Yet another iconic photograph from the lens of Bob Masterman, this time showing a blue and yellow liveried HST set 253024 on a Swansea to Paddington service in late August 1981.

The location is interesting as it shows part of the 180 yard Barry Railway viaduct crossing the main line just to the west of St. Fagans. That line ran the 19 miles or so from close to Barry Docks to Trehafod Junction, north of Pontypridd, where it joined the Taff Vale Railway. On its northward journey from Barry, trains would have also travelled through the 1800 yard Wenvoe Tunnel.

Whilst the Barry line still had its track in place, the red brick parapet which ran across the top of the stone work had already been removed prior to its final demolition. I remember walking across it in 1979!

The Ely Link Road from the M4 now takes its place.

COMMENT

More photos than content I think this month as it has been a dry one for news, There’s still a bit to report however, together with photos of more carnage from the life and times of Paul Dally [last month’s were well-received, Paul], the results of the recent modelling competition and one or two other items.

Do remember, if you have news or photographs that you’d like to see in the newsletter, let me know. They are especially useful for ‘dry’ months.

THE LIBRARY

Members visiting the library may have recently seen this recent donation. David Beynon contacted Noel Blows recently to see whether the club might like these Shunter’s Lamps for display and his arm was keenly bitten off [David’s arm, that is…]. Bob Cotton took them home to clean them up and, after a good buff, they came up beautifully.

Whilst these are early British Railways issues, their design follows an established vintage pattern and they look far older than they actually are. They are three-aspect lamps, with a movable green / red / clear screen, and we are hugely grateful to David for his kind gesture.

THE RECENT CURRY NIGHT

A good number attended this event at the Mumtaz Restaurant in Mumbles and whilst the service was perhaps a little slow, the food was excellent. Many thanks to Rob Pendry for organising the event. Don’t forget, too, that John Allnutt is organising the club’s Annual Dinner in [probably] June at Norton House. More details on that event in due course.

THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY TRIP

A coach has now been booked for this event on Sunday the 5th. May 2024.

Any who have yet to book must have their names on the form on the club’s noticeboard by close-of-play on Thursday the 25th. April. By that date, fully-refundable £10 cash deposits will need to have been paid: Martin Evans will collect them on Wednesday the 24th. April and I on the 25th. Deposits to secure seats will be refunded on the day of travel.

Details and timings for the day will be e-mailed to all travelling during the week before the event.

NEATH MODEL RAILWAY CLUB

Dave Roberts, of Neath MRC, contacted us recently to advise of the club’s change of address. Originally located at the Cefn Coed Mining Museum, whose future is sadly most uncertain, the club has now been offered the use of several rooms at the now closed Infants’ School, School Road, Lower Brynamman. SRMG wishes them the best and it might be good to organise a small club visit once they have settled in. I’ll contact Dave Roberts to see if this will be possible and update members in due course.

THE 2024 MODELLING COMPETITION

Held recently in late March, this year’s event had a frankly disappointing turn-out but the quality of those who did exhibit was high. Given the poor response, a surprise as entries have grown incrementally over the years, we will need to consider whether this event is still wanted by members and this topic will be returned to once further discussions have taken place.

The results, with photographs of all of the prize-winning entries, have been posted on the club’s Facebook page and can be seen there. For those who have not yet been able to view them however, these are the three winning entries, with the Chair’s ‘best-of-the-rest’ award alongside.

In the Diorama Section, First Prize went to Gwion Davies for his impressive GWR Engine Shed Scene.

In the Kit-built section, First Prize went to Evan Hide for his delightful model of ‘Sir Hadyn’. The lining on this loco was particularly impressive we felt.

For the Scratch-built or Radically Altered R-T-R section, First Prize went to Tony Richards for his model of ‘Gloucester Cathedral’, one of the briefly considered but never built GWR Pacific class locos.

And finally, the Chairman’s Prize was awarded to Evan Hide again, for his impressively tiny model of the Corris Railway’s Clayton ‘Aberllefenni’.

Congratulations all and, as mentioned, runner-up entries may be found on the SRMG Facebook page.

AND FINALLY

From Paul Dally’s days as the deputy to the Western Region’s Third Assistant Fishplate Loosener, some more photographs of the havoc and mayhem he caused whilst roaming widely and seemingly without supervision across this part of the region. This time, not even a vulnerable little cut-down 08 escaped his grasp…..

Another photo of the wreckage of the iron ore train which derailed just east of Cardiff Central in May 1998 and which was shown in more detail last month.

To make a mess like this must have really taken some doing….