I was planning an entry on the prototype. Nothing exhaustive, but nothing too generalised either - pretty much any book of “old photos of Welsh narrow gauge lines” will provide plenty of examples of the kind of thing I’m aiming at. Instead, I was hoping to pick out a few key photographs that particularly evoke the atmosphere I find most appealing (keywords: dereliction, ramshackle, overgrowth, basic, minimalist, melancholy, rack, ruin).

Unfortunately, I’ve been somewhat stymied by the fact that almost all the photos I’ve got in mind only appear to exist in books, or at least are not readily amenable to a quick google. That will mean some scanning (fair use rules, guv), which I don’t have time to do at present. I might settle for a literal description of a few, and you’ll have to take my word for it as to their emotional tug.

In the meantime, the Festiniog at least have an active heritage group who are making some effort to put their archives online. Have a look at some beautiful photos of the Old Moelwyn Tunnel amidst, and rapidly becoming part of, the landscape here.

Update, 2008-10-15: Richard suggests something like this and this, both of which are spot-on, particularly with the wobbly track snaking its way through the long grass. I think I really will have to make an effort with those scans, as a set of reference pictures would be useful.