Llangerran - a West Wales idyll by Ken Gibbons

Pennine MC

Western Thunderer
Just a few rough snaps of this for now, these were done to assist Pete Rigby with publicity for the Rochdale show this last February. Dan mentioned 'New Quay' and as Ken says, Lllangerran is effectively a 'grown up' version of it, being a sort of composite inspired by the lines west of Carmarthen. Despite its simple trackplan, it's surprisingly absorbing to operate.

Starting at the east end of the layout, a 47 stands on arrival from Paddington.  Since the extension of the 'west'  end fiddleyard, this terminating working has been replaced by a Mk1 rake running through to St Davids, often 33-hauled as was the norm in the area from around 1983.

[attachimg=1]

A 37 engages in some desultory shunting of the MoD siding:

[attachimg=2]

and the classic 'bubblecar' arrives from St Davids past 'Dol Gran Cottage':

[attachimg=3]

These are from the current 1980s sequence, but we are of course keen to get some hydraulics on it 8)
 

Attachments

  • 47 padd.jpg
    47 padd.jpg
    129.7 KB · Views: 272
  • 37 sdg edit.jpg
    37 sdg edit.jpg
    97.4 KB · Views: 269
  • bubble at cottage.jpg
    bubble at cottage.jpg
    79.3 KB · Views: 268

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
Pennine MC said:
  but we are of course keen to get some hydraulics on it 8)

Yes that would be nice  :D 8) 8) 8) Could you tell us what is the overall length of the layout & what length of train runs right through on the 33 hauled trains to Exeter ?

Great layout, as is New Quay  :thumbs:

Cheers Phill  :drool: 
 

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
Pennine MC said:
Despite its simple trackplan, it's surprisingly absorbing to operate.
I think it's a common misconception (especially amongst newcomers to the hobby) that a layout needs a complicated trackplan to be 'interesting' and have good operating potential. :scratch: It's always good to see layouts like this that prove otherwise. :bowdown: :thumbs:
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Ian, Ken, I like that. I do think that in terms of composition it pays to shift the station platforms to one edge of the modelled scene, it gives a far more spacious look to the layout than plonking them dead centre. Works very well here.
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
I always feel that most layouts seem to place things in line with the edge of the baseboards (with good reason) and have parallel tracks and uniform walls, not like the real world where everything ages and becomes a mish mash of different types of rail and different types of stone, new walls spring up that do not look that they have just been built by Robert Mc Alpine. No new housing estates mixed with the old. you know the mundane things we all take for granted

Ian

May I add to my previous comments that this layout seems to give more atmosphere as it does mimic real life i.e. there is room in front of the station, the station is at an angle there is a minor kink in the SDG in the second picture, Perfect!!!!!!!!! just as happened in the 12" to the foot prototype

Ian
 

Dan Randall

Western Thunderer
That looks very nice.  :)  Thanks for posting the pictures Ian - looking forward to some hydraulic era ones in due course.  :thumbs:


Regards

Dan
 
A

andania 213

Guest
Firstly, many thanks to Ian for putting the piccies up.


Phill Dyson said:
Yes that would be nice  :D 8) 8) 8) Could you tell us what is the overall length of the layout & what length of train runs right through on the 33 hauled trains to Exeter ?

Great layout, as is New Quay  :thumbs:

Cheers Phill  :drool: 

Hi Phil, many thanks for the kind comments. Llangerran's 'vital stats', are as follows: length overall is 20', width 21". The scenic section is 10'6" long, the fiddle yards are not equal, the Carmarthen end being a tad under 5', the Saint Davids one is 4'2". The St. Davids Loco hauled's are limited to a 33 or 37 plus 3 Mk1's, though in real life they would have been at least one coach longer.

[/quote]
Jordan said:
I think it's a common misconception (especially amongst newcomers to the hobby) that a layout needs a complicated trackplan to be 'interesting' and have good operating potential. :scratch: It's always good to see layouts like this that prove otherwise. :bowdown: :thumbs:

A fortuitous happenstance in this case!!, Initially, I thought that the thing was going to be as dull as ditchwater to operate!!

Neil said:
Ian, Ken, I like that. I do think that in terms of composition it pays to shift the station platforms to one edge of the modelled scene, it gives a far more spacious look to the layout than plonking them dead centre. Works very well here.

Ta very much Neil, The 'bitsa' station theme is a very useful design tool for those limited of space, though I'd have to credit Rod Hall's 'Llanastr' for planting the idea in my brain, I seriously doubt I could ever be accused of original thought!

Due to Llang being an exhibition layout,it's not kept up permanently, though  I'll try and post some more pics ASAP, I'll certainly be working up some early blue stock for the layout, (including Hydraulics!!),so will keep you posted.

Cheers
Ken Gibbons
 

BCN-Pete

Western Thunderer
Just found this thread/layout - does anyone know if it is still active?

I met Ken at the Stafford show a couple of years ago when I was exhibiting Kyle - he’s another legend alongside Mr Futers who I owe a great deal to for inspiration over the years...
 

MartinWales

Western Thunderer
Very much so!.

Ken is a fellow EM gauge modeller, and Deputy Exhibition Manager of the York Show.

Wepre Park is another of his small layouts, based on the WMCQ in North East Wales
 
Top