Barry and Penarth Model Railway Club

Members layouts - K: Cwmderi

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All photos on this page courtesy of Gwynne Chivers

Cwmderi featured in the February 2009 edition of Hornby Magazine

images taken by Mike Wild, the editor, are on a separate page

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Cwmderi is at the head of a valley on the NW edge of the South Wales coalfield. Since the closure of Pwll-y-Dderwen colliery - where the 'mid-level' lines once ran - the tourist industry for the visitor and outward-bound centre at Y Plas generates sufficient traffic to warrant through services from the Swansea to Fishguard main line, as well as the local services. Cwrtmynach Quarry provides a high volume of traffic through its reception sidings (high level) as well as receiving supplies by rail because of its remote location. The old steam shed has been replaced by a diesel stabling and fuelling point. The trackwork is as it was when it was re-aligned not long after the end of steam services, and is normally operated in the ‘BR Blue’ just after the introduction of ‘TOPS’ and some pre-TOPS numbers are still in evidence. The signalling has recently been modernised as part of an area scheme and full multiple-aspect colour light signalling is in evidence.

('Cwmderi' is the name of the town in which the BBC Wales (Welsh Language) soap 'Pobol-y-Cwm', produced for S4C, is set.)

Trackplan of Cwmderi

Now to the layout itself. It is based on nowhere in particular although it is intended to be somewhat typical of the confined layouts that the railway builders were forced into by the lack of ground space available in some of the South Wales valley areas. Trackwork is all Peco code 75, with all buildings being scratch-built from plasticard. Train operation is by Lenz DCC but all pointwork and signalling is controlled by a ‘traditional’ control panel/switch arrangement. All stock is fitted with Kadee® couplings for hands-free shunting operations with some of the wagons and coaches working as fixed rakes.

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