The Runnymede Light Railway

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Dasher
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The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dasher » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:29 am

Hi all, we're new on here and first post.

The Runnymede Light Railway is a compact folded double balloon loop design that has been in construction throughout the last few months. Our Roundhouse Jack (King John) making the first full run of the line just yesterday. It's very much a work in progressing we are learning as we go!

Some images will follow once that I've (a) taken them and (b) worked out how to post them!

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tom_tom_go
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:38 am

Hi and welcome.

Please see the forum help section for posting images.

invicta280
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by invicta280 » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:45 am

Sounds interesting. Bring on the photos

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philipy
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by philipy » Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:57 am

Welcome, and yes, lets see the piccys please. Posting them is easy. :)
Philip

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dasher » Sun Jul 08, 2018 2:31 pm

Here's where it's at. Very rough at the moment but at least things will run around it without falling off!
Complete circuit - double balloon..jpg
Complete circuit - double balloon..jpg (315.85 KiB) Viewed 6691 times

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tom_tom_go
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jul 08, 2018 2:43 pm

You have much more space than I do, looks interesting with plenty of viewing spots.

I see an extension coming from the right of the photo?

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Soar Valley Light
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Soar Valley Light » Sun Jul 08, 2018 3:50 pm

Wow! That's an impressive railway. It fits very nicely into the landscape.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing more.

Andrew
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dasher » Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:33 pm

Thanks Andrew

It's not one for switching it on and letting it go - it requires driving the whole way around - which, to be honest was what I wanted. The little diesel will slowly crawl around though - it's top speed is almost backwards!

The idea for a balloon came from a visit to Statfold Barn - the idea to have two balloons folded into each other came from my chief designer, Tracey!

David

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dasher » Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:35 pm

No extensions planned. This is actually a temporary permanent way as the garden will be remodelled in a couple of years time and the current track layout occupies the site of a future building. "Temporary" can have a habit of creeping though!

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by invicta280 » Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:18 pm

Looks well built.

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IanC
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by IanC » Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:26 pm

That's a cracking railway Dasher. I'm sure it'll give you a lot of pleasure until it's eventually replaced.

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Dwayne
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dwayne » Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:45 pm

:thumbright:

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by bazzer42 » Sun Jul 08, 2018 8:06 pm

Welcome to the forum. Fair play to Tracey that is a very interesting design, looks fun to operate. Another railway to watch develop :D

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dasher » Sat Jul 14, 2018 9:58 am

There has been some development this week following the arrival of a couple of points. The station area now has its platform 3 (or siding) and the take off point for the engine shed has been established. I'm still waiting for one more point - which will come off the engine shed branch and lead to a siding paralell to the shed. Finally a long siding will hint at quarrying activities.

Once complete this will bring an end to track construction.
Quarry stock siding construction
Quarry stock siding construction
Quarry stock siding construction.JPG (444.93 KiB) Viewed 6551 times
"Platform 3" siding construction
"Platform 3" siding construction
Platform 3 construction.JPG (449.38 KiB) Viewed 6551 times
Engine shed branch construction
Engine shed branch construction
Engine shed branch construction.JPG (477.78 KiB) Viewed 6551 times

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by ge_rik » Sat Jul 14, 2018 11:20 am

Great start made. Be interested to see how it develops.

Rik
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Dasher
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dasher » Wed Sep 05, 2018 4:55 pm

The procurement section visited the Great Exhibition at Llanfair at the weekend and although they pulled out their cheque books, the long lead times quoted for heavy diesel traction units didn't; meet their expectations and so they went to the open market on Monday and sourced something with immediate availability!

When a name plate arrives (also subject to long lead times) this will be known as "Pontefract Castle" - once the place of residence of one of the excommunicated barons involved in the bringing about of the signing of the Magna Carta. So the King now has to watch his step!!
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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by bazzer42 » Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:09 pm

That is a livery, they do look nice in black. I have a cricceth here that I don't use but can't bring myself to part with it.

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by Dasher » Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:37 pm

I've spent the last six months looking for a Criccieth and finally gave up and took a Harlech instead. I'd decided on FR Grey but without the yellow vinyl. The one available at Derails already had the stripes fitted. However, they had a black that wasn't on the web site. I'd not actually seen it in black previously but am very pleased with it. It's a powerful beast!

They need to correct the Builder's plate though - as "Drewery" has too many 'e's in it!! :D

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Re: The Runnymede Light Railway

Post by SpudUk » Thu Oct 04, 2018 2:57 pm

Dasher wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:37 pm I've spent the last six months looking for a Criccieth and finally gave up and took a Harlech instead. I'd decided on FR Grey but without the yellow vinyl
I've been waiting for a second hand Criccieth to come on the market for a while too!
Chris Auckland

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