Pont-y-dulais, February 2002...

It is February, and the air is cold. The internet forums advised that a movement was expected on the old colliery spur at Pont-y-dulais in South Wales, and as an enthusiast of both the current and past of Britain's railway network this was a fantastic opportunity...

The branchline leaves the South Wales main line just west of Pontlliw and heads north, curving sharply to the site of the former colliery exchange sidings. A little further, an old access road provides a chance to get up close but as you pull your Citroen Saxo VTR into the lane the sound of squealing rails and a classic English Electric working hard on the damp and rusty rails. Approaching the level crossing, being careful to avoid the pot-holes and puddles in the ash covered lane, you see what was making all the fuss as 08543 enthusiastically passes over the crossing and behind the old engine shed, now used a as a machine shop for a local Engineering firm. Luckily for posterity your digital camera, a Canon Ixus V (a gift for your 21st birthday) was on the passenger seat so a hastily grabbed photo through the windscreen will have to suffice... swinging the Saxo into the yard you spin round quickly and head further up the line to see if you can glimpse the working to the former Planet Industrials chemical works siding, a proving run in anticipation of a new traffic flow, the result of EWS courting for less than trainload business under it's 'Enterprise' initiative.

This is an ageing Bachmann 08 I've dug out from my Paxton Road days, investigating it's performance and potential for a gentle 'repaint' into BR blue to be of more use on my various projects. However, it's nice to see that despite being a little older than some of my other models it runs very well indeed, no doubt thanks to it's weight chassis, low revving motor and flywheel.

Being able to turn a memory, or inspiration like this into a workable and enjoyable scene is great fun. I find that by looking for the emotional connection to why I make railway models, I'm able to add to the enjoyment and understand what is motivating me, which seems to ensure projects are completed (and sometimes discarded), either way brought to a pleasing conclusion.

If I can help with either the realisation of that dream model locomotive, the key actor for your layout, or perhaps the layout design itself, then get in touch for a personal proposal. In the meantime, more soon...