THE NORTH-WEST WALES 16mm MODEL RAILWAY GROUP
A GROUP WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF 16mm NARROW GAUGE MODELLERS
THE SLING AND LAVAN TRAMWAY
A 32mm Gauge Railway built by
Mike and Caroline Barton
All photographs courtesy of Mike Barton, except where noted otherwise.
The Latest News Update:
The Sling and Lavan Tramway is a 32mm gauge line with continuous running and shunting facilities. It is partly at ground level but with a steam up bay raised above ground level by approximately 1000mm, and other sections raised by between approximately 300mm - 1200mm above ground level. It has a minimum track radius on the main line of approximately 4 ft. and the loading gauge clearances are 150 mm width and 180 mm height. There is no track power on this line. The ruling gradient on this line is approximately 1:50.
Mike's description of how he built the "Sling Uchaf" station building is described in the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers Model of the Month for March 2018 which may be found at https://www.16mm.org.uk/2018/03/01/march-2018-new-station-building-apologise-inconvenience/
Mike's description of how he built his 45mm gauge steam crane is described in the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers Model of the Month for August 2016 which may be found at https://www.16mm.org.uk/2016/08/01/august-2016-a-steam-crane-wagon/
An article describing Mike's refurbishment of his "Sir Christopher Wren" locomotive appeared in 16mm Today (SMT), the Journal of the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers, No. 169, November 2018.
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Mike provided a video of his Metrovic "Sir Christopher Wren" for the Easter 2020 virtual meet-up, and says -
"Another windy day, and so it was decided that Sir Christopher Wren would be required to take a heavy goods train up the valley to the freshly ballasted goods yard at the top station. The train is just about as long as can be accommodated in the Sling Uchaf run round loop. Apologies for the camera angle in the middle, which slightly exaggerates the gradient of Stoat’s Bank!"
The video can be viewed at the link below :
Mike reports:
"Whatever happened to August? The weather has continued to be 'difficult' - until the last few days! The fine days have seemed to be few and far between and when they did come garden maintenance (hedge and grass cutting mainly) along with domestic and family needs left little time for outdoor work on the Tramway. But progress has been made: the line is now restored and ballasted up to the Cae Mawr crossing. A few trains have been run on the lower loop, including a session with the coal fired engine. Initial clearance of line side vegetation and an application of weed-killer have taken place at the top station and loop which means that at least the track can now be seen again! The residual dead moss and grass is still being removed from the track, following which fresh ballast will be tamped into place. With the forecast looking favourable (now that the schools are about to re-start!) it is hoped trains will be running all round the line again by early September.
It's certainly been good to have a few indoor projects for the wet days this summer. The one seen below arose out of the need to create a new platform for Felin Hen station. Years ago I cut a selection of small slate blocks using an electric tile cutter. Some were used to 'temporarily' provide a platform edge at the station, whilst the rest were used to build a short length of retaining wall for part of the track bed elsewhere. The wall didn't work as it is very difficult to successfully join slate with cement mortar and the platform edging didn't work because it hadn't been fixed down! All the blocks were recovered during the recent track restoration works and an idea was hatched to try again to use them all for new platform edging. All that was needed was a way to hold them in place and with level top faces – easier said than done as the slate pieces are in a variety of thicknesses.
A length of glass fibre roofing sheet was salvaged from the house building work two years ago. Not a large piece but when cut into strips, shaped to follow the track, it was enough to provide a “base” for each of the lines of slate blocks along the two sides of the platform. The blocks were cleaned up, sorted and arranged to line up on the base pieces. So far, so good – but how to ensure the top faces of the blocks were level, given their variable thicknesses? The curve of the platform was marked onto a length of plastic faced chipboard and double-sided carpet tape was stuck along the line. The blocks were stuck onto the tape along the line of the curve and with the “top” (good) sides down. Then the exposed faces of the blocks and the glass fibre strips were thoroughly cleaned and a waterproof, fast grab, strong, flexible, squidgy adhesive was applied to the slate blocks and the relevant strip of glass fibre 'base' was pressed down onto them. Once the adhesive was dry and the strength had developed, the slates were gently peeled off the double-sided tape. Fortunately the bond between the slates and the glass fibre held firm and so the slates were then fixed in a line to match the curve of the track and with level top faces – all ready to be positioned on site. The strips of slate blocks were then positioned with temporary pieces of slate etc underneath to ensure the correct level relative to the track and with sufficient clearances for rolling stock. Off-cuts of glass fibre were glued across to hold the strips in position and then a cement mortar was used to fill underneath to support the strips. The next stage is to fill in the platform area with cement mortar/ fine concrete. Time will tell if this idea actually works! But at least it has provided an interesting project to execute on dreary wet days!"
Clearance and track restoration work in progress along the Boundary Curves, above.
Below, coal firing again - at last!!
Above, slate blocks being laid onto tape in preparation for sticking to the glass fibre base strips.
Below, platform edges in position at Felin Hen and awaiting cement infill.
Below, clearance of moss and grass from the track at Sling Uchaf station.