Pontarddulais, not Pont-y-dulais…

Five years ago it was all Gordon Edgar’s fault. Some wonderful photos of the NCB industrial railway just west of Swansea at Pontarddulais heading to the colliery at Graig Merthyr. Those inspiring frames developed into my first standard gauge ‘cameo’ layout - named Pont-y-dulais…

Whilst the layout left in 2023 the idea lived on, in track plan at least, evolving through Kohlenbachbrücke and most recently Coalbridge Street. But what of the real Pontarddulais? Despite my travels I’d never visited the area until a week last Friday and my run from Swansea to Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales.

Enjoying my run immensely, having passed Trostre and heading up the estuary I was plunged into darkness unexpectedly, briefly, and emerged crossing a river and slowing for a request stop… ‘Pontarddulais’! It struck me in that moment it would make a great micro shelf layout for someone wanting an excuse for a Farish 150 or Heljan 153!

Whilst today just a single line exists the area was rich with traffic during the peak of coal extraction in the area. There is little to remind us of this today… in a typically green corridor of mature trees it’s hard to even tell you’re in a valley at this point. For the scheme, I’ve peeled some of those trees away from the front edge and placed the platform at the back, allowing us to see the wheels and underframe - the train is always the star… a photo of the road bridge on the backscene behind the railway bridge will place the layout to those who are familiar as well as helping to disguise the end of the river. Off stage fiddle sticks or cassettes would suffice - and for a challenge a different season could be modelled?

I still haven’t started a project for my new Mosslanda shelf, but still, whilst the location appeals I’m not sure a through station is quite what I’m looking for… but perhaps it is just right for you? Or at least you’ve enjoyed reading today’s blog. Until next time, more soon…

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