Progress in the Works
Ffestiniog Railway Van 4
Started during the depths of lockdown, this carriage is over the halfway line now, I think. With the exterior almost complete, it now needs droplights, interior detail, figures and lettering adding before it can be varnished and the final assembly carried out - I'm hopeful that might take place in the spring so that the carriage can run during the 2022 summer season.
Started during the depths of lockdown, this carriage is over the halfway line now, I think. With the exterior almost complete, it now needs droplights, interior detail, figures and lettering adding before it can be varnished and the final assembly carried out - I'm hopeful that might take place in the spring so that the carriage can run during the 2022 summer season.
"The Mystery Carriage"
Seemingly developing at a similar pace to Van 4, there's something odd going on with this one - even more odd than that yellow livery. It spends most of its time hidden in the carriage works, although I was able to take this snap as it poked out of the doors one afternoon. It looks almost like a conventional Welsh Highland Ashbury carriage, but the window and door arrangement doesn't match any known drawings... Very strange...
All will be revealed, maybe...
Seemingly developing at a similar pace to Van 4, there's something odd going on with this one - even more odd than that yellow livery. It spends most of its time hidden in the carriage works, although I was able to take this snap as it poked out of the doors one afternoon. It looks almost like a conventional Welsh Highland Ashbury carriage, but the window and door arrangement doesn't match any known drawings... Very strange...
All will be revealed, maybe...
Daisy
An "on and off" project which will be carried out bit-by-bit while the loco remains in service. So far Daisy has gained the Baldwin's old headlight, a Swift Sixteen cowcatcher, a little repainting and some weathering. I've started work on a tender, and when that's done (it could be a while!) I'll repaint the whole loco in a yet-to-be-decided colour scheme.
An "on and off" project which will be carried out bit-by-bit while the loco remains in service. So far Daisy has gained the Baldwin's old headlight, a Swift Sixteen cowcatcher, a little repainting and some weathering. I've started work on a tender, and when that's done (it could be a while!) I'll repaint the whole loco in a yet-to-be-decided colour scheme.
Hudson Toastrack Carriage
In every shed on every heritage railway in the country lurks a project that's been there for years - perhaps because the volunteer workforce have lost interest, because parts have been lost, or because the line's priorities have shifted elsewhere. This one's mine - this photo was taken in 2010, and nothing's changed since.
The time may finally have come for my Hudson toastrack build though - since completing the line I've found that I could really do with some shorter carriages, because my run-round loops can't cope with full-length trains of longer ones. Perhaps by next summer this carriage will finally leave the gloom of the workshop?
In every shed on every heritage railway in the country lurks a project that's been there for years - perhaps because the volunteer workforce have lost interest, because parts have been lost, or because the line's priorities have shifted elsewhere. This one's mine - this photo was taken in 2010, and nothing's changed since.
The time may finally have come for my Hudson toastrack build though - since completing the line I've found that I could really do with some shorter carriages, because my run-round loops can't cope with full-length trains of longer ones. Perhaps by next summer this carriage will finally leave the gloom of the workshop?
