Tan-y-Bwlch

By Richard Holder. Tan-y-Bwlch Station is the half-way point on the Ffestiniog Railway’s route between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog. During the year, the railway organises a number of special events, and in recent years, in early October, there has been a “Bygones Weekend”. Many special trains run, including gravity slate trains, demonstration goods trains, and passenger trains which feature many of the railway’s heritage coaching stock. This model features such a weekend at Tan-y-Bwlch Station. Some of the locos and rolling stock are ready-to-run from manufacturers including Bachmann, Heljan, Kato and Peco. Other coaches and wagons are kit-built using either brass, plastic or 3D printed parts. The diesel loco “Harlech Castle” was built from a kit from Fourdees and runs on a Graham Farish 08 diesel chassis. All the locos are sound-fitted and are operated using DCC (Digital Command Control). Whilst the model is not accurate in every little detail, it is hoped that those who are familiar with the station, will immediately recognise the key features and the surrounding scenery. The familiar S-shaped tracks that run through the station have had to be ‘flattened out’ somewhat to fit the track-plan into the space available Some of the buildings have been scratch-built using plastic sheets and detailing parts, whilst others use 3D prints from MS Models. Most of the trees have been constructed from Woodland Scenics materials, and others have been purchased online from the 4D Model Shop, the Model Tree Shop, K & M Trees, and from Primo Trees.