Drws-y-coed copper mine railway

Where next?

2011-10-18T22:37:00.002+01:00

Its been a very long time since I have posted anything on here and many things have changed. The NVT has changed format and will be going back to the couple of small Hunslets idea, as a joint project with my Father at some point in the future, but for now all work on it is on hold. However thats not the end of my 0-14 modelling, I have my new scheme, "The Clun Light Railway" which is, or was well on its way. Link here: http://clun-light-railway.blogspot.com/ Things where going so well, untill I got injured. A broken neck stuffs things up. That and university and other commitments. Modelling wise I have my 0-14 Clun idea, my toy train set at home (1:24.5, 16.5 mm gauge shelf layout) and am currently working on some 009 Vale of Rheidol stock for the house display (living opposite the prototype is annoyingly inspiring!)

Anyway to see what we are up to whilst not modelling head over to here:
http://bessy59kb92.blogspot.com/

This will probably be the last post on this blog, so tatie bye and see you elsewhere :)

The end.

2011-05-15T00:38:00.002+01:00

After much thought, and much discusion, it's been decided that, great idea that the NVT and Drws-y-coed are, they do not "do" what I want. However it is not the end for my O-14 modelling, as a new layout will be emerging. Almost all the stock will be finding a new home on the new layout, and the existing baseboard is going to be used (well parts of it) in the construction of the new boards. As of tonight a new location as been choosen, and once a bit more research has been done, and the history is written up a bit more it will be published. The details will be announced here as and when.

On the workbench a cunning plan has been hatched to produce quick and easy 14mm turnouts, which with a bit of luck will mean I can build up a short experimental section of main line and siding (which will later be used in the layout) that will also give me somewhere to test run the stock that is, excuse the pun, stocking up!

I have to admit now that researching and designing the layouts and locations is almost, if not more fun than doing some of the building and the operating!

Till next time!

Changes

2011-05-11T00:34:00.002+01:00

Well since the last blog post nearly 2 months ago there have been many changes. I finished all the current stock that was on the work bench, and started make the triple turnout formation, and then things ground to a halt as I had a rather unfortunate accident which resulted in a serious head injury. I will also be moving house soon and the space that the new layout was designed to fit will not be there. A rationalisation of the layout collection is also being planned. The original Drwsycoed plan, my 1:34 Gloudle Glen inspired exhibition layout, this ("Nantlle (Victoria Terrace)" as its become know) and a few other ones that are kicking around in various stages (including MoL:41 amongst others) are being scrapped, sold or broken up. The BVR is being preserved, the ALR (my 00 inglenook) is being kept for my "toy trainset" at home that can be "played" with, and my secret project is going to be finished, revelled, published, shown, and kept as my "toy trainset" for Uni. This leaves the space clear for a major redesign and hopefully 3rd time lucky for my 0-14 layout. I have a space permanently available of 89"x20" which I know from experience 2 44" long base boards work comfortably in. So the plan is to make 2 or more pairs of base boards 44" long (one pair of which will just be nice countryside) that work as individual pairs, but can be assembled as a decent exhibition layout. Oh and the self imposed deadline? May 2014.... to built a minimum of 4 baseboards....... mmm fun! So the history books are coming out and the thinking cap is going on, and as well as finishing of the secret project I will be doing a lot of designing whilst off sick.

Focusing back on the 0-14, an ex GVT van and another ex GVT brake have been acquired from the BVR for re-gauging and modification along with a trio of Mercian 4 compartment coach bodies and a second ex L&B open wagon. The management has placed an order to acquire 4 more Plynlymon and Hafan mineral opens, as well as the VoR (ex P&H) 2-4-0 loco Rheidol (formally Talybont) alongside another 6 coupled main line loco. This will complete the main stock roster for the new 0-14 layout (for which a basic track plan for the first pair of boards has already been decided.

Thats all for now :)

Stock

2011-03-26T14:00:00.009Z

As I said last night the point work was a bit daunting, andI need to do a bit more preperation before I can crack on with it, so I cracked on with the stock instead. I now have 8 wagons awaiting numbering and couplings. Originally it was planned just to have these 8 wagons, but there are two more vans, another open, a brake van, a flat wagon and a tanker now planned as additions to the fleet.

Anyway last night I masked up the stock and resprayed all the underframes, and after letting that dry masked it up and resprayed the bodies on a couple of them. After pulling the tape of and leaving them to dry overnight I was ready to carry on today.

First job was to repaint all the strapping where I'd resprayed the bodies, as well as paint the strapping not done at all and do some touching up on the chassis'. Whilst that was drying on some wagons I made up the grab handles and door handles for the brake van, which where then fitted and painted.

Then it was out with the other paints and the waters and inks to give the wagons some washes of colour and start the weathering process (the second photo shows them whilst wet hence the shineyness of them!). It didn't take long from there, and I'd pretty much finished them for the time being. They need weights and couplings but that wont happen untill I have somewhere to run them on to get the weight right. Ploding on!

Points of decisionsssss

2011-03-25T18:48:00.004Z

Good news! The baseboard Will actually fit without major work! I assembled and fitted a new book case in my room today, and had to move furniture around to get it in. So I decided to run a tape measure over the layouts gap, the layout and the spare shelf on the new book cases... (but thats another story...) Well the gap for the layout is 835mm and the layout is 830... hold on... so it should fit... except the layout is also 840, 835 and 825mm. The cross bracing has pushed the end out of square. As it needed slightly rejigging I've knocked out the awkward bits, and the layout is now all 825mm. So should now fit. Going to go to plan B and panel over the top with access holes cut in, which will make it that bit more rigid aswell. Bonus! No magor baseboard alteration needed, just a restructuing of the top!
Anyway this means I can make a start on the point work. Soo I've rounded up the materials, printed out a template for the set of three points, drawn all the wire feeds, joints etc out... and come to write this instead. It's some what daunting. I've made some nice plain sections... this is slightly more difficult. I think I may go and paint some wagons instead! Before I do though I'd recommend a read through this site which is where a lot of useful stuff is, and where John C has posted videos of his PLR which is a major inspiration to me, along with his automatic chopper couplings that I aim to emulate. Oh, and lastly and most imporantly.. have a dig around on there as there is the finescale 7mm ng track bible on there, which was written by.. none other than Mr C! It is this that I will be following when I do start on this oh so simple of projects!

Problems....

2011-03-24T10:12:00.003Z

Yesterday the layout moved to its home, and was test fitted. Disaster! Its 10mm too wide, so the side that goes against the wardrobe has to be removed and trimmed back. In my measurments I had allowed an inch for the shelving brackets... but forgotten the 1 1/4" pelmet on the wardrobe! So now I will trim the layout down to fit between the wall and the pelmet, and then a free standing frame will be made that will support the layout, and sit around the desk meaning no shelfing brackets are needed.

However I wasn't to be stopped and I whipped out some Shinohara Sn3 flexi track which I have in stock, (its 14.2mm gauge conveniantly) placing it roughly where my hand built track will go. A few items of stock later and a bit of a rethink and I don't need to alter the track at all. Its nice to see the "space" that will be around in the layout. Hopefully it will have an almost Llanfair Caerinion feel to it when done. So I now have to do the baseboard alterations before I can do much, however I can crack on with the row of 3 turnouts on the back that gives access to the goods sidings. Print them out and I can crack on with it!

Construction begins

2011-03-22T10:13:00.004Z

From no posts to lots of posts!

After all the planning was sorted I returned home from Uni so I could crack on and build the baseboard (not having the facilities in my house)

It did not take long for me to gather together the materials and build up the baseboard ending up with quite a smarth, strong and lightweight board for only about £20 all in. I dug around and found a few old switchs, so made up the niffty little switch pannel, just need to order 5 more switchs to operate the points and then the panel is done. Total out lay has been about £25 so far, and this layout is being designed to use as many bits and bobs that I have lying around as possible. It shares its transformer with the BVR, uses up a load of seep point motors, rail and odds and sods that where spare, and uses a trusty old Gaugemaster Walkabout controller that I purchased off Ebay some time ago for a different project. Whilst I was home I sketch up how the station may end up looking like (still not decided on cladding for the main building) and raided my stores for as many "that may be useful" bits as possible to take back to uni. In doing so I also found enough set track and odds and sods to build a 20 minute 00 inglenook, which is now set up and operational! Next on the list for this layout is trackwork and wiring, then sorting out the stock and couplings. Once thats all 110% perfect I'll move onto scenics and buildings.

Some work at last

2011-03-22T09:04:00.003Z

Finally some more work. Was it really October that anything was last posted? Where did those months go? Anyway, there has been some slight changes of plan. Drws-y-coed will still be built, but first I will be modelling a station a bit further down the line. Having built Victoria and being dead chuffed with her, I obviously want to see her run, after all thats why I used the best chassis I could. Unfortunatly she is rather on the large side to run on DYC, and I need a layout at my house, so having space above my desk I decided to build somewhere for her to run and that fitted the space above my desk between the door and my wardrobe. After some lively discussion on the NGRM forum a track plan was drawn up, and I cracked on with some stock building. The main plan is a modified inglenook with loop and spur. It'll manifest itself as a two siding goods yard with the third long siding having a loop on it and station, with a loco siding off the run round loop. Nice and simple and fun to play with. The aim is to build a layout that is fun, enjoyable and reliable to operate, with hands free operations of couplings and electrically operated points, but that looks as realistic as possible so that you cant tell if its a model or real from photos.

From top to bottom in the photos: The space available with the penulitmate track plan; The altered goods yard and station; the stream cutting over the mouth of the yard; the stock and finally Victoria

And lastly a photo of Victoria again. Beautiful!

Progress!

2010-10-07T10:44:00.004+01:00

The directors of the NVT are pleased to announce that they have taken delivery of the new flagship loco from Hunslet, and that an offical naming ceromany has taken place, with the locomotive being named Victoria

Other news... a baseboard for the model of Drwsycoed has been built and scrapped due to poor quailty wood, which split and failed, so a new revised mark 2 is currently in the shops. Also the plans for all the track work have been drawn up, confirmed, and published ready for work to commence as soon as the trackbed is ready.

On the publicity side, a webdomain has been aquired, complete with email contacts for exhibition books and the directors personally. We're plodding slowly on! Not dead.... just dormant....but not anymore! Work is now picking up again!

Progress... what progress?

2010-07-01T20:17:00.003+01:00

Well Since I got back from Uni not much has happened, full time work has got in the way a bit, however having the Better Half down for a weekend off we went up to Dyffryn Nantlle and had a bit of a poke around where the layout is based, and can revel the full names of all the bits involved. The Mine on the layout is Drws-y-coed Old Chapel Copper Mine (or Hen Gapel Drws-y-coed Gwaith Copr, in Welsh), and the railway is run by the Nantlle Valley Tramway (Tramffordd Dyffryn Nantlle). When I can work out how do do it, I'll stick some photos up from the site visit.

First Sod Cut

2010-05-29T11:40:00.000+01:00

24th May 1923

With great ceremony the Right Hon Lord John Richards cut the first sod of the new railway today. The event took place in Drws-y-coed Uchaf, on the site of the mine tramway in front of a large crowd of assembled dignitaries and valley folk. Many of the watching crowd then set to and joined in after the ceremony and removed a large strip of turf topping. This has allowed the first track to be ceremoniously laid.
Messers Sanders and Co were present to oversee proceedings on behalf of the companies.

Locomotives

2010-05-27T20:48:00.000+01:00

20th May 1923

The Blackwood Valley Railway are proud to announce the donation of one complete, and one incomplete locomotive, along with three wagons to the Drws-y-coed and Nantlle Vale Tramway Companies. This stock has been greatly received, along with a complete chassis for a Ruston from generous benefactors K.B.

23rd May 1923

Messers Sanders have undertaken speedy work, and have regauged (from 28 1/4" to 24") and re-engined the complete locomotive, A Motor Rail Simplex of 1920. Alongside this they have completed major work on the incomplete locomotive and are awaiting approval to order new wheelsets and engine for this loco.

First stock

2010-05-27T13:21:00.000+01:00

9th May 1923

The first stock for the Companies was won at Auction today. On behalf of the Companies Messers S. and P.J. Sanders attended, and where successful in securing two lots.

Lot 1

A single skip wagon, complete, but unassembled, this was secured for a very reasonable rate, how ever it does require correct axles.

Lot 2

A batch of three unassembled chassis, complete. A very reasonable rate secured these.

These will complement the 2 Hudson Rugga chassis already in the companies possession, thanks to a generous donation. (Artwork courtesy of manufacturer)

16th May 1923

Messers S. and P.J. Sanders attended a second auction of rolling stock recently on behalf of the Drws-y-coed Mining Ltd and the Nantlle Vale Tramway. They took the opportunity to purchase some rolling stock for both the Mine working lines and the tramway. The stock is currently gauged to 2' 4 1/4" but it would be no hard exercise to regauge it to the companies 2' gauge or any gauge between if possible resale was needed. The wagons are as follows:

Lot 1,
A 4 wheel flat wagon

Lot 2
A 4 wheel riveted Iron sided open wagon. Bidding for this faced competition, be it was secured for the Co's.

Lot 3
A 4 wheel twin planked wooden open. Again competition was face, but seen off

Lot 4
Another 4 wheel twin planked wooden open. No other interested parties.

Lot 5
A third 4 wheel twin planked open

and Finally, Lot 6

A iron waste truck suitable for use on the upper levels. Competition was fierce, but again successfully secured.

The companies joint finances are now extinguished for the time being.

Planning, and Progress

2010-05-27T12:59:00.000+01:00

5th May 1923

It is with great pleasure, that following extensive surveying on behalf of the Company, plans for the track bed and work need have finalised, and approved by the Board of Directors, MP and Local Council. The Company has been given permission to start working on the track bed at our earliest convenience.

Messers Sanders.

12th May 1923

Messers S. and P.J. Sanders have been able to place the first order for track work on this day. This first shipment will provide the necessary rail, sleepers and fittings to lay the surface, and sub-surface plateways needed by Drws-y-coed Mining Ltd, so that they may not be delayed in starting working to reach profitable ore, which will it turn provide good quality waste spoil that can be used by the Company where works are need for the tramway track bed, and also traffic for the line as soon as possible.

Messers Sanders

The Announcement of the Proposal of the new Railway

2010-05-26T19:09:00.000+01:00

2nd of April 1923

On behalf of the Company I hereby have the great pleasure to announce that Plans to build a tramway from Talysarn to Drws-y-coed, in Dyffryn Nantlle have been aproved. Following the discovery of a significant mineral vein, a new Mine is being opened in Drws-y-coed, east of Smydd Ddu, and west of Drws-y-coed Uchaf. The new tramway will be built to haul the products down to Talysarn for transhipment there to the London and North Western Railway. The old Nantlle Railway will be relaid to 2' gauge to facilitate locomotive working, and will also link with the Pen-yr-osaff and Dorothea Slate Quarries.

Messers S. and P.J. Sanders

Welcome

2010-05-26T18:55:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to the blog of Drws-y-coed copper mine railway. This site will document and record the planning, construction and devlopment of Drws-y-coed copper mine railway.

S.