Garden Railway Forum

Looking good, particularly given the time of year.

Rik

Looks like a lot of hard work as gone into keeping the line nice and tidy.

Thanks everyone. We've had a couple of ok weather days recently so I managed to tidy up a bit and I didn't take photos of the messy bits

After all the indecision on livery I've decided that the IP engineering roundhouse coaches I was re-painting are too big for my railway so I primed them today so someone else can add their own livery more easily. They have been sold to another forum member who already has a couple so here is what they look like now............

Evening all,

Here is an overdue update but with plenty of progress (and un-progress). The quarry has closed temporarily due to me plucking up the courage to rip up a third of the track for a major re-alignment to alleviate a nasty set-track curve. The bare ballast is where the track used to be - look at how tight it was! This is a lot of extra work but I want to get it right before I start securing the ballast and adding level crossings etc. Despite the destruction it did create some very atmospheric photos!

Trethevan halt has received final detailing of its name board, a 'beware of trains' sign on the north side of the level crossing, an enamel sign and a cat. I think I will leave the detailing now because sometimes less is more and I don't want the halt to look cluttered.

Trethevan farm has been modelled by some second hand 'Stanton Abbey Pottery' ceramic buildings. They caught my eye because of there very characterful presence. They are a bit tatty for example missing ridge tiles but I will keep most of the patina they have. This farm is served by the railway by transportation of milk to other local communities along the line. All it needs to complete is an old wagon wheel, a few milk churns and maybe a lazy horse.

The signal box at St Kew Highway has finally been bedded in properly and a retaining wall positioned behind to keep back the soil. There is room for goods to be unloaded here so it calls for some dioramas when the concrete sets.

At last the platform at Port Isaac Road (the other passing loop on the railway) has been started. Before it was an ugly mass of gravel but now it should look smart when it is finished. The edging is resin and will need some extra painting to make it look like stone. Port Isaac is a small request stop station will a few goods sidings, a grounded box van for storage and a small waiting shelter with an office. The loop is for quarry traffic only as St Kew is the passing place for trains. This is only when the terminus stations are built and the actual reason for the loop at port Isaac is o allow running of two engines in opposite directions on the loop.

George

That platform definitely looks the business! Lovely job.

Some great improvements there, the line has character and will mature well.

I really like this line, everything's just right - I love the curve round the farm, loads of atmosphere... Thanks for the pics!

Andrew.

Love this line, I always have. And with your improvements it looks even better.
Love those new building you have added, they do look good.

George, The improvements have turned out great. Well worth all the effort I'm sure.

IanC wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2019 5:58 pm George, The improvements have turned out great. Well worth all the effort I'm sure.

philipy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:41 pm That platform definitely looks the business! Lovely job.

Thank you. It's not easy sculpting cement to the right shape and getting a smooth, level finish. There is still the other half to construct but I should have it done soon
Sod's law the cat walked over it and made some footprints though - don't worry as they were flattened!

Evening all,

Thank you for such encouraging comments. I hope that my railway is inspiration for people with limited space as it shows what can be achieved in a small space. Anyway, here is an update in photo form:

-Only 6 feet of track left to lay until its all connected up again!

-The platform has been completed and is awaiting proper fencing

-A bridge has been made (not much of a bridge but its something different for the trains to pass over)

-When I have finished the track I can tidy evening up to make it more presentable

George

Your garden isn't small, trust me!

tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 8:45 pm Your garden isn't small, trust me!

I understand where your coming from, neither of us have a great space for a railway but all we can do is make the most of what we've got.

There are railways 20 times bigger than mine in my local 16mm group that make my railway seem like a roundabout.

I do like the way the improvements are shaping up, George.
I take your point about the bridge being quick and easy to add some variation, but given your past history, I suspect you won't be satisfied witha simple piece of wood for very long! Take my word for it thats it's a lot easier to do a proper job at this stage before everything gets ballasted and weathered in....!

BTW, what are you using for ballast?

Looks great I need a bigger garden

Great work George.

Looking good, George. The ballast looks very appropriate.

Rik

philipy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2019 6:54 am I do like the way the improvements are shaping up, George.
I take your point about the bridge being quick and easy to add some variation, but given your past history, I suspect you won't be satisfied witha simple piece of wood for very long! Take my word for it thats it's a lot easier to do a proper job at this stage before everything gets ballasted and weathered in....!

BTW, what are you using for ballast?

Thanks philipy; the ballast is Kelkay horticultural potting grit. It is a good colour and it's the right shape even though it is slightly over scale.