Coal in the Dulas…
A few days on from the sale and I’m not sure how I feel about the departure of Pont Dulas. Whilst it was never front and centre I enjoyed my occasional visits to the lush green West Wales country side…
Last week I shared photos of my cut down 08 in the scene, aping the Burry Port and Gwendraeth… today, I share the last photos I took of this wonderful little cameo - featuring the same rather lovely ‘Coventry Railworks’ HEA wagons but this time, behind the modified, lowered and repainted Farish 37.
Perhaps, if anything, the scene is too neat for this ‘modern’ setting. By the time the last of the coal reserves at the local mines were exhausted the Branchline was on its last legs, poorly maintained, overgrown…
The story of the layout and its many re-castings is here - whilst you can read about the 37 here and the wagons here. I’ve sold N gauge layouts before but the departure of Pont Dulas has left a hole in my N gauge layout collection, a country scene to temper the surburban Paxton Road and urban Wrecsam, Gerald Road and Denton Road. Lochdubh is of itself… what next? The latest ‘rabbit hole’ will undoubtedly lead to a cameo - but the first chapter of that story is yet to be written. Until next time, more soon…
Instead, here we have a rose tinted view as 37796 takes empties up one last time. She will return this afternoon with the loaded train and the final chapter of the story of this country backwater will be closed.
Support my work
I love writing and creating material for the blog. If you enjoy what you read and engage with I would be appreciative of any donation, large or small, to help me keep it advert and restriction free. Alternatively, feel free to buy me a coffee.
Hi James. Pont Dulas was one of my favourites, very rural feel and those last few pictures are great. The bridge was very understated, it oozed rural atmosphere and was particularly convincing. The whole scene was very restrained. It could almost be Cornwall in my eyes. Great stuff. I'm sure it's replacement will be just as good. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom. We will see what the future holds - I need some creative thinking I think, to allow a larger layout in my small space.
DeleteHi James
ReplyDeleteI imagine letting go of a layout can be traumatic and Pont Dulas was so evocative. Perhaps the next could be a rural branch to a cement works a la Barrington or Hope. All those coal wagons and the source of traffic to Paxton Road
Enjoy the weekend
Best regards
Alan
Coal coal coal next… but not settled on how yet…
Delete