Fabulous Ffestiniog
The Conwy Valley Line offers an abundance of things to model, but how do you choose what to include and what to leave out? Paul A. Lunn describes his selection methods.
The Conwy Valley Line offers an abundance of things to model. Paul A. Lunn shows you what to include – and leave out.
Our dramatic lines have so far focused on the landscape through which they pass. But the drama for this subject comes from its 13 stations, two viaducts, plate girder bridges, numerous river/stream crossings, several tunnels and three or four freight facilities. Oh, and a narrow gauge interchange. This is the Conwy Valley line, which meanders through the valley of its namesake river south from Llandudno Junction before punching through the slate-rich mountains to Blaenau Ffestiniog, where it continues to snake south to the very rural spot of Trawsfynydd. I’ve selected the stretch between Llanrwst and Trefrw to Trawsfynydd due to the sheer amount of interesting infrastructure, the unlikely home of a nuclear power station. The first task I undertake with any prototypical layout design is to identify key locations and interesting operational features. Sometimes I come up short, and I either abandon the scheme or add a lot of fictional elements to create a viable layout. Sometimes, however, I’m faced with an overwhelming amount of detail and information, and this is one of those times. Realistically, it would be impossible to include everything, not only because of cost, time and space, but also because it would become boring and repetitive. To avoid this I use a selective process which, on the Conwy Valley line, looks like this: Choose a station based on its setting – for example, Roman Bridge because it’s scenically dramatic, Blaenau Ffestiniog because of its operational potential or Dolwyddelan because it has an interesting island platform. If you have multiple viaducts or tunnels, choose one of each. The unique hewn rock tunnel near Roman Bridge is a must, together with the dramatically situated southern entrance of Ffestiniog Tunnel, in preference to those at Pont-y-pant. Choose your era carefully. Personally I’d go for the diesel era so your trains can be transporting everything from nuclear waste and gunpowder to logs and ballast for riverside erosion protection. Saving the best until last, choose your scenic locations, for example between Maentwrog Road and Llan Ffestiniog, the slate tips at Blaenau Ffestiniog,
between the north end of Ffestiniog Tunnel and Roman Bridge, and wherever the line and River Conwy are in close proximity.
LOCATION, LOCATION
Always consider a location’s orientation and circumstances to get the best fit on the baseboard. For example, Glan Conway, Betws-y-coed and Dolwyddelan are on long straights with mirrored curves at each end, so they’re ideal for an oval format layout. Other highlights include Tal-y-cafn, which is on a sweeping curve and suitable for an oval format, while there are several 90º turns, ideal for layout corners, between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Maentwrog Road. There’s a 180º turn near Afon Tiegl and again near Afon Cynfal – suitable for a traditional baseboard end semi-circle. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the orientation and benefits (or lack thereof) for each location it’s time to start designing. Whatever you choose, keep all locations in sequential order. Above right: Maentwrog Road – it was common practice to propel the flask wagons to Trawsfynydd so they would be in the correct position for shunting. Dutch and Railfreight-liveried Class 31s provide variety on the last leg of the journey. The rather sinister shape of the Magnox power station is at odds with the beautiful North Wales scenery. Right: Maentwrog Road – this diminutive goods shed still survives and it is now the headquarters of a preservation society. The short siding nearby was used for transferring gunpowder by road from the Nobel explosives works at Penrhyndeudraeth to rail for onward shipment until the 1980s, when fire damage brought production to a complete halt. When gunpowder traffic ceased, a temporary platform was built over the siding in order to run a Sunday public service.