Porth Tangawr is a fictitious sea-side town somewhere in Wales that is serviced by the G.W.R. in the 1930’s. It is currently a branch line terminus servicing the town that has port and mining as its main reasons for existence
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The layout would have to be scenically pleasing, and have scope for operations but would also enable times to just sit and “watch the trains go by”. As a result, and due to the limited space available, a basic oval was decided upon for use as a “branch line” environment. Around this oval a few additional areas were incorporated to facilitate operations and possibly expansion in due course. These include provision of:

1. A township with a terminus station and potential for expansion to through running
2. Sidings for a coal mine
3. A harbour scene and dock facilities servicing a fishing fleet and the mine

The main layout oval occupies one garage space and is approximately 7’ x 13’ in size. The fiddle yard is in addition to this and joins the layout at one end.

Baseboards

The requirements for baseboards were that they had to be light to allow the whole layout to be relocatable within the garage space for access, and, to allow the layout to be transportable for a house move. Access is gained to the open centre space (the harbour) by removing the bridge from the viaduct, or, by crawling under (OK for a few years yet).

Baseboards are constructed using what is essentially open-frame (using 2”x1” dressed pacific maple) and using 9mm ply for the track surface. This is then supported on a sub-frame constructed from aluminium angle and section. This sub-frame carries the legs fitted with castors. The baseboards are 3’2.5” – 3’5.5” above floor level which provides a good height for working and watching. The layout is light and can be easily wheeled as a whole by one person.

Trackwork

This layout is built to “OO finescale” using C&L components together with hand-built turnouts. All Trackwork is mounted on a 1/8” cork base. Their construction is a mix of copper-clad sleeper and C&L components (chairs and timbers). Turn-out operation is by wire-in-tube or by slow action point motor (Tortoise) where it is impractical for the mechanical system to be deployed e.g. particularly over joints in baseboards.

Electricals and Operation

As this was a new project a move to DCC was made and all locomotives have been / will be equipped with ESU or similar sound decoders. The wiring is broken down into sections (aligned with baseboards) and protected section by section against short circuits. An NCE PowerPro runs the system

Motive Power & Rolling Stock

Locomotives are from the likes of Hornby and Bachmann augmented with kit built items. Rolling stock is at this stage essentially ready-to-run augmented with kits from Cooper Craft, Parkside Dundas, Ratio, etc. Some of the coaching stock was saved from an early Triang system. In all cases wheel sets have been upgraded to metal.