Not just the trains.

Sometimes life brings surprises, occasionally that's a very good thing. Most of the railway books I enjoy tend to be at the more specialised end of the market zeroing in on a particular line, station, locomotive class or aspect of model making. Earlier this week at the library I found a publication that well and truly bucks this trend.

Though it looks like one of those books aimed at the casual interest, the sort that misguided but well meaning aunts buy for birthdays, I've found it to be hugely inspiring. Though it's scope is broad the quality of the photos is stunning, each one bristling with interest and atmosphere, some happen to be beautiful works of art too. The straight record shot that most of us modellers are used to is all well and good; clarity, correct focus and exposure help define details which we can incorporate in search of greater realism. Looking through the book it shows us what all too often is still missing, that intangible atmosphere that railways have. How do we get hold of it, and reduce it to a form we can render to scale in 3-D. I'm not sure I know the answer, but the first step must be to recognise its prescence.

The book's by Paul Atterbury, publisher David and Charles, ISBN 13 978-0-7153-2876-7. Do try to find a copy.

No I won't.

Here's something I've been working on today, inspired by yesterdays jaunt and no I won't be building it. Click on the image to get a full sized view.

Chipboard Monster

I've been looking back through the blog and it appears that I've not made mention of my big trainset. I've either been very lucky or very good but the fate has smiled upon me in the shape of a large playroom which I'm free to fill with toys. In it I'm building a model of Morfa Mawddach, the junction of the Cambrian Coast and Dolgellau lines. Actually I'm building a part fact, part fiction version of the station; I might at some time be persuaded to divulge the back story but for now all you need to know is that I can cherry pick the bits I like and conveniently ignore those I don't.

At the moment the baseboards are about 75% complete, some track has been laid at the site of Morfa station, the stock (the same as used on Shell Island) doesn't require much in the way of augmentation, some structures are finished and some are under way. Don't expect much in the way of updates, as the layout is deliberately long term in nature, but I might show how I've tackled some of the aspects from time to time.

Coming soon ......

.... Machynlleth's first Railway Collectors Fair and Swapmeet.

Organised by my friend and fellow enthusiast Nick who tells me that there are still a few pitches available. He can be contacted on 01654 761424 or by e-mail nick@railwaystuff.co.uk

Inspiration

Thanks to this blog I've become ridiculously interested in the Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowden Railway, in particular the projected line from Beddgelert past Llyn Gwynant and on to Betws y Coed. Though I've yet to do anything concrete it hasn't stopped me from taking a very plesant detour on my way north through Gwynedd to visit a friend to take these photos of the locality.

Abergwynant, also appearing at .....

In response to Rogers request for an overall view of the layout I can do no better than direct you to an earlier outing on the internet here. Abergwynant features a short way down the page, but do spend some time browsing the other contributions there's much that is of interest, I particularly like the last layout a dual gauge German affair.

Abergwynant

After Shell Island, I sort of repeated the Cambrian Coast theme with Abergwynant. The fiction became ever more dubious in an attempt to justify the retention of a short section of the line from Morfa Mawddach to Dolgellau as far as the quarries at Abergwynant. The layout was pretty successful in the aim to be ultra portable though once the lighting gantry was added it became obvious that it wouldn't be possible to take it on jaunts using public transport. It's now in the safe keeping of my friend Martin Jones who makes sure it gets a far more frequent airing than I ever would.

This isn't the last you'll hear about Abergwynant ......