Narrow Gauge North

2024

A Festiniog/NWNGR layout by Paul Holmes
4mm/ft finescale
Gauge 7.83mm

In 1865 the Croesor Tramway obtained an Act of Parliament permitting the construction of an extension of their line around the coast from the quays at Portmadoc to the village of Borth-y-Gest , and to run steam locomotives on their 2 foot line.

The line was never constructed, but my model is yet another 'might have been'. I assume that the line came around the headland and behind the fictional Gorseddau slate warehouse to emerge onto a newly built wharf that had been constructed parallel to the Glaslyn river's course through the estuary, thus creating an enclosed harbour at Borth-y-Gest.

On the same date 10 years later the NWNGR obtained its Act - if built in full, this would have created a network of two foot lines around North Wales , and would have enveloped the Croesor, creating the line we know now as the Welsh Highland, some 50 years earlier than actually happened.

Track is all hand built to 7.83mm gauge using copper clad sleepers and PECO Z gauge rail. Stock is a mixture of scratchbuilt and kitbuilt items, running on 2mm Association wheels set to 6.9mm back-to-back. The layout runs with DCC control by Lenz, decoders by Lenz and also now with Umelec and Dietz sound decoders - LISTEN to the England engines at work on the wharf..and see the world's first (I think) Double Fairlie ( James Spooner) in 4mm scale with DCC lights, sound and smoke .