Rails to Black Rock

Construction of the baseboards took place in summer 2011 and since then intermittent progress has resulted in the bare bones of the layout being in place. The track has been laid using C&L components, including the turnouts. The turnouts are activated by slow motion motors which are all wired and functioning at this stage. The fiddle yard still needs to laid; the intention is to provide a sector plate as an initial solution but something more substantial may be required when the layout is eventually exhibited.

This general view shows the harbour area with extended sea wall in the foreground. This is one of the few changes made to the landscape suggesting that at some point a small amount of slate may have departed from the village. The row of fishermen's cottages to the left are being built to represent the properties in the 1920's before one of the houses was extended to the rear.

The aim has been to build a small amount of rolling stock; enough to test the track work and then to concentrate on the scenery and buildings. Palmerston is constructed from a Malcolm Savage kit back in 2000. The Chassis suffers from the Alan Gibson wheels being slightly distorted and will need replacing or updating before it can be trusted for exhibition running. The name plates were made by Narrow Planet in 5.5 mm scale

The station throat looking from the Porthmadog end of the layout. The turnouts here are activated by wire in tube from the motors which are situated above ground level. The motors will eventually be hidden by buildings. Whilst the turnouts are made from cut down C&L timber tracks kits, the tie bars are from 3SMR and whilst not fine scale offer a more sturdy solution for long term use. The 4mm scale chairs make a good representation of Ffestiniog chaired track; certainly more convincing than 009 ready to lay track. Whilst the 12mm gauge is not fine scale (It should be 11mm for the Ffestiniog's 2' gauge) it offers a good happy medium for modelling a wide variety of narrow gauge stock in the same way as 009. From the side view it will not look out of place, especially as so much of it will be buried beneath soil and grass.