Shell Island

Neil

Western Thunderer
Three years ago I wrote a short piece on Shell island for Model Trains International. As it's not widely circulated I thought it might have enough interest to merit sharing here.

A leisurely breakfast and the 11:55 train out of Barmouth followed by a two-mile walk have brought us to the harbour at Shell Island. The road from Talwrn Bach halt gave us glimpses of the line as it loops across the flat coastal plain. As we get closer to the harbour and the end of the line from Talwrn Bach we can hear the chuntering of a diesel on idle. Waiting at the buffers is one of the industrial shunters, a Planet of 1950?s vintage.

[attachment=7:iqywnp5x]rts1.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]

After a while another note joins in the mechanical chorus, growing steadily in intensity. Trip 7J16 rolls slowly into the sidings, the ubiquitous class 24 pushing its train ahead of it; the line to Shell Island being worked as a long siding off the coast line. Similar practises are engaged in forty miles to the north, on the Dyserth branch of the Chester to Holyhead main line.

[attachment=6:iqywnp5x]rts2.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]

There?s unusual traffic on offer today in the shape of a standard 12T van shunted off the pick up. Though we can?t be certain, our best guess that it?s stores for RAE Llanbedr, the inheritors of the airfield. Their business is target towing and the launch of pilot-less drones for the same purpose; all?s quiet though so it looks like there are no ops today.

[attachment=5:iqywnp5x]rts3.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]

While the Planet is away shuffling trucks 5091 drops back onto its train with the characteristic Sulzer burble and splutter. A more pleasant spot for the train crew to wait time would be hard to imagine with the sea and sand on one side, the mountains of Snowdonia building on the landward horizon and distant views of the Lleyn Peninsula.

[attachment=4:iqywnp5x]rts4.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]

After some time the Planet re-appears pushing a pair of gunpowder vans. The whole train creaks and pitches over the pointwork where the road crosses the sidings.  The salty tang of the seaside gives way to oil and burnt hydrocarbons, but it is still evident in the amount of rust that seems to be gaining ground on the Planet?s paintwork.

[attachment=3:iqywnp5x]rts5.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]

The Planet having scuttled away; the crew of 5091 drop onto the vans and add them to the mineral and brake van in the far siding. It?s a pretty leisurely affair, the day?s too hot to hurry and we?re about as far away from the top brass as it?s possible to get.

[attachment=2:iqywnp5x]rts6.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]

After coupling up trip 7J16 eases out of the sidings with little fuss, limited maintenance and ungated crossings keep the speed down and three wagons plus brake van hardly tax the 1,160 horsepower that 5091 can bring to bear. The sound of the Sulzer can be heard fading into the distance, as it winds its train round the flat coastal strip back to the junction with the coast line at Talwrn Bach.

[attachment=1:iqywnp5x]rts7.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]

Well that?s enough excitement for one day; the caff?s still open and a cup of tea and a slab of cake beckon. It?s not been the busiest days trainspotting we?ve ever had but we?ve managed to get up close and personal to operations, seen British Rail at it?s most leisurely and all in some of the finest scenery these isles have to offer.  However we can?t spend too much time contemplating the day, it?s another couple of miles back to our train and if we miss the 18:01 then we?re done for, as it?s the last one of the day.

[attachment=0:iqywnp5x]rts8.jpg[/attachment:iqywnp5x]
 

Attachments

  • rts1.jpg
    rts1.jpg
    39.4 KB · Views: 225
  • rts2.jpg
    rts2.jpg
    35.5 KB · Views: 223
  • rts3.jpg
    rts3.jpg
    42.3 KB · Views: 228
  • rts4.jpg
    rts4.jpg
    43.5 KB · Views: 239
  • rts5.jpg
    rts5.jpg
    35.9 KB · Views: 235
  • rts6.jpg
    rts6.jpg
    35 KB · Views: 222
  • rts7.jpg
    rts7.jpg
    34.7 KB · Views: 220
  • rts8.jpg
    rts8.jpg
    40.3 KB · Views: 220

28ten

Guv'nor
I never saw the original article so its nice to see it, I think my favourite shot is the last one of the cafe, it actually reminds me of Aberdovey :thumbs:
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
I saw the original and that didn't do this layout shown in the pictures justice can we have a track plan and more pictures please

Ian
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
28ten said:
I never saw the original article so its nice to see it, I think my favourite shot is the last one of the cafe, it actually reminds me of Aberdovey :thumbs:

Thank you, though the inhabitants of Aberdovey might not be so pleased to think that something as scruffy as the caff is reminiscent of the place. Property costs in Aberdovey are about three times that for something comparable in neighbouring towns and villages, posh yachtie types having pumped up the prices. Mind you it always seems to be sunny in Aberdovey, local rumour has it they pay extra to have the clouds towed away.

Ressaldar said:
.......and the little Ruston is something else .....

It is, it's a Planet. Sorry cheap shot; I do have a Ruston 48DS too, but because it's jammed onto a Spud it rides a bit too high and I believe that the wheelbase is a bit out too.

iploffy said:
.... can we have a track plan and more pictures please ....

Oh all right then. I do worry that by now I've said all there is to say about Shell Island and that further words and photos only repeat what's already gone before on the internet and in the magazines. So if it's ok with all of you I'll make this the last, though if there are specific questions or thoughts you'd like to raise then please feel free to fire away.

s_isle_03.jpg
shell island plan.jpgshell island 2.jpg
 
Last edited:

28ten

Guv'nor
Neil said:
Thank you, though the inhabitants of Aberdovey might not be so pleased to think that something as scruffy as the caff is reminiscent of the place. Property costs in Aberdovey are about three times that for something comparable in neighbouring towns and villages, posh yachtie types having pumped up the prices. Mind you it always seems to be sunny in Aberdovey, local rumour has it they pay extra to have the clouds towed away.
I didnt realise Aberdovey had gone like that, the shot just reminded me of the pictures in CC Greens Cambrian book
 

westernfan

Western Thunderer
nice images and a nice bit of descriptive writing :thumbs: re the locals having the clouds towed away ,i wonder if you can ask them to stop dropping them off by the black mountain :lol:
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Neil

I bought the "Railway Modeller" with Shell Island in it and as you know have been lucky enough to see the layout in the flesh and even luckier to operate it and examine it to my heart's content.

Captain Kernow and I were even moved to visit the real place one beautiful evening on one of our Welsh trips on the strength of it, which was a pleasure that we wouldn't have had were it not for your layout and description.

And now I have enjoyed the piece you wrote for MTI courtesy of your posting above, which has added another layer of new pleasure gained from your inspirational modelling and writing.

Thank you very much!

Simon

PS I did tell CK about this place but he doesn't seem to have found us yet :rolleyes:
 

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
Thanks for posting all this again Neil; as I've said elsewhere this layout was key inspiration for my own Shunty-plank.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:
 

Captain Kernow

Western Thunderer
Simon said:
Captain Kernow and I were even moved to visit the real place one beautiful evening on one of our Welsh trips on the strength of it, which was a pleasure that we wouldn't have had were it not for your layout and description
Even though it was bl**dy perishing in that wind! ;) :laugh:


Simon said:
PS I did tell CK about this place but he doesn't seem to have found us yet :rolleyes:
:D :D
 
Top