The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

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Lonsdaler
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Lonsdaler » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:21 pm

Delightful pictures Andrew. The mix of different types and condition of the slate waggons looks very natural.
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by ge_rik » Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:27 pm

Excellent!! Those England locos are so photogenic!

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Soar Valley Light » Tue Apr 19, 2022 7:49 pm

Hi Andrew,

A very suitable way to spend the time, if I may say so. That's a very nice looking train in a very nice setting. I managed to clear some vegetation from my own line this weekend but it only revealed how disappointing my track is! Yours on the other hand looks very nice, well established but keeping nature reasonably at bay. The run round picture is particularly nice (IMHO). The MYOB looks good and you seem to have it in check. I'm not sure what the shrub behind the station building is but it looks very much in scale. Thanks for another potent dose of encouragement!

SVLR Andrew
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Andrew » Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:55 am

Thank you for the kind words folks, they're much appreciated.

I feel I cheated a bit with this one, using some VERY selective camera angles! My favourite spot to photograph/watch the trains is usually Penlan Bank, where the Mind Your Own Business had grown up against the low wall that supports the railway in such a way as to create a fairly convincing (and rather attractive) embankment. Alas, our new-ish cat has discovered that the springy MYOB is the perfect location to carry out Her Own Business, with disastrous results. I need to find a way to discourage that! As I mentioned, some other plants in key locations have also died back, leaving barren areas where things used to look relatively lush.

On the plus side, that's encouraged some more creative photography, aided (as Rik notes) by the England's good looks - with that lovely little tender it looks good running backwards too. At some point I'll try to line it, but in the meantime that lovely maroon's so intoxicating that it doesn't feel like it's essential...

Next up, in the coming weeks, will be the first passenger train of the year - probably with Palmerston (again!) and the Ffestiniog rake of carriages...

Cheers all,

Andrew.

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Andrew » Tue May 03, 2022 10:14 am

Morning all,

I was away this weekend (rode a Blackpool tram in Heaton Park, Machester, very nice), but trundled a little train around the the lower half of the line yesterday pm, largely because i thought it would look nice steaming under the cherry blossom, which is just beginning to fade.

So here's the (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland, doing an impression of an industrial tramway. It's quite convincing - maybe I should flog all my Welsh highland and Ffestiniog stuff and buy some little saddle tanks. That Cranmore Peckett is particulartly lovely...

Cheers,

Andrew.

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Tue May 03, 2022 10:45 am

Lovely pictures Andrew, a real pleasure to see.
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by ge_rik » Tue May 03, 2022 1:57 pm

Great photos - please don't sell up - I really enjoy seeing your updates ......

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Andrew » Tue May 03, 2022 2:09 pm

ge_rik wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 1:57 pm please don't sell up
Mere idle musings on a possible change of direction, I do it all the time. After my ride around Heaton Park, I did spend some time yestreday looking at Playmobil RC motorblocks and wondering if I could use one to power a 45mm tram. Now that really would be a change of direction - Penlan bank would look rather nice with ornate Victorian overhead power masts dotted along the track, don't you think???

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by LNR » Wed May 04, 2022 1:45 am

Really like that first shot. The weathering on that loco looks so typical.
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by FWLR » Wed May 04, 2022 8:04 am

They are just brilliant Andrew. I love the tippers, they are just so brilliantly weathered, you sure are a master at weathering them and the rest of your stock. :notworthy: :salute:

I just wish I was half has good at weathering as you are..... :| :cry:

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Andrew » Wed May 04, 2022 9:32 am

You're too kind Rod!

I'm actually not overly fond of the weathering on the tippers, I'm still getting usesd to "real rust" and think I need a little more precision (in terms odf where it ends up) and subtlety (it's a bit "all or nothing!"), but the overall effect's quite pleasing - I like how the line of rusty orange tippers stands out against the greenery of the garden...

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Lonsdaler » Thu May 05, 2022 7:53 pm

That is a simply stunning set of photographs Andrew. The dereliction of a working railway in pleasant spring green countryside. I shall sit with a straw in my mouth alongside the track, and enjoy the day's endeavours😄
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by BWLR » Fri May 06, 2022 7:50 am

What lovely photos, very atmospheric and I think the rust on the tippers looks convincing
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Andrew » Sun May 08, 2022 5:26 pm

Hello again!

No trains were scheduled for today, but my aunty came for lunch and said that she'd like to see one - and who am I to decline such a request?

Not having run many trains this year, I wasn't sure of the state of batteries etc of Russell or the Baldwin, and I still don't know Palmerston well enough to guarantee a trouble-free run, so once again I raised steam with my ever-dependable Regner. A short rake of Welsh Highland stock was assembled and the little train trundled merrily up and down the line. Apologies for the guards van at the wrong end in a couple of shots - aunties may like trains, but they don't want to see shunting operations...

Cheers,

Andrew.


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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by ge_rik » Sun May 08, 2022 8:22 pm

I'm not sure Auntie's preferences should take precedence over accepted railway working practices ..... :shock: :?

(I'd probably have just picked it up and shoved it on the tail end .... :lol: )

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Andrew » Sun May 08, 2022 9:03 pm

ge_rik wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 8:22 pm I'm not sure Auntie's preferences should take precedence over accepted railway working practices ..... :shock: :?

(I'd probably have just picked it up and shoved it on the tail end .... :lol: )

Rik
I like my aunt very much, and was very pleased she wanted to see a train running, but to be honest, I think I'd kind of lost my audience after she'd filmed the first light engine move! The rest of the operation was more of a diverting backdrop to an afternoon of chatting and tea drinking, but that suits me just fine...

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by BertieB » Sun May 08, 2022 10:30 pm

The pictures are lovely. If I had anywhere to put it, I’d copy your green and cream platform shelter too.

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by LNR » Mon May 09, 2022 4:32 am

I really like the overgrown track work, though I hope no one lives in that grounded van! More nice shots, and I second BertieB about that station building, just love the exposed framework inside.
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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by FWLR » Mon May 09, 2022 8:42 am

Hi Andrew,

I don't care one way or the other which way they are pulled/pushed. Just to get another chance to see your rolling stock is all I need.... :thumbright:

Brilliant photos again.. :salute:

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Re: The (Windmill Hill) Welsh Highland Railway

Post by Old Man Aaron » Wed May 11, 2022 6:44 am

FWLR wrote: Mon May 09, 2022 8:42 am Hi Andrew,

I don't care one way or the other which way they are pulled/pushed. Just to get another chance to see your rolling stock is all I need.... :thumbright:

Brilliant photos again.. :salute:
Not to sound derivative, but I'll second that!
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works

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