The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

[FWLR]

Nice Andrew, just what is needed on a lazy Sunday when no-one else is around.

[Andrew]

Morning all,

My gardening skills are somewhat hit-and-miss, so there's not a lot of colour in tyhe garden at this time of year - apart from green, of course. There is, however, a small cherry tree that grows (just...) next to the line, and the fruit on that, although inedible, does provide a splash of colour. Which seemed reason enough to dig out the railcar and take a few photos...

Railcar 1.jpg (205.74 KiB) Viewed 10870 times

Railcar 2.jpg (274.13 KiB) Viewed 10870 times

Railcar 3.jpg (250.52 KiB) Viewed 10870 times

Railcar 4.jpg (287.9 KiB) Viewed 10870 times

Railcar 5.jpg (253.43 KiB) Viewed 10870 times

Railcar 6.jpg (233.51 KiB) Viewed 10870 times

Railcar 7.jpg (159.88 KiB) Viewed 10870 times

I do like the little Faller Railbus... I think I first repainted and started using it about twenty years ago, but I reckon this is the first time I've ever added a tail load. It coped pretty well, apart from a couple of spots where it lacked adhesion. It can't help that the original rubber traction tyres are long gone - anyone got any ideas where to get replacements?

Cheers all,

Andrew.

[philipy]

Some nice shots there Andrew.

I can't help with your traction tyres I'm afraid, but every time I see your railbus it makes wish I'd chosen a similar colour scheme for mine rather than plain green.
You are lucky you get to see your cherries. We have a mature cherry tree that was here when we moved in 25years ago and I think in all that time I've only had 2 cherries off it, the birds get the rest!

[Andrew]

The idea of our cherry tree was that the birds would eat them! When we moved in there was a lovely mature tree next door, and we loved to watch the pigeons wobble along the branches to get to the cherries. New neighbours cut it down, so we planted ours in the same spot, but on the other side of the fence. The burb said it would cope with the shade cast by the fence, but it doesn't, it's barely grown in 18 years!

I've got another raibus somewhere, and one day I might get round o repainting that too - I'm actually thinking of plain green, but with "speed whiskers", BR 1950s style...

My chocolate and cream livery was inspired by an early memory of watch the KESRs little AC Cars railbus (now living elsewhere) running shuttles from the ramparts of Bodiam Castle, decades before the line reopened there properly...

[philipy]

The idea of our cherry tree was that the birds would eat them! When we moved in there was a lovely mature tree next door, and we loved to watch the pigeons wobble along the branches to get to the cherries. New neighbours cut it down, so we planted ours in the same spot, but on the other side of the fence. The burb said it would cope with the shade cast by the fence, but it doesn't, it's barely grown in 18 years!

Must have been the wrong tree or the wrong blurb!

This one has a row of concrete garages behind it, an apple tree to the right and a big ash tree behind and to the left.

DSC_0001.JPG (302.9 KiB) Viewed 10855 times

I've got another raibus somewhere, and one day I might get round o repainting that too - I'm actually thinking of plain green, but with "speed whiskers", BR 1950s style...

Like this?

DSC_0003.JPG (173.57 KiB) Viewed 10855 times

Psst... I know... I never did get around to finshing the lights!

[Andrew]

Like this?

DSC_0003.JPG

Pretty much, but I thought I'd maybe remove the middle headlight and continue the moulded lining straight across horizontally (using thin plastic strip, as I did on the doors), then have separate whiskers (and maybe the white cab roofs) as per the original BR livery.

I think your railcar looks great in green - but, if you were to finish the job with a touch of white/silver on those headlights, it would give it a real lift...

[FWLR]

Some brilliant photos there Andrew. I do like the open door shot with the well worn foot traffic.

[Old Man Aaron]

There's a product called "Bullfrog Snot" that's made for replacing traction tyres. I have a jar, good stuff.

[ge_rik]

There's a product called "Bullfrog Snot" that's made for replacing traction tyres. I have a jar, good stuff.

I thought you were pulling our legs, but no, it really does exist and does what you say it does ....

https://www.petersspares.com/bullfrog-s ... n-tyres.ir


Rik

[Andrew]

There's a product called "Bullfrog Snot" that's made for replacing traction tyres. I have a jar, good stuff.

I thought you were pulling our legs, but no, it really does exist and does what you say it does ....

https://www.petersspares.com/bullfrog-s ... n-tyres.ir

Wow... Thanks both...

[Phil.P]

Is it not quite difficult to get a fairly uniform finish?

Does it set/cure, over time?

How long does it last, on the wheel?

Thanks,
Phil.P

[Old Man Aaron]

A little tricky to get a good finish, it has some self-levelling ability. You'll want to apply it as the wheels slowly rotate, a flatblade screwdriver works well. Dries overnight, changing from mint green to a semi-translucent dark green. If it starts drying out in the jar, it can be revived with a little warm water.
I've only used it to replace a single Stainz traction tyre, and it's probably only done 20 hours of running since applying the stuff in (checks maintenance log) 2016, but it's held up without issue in all conditions.
Just don't let the jar get hot in Summer or cold in Winter. It ruins the stuff and you'll have to buy a new jar.
Only reason I haven't yet is that I simply haven't needed it again. But if LGB parts are expensive/hard to get where you live, it's a great alternative.

[Phil.P]

Thank you for the information..

Phil.P

[Andrew]

Hi all,

This weekend was the first in ages where I've had some time to spend in the garden. So I did.

Saturday was dedicated to repairing the lift-out section over the back gate. It's never been perfect, but it's got worse over time, to the point where I was literally having to hold the thing in place to keep the rails aligned as the trains went over! Part of the problem is that the track over that section is a few milimetres too short, so some relaying was in order. Initially, I couldn't find any spare track at all, but eventually I located a short section left over from laying the siding at Penlan, so a works train was assembled and used to trundle the track from there down to the worksite:

Bridge repair 1.jpg (400.14 KiB) Viewed 10240 times

Bridge repair 2.jpg (470.8 KiB) Viewed 10240 times

Bridge repair 3.jpg (383.18 KiB) Viewed 10240 times

Bridge repair 4.jpg (461.25 KiB) Viewed 10240 times

The last picture shows the train running over the newly relayed track - and also that this whole section of line could do with some work! Some is largely cosmetic(ballasting the relayed bit, mending the fencing etc), but the trackbed could also do with a coat of two of wood preserver to try and get a few more years out of it. Most of these sections are reclaimed from my previous line and over 15 years old, so I really am only delaying the inevitable, some bits are now pretty rotten...

For now, however, the show's back on the road - more photos later of Sunday's trains...

Cheers,

Andrew.

[philipy]

Nice pictures as usual, Andrew.

this whole section of line could do with some work! Some is largely cosmetic(ballasting the relayed bit, mending the fencing etc),

Mmmm... I imagine that if Mr Spectre ever manages to stagger his way back norf' from the Land of Oz, he might have a few words to say about things!

[Andrew]

Nice pictures as usual, Andrew.

this whole section of line could do with some work! Some is largely cosmetic(ballasting the relayed bit, mending the fencing etc),

Mmmm... I imagine that if Mr Spectre ever manages to stagger his way back norf' from the Land of Oz, he might have a few words to say about things!

I think you may be right. The state of the fencing was among the things he raised during his last visit, and I'm sure he wouldn't be impressed with raised trackbed the consistency of soggy cardboard...

[ge_rik]

I just thought you were trying to emulate the pecuniary precariousness of the line's namesake.....

Rik

[Andrew]

I just thought you were trying to emulate the pecuniary precariousness of the line's namesake.....

Rik

I'm not sure the real thing was open long enough to fall too far into disrepair - I reckon my track's more overgrown than any pictures I've seen of the old WHR!

But, talking of the real WHR...

Over the past weekend, the Welsh Highland Highland Railway(s) have been celebrating the centenary of the opening of the first bit of the WHR, the former NWNGR section between Dinas Junction and South Snowdon. "Russell" and a train including the original Gladstone and buffet cars and the replica Pickering brake has made a wonderful sight revisiting that stretch of line. I couldn't be there, so I did the next best thing and trundled my own version of a very similar train around the garden.

Here it is:

WHR 100 A.jpg (493.6 KiB) Viewed 10515 times

WHR 100 B.jpg (526.84 KiB) Viewed 10515 times

WHR 100 C.jpg (474.73 KiB) Viewed 10515 times

WHR 100 D.jpg (522.5 KiB) Viewed 10515 times

WHR 100 E.jpg (464.84 KiB) Viewed 10515 times

That was the first time I've run Russell in ages - I must do it again soon, maybe with a goods train...

Cheers,

Andrew

[LNR]

I must do it again soon,

Yes you should Andrew, nice pics.
Grant.

[FWLR]

I love seeing updates of your line Andrew and the photos show me what a great line and rolling stock you have. More updates please Andrew, they are always nice to see