Cut down: Operational BP&G ideas…

The idea of modelling a cut-down 03 has been nagging at me for several months, since I built the 08 last year. The currently bargain priced British Industrial Sand liveried Farish 03 means I now have a pair(!!) awaiting modification, and so it begins…

Whilst not pictured here I picked up the Oakwood book on the railway at Aberystwyth - and have enjoyed digging around on the internet, re-discovering the inspiration that has previously gotten under my skin  - only fuelling the fire further…

I’ve pondered a layout based upon the BP&G but set in the colliery and this misses out on the ex-canal atmosphere of the railway that really sets this prototype apart. Rice created a wonderful spare room sized scheme for 4mm scale (published in RailModel Digest issue 2) which has always excited me… however I recognise the problem here is I don’t have a space in mind to develop a layout beyond the usual shelf based cameo… 

Why do I design small layouts? because I have the space to build them - and so I find larger schemes difficult to flesh out beyond the conceptual stage - remember from my first book? The marriage of space and prototype… Find a space in your home and then match the scale and prototype. 

I don’t have space for anything larger.

So the sketches today are more a sense of intent, a gentle exploration of ideas but nothing concrete. Instead, what follows is likely to be something Mosslanda based to test ideas on track because I want to model a semi-flooded scene - in N! Alongside that, the idea of converting the pair of Farish 03, permanently connecting them together and wiring their pickups mirrors the semi-permanent pairings on the prototype. 03119/03141 are my likely duo at present, and rather than buy more vacuum braked hoppers I’ll use the Farish 16t MCOs I have plus a few more… so let’s see, gently, without expectation, where this journey and experimentation leads.

A contrast to Denton Road and Gerald Road - for sure - perhaps a natural evolution from Traeth Hafren and Mchowisko? Whatever, I love model railways and making things. More, sharing that with you all. Until next time, more soon…

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