A simple Gauge 1 garden line

[Bob]

Give in Bob, you know you want to

Oh, sorry, you said resist, not encourage, my bad...

GRRRRRRRRRRR

Well, the garden's coming on a treat and the thought of a simple line wending it's way through it is growing on me. My only concern is it is partially overlooked by a footpath but that's nothing some Leylandii wouldn't solve!

If you guys on WT keep putting more pictures (or worse,..video) up then there will be no hope of resisting

 

[Steve Cook]

Very nice Steve.
The piccies give it the real impression of a tranquil setting on a little GWR branch........................ just perfect.

Cheers Rob

Oh by the way when i said tranquil i still expect to see lots of pics of trains running

I think I've desperately reached the point at which I need to get back to building stuff again, there's just a few distractions to deal with first. I suppose I could just take the easy option and get Simon up again for another photo shoot, he builds more stuff than I do

GRRRRRRRRRRR

Well, the garden's coming on a treat and the thought of a simple line wending it's way through it is growing on me. My only concern is it is partially overlooked by a footpath but that's nothing some Leylandii wouldn't solve!

Thats the spirit, dig holes, plant stuff, build railway, watch trains, be happy

If you guys on WT keep putting more pictures (or worse,..video) up then there will be no hope of resisting

I do believe I hear the sound of a gauntlet landing, would Sir care to choose a scale and a method of propulsion Sounds to me like you ought to be planning rather than dreaming Bob, you won't regret it...
Steve

 

[Bob]

I do believe I hear the sound of a gauntlet landing, would Sir care to choose a scale and a method of propulsion Sounds to me like you ought to be planning rather than dreaming Bob, you won't regret it...

I love the sheer mass of Gauge 1 but already having a modest collection of O gauge flat packs and plastic wagon kits this would be more achieveable. Gruntfuttock (Rich) could even have running rights as he's still not started a layout!
I'd prefer to do something completely different from my usual 1950's WR branch though and blue diesels would fit the bill nicely.

 

[marsa69]

Any updates on this Steve?

Mark

 

[Devonbelle]

I so love the planting Steve; spot on. The toad and rest of train looks excellent - as does the Ruston. Happy memories of working Toads as a Guard on Avon Valley - keep piling coal on the stove and with good draughting, manage to get flue to glow maroon!

Paul

 

[Steve Cook]

Any updates on this Steve?
Mark

Sorry for the slow reply Mark, I've been away for a couple of weeks so I have a lot of catching up to do. The only update is that it has all got worse from the last set of photos

The trellis fatalities are growing and I can add a fence post the list of broken bits, at least I'm limited to two broken fence panels although the wind is having a good go at increasing that this afternoon. It doesn't look that bad in this photo to be fair:



All the 'trees' have survived though and the planting looks like it may finally fill out this year which would be marvellous I can't wait to actually get on with work on it this year, theres so much to catch up on - I'd like to ballast the track, repaint all the woodwork and get the buildings and signal out...roll on spring
Steve

 

[Steve Cook]

I so love the planting Steve; spot on. The toad and rest of train looks excellent - as does the Ruston. Happy memories of working Toads as a Guard on Avon Valley - keep piling coal on the stove and with good draughting, manage to get flue to glow maroon!
Paul

Thanks Paul The Toad etc are Simon's, despite offers to look after it I've always been turned down, can't think why
Bet you could boil the kettle quickly on that stove then
Steve

 

[Steve Cook]

With it being an utterly lovely day here today I managed to get the first job of the year done on the line, namely the repainting of all of the wood work. Most of it is hidden by the bushes but they were pulled back and the green fence paint carefully applied. Both planters also got a covering, as did the seat so it looks bit better now, shame about the fence



It also possible to see the disastrous state of the circle of SM32 track which has been fully invaded by umpteen seedlings and plants since last autumn. To be honest, it was a total pain in the backside anyway with the flymo blowing the gravel out from under the track and the hassle of keeping it clear from grass and weeds - I guess it turns out I'm not a ground level man, at least built this way. I'm pondering what to do instead, raise it up, ditch it or something else...

After the paint had dried I gave the bushes a quick trim, cut the grass and used the last bit of daylight to give Ragleth a run up and down.



I'll have to get the electric stuff out of the cupboard next

Steve

 

[Captain Kernow]

Steve, you need Painting Drone to come up with a pot of Cuprinol...

Super scenes, mate.

 

[Steve Cook]

Spring has definitely sprung and in the case of nature versus garden railways, nature is winning in my garden

The circle of SM32 is basically being suffocated from all the seedlings that have grown from last years plants. I actually quite like it like this but it is useless for its intended purpose...







Whilst it was fun having a continuous circuit it wasn't long enough really and having lived with it for a bit, I'd rather have uninterrupted access to the other track. I'm off to the 16mm AGM this weekend to immerse myself in some narrow gauge inspiration, I plan on visiting the Filcris stand again to look at the possibility of raising the circle up and maybe stretching it out a little more

The branch line has faired better in the four weeks since the last photo was posted but it needs a good trim before it disappears any further.





Weather looks OK for the weekend...

Steve

 

[Steve Cook]

A pleasant afternoon pottering around with shears today

The first job was to trim the strongest looking bits of sprouting bush to use as cuttings, I'm going for a better approach and planting them straight into compost rather than just the embankment as last time, I hope its more successful than previous attempts. There are 150 cuttings at two per division - they've had their ends mashed, dipped in rooting compound and been well watered.



Hedge trimmers and lots of work with shears neatened up the station end of the line, its almost completely filled out this year which is great



I must admit that I'm not sure about the trees now that they are growing - having spent a winter browsing the books by Bannister etc, trees are just not that close to the line. However, they do go someway towards hiding the fence which is no bad thing. I need to ponder a little more...



The Lonicera at the shed of the line is a pretty rampant version...



...but it is no match for mechanical trimming devices This year I have got some extra width to play with and have managed to get a more gentle slope on the garden side of the embankment. The fence side is a bit of a problem and would really benefit from a retaining wall rather than the steeply sided greenery it has got. I went a bit more brutal for the first trim and tried to cut back just shy of the leaf free branches in the centre, we will see if it recovers over the next couple of weeks.


Time for tea I think!
Steve

 

[Steve Cook]

Nothing much to report today, I finally gave in and lifted the circle of SM32 track so I can leave nature to have a free run...for the moment at least
I have spent the majority of the evening going back to the beginning of this thread and sorting out the display of all the images that got tangled up when the forum changed some 2.5 years ago. I have had to cut and shut a couple of posts around to get everything back within the photo limit threshold but it has been an interesting journey back through the history of my line
Steve

 

[Captain Kernow]

Nothing much to report today, I finally gave in and lifted the circle of SM32 track so I can leave nature to have a free run...for the moment at least

But what about the petition from the 'SM32 Circle Preservation Society', who wish to put down a deposit to initially preserve about 1/8 of the circle and establish a small depot with a non-working industrial diesel and a box van, offering Open Days to members of the public with a ride-along battery electric 7 1/4" gauge railway? A raffle and other fund raising activities will raise money to restore the industrial diesel to working order and fit seating and air brakes to the box van. Longer term they hope to preserve 1/2 of the whole line and offer a commuter service, probably in connection with the large industrial development that is being proposed for much of the remainder of the trackbed...

 

[queensquare]

I hope you have the alternative bus route in place!

Jerry

 

[Steve Cook]

But what about the petition from the 'SM32 Circle Preservation Society', who wish to put down a deposit to initially preserve about 1/8 of the circle and establish a small depot with a non-working industrial diesel and a box van, offering Open Days to members of the public with a ride-along battery electric 7 1/4" gauge railway? A raffle and other fund raising activities will raise money to restore the industrial diesel to working order and fit seating and air brakes to the box van. Longer term they hope to preserve 1/2 of the whole line and offer a commuter service, probably in connection with the large industrial development that is being proposed for much of the remainder of the trackbed...

Dear Sir

I regret to inform my learned colleague that the SM32 Circle Preservation Society failed to pass on the results of their petition within the required time frame, thus the fate of the circle is beyond negotiation. Whilst the Management appreciates the Societies concerns over the closure of the circle, it was felt that the introduction of a 7 ¼” line as a precursor to eventually reinstating the circle was against the wishes of the landowner.

The Management would also like to refute the claim of underhand dealing voiced by a vocal few - allowing the Society members the opportunity to examine the Managements recent purchase of components for a new dual gauge steam locomotive was considered to be a goodwill gesture and not the distraction technique that made them miss the deadline as has been mooted.



Concerning the rumours that the main line running above the site of the circle is to be replaced with rails of a narrower persuasion, the management would like to issue a ‘No comment’ statement.

Yours Faithfully
Mr S Cattergun
Management and Landowner

 

[Captain Kernow]

The Committee of the SM32 Circle Preservation Society will agree not to blab to the gutter press about 'closure by stealth' and the like, provide you allow them a play with your nice new toy, once it's built!

 

[Steve Cook]

Its almost the end of an era - I can't quite bring myself to lift the remaining track even though there is deliberately very little chance of running on it now.



The bushes are being left to grow as I need the extra height for the replacement railway - this time round I'm going to squeeze in a continuous circuit The shed had previously been emptied and stripped during the early part of May, its contents going into the garage door end of the garage ready for partitioning off - the space being freed up by the sale of the Caterham. The vast majority of the garage is going to be converted into a workshop to allow me to indulge in my desire to build more steam engines and learn new machining and silver soldering skills. I will also be able to have a spray booth set up so I won't be relying on good weather (or using the kitchen) to get things into paint.



Today saw the shed finally dismantled and 80% of it taken down the tip. I'm keeping the side and back wall to use to make a cover for the water butt and recycling bins as they will be down the side of the garage, the whole space at the rear of the garage is required for my soon to be built scenic test track.



I think I'll start a new thread when there is progress to be shown, although the lifting of the existing track will be here to draw this thread to a close.

Steve

 

[adrian]

the space being freed up by the sale of the Caterham.

NOOOOOO!!!! This must be serious to part with a toy like that.

The vast majority of the garage is going to be converted into a workshop to allow me to indulge in my desire to build more steam engines and learn new machining and silver soldering skills.

Oh yes - sounds promising. There is something special about building and running a steam engine I hope you enjoy it.

For silver-soldering skills - I found at the local college a Silversmithing evening class. It was invaluable for learning not only silver-soldering but I also had a go at repoussé and chasing, raising etc. It was a great way to learn about working with metal. Highly recommended.

 

[JimG]

- the space being freed up by the sale of the Caterham.

NOOOOOO!!!! This must be serious to part with a toy like that.

I was thinking that as well. With the garage being converted into a workshop, I assume the mode of transport is now a bike.

Jim.[/QUOTE]

 

[ceejaydee]

Show us yer workshop mister