The threat of strong winds held off long enough to allow a busy day at Tom's.  We got the chance to admire the completed 'Broch Circle' and the High Level line that now connects it to the rest of the railway.  Tom and Moira's garden now resembles parts of the South Wales valleys with criss crossing lines on several levels.

Mike B got running under way with his Roundhouse Taliesin, which put in a turn on the main circuit hauling a passsenger train, before retiring to the main station to gently simmer on a siding.

Derek brought along his latest Industrial trundler, featuring a driver with a hand painted Burberry scarf and multiple light effects.


Ian W's scratchbuilt 'Cadi' took over passenger duties and looked very smart at the head of a pair of Tom's Festiniog coaches.


Notorious Light Engineer Fraser R not only appeared but gave an outing to 'Tinkerbelle' who disgraced herself by emitting rude noises around the main circuit.

Elsewhere Andrew and Derek got stuck into the meths. They claimed that they were sorting out a reluctant Mamod.


As part of the main event build up Dave W's Mamod set an all-comers world record of 35 laps of the Broch on one fill.

Eventually it was time for the formal inaugaration of the new line and a ceremonial train of Glendreich Distillery stock was hauled across the new viaduct and around the loop.

The entire ceremony was watched in hushed tones by an enthralled crowd.  Perhaps everybody was still digesting the splendid and plentiful lunch that Moira laid on for us.

In an interlude during the festivities we mucked in to help Gareth from the 16mm Association Modular layout load up the boards for Glendreich Distillery which now has a new home down south. Tom can now reclaim his workshop space. We are waiting with baited breath to see which loco he builds first.