Cwmbach on a shelf in N…

Brace yourselves, this is something new breaking cover, not just a sketch but now a collection of stock and a physical.mock up. South Wales, coal and N gauge. Welcome to Cwmbach…

Ever since I embarked on the crazy cut down 08 project last year this project, in some form, has been somewhat inevitable. Especially when the 08 was joined by some lovely HEAs from Will at Coventry Rail Works and later still, a pair of cut down 03s and some 16t minerals… but I just couldn’t settle on anything that felt right for the space available. Balancing operation with visual presentation my previous effort didn’t work in N, the scenic area felt too small - the amount of off to on stage with the size of the models would be 1/3s on a Lack shelf… so a visual centre of just 35cm.

I always marvel at how well my first book distills the journey of layout planning - for whilst the prototype appealed, the scale and location in the home had not been fixed. Once they had, the presentation height and style of layout then allowed an idea to evolve that feels right. It tells an interesting story and I want to make it!

So what you’re looking at is a coal disposal point, loosely inspired by Cwmmawr. A train arrives from stage right, the locomotive runs around, then propels its train into an off stage head shunt (3 at a time). These are then pushed, loaded, back under the screens, by hand. In this way an empty train is loaded… it could be done in reverse too, as if the site also has a washery. In this presentation the stage right is inspired by Cwmmawr with a small road crossing and trees. I’ve swapped the stabling track from front to back, which gives a longer siding for trains to be assembled.

Stage left, under a colliery screen, hides a small off stage two track traverser. This allows a loco to run around and the train to be loaded/unloaded. The traverser will be sized for three HEAs at a time, or four 16t minerals.

Regulars may remember I built Gerald Road Mk1 in this space. That failed as the train seemed lost in the scene… what is different here? Three things. First, the trains will be set about an inch above the shelf, so will feel closer to the viewing centre of the shelf, second, the viewing window is narrower with the off scene stage right, and three, most importantly, the trains are much longer. It is this juxtaposition of long trains in a small space that appeals I think. 

A slight scope creep has seen another 08 ordered - to become an ex Powell Duffryn RMS Locotec hire, and a trio of Rapido OAA which will donate their chassis to some Russell coal containers from the N gauge Society… in the grand scheme of things this feels an allowable diversion!

Even better than these mock ups will be when wood is cut - in the next few weeks - as I’ve got the commission layout build to start and, well, I’ll have all the tools out! I hope you’re as excited as I am to be working on a new build. That reminds me, I must finish of Denton Road as well (!) this holiday… anyhow, until next time, more soon…

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