I would like to kick this post off by thanking you all for your kind comments and best wishes during my recent stay in hospital. I was shown the door on Monday and since then I've been enjoying the pleasures of home for the first time this year. In the past I have been rather critical of our health service but the quality of care that I have received has been superb, so I take my hat off to all the staff involved in my well being, along with those behind the scenes who make everything possible, thank you, one and all.
Anyway whilst lazing around in bed between tests, treatment and surgery I've done an awful lot of prototype railway reading and pondering my future modelling plans. It was whilst re-reading the late Bill Rears book titled 'Corwen to Rhyl' that I came across this rather delightful photo taken in the Eyarth gorge near Ruthin in North Wales.
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In this view an ex Midland 3F tender loco is in charge of the local pick up goods, but please don't read too much into that and imagine a Pannier tank is hard at work. At this particular spot rail, road and river are fighting for space as they wind their way through the twisting gorge. Now it struck me that this scene might be a better alternative for Llangunllo Mk 2 than the one at Talybont-on-Usk. For much as I like the latter I can't help thinking that perhaps too much is happening in such a short space, and having made a similar mistake with the original Llangunllo its certainly given me food for thought? At the moment a quick mock up is out of the question but watch this space once I'm firing on all cylinders again.
On a different note I would like to draw your attention, to what in my opinion is a wonderfully, entertaining book titled 'Belles and Whistles' by Andrew Martin. My copy was picked up by my wife from 'The Works' for the give away price of £3. You can find what the Guardian thinks of this book here, go on treat yourself you won't be disappointed.
Anyway whilst lazing around in bed between tests, treatment and surgery I've done an awful lot of prototype railway reading and pondering my future modelling plans. It was whilst re-reading the late Bill Rears book titled 'Corwen to Rhyl' that I came across this rather delightful photo taken in the Eyarth gorge near Ruthin in North Wales.
In this view an ex Midland 3F tender loco is in charge of the local pick up goods, but please don't read too much into that and imagine a Pannier tank is hard at work. At this particular spot rail, road and river are fighting for space as they wind their way through the twisting gorge. Now it struck me that this scene might be a better alternative for Llangunllo Mk 2 than the one at Talybont-on-Usk. For much as I like the latter I can't help thinking that perhaps too much is happening in such a short space, and having made a similar mistake with the original Llangunllo its certainly given me food for thought? At the moment a quick mock up is out of the question but watch this space once I'm firing on all cylinders again.
On a different note I would like to draw your attention, to what in my opinion is a wonderfully, entertaining book titled 'Belles and Whistles' by Andrew Martin. My copy was picked up by my wife from 'The Works' for the give away price of £3. You can find what the Guardian thinks of this book here, go on treat yourself you won't be disappointed.