Railway Research Trip; Return to the Vale of Rheidol

We did the Vale of Rheidol Railway a few times this year and last, but only in the sense of calling in to visit the stations (and eat in the cafes). This summer, we thought we'd actually ride the line.

You absolutely cannot deny, this is a stunning line... as long as you're sat this side of the train.

This loco was both a blessing and an annoyance. I (Ben) had been really looking forward to the BR Blue tank loco, but it was in the shed. Still, the Garratt is always an impressive beast. Plus, for shots out the window on the way back down, it was really rather impressive.

One positive of the heatwaves having finally ended, the trains were actually running with steam haulage instead of the two diesel shunters.

No fancy pants first-class for us. But equally, we weren't tempted by the open-sided coaches we'd initially toyed with. Wisely, as it turned out.

Devils Bridge Station itself was a little bit barren; previously there's been things like 'driver for a fiver' experiences, a shop, a privately run cafe, but the place is in the midst of a massive re-build. If they get it to the same standard as the impressive facilities at Aberystwyth (and frankly, the toilets at Devils Bridge which they'd already finished are the best I have ever used at any preserved railway), then it will be pretty magnificent.

Waiting to depart Devils Bridge. We didn't get many pics on the way up, as the train was quite busy and we were stuck next to one of the non-opening windows.

As I said, we'd toyed with the open-siders, but decided we'd have one of the near-empty regular coaches for the way back down, as we could poke the cameras out the windows on either side. And this turned out to be the right choice, as the heavens utterly opened just before we got the right-away.

Moody; might as well have been shooting monochrome.

Then back down through the woods. This could almost be a line in the tropics, or something like the Puffing Billy in Australia.

Waiting for an upcoming service- you can sort of see the rain hammering down.

What you can't see in this shot is the crammed carriages, especially the open-siders full of half-drowned tourists.

Thoughts?  Disappointed we didn't see the BR blue tank loco, but it was a lovely ride. When they finish the rebuild of Devils Bridge next year, we'll be back for another go. 

 

Medical Monday; Off To Mad-Chest-Arrrr for the Sim Tech Sym

August saw us (myself and my fellow two Techs) on a day trip to... MAAAAAAAD-CHESTARRRR

Or rather, the inaugural Sim Tech Symposium, held at Manchester Uni.

So, this was a gathering of Medical Sim Techs, from the Uni and Hospital fields, from all over the UK and further afield, for a mega conference. Spoiler alert, it was bloody AWESOME and I absaloutely loved it. 

However, I had also been asked to present a workshop on using low-fi and upcycled stuff in Sim. Being as the NHS tends towards the 'embrace your inner Womble' end of the budgets for day-to-day training, I've become quite good at this sort of thing. I thought I'd be doing a bit of show and tell, up to the stage of the Teams call where I found I'd be running a workshop of up to 25 people. Something I've not really done since I worked in a school, though Scouts has given me a certain amount of experience doing this sort of thing.

First up, trying to come up with a project we could all do in about 40 minutes, with minimum tools and materials. I decided to do a broken-bone simulator.

A bumper batch of brushes...

I ended up building a simple jig to cut them all to the same sizes.

Thinking about my Life Choices.

More Thinking About My Life Choices, whilst cutting 25 wooden rulers to size.

Cutting up a popped giant beach ball. Thank goodness my Scouts are so incredibly destructive with their games equipment.

The parts which were handed out (with instructions).

And there we go. Taped to the human arm (and covered with one of those nylon tubes you hide tattoos with), or under the skin of a robot, they look the part.

Of course, it wouldn't just be making stuff. I had to give a presentation, and I thought it would be best to show off some of the stuff I've made too.

"Excuse me sir, why do you have your little girl in the boot of your car?"

"It's alright officer! She's not mine! No wait-"

Honestly, it's great we weren't pulled over on the way there or back. I ended up going on leave straight afterwards too, so Kitty here spent the week sat on my living room floor.

Manchester Metropolitan Uni, home for the day.

I was given an art classroom to set up in, ably assisted by my gaffer, Lead Tech Lee.

Hello Kitty!

Plenty of room to spread out the practical demonstration pieces.

The workshop went by in a blur; everyone present seemed to find it interesting anyway. I did ask if people at the back could sneakily vape or flick-V's at me, to really take me back to my days teaching practical's to Year 9's.

A higher class of Beige Buffet!

Look at this place...

...compared to our little hospital, this places looks like something out of a cleaner version of Blade Runner.

In the afternoon, I took part in a workshop run by a couple of very talented techs from a Czech Uni, where we cast some sections of spinal column.

I really don't like blowing my own trumpet...

...but there's my name, up in lights on the top left! I didn't win, but didn't mind, as I was in excellent company. Again, the day was brilliant, and I am really looking forward to doing this again next year.

This Month in British Railway Modelling; A Seaside Cafe

The colourful, crowded, bonkers finale of the run of colourful summer projects for British Railway Modelling; the Seaside Cafe. My esteemed editor sent me a seaside cafe kit alongside the sand and shingle and such for the beach... I chose to split it into two articles as I reckoned it would justify separately producing the two briefs, instead of rolling it into one.

The inspiration for the beach had been Criccieth, not least because at the end of the promenade is Dylans, the cafe in this marvellous building designed by the esteemed Sir Clough Williams Ellis.

The kit is by Gaugemaster, and is a H0 scale kit of a foreign prototype. It had no interior, and was quite nice, if needing some modifications.

Interior, and kitchen (you'll notice in the above I failed to put a doorway through to the main part of the cafe, a bit of an oversight for somebody who worked in bloody catering for over 7 years. I did go back and modify it).

And again, I went down the colourful, kitsch route; map pins for balloons again, as it looked way too bland inside. Hey, it's the 90's in this project, nobody gave a stuff about the environment.

Speaking of colourful, kitsch tat, the last of the 00 scale inflatables and things made for the projects, some cheapy figures that needed some spot-repainting, and some truly excellent 3D-printed seagulls.

Other elements to add a bit of colour to the scene were some beach huts, made from Peco garden shed laser-cut kits.

Lots of room for cameos in amongst the chaos of a busy summer lunchtime. Gulls raid the overflowing bins...

...kids and parents chasing runaway toys...

...holiday-makers at the huts...

...trains rattle past, almost unnoticed...

...families play on the beach.

Yep, colour, chaos, and kitsch. Loved doing this run of projects, but ready to do something a bit darker and moodier now. That said, I've got a seaside-ish Cambrian Coast project to do for Hornby first, though that should brighten the Autumnal months a little.

And in the mag. On the cover too!