Steam Engine Therapy

I am fortunate in that my better half is happy for me occasionally to head over to Tywyn for a few days volunteering on the Talyllyn Railway solo, to concentrate on getting a few turns in. Whilst the family weren’t with me, the railway’s web cams means there is no complete escape. 

Departing Abergynolwyn - Photo Steve Bowers

Appropriately, having just built a layout for my Fletcher Jennings locos and Corris style carriages to run on, I enjoyed a week of 1860’s antique kettles, being rostered to drive both our Fletcher Jennings locos and on one day, drove the set that included the Corris carriage. 

Departing Tywyn Wharf Wednesday morning - Photo Steve Bowers

Arriving Sunday evening, after unpacking there was just time to take a walk along the prom at sunset. 

Monday saw not me driving No 2 ‘Dolgoch’ with the added bonus that after a few weeks absence, custard slices were now back in stock. The Aber cafe staff taking advantage of my weakness for these!

Tuesday and Wednesday saw me on ‘Dolgoch’ again, with the sun making an appearance and the latter becoming quite warm. 

Towards the end of last season, our loco fleet was all looking a tad green, with the standard green livery (a figment of 1950’s preservationists imagination) becoming prominent. Whilst some like it, personally I prefer a bit more colour and it pleases me that in recent years, the usually conservative TR has thought a bit outside of the box. No 4 ‘Edward Thomas’ has just returned in KS works grey, the livery it was delivered to the Corris in when new and was sat at the back of the shed awaiting the boiler inspector to visit. Once it has a boiler ticket, commissioning will take place (the VoR sadly not being 2ft 3in gauge) and return to traffic all being well in time for the peak season. No 1 ‘Talyllyn’ has gone a Great Eastern style blue livery and will be a marmite style livery with some loving it and some not. I was unsure at first…

But seeing it highly polished and out in the sunshine, I’m won over. As are the majority of passengers I’ve spoken to about it. My daughter is also won over. Mind you, it’s only a coat of paint and will at some point be painted over for those who don’t like it. The hand painted name on the tank is particularly well done. 

Thursday saw me rostered to drive No 1 on the ‘Slate Trail’ Victorian service with the vintage set. It’s a decade since our falling out and I’m pleased to report that No 1 purred along all day, in fine fettle and was safely returned to the shed that night. 

Friday saw me enjoying a day’s Blocking at Brynglas. Less tiring and with an earlier finish time it’s a good turn to enjoy before heading back home afterwards. 

The newsagent at Tywyn is an excellent stockist of railway and model railway titles. Calling in Friday morning (alongside Tywyn bakery) I picked up the latest issue of Narrow Gauge World magazine that contains an excellent write up of the 7mmNGA Burton exhibition and a photograph of ‘Wheal Ponder’.

Had to be careful at Brynglas mind…. One of the local red kites was interested in my lunch!

As you would expect, there was also some socialising to be had. Earlier this year, the Railway Inn at Abergynolwyn reopened and the opportunity was taken to pop up for a bite to eat and a drink one evening. 

The beer selection is great and the place is highly recommended if you’re in the area. 

Two Moose’s and ‘Happy Panda Ale’

A box of stock was also taken down. My friend Chris, who helped operate ‘Wheal Ponder’ at Burton lives in Tywyn. About twenty years ago he built a layout ‘Hensbarrow’, Cornish china clay and part of the fictitious Trenarren and Hensbarrow Railway. It appeared at Burton in 2007 and 2012 and I helped operate it at a few shows. Chris lived in Cornwall before moving to Wales and is currently rebuilding the layout and refreshing the scenery so a revamped ‘Hensbarrow’ will hopefully appear at Burton again soon. 

It was good to compare my FJ locos with his ‘Hensbarrow’ built from a Wrightlines Dolgoch kit. One of which I do possess, so maybe my building of FJ locos isn’t completed finished just yet. 

Back home I shall be getting back to the modelling bench. There’s more Iconic Rail kits to build…