A Garden Railway Pipedream: the odyssey continues
Scale7JB
Western Thunderer
I'd best start now...Hi JB,
Not only seeing it, but bringing something to run on it
Richard
I'm sure it's been mentioned previously, but will this be strictly standard gauge, or all welcome..?
I could really fancy something coal fired and narrow gauge..
JB.
Dikitriki
Flying Squad
No, all welcome. Our interest is standard gauge, but the circuit has been designed to cater for nearly anything that runs on 45mm gauge. The track centres are at 160mm the width of the boards is 320mm, and there is going to be sufficient height clearance to allow for narrow gauge outline. Lady Dikitriki favours narrow gauge, and I really like the more accurate models - Aristocraft L&B and IOM, Roundhouse Beddgelert, Darjeeling B and Taliesin.
There will be a proper steam up area to allow for the live steam enthusiasts, and DCC track power (switchable).
Richard
Scale7JB
Western Thunderer
I want one of these now you've made me look!
DECAUVILLE Type 1, Live Steam 0-4-0T in 7/8ths” Scale | Accucraft UK Ltd
JB.
DECAUVILLE Type 1, Live Steam 0-4-0T in 7/8ths” Scale | Accucraft UK Ltd
JB.
Neil
Western Thunderer
I'm impressed by the support structure Richard. It looks quite sculptural, and while it's an obvious presence in the garden, its slenderness and delicacy have an attractive quality, like good modern bridges do.
Dikitriki
Flying Squad
Thank you Neil,
I am still of the opinion though that it is going to need substantial work to make the railway part of the garden. That will be next year's task. This year's is to get the infrastructure complete so we can see where we are, and make plans for the earthworks accordingly. I have had to bribe my wife with a reasonably substantial water feature so at least one big hole is involved.
We were fortunate on Wednesday to get a pretty full day in, despite lowering skies. It was a bit windy and drizzly in places but our enthusiasm was undimmed (wasn't it?)
We managed to get through ash tree corner with the same pole and jack process, so that means that there will be no concrete substructure at any point, and the layout will be height adjustable all way round.
And we fitted another couple of top boards, having worked out how to speed up the process.
I'm standing just to the right of the planned steaming up area in the last photo.
Richard
I am still of the opinion though that it is going to need substantial work to make the railway part of the garden. That will be next year's task. This year's is to get the infrastructure complete so we can see where we are, and make plans for the earthworks accordingly. I have had to bribe my wife with a reasonably substantial water feature so at least one big hole is involved.
We were fortunate on Wednesday to get a pretty full day in, despite lowering skies. It was a bit windy and drizzly in places but our enthusiasm was undimmed (wasn't it?)
We managed to get through ash tree corner with the same pole and jack process, so that means that there will be no concrete substructure at any point, and the layout will be height adjustable all way round.
And we fitted another couple of top boards, having worked out how to speed up the process.
I'm standing just to the right of the planned steaming up area in the last photo.
Richard
adrian
Flying Squad
Result!PS, I know I've won, my wife was looking at my screen (as we queue on line for some Harry Potter play tickets) and saw the above post.....'that's our railway'.... Yes
Although it's a good job there was no washing out in that last photo otherwise I think the comment might have been slightly different!
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
I suspect you wont regret the pond either, Richard! We had a substantial one at our last property and kept some huge carp. Regrettably we were plagued in the last couple of years by herons and any protection I've found is rather ugly to a greater or lesser extent, although essential. It's worth considering this aspect in the design, and also avoid any accidental enriching of the water with nutrients, or you'll never get rid of the blanket weed!
Oh yes - and the layout is looking good too!
B
Oh yes - and the layout is looking good too!
B
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Dikitriki
Flying Squad
Hi,
Back off my hols and a day in the garden with the gang. We made some progress with the top boards getting all the way round one of the beds (photos tomorrow), but also - for encouragement purposes only you understand - placed a couple of metres of track on the boards and put a loco on them.......only to see what it looked like......
Can't wait to see things running
Richard
Back off my hols and a day in the garden with the gang. We made some progress with the top boards getting all the way round one of the beds (photos tomorrow), but also - for encouragement purposes only you understand - placed a couple of metres of track on the boards and put a loco on them.......only to see what it looked like......
Can't wait to see things running
Richard
Dikitriki
Flying Squad
JB, you're probably right there. Mind you, I kicked all this off with my live steam BR44, so my 44 with 15 bogie ore hoppers will feature
The promised photos of progress:
The transition curve needs a little work to make the baseboard edges less straight, but other than that, we are happy with progress.
Richard
The promised photos of progress:
The transition curve needs a little work to make the baseboard edges less straight, but other than that, we are happy with progress.
Richard
Dikitriki
Flying Squad
The following pics show todays' progress, which was very good despite the weather. Although to be fair it got a lot better after lunch, even bright and sunny for a brief spell.
The first pic is heading towards ash tree curve. We decided that we would get a better transition curve by cutting the three relevant boards in situ, so they have been left straight. We hope to finish that off on Wednesday.
The second pic shows where we have got to ground level with the boards on the curve past the first bed. This is the curve that has to be set out by templates as we weren't able to get a radius marker in the bed. We can now carry on with the support poles and move round the bed section by section.
We have also smoothed out the rather too straight section of the transition curve.
This is about 19m of top board, almost 1/3 of the run.
Richard
The first pic is heading towards ash tree curve. We decided that we would get a better transition curve by cutting the three relevant boards in situ, so they have been left straight. We hope to finish that off on Wednesday.
The second pic shows where we have got to ground level with the boards on the curve past the first bed. This is the curve that has to be set out by templates as we weren't able to get a radius marker in the bed. We can now carry on with the support poles and move round the bed section by section.
We have also smoothed out the rather too straight section of the transition curve.
This is about 19m of top board, almost 1/3 of the run.
Richard
