Llechfan and Wigfa and Llanrwst

[laalratty]

I was lucky enough to visit two fantastic garden railways last week on my holiday in Wales. I'd visited the llechfan garden railway at Tywyn Wharf station before, but the Wigfa and Llanrwst was new to me. All I can say is wow! First up though I made a return visit to the Llechfan and their "Mamod Olympics" event. I'll let others report on this since I didn't actually take any pics of the competition....

An Olympic event required an Olympic flame, in this case Dolgoch provided it

Doug hands the flame to James

Kes places the flame in position, the games were ready to commence but it was decided to allow some free running first

Hence I got Gwydion out, letting everyone know where it had come from

Britomart on the hillside section

James decided to open Britomart up and give Gwydion some un-needed assistance

Mamod at play..

Swordbreaker and train

Green Earl from the Maesffordd Railway

The killer bunny was supporting Britomart, alas it didn't do very well in the competition

Britomart and Herb take my train round the upper circuit

Swordbreaker speeds past the sheds

Another visited from Maesffordd

A proud moment seeing the coal fired cut down Russell hauling my carriages. Just a pitty I hadn't bought down my WHR rake. I also lost the weathering provided thanks to rain at the W&L

Russell on the ledge

Final shot of Gwydion, showing what an excellent recreation of a railway ledge the LlGR has

Green Earl and freight
Wigfa and Llanrwst pics to follow

[laalratty]

And so onto the Wigfa and Llanrwst Railway. I had seen plenty of pictures of this faboulous line, but it still didn't really prepare me for what I saw. A fantastic layout oozing with character, with some nice gradients that meant locos worked but didn't run away, and some great bridges based on real prototypes. The line actually feels quite small, but there is the promise of an extensive extension

First out was Russell, with the Roundhouse plates fitted with blue-tak. Still not sure if I'll name it this or not

Russell crosses a model of Nantmor road bridge on the Welsh Highland railway

Russell passes through Abbey Junction

Bwlch Pennant

Going the other way at Bwlch Pennant after the train had been turned on the triangle

One of the nice slate overbridges

Green locos on shed once Dave had got his Linda out

Linda on a goods

Gwydion was out next, passing Linda on shed

Gwydion heads towards the recreation of one of the Aberglaslyn tunnels

Criccieth Castle in the tunnel, note you can just about see that the lighting is on in the first carriage

Dave's Welsh Highland-ised Baldwin comes under the bridge into Abbey Junction

Baldwin at Abbey Junction just before it spat out a bolt and lost a coupling rod as a result

A visiting mucky Leader that is another of TonyW's masterpieces (along with the Linda) takes the goods this time

Gwydion in the Aberglaslyn pass, sort of

Crossing the big viaduct over the stream, based on the large one that used to stand by the southern exit of Ffestiniog tunnel on the standard gauge Blaenau Ffestiniog branch
A massive thanks to Kes, the rest of the guys at the Llechfan and Dave for their hospitallity and letting me run on their railways. The W&L is just about in range for a visit from home, I very much look forward to returning!

[90733]

Some great pics of two amazing and inspirational railways, thanks for sharing

[williamfj]

Stunning stuff!

[LlanpwllBrynwyn]

Looks brilliant! If only I lived within range of a drive from home, bit far from Kent

[hussra]

Brilliant photos - thanks for sharing them!

[Narrow Minded]

Excellent sets of photo's - thanks for posting 'em just when I needed a kick up the bum to get some work done out in the garden!. Inspiring stuff!

[LMS-Jools]

As all of the above, looks like you had heaps of fun.

[TommyDodd]

Two fabulous railways, and as we found earlier in the summer the only thing at either better than the quality of the civil engineering and scenery is the quality of the welcome and hospitality. Can't wait to go back!

[MuzTrem]

Fantastic pics as ever. You are lucky to live within (relatively) easy travelling distance of these two lines!
I also love what you've done to your Russell so far. One question: did RH supply the plates in red or did you repaint them yourself? Also, are you planning to fit a safety valve bonnet? I know it isn't prototypical but it looks a lot nicer than an overscale valve IMHO...

[Sir Clothem Cap]

cue the "chariots of fire" music excellent photos

[laalratty]

Fantastic pics as ever. You are lucky to live within (relatively) easy travelling distance of these two lines!
I also love what you've done to your Russell so far. One question: did RH supply the plates in red or did you repaint them yourself? Also, are you planning to fit a safety valve bonnet? I know it isn't prototypical but it looks a lot nicer than an overscale valve IMHO...

I'll say now Llechfan is well out of reach for a day visit, W&L, well it's do-able but not something I would want to do to often!
The plates I've painted red myself using humbrol, no etch primer but thats how I've done plates in the past and the paint has stayed on
Still undecided on the safety valve bonnet, personally I think the Roundhouse item is rather out of character for the loco, so I might try and come up with something myself

[laalratty]

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Well here is the video, not as much variety locos wise as the pics but hopefully you'll all approve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2Edl3Ao ... ture=inbox

[Keith S]

Great video. Some of the scenes are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. That shortened "russell" is beautiful.