Cambrian Way

Journey's End in Groovier Days - Railway World Magazine, June 1971

Had a great day yesterday at the Cambrian Railway sheds with the Inside Out artists. We’re working on a new collaborative art project entitled “The Way“, which will be focusing on the Cambrian Railway in Oswestry. We went over in a group yesterday to have an initial look-round and do some sketching.

I have to admit, I was sort of overwhelmed by the amount of material there and the potential to do some really interesting work. I was mostly looking at shape and form – picking out strong visual elements to eventually work into thematic elements. I wandered around the museum shed, just letting my eyes wander, waiting until something leapt out at me. The first thing I noticed were the Great Western Railway signal finials: ordinary enough architectural features at the top of the singal post, but curious when brought down to ground level. With the long vertical slits around the globe, they have a strangely human look to them. I’m sure I’ll find a place for them somewhere. The second thing I was taken with was the glossy, newly-painted rear of an engine cab under (re)construction in the engine sheds. The ironwork had all been painted a deep, gleaming black, and the circular window had been given a polished brass surround. Again, there was something about the arrangement of the shapes that gave them a sort of “living” look. I’ll be using this feature as well, somehow.

Beyond that, there was almost too much to take in all at once. I was very taken with the corroded sides of the kitchen carriage on the siding, and have always liked the layout of those old slam-door coaches. I did some sketching, but didn’t take any photographs – partly because I didn’t bring my camera over with me, partly because I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with reference material at this stage. I think I’ll work through the ideas I have at the moment and then go on from there. The good thing about the yard and sheds being right next door is that it only takes a second to pop around the corner to check up on something.

The last thing I did was spend the grand sum of 10p on an old railway magazine from June, 1971. There were some great photos in there: postcards from a vanished age of rail travel. I’ll absolutely be using some of that as reference material, too.