Despite the 30+mph gusts, Moel Rhos management deemed it wise to once again steam up externally fired Millie-class No. 2 Chough this evening.
No 2. ran out of gas in the Southern Tunnel so No 5. came to her rescue.
Simon
Thanks to the better weather I thought I’d have another go at making a film of the Moel Rhos shed extension, perhaps without the rain better results could be achieved. (Actually I also cleaned the track, used a different camera, camera wagon and locomotive.) Hopefully you’ll find the ride a little smoother…
Simon
The latest addition to the Moel Rhos fleet is a Jerry Irwin Cattle Wagon, built at the Brockhampton & Umbridge works before being sent back in time.
It being a beautiful if rather windy evening, the Moel Rhos management decided to lay on an excursion for its newly acquired cattle (purchased at last year’s Llanfair show).
Setting off. (I haven’t finished painting – but then the cattle are going to need touching up too…)
The Brockhampton & Umbridge works detailing (Cambrian bolt heads) really adds to this superb kit.
The passengers disembark to sample the local cuisine. I don’t know why the colouring has gone weird… (purple?) but the cattle are going to have to visit the paint works.
I think maybe they don’t like being watched while they’re eating.
Back on board and heading for home…
Simon
It’s a rainy start to our virtual meet-up weekend here, but one advantage of having made a hole into the shed for the railway is I can take shelter while the train braves the weather.
Here then is the promised video – out and back from the Moel Rhos shed extension (with a trip round the loop for good measure).
Apologies for the extremely shaky camera – some combination of grit on the wheels and a phone’s rolling shutter intolerant of movement (and rain?). But even with the shed for shelter I’m not inclined to repeat the exercise today – and I’m certainly not sending my ‘real’ camera out into the deluge!
Simon
Moel Rhos No 3. with a late evening bank holiday train.
Moel Rhos No 3. in steam for the Sunday evening goods. The Boulton couldn’t haul a geared loco once it was out of gas (not sure if anything could!) but did rescue the train. No 3 still has R/C wiring hanging out… really must do something about that.
The afternoon quarry train emerging from the northern tunnel with a full load.
It’s too windy to steam up the externally fired Milly-class No 2. So the Boulton is in service. (I may try steaming up the Regner later, otherwise steam will have to wait for tomorrow when the wind is due to drop.)
The rhododendron is in bloom and the daisies are celebrating the lax mowing regime of the local landowner…
Sent from my electric telephone.
Chough ran out of gas in the tunnel
This is where the Boulton comes to the rescue.
Now with radio control, the Boulton hauls the broken down train home.
Although I spent most of the day making holes, it seems a shame not to have a steam up. Chough was in steam shortly after 9pm and is still running in the dusk.
Sent from my electric telephone.
Slightly off topic, but this is why I haven’t posted any photos of playing trains today – I’ve been busy working on the extension.
This phase of the extension includes gaining access to the shed for stock storage.
Access gained.
Then main line will pass through a wall – another hole needed!
Both holes together.
View from the shed looking towards the current limit of the extension….
No 5 recently arrived on the Moel Rhos.
I’ve been eyeing up a Boulton for a while – the Moel Rhos needed a heavy battery loco for line clearing. With just one operational battery loco during lockdown (No 1 Gannet) reduced to 2 WD after the belt snapped – the urgency for the new loco increased. What if No 1 had a failure? The consequences would be catastrophic (i.e. locked down and having to wait to get up steam every time I want to play trains).
I’m delighted with the Boulton which is fully capable of hauling a dead Millie plus train. But it’s not as geared down as I expected and reacts to the sharp curves and even the minimal inclines on my line. If it stalls you can’t just wait for it to brew up like a steamer. Inevitably this occurs in the tunnels or the cutting. I feel it needs to be driven on my line, so RC needed. Fortunately I’d planned to do that anyway and had already ordered a Deltang Rx65c.
Next job is to fit it. Providing I can find my soldering iron…
