FRIDAY
Was mostly spent socialising and eating curry and beer, so there were little to report on the Darjeeling front. After most folk had gone home, a twilight session began.
A usual suspect lights up again after a magnificent run trundling around solo..
A 'Countess' comes out from the gloom..
Showing off the new nameplates Narrow Planet had supplied...
On shed...
Blowing down and settling for the night...
And so we went our ways and took our charges with us, sleeping that night dreaming of little engines and wonderful journeys made in miniature...
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SATURDAY
Saturday became quite busy! In the morning I had no camera or engines as I had instead ashovel and helped "ballast" the garden as the torrential showers had turned the area into a 16mm equivalent of "Glastonbury"! Soon after the clouds dispersed and the sun began to shone...
...and then one "big chunky engine" tried to cadge a ride on another big chunky engine!
Charge!
After this, it was time for another trip - this time taking a trip on No.8 "Merseysider" to thrash up and down Wharf Cutting on the Diesel Driver
I love that little engine...!Cab View...
Aaaaaaand a video [click on it to play; you may be redirected to PB direct]
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After lunch saw play resume at Llechfan itself. Most of the afternoon I was in the more scenic lower loop as the visitors were piling up like mad to steam on the Upper Circuit. No matter, it was fun
A chap from Malvern newish to the TR had recently bought a Mamod and then souped it up in one swoop. Introducing "Peggy":-
In the meanwhile, while we chatted 'shop', Mr Rickett ran his Corris Bertie + train and a fine sight it was too!
A photo op was not to be missed. As some know, I was originally aiming to have a RH Bertie as my first 'proper' engine, until the "Caradoc" trade came along
So a comparative lineup was organised...In the RED CORNER...
In the GREEN CORNER...
Compare!
~
Meanwhile, back at the Lower Loop, the oscillators were waking up...
And a double header with the one stable TR coach that didn't keep jumping the rails went ahead, inaugurating wee 'Peggy':-
Line-up at Lakeside Station:
Peggy went for a solo spin then...
...before she ran out and Swordbreaker relieved her.
And out from under the tunnel..
#
It was at this point that the coaches kept derailing. It was a pain to say the least and soon all but the 1st class Glyn were confined to the sides. They were in gauge but some work needed occuring.
Two engines
Cadno took a spin with the TR coaches too.
The coaches has already had a good amount of weight under them put on [metal tyre weights, for reference.] However it was found that the wheels were loose on the axles and so 'wobbled', causing the instability. Not the end of the world and that was a job to be done during my stay in Tywyn but at 3:20pm, a trip on the all-important Upper Circuit beckoned.
Cadno was fired up and chosen for this trip as 'Swordbreaker' had started to once again fail. The gasjet required looking it, it transpired. As for Cadno...
Llechfan-NWNGR Express
And 'right away'...
Gently and powerfully taking the train on up the valley and bank...
This reminds me of a 'Thomas' scene from the early [Ringo] era - anyone care to place it??
Around the far half..
Closeup :
And crossing with a train on the lower loop - a Bertie as a matter of fact.
Elsewhere, a wild Zach Bond [and River Alde] appeared! T'was a pleasure to meet Zach who'd guessed I was in the area as soon as he'd clapped eyes on Swordbreaker
'Alde' in action...
Other locos being fired up for a 'Megatrain'...
SUNDAY
Sunday saw 'Swordbreaker' being steamed first and being entrusted with the 'NWNGR Express'.
It was able to lamely complete a couple of trips on the Upper Circuit but after it kept putt-puttering [most disappointing!] I pulled it off the line so as not to cause delay.
'Cadno' was therefore called in to take a 'Llechfan Special' later in the day using some 'in house' coaching stock. Bachmanns actually go rather well...
While 'Cynfal' was being prepared to share the Upper Line with Cadno - and had the pleasure of borrowing my TR coaches. On the better-laid main line, they didn't derail as much and so were acceptable to bring out for revenue earning service.
Cynfal actually goes quite well with the TR stock...!
Cadno coming on through the station yard
Two Accucrafts...
At one point the coaches had to be rescued as Cynfal ran out of steam and anti-clockwise working was initiated!
With Cynfal safely retrieved, the proper direction running was restored...
And into the dusk at the closing of the Gala, Cadno pilots the train home...
~
Overall, it had been a fun weekend and a pleasure meeting everyone who attended.
But with a poorly Swordbreaker and rogue coaches, things did not bode well. But there was a sequel to this Llechfan adventure which happened on the following Thursday....
