station:

And turning it bottoms up to reveal its nether regions ( I do apologise ) here we have the extra pick-ups exposed:

What can one say?

(Going back to that station, I don't know where in Colins N gauge world it is situated, but three tender loco trains departing from a branch line terminus... Doctor Beeching and Co missed that one, thats for sure.)

To finish off, we pay a visit to Chessboard Hotel and station, and the annual Classic Car Show.

To add to the attractions, the Chessboard Railway Heritage Society arranged for a  visit of a replica 'Stephenson's Rocket' to make a surprise visit:

As well as the coaching stock, the train also included an open carriage with the passengers entering into the spirit of the occasion and dressing the part.

The Rocket steamed down to the end of the short heritage line:

And then trundled backwards through the tunnel to the Heritage Society's sidings and workshop.

All in all a great day was had by all.

I think that must be about it for this post, apart from extending a welcome to an honorary Chuffer across the pond in one of our far flung Dominions Canada. Hopefully we will get some pics of his layout to grace our pages. Who knows.

Cheerio,

Shaun.