A 7mm/ft scale model based on the Corris Railway
The Corris Railway is a narrow gauge railway whose origins date back to the 1850's. The line was initially built as a horse-and-gravity-worked tramroad to carry slate from the quarries of Corris Uchaf and Aberllefenni in southern Merionethshire to the nearest navigable point on the Afon Dyfi (River Dovey), where it was loaded into ships and carried to its diverse destinations. In the 1860's the line ceased to deliver direct to shipping, and instead transhipped its slate to the standard gauge railway at Machynlleth, in western Montgomeryshire. A semi-official passenger service, using adapted wagons, started in the early 1870s
I started construction of this model railway, measuring 2 metres long by 500mm wide at the beginning of covid lockdown. Fortunately I did have a stock of materials, track etc. with the intention of building this layout having sold my first 7mm layout in February 2020. Not that I was aware that lockdown was coming!
My railway dates to about 1900 and assumes that Corris still shipped slate by coastal freighters on the River Dovey estuary. Also I imagined that the railway extends south to Aberystwyth for passenger traffic and the delivery of slate slabs to the slate enamelling studios there. The trans-shipment point on the River Dovey was called Cei Ward [pronounced as in English Quay Ward] and as my mother's maiden name was Ward this had to be the place to model!
Track and points are from Peco "OO" 16.5mm gauge, which equates very nearly in scale to the 2'-3" gauge of the Corris Railway. Locomotives are mainly resin/3D printed kits mounted on proprietary motorised chassis. Rolling stock is all kit built. Scenery is very limited to foam base covered with DAS clay, painted and static grass/ballast/slate debris applied. The buildings are kits and scratch built using 5mm thick foamboard faced with slate effect. The ships are made from card and plastic based on "Clyde Puffer" design of coastal freighter.
The layout operates on 12 volt DC analogue, divided into four feed sections together with isolation sections in strategic locations. The control panel is built into a sliding drawer which pulls out from under the layout. Points are operated from levers adjacent to each point by hand, the layout being small enough to easily reach them.
I do not operate the railway to a timetable, mainly shunting of various trains into the various sidings with the occasional passenger train passing through. All great fun!
Do visit the Corris Railway website: corris.co.uk
Sacks of flour produced by miller Thomas Evans being loaded into a box van for onward delivery by rail to the enamelling studios in Aberystwyth. Foreman Glyn Lewis oversees lowering of sacks by the hoist.
Bagnell "Pampero" class 0-6-0T engine No. 19 awaits in the platform with Corris Railway special coaches and brake van.
Slate men Hugh, Pugh & Barney ponder where this new arrival of slate can be stacked. Megan the mermaid watches the dockside activity. Idris Jones has fallen asleep again.
The busy Ffordd yr Orsaf [High Street] with Kerr Stuart "Joffre" 0-6-0T No. 18 threading its way though with a down train; Postman Will Edwards tries to deliver a letter to dear old Mrs Morris, who is a bit deaf and determined to scrub her step until it shines; Constable George Owen is keeping an eye on Dai Moist emerging from the "Trwsio Drwm" [Mended Drum] public house a bit the worse for wear. Perhaps Dai should have kept to the milk from Mr Dafydd Thomas, the milkman.
Bagnell "Pampero" class 0-6-0 No. 19 taking water before departing south to Aberystwyth. A local mixed train passes on the loop. Bill Davies & Penry Jones busy sawing up a fallen lineside tree. Glyn Lewis operates the hoist lowering sacks of flour from the mill.
An overview of the dockside scene with SS "Sarah" being unloaded of coal and SS "Maggie" has brought in general goods including timber, sheep, barrels of beer, crates of vegetables, etc. Both ships will be taking away roofing slates already being collected on the quayside. There is even more slate in the sheds beyond.