Neil
Western Thunderer
Three years ago I wrote a short piece on Shell island for Model Trains International. As it's not widely circulated I thought it might have enough interest to merit sharing here.
A leisurely breakfast and the 11:55 train out of Barmouth followed by a two-mile walk have brought us to the harbour at Shell Island. The road from Talwrn Bach halt gave us glimpses of the line as it loops across the flat coastal plain. As we get closer to the harbour and the end of the line from Talwrn Bach we can hear the chuntering of a diesel on idle. Waiting at the buffers is one of the industrial shunters, a Planet of 1950?s vintage.
[attachment=7:iqywnp5x]rts1.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
After a while another note joins in the mechanical chorus, growing steadily in intensity. Trip 7J16 rolls slowly into the sidings, the ubiquitous class 24 pushing its train ahead of it; the line to Shell Island being worked as a long siding off the coast line. Similar practises are engaged in forty miles to the north, on the Dyserth branch of the Chester to Holyhead main line.
[attachment=6:iqywnp5x]rts2.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
There?s unusual traffic on offer today in the shape of a standard 12T van shunted off the pick up. Though we can?t be certain, our best guess that it?s stores for RAE Llanbedr, the inheritors of the airfield. Their business is target towing and the launch of pilot-less drones for the same purpose; all?s quiet though so it looks like there are no ops today.
[attachment=5:iqywnp5x]rts3.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
While the Planet is away shuffling trucks 5091 drops back onto its train with the characteristic Sulzer burble and splutter. A more pleasant spot for the train crew to wait time would be hard to imagine with the sea and sand on one side, the mountains of Snowdonia building on the landward horizon and distant views of the Lleyn Peninsula.
[attachment=4:iqywnp5x]rts4.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
After some time the Planet re-appears pushing a pair of gunpowder vans. The whole train creaks and pitches over the pointwork where the road crosses the sidings. The salty tang of the seaside gives way to oil and burnt hydrocarbons, but it is still evident in the amount of rust that seems to be gaining ground on the Planet?s paintwork.
[attachment=3:iqywnp5x]rts5.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
The Planet having scuttled away; the crew of 5091 drop onto the vans and add them to the mineral and brake van in the far siding. It?s a pretty leisurely affair, the day?s too hot to hurry and we?re about as far away from the top brass as it?s possible to get.
[attachment=2:iqywnp5x]rts6.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
After coupling up trip 7J16 eases out of the sidings with little fuss, limited maintenance and ungated crossings keep the speed down and three wagons plus brake van hardly tax the 1,160 horsepower that 5091 can bring to bear. The sound of the Sulzer can be heard fading into the distance, as it winds its train round the flat coastal strip back to the junction with the coast line at Talwrn Bach.
[attachment=1:iqywnp5x]rts7.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
Well that?s enough excitement for one day; the caff?s still open and a cup of tea and a slab of cake beckon. It?s not been the busiest days trainspotting we?ve ever had but we?ve managed to get up close and personal to operations, seen British Rail at it?s most leisurely and all in some of the finest scenery these isles have to offer. However we can?t spend too much time contemplating the day, it?s another couple of miles back to our train and if we miss the 18:01 then we?re done for, as it?s the last one of the day.
[attachment=0:iqywnp5x]rts8.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
A leisurely breakfast and the 11:55 train out of Barmouth followed by a two-mile walk have brought us to the harbour at Shell Island. The road from Talwrn Bach halt gave us glimpses of the line as it loops across the flat coastal plain. As we get closer to the harbour and the end of the line from Talwrn Bach we can hear the chuntering of a diesel on idle. Waiting at the buffers is one of the industrial shunters, a Planet of 1950?s vintage.
[attachment=7:iqywnp5x]rts1.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
After a while another note joins in the mechanical chorus, growing steadily in intensity. Trip 7J16 rolls slowly into the sidings, the ubiquitous class 24 pushing its train ahead of it; the line to Shell Island being worked as a long siding off the coast line. Similar practises are engaged in forty miles to the north, on the Dyserth branch of the Chester to Holyhead main line.
[attachment=6:iqywnp5x]rts2.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
There?s unusual traffic on offer today in the shape of a standard 12T van shunted off the pick up. Though we can?t be certain, our best guess that it?s stores for RAE Llanbedr, the inheritors of the airfield. Their business is target towing and the launch of pilot-less drones for the same purpose; all?s quiet though so it looks like there are no ops today.
[attachment=5:iqywnp5x]rts3.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
While the Planet is away shuffling trucks 5091 drops back onto its train with the characteristic Sulzer burble and splutter. A more pleasant spot for the train crew to wait time would be hard to imagine with the sea and sand on one side, the mountains of Snowdonia building on the landward horizon and distant views of the Lleyn Peninsula.
[attachment=4:iqywnp5x]rts4.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
After some time the Planet re-appears pushing a pair of gunpowder vans. The whole train creaks and pitches over the pointwork where the road crosses the sidings. The salty tang of the seaside gives way to oil and burnt hydrocarbons, but it is still evident in the amount of rust that seems to be gaining ground on the Planet?s paintwork.
[attachment=3:iqywnp5x]rts5.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
The Planet having scuttled away; the crew of 5091 drop onto the vans and add them to the mineral and brake van in the far siding. It?s a pretty leisurely affair, the day?s too hot to hurry and we?re about as far away from the top brass as it?s possible to get.
[attachment=2:iqywnp5x]rts6.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
After coupling up trip 7J16 eases out of the sidings with little fuss, limited maintenance and ungated crossings keep the speed down and three wagons plus brake van hardly tax the 1,160 horsepower that 5091 can bring to bear. The sound of the Sulzer can be heard fading into the distance, as it winds its train round the flat coastal strip back to the junction with the coast line at Talwrn Bach.
[attachment=1:iqywnp5x]rts7.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
Well that?s enough excitement for one day; the caff?s still open and a cup of tea and a slab of cake beckon. It?s not been the busiest days trainspotting we?ve ever had but we?ve managed to get up close and personal to operations, seen British Rail at it?s most leisurely and all in some of the finest scenery these isles have to offer. However we can?t spend too much time contemplating the day, it?s another couple of miles back to our train and if we miss the 18:01 then we?re done for, as it?s the last one of the day.
[attachment=0:iqywnp5x]rts8.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]