A simple Gauge 1 garden line

[Steve Cook]

The lonicera has been doing quite well with all the rain we've had over the last three weeks. When Simon was here three weeks ago, we trimmed everything down to track level - there has been some 'sprouting' since then



After running Ragleth around and a spot of lunch, I spent three hours reorganising the shed, the garage, tool boxes etc etc so I could finally get rid of the garden storage box It was only supposed to be a temporary measure, but its taken three years to get my in a pile and sort it out I've now got room for a garden bench though, just where the sun shine hits first thing in the morning...

 

[Debs.]

I love garden-railways......a garden without a railway of some scale; seems to be so 'lacking'.

I have friends in the North West Wales 16mm. narrow gauge modellers.........some lovely garden-tracks and locos/rolling stock to be seen.........I must confess a real weakness for the NG16 'Garretts'

 

[ceejaydee]

Good to see the brief spells of fine weather being put to good use.
You need a few wagons now

I treated myself to a Roundhouse Lady Ann as an early present for my 40th birthday and embarrassingly have yet to run it two years on.

I also have a Bertie which I bought before the Lady Ann from the proceeds of an ebay selling spree and that it unrun too!

In an effort to redeem myself here I can say that I did run my Mamod which I bought back in 1985 until the wheels went wobbly at which point I peined the axles and ran it again until the same thing happened. It now sits in pieces waiting for all those replacement Brandbright parts to be fitted.

 

[iploffy]

I was told the opposite, using hot water causes a thermic shock as the metal expands too quickly

 

[Steve Cook]

I love garden-railways......a garden without a railway of some scale; seems to be so 'lacking'.

I agree Debs, there is much pleasure to be had just seeing some rails disappearing off somewhere

I have friends in the North West Wales 16mm. narrow gauge modellers.........some lovely garden-tracks and locos/rolling stock to be seen.........I must confess a real weakness for the NG16 'Garretts'

Thanks for the link, I shall have a look through a bit later - quite partial to the Garretts too after riding behind them last year on the WHR

Good to see the brief spells of fine weather being put to good use.
You need a few wagons now

I do indeed Got one coach on the go and another waiting in the wings - something to do when the sunny spells are absent (most of the time at the moment then!)

I treated myself to a Roundhouse Lady Ann as an early present for my 40th birthday and embarrassingly have yet to run it two years on.

Very nice loco - its been one of my favourites for years, maybe one day. At least she stil looks immaculate if she's not run though, silver linings and all that

I also have a Bertie which I bought before the Lady Ann from the proceeds of an ebay selling spree and that it unrun too!

Must be time for a garden railway then if you have two engines to go

In an effort to redeem myself here I can say that I did run my Mamod which I bought back in 1985 until the wheels went wobbly at which point I peined the axles and ran it again until the same thing happened. It now sits in pieces waiting for all those replacement Brandbright parts to be fitted.

Make that three then Sounds like some fun times ahead...

 

[Steve Cook]

A tip I read about for raising steam quickly was to use hot water from a freshly-boiled kettle (no pun intended )
This also saves fuel over raising steam from cold.

I was told the opposite, using hot water causes a thermic shock as the metal expands too quickly

I think its like all aspects of railway modelling, there is always one view, and one to counteract it As a novice, I shall stick to the recommended method for a while longer, but I've heard that putting less water in and getting that up to temp before topping up again speeds the warm up rate too. I shall report back in due course

 

[iploffy]

when we used to fire up the 5" locomotives we used to fill the boiler half way and then steamed as per normal then when the pressure started to rise we would pump more water in, much like the real thing. it's like boiling a kettle to make tea you only boil as much as you need and it takes less time to boil.

 

[Steve Cook]

Impatience has finally won and I've gone and bought bigger plants If I'm honest with myself, this is one of the reasons for clearing out the various unstarted kits and unused models, I hope I shall derive more pleasure from having a garden railway that looks more complete than I have from having the loft full of stuff. The proceeds from some of the sold bits have gone straight into the coffers of the local nursery.



5 conifers of various types, 2 large box plants and 4 more Lonicera jobbies. The conifers and box are going to be used to sort out the station area which has remained unplanted as it gets very little sun - hopefully the bigger plants won't need to grow so much and will survive...



Post shopping, the grass had a quick trim, then the various bits of Lonicera were trimmed to try and get them to bush out a little more instead of growing straight up. I had some hindrance help from Shimla, the friendliest and noisiest cat I've had the pleasure of meeting. He did a good job of checking there was sufficient clearance around the track before making a racket and generally getting in the way



Once the ballast killer cute little fella had left, the herbs were removed from the corner planter and the front two boards of that were removed - I want to raise the soil height around this area, but in a slope rather than the sharp change in contours that existed. In hindsight I may have been a little hasty and one board removal could have done, but the removed boards will create a small seat on the top of the planter which is currently overrun with 'fried egg' plants, so I'm not that worried.



The 'egg plants' will be given a chance to flower before they come out and more conifers installed in their place to add some height behind the line. I also need to work out where the ground level continuous loop is going to go so I can reshape the protruding border and work out which plants are on the shopping list next.

As expected, it started raining, but I'd just about finished so it was a quick pack up job and at least I've started the 'Bank Holiday' job list - fingers crossed for dry weather so it can continue....

 

[Steve Cook]

Shimla looks like he thinks there's a new cat-flap in the side of the shed....

He got right miffed when I put the polystyrene over the hole to stop him and the other cats getting in, ignored me for about a month after that

 

[lancer1027]

Hi Steve,

Thats looking mighty fine now the planting is maturing..
I too have been having a clear out of un-wanted kits etc.. and the cash aquired through these dealing have gone towards the Phenolic plywood.
Im off work for a week middle june so there might be some TRACK layed Whoooo Hooooo.

The live steam loco ( sorry for my ignorance as i have no idea what sort it is) looks EXCELLENT tootling along.
I look forward to some more pics soon.

Rob

 

[Simon]

Brother Cook

Even though you have strayed from the one true path, verily, I have to admit that the somewhat oversized steam powered abomination locomotive with which you have transgressed does have a certain appeal.

Nonetheless, ten Hail Marys and we continue to pray for your eventual deliverance from deviation.

Mother Superior

 

[iploffy]

Brother Cook

Even though you have strayed from the one true path, verily, I have to admit that the somewhat oversized steam powered abomination locomotive with which you have transgressed does have a certain appeal.

Nonetheless, ten Hail Marys and we continue to pray for your eventual deliverance from deviation.

Mother Superior

Like it mate but a kettle boils water

 

[daifly]

Like it mate but a kettle boils water

As opposed to turning fuel oil into clag?

 

[Dog Star]

Like it mate but a kettle boils water

Pray! What else does a kettle boil? (other than paint )

 

[Steve Cook]

Im off work for a week middle june so there might be some TRACK layed Whoooo Hooooo.

Cheers Rob
Its a great moment when that first bit of track goes down

 

[Steve Cook]

Brother Cook
Even though you have strayed from the one true path, verily, I have to admit that the somewhat oversized steam powered abomination locomotive with which you have transgressed does have a certain appeal.
Nonetheless, ten Hail Marys and we continue to pray for your eventual deliverance from deviation.
Mother Superior

Dear Mother Superior.
Thank you for your prayers.
You may want to pray harder.
Distractions reduced, deviations gaining momentum.
Brother Cook

 

[Steve Cook]

Its a good job skin is waterproof, I've been rained on three times this afternoon Still, the plants don't care so I carried on. Nipped out this morning to try and buy a garden bench (no joy - either bloomin ugly, craply made and stupidly expensive, or just stupidly expensive) so instead bought another two of the big box plants as after measuring up I reckoned I could fit another two in and reduce the necessary growing time. 10 plants in, 4 to go

 

[lancer1027]

I can almost see an extension to the end of the line with a siding or two. Nice work on the planting there Steve

 

[Steve Cook]

I can almost see an extension to the end of the line with a siding or two.

Not for all the tea in China Rob I removed the extra posts today as part of the planting so there are no supports left to hold anything up (the house is only 3 and a bit foot from the end of the line anway!). I also love it for what it is, a single track line - adding any pointwork will just visually reduce the length of the run.

Nice work on the planting there Steve

Ta It is getting there slowly, its kinda fun watching it evolve over time...

 

[Simon]

That looks brilliant!

Get that platform out there....

It hasn't rained so I'm off to cut the grass - may run the Minging Waddle later

Simon