Wadebridge Light Railway

A place for the discussion of garden railways and any garden style/scale portable and/or indoor layouts
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steamgeorge
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Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Wed Sep 26, 2018 10:17 pm

Hi all,
I am relatively new to the hobby and forum. In late 2016, after about a year and a half of initial ideas and planning, construction started on my first garden railway! Track gauge was decided to be 32mm to a scale of 16mm to the foot. The track would be peco sm32 laid on a floating trackbed of alpine grit. I will upload some photos one I figure to how to.

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:33 am

Hi George and welcome!

Please check the forum help section for posting pictures.

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by ge_rik » Thu Sep 27, 2018 10:58 am

Welcome aboard, George. Looking forward to seeing the photos.

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by IanC » Thu Sep 27, 2018 12:47 pm

Welcome to the forum. Yes, please post some pictures. It,s quite easy to do. Just remember not to have the file size too big.
Ian

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steamgeorge
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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:04 pm

Here are photos of the 'first chapter' of my railway. there are more to come as the line was extended.
your thoughts would be appreciated. George
Attachments
the first sod
the first sod
IMG_20160501_181701866.jpeg (424.28 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
membrane, ballast and the first track laid
membrane, ballast and the first track laid
IMG_20161110_101908760.jpeg (406.41 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
the loop (almost) complete
the loop (almost) complete
IMG_20161215_080223747.jpeg (339.33 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
landscaping taking place
landscaping taking place
IMG_20170226_154115708.jpeg (433.22 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
new arrival: A roundhouse millie. My first controllable loco!
new arrival: A roundhouse millie. My first controllable loco!
IMG_20170226_174310456.jpeg (293.44 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
the pw department yard
the pw department yard
IMG_20170316_175446177.jpeg (217.44 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
The engine line up
The engine line up
IMG_20170319_173456089.jpeg (318.07 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
The first ever passenger train
The first ever passenger train
IMG_20170520_103807669.jpeg (329 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
Work starts on Delabole quarry
Work starts on Delabole quarry
IMG_20170804_133158473.jpeg (420.22 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
IMG_20170804_200112557.jpeg
IMG_20170804_200112557.jpeg (369.79 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
the loop taking shape with plants settling in
the loop taking shape with plants settling in
IMG_20170804_200155660.jpeg (297.14 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
a new arrival: a Cheddar Iver. A delightful engine and also our first RC.
a new arrival: a Cheddar Iver. A delightful engine and also our first RC.
IMG_20170928_164049788.jpeg (312.6 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
The quarry progressing well
The quarry progressing well
IMG_20171116_160027780.jpeg (240.35 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
IMG_20171116_160118037.jpeg
IMG_20171116_160118037.jpeg (277.16 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
the loop
the loop
IMG_20171220_133500190.jpeg (429.42 KiB) Viewed 8161 times
next to the quarry
next to the quarry
IMG_20171220_133523748.jpeg (382.1 KiB) Viewed 8161 times

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steamgeorge
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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:06 pm

unfortunately they turned out in the opposite order that I intended them to be but it should make sense if you read from the end

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by Soar Valley Light » Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:44 pm

Hello George,

Thanks for posting the pictures. Your line is clearly well engineered. The track geometry is very nice (I can't help notice - it's one of my obsessions!). Getting that right creates a far more realistic appearance than track just thrown down with the excuse that 'narrow gauge lines were like that". Most lines, even industrial ones, were properly designed, set out and built at their birth. Your sidings and wagon turntables linking them look really good.

Super job!

Andrew
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"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"

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steamgeorge
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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Thu Sep 27, 2018 8:27 pm

Andrew, that area of the railway has changed significantly over the past year, you will be able to see the change in upcoming photos. In the meantime, check out me youtube (Wadebridge Light Railway Company) to see some videos of my line. Thank you for your kind comments

George

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Thu Sep 27, 2018 9:19 pm

This is the difference
Attachments
this is a fairly recent photo of the railway (august 2018)
this is a fairly recent photo of the railway (august 2018)
IMG_2682.jpeg (174.67 KiB) Viewed 8140 times

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by IrishPeter » Fri Sep 28, 2018 3:49 am

Cracking job, George! Very nice little railway.

Peter in Va :thumbup:
Traffic Pattern? What pattern? Spuds out; grain in, but cattle, sheep and passengers are a lot less predictable.

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by bazzer42 » Fri Sep 28, 2018 7:56 am

Welcome aboard George. That's a cracking railway to start your introduction :D I do love that little turntable, I wish I had taken the time to build one at the end of my run round loop. As Andrew said good planning and engineering pays off, as Mr Impatient I can vouch for that...

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by Andrew » Fri Sep 28, 2018 3:50 pm

That's looking lovely, thanks for the photos!

Andrew.

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FWLR
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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by FWLR » Sat Sep 29, 2018 8:01 am

Great looking line and well worth the effort. Like both Andrew’s have said, “ Planning it right is always the best way “ Although most of us just go with the flow if you get my meaning George.
I am in the same mould has bazzer42, and I now have to take more time doing things myself.

Can you put some of you videos onto the forum mate, it would be easier for some of our members to get to see them.

Keep up the excellent work George.

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Sat Sep 29, 2018 9:30 am

Here is a link for a video of my Dads cheddar Iver:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D6CKEMIYM8

Over the course of this year I have been busy extending the railway. A much larger loop (still small) has been constructed around the garden and joins up to the circle of track seen in previous posts. This allows the railway to be run as a figure of 8. Also, there are 2 passing loops on the larger loop with a similar running distance between the two. This has provided very useful because 2 trains can run in opposite directions. There will be a station at each passing loop; one is Port Isaac Road and the other is St Kew Highway. Here are some photos of construction. :D
Attachments
overall view of one half of the railway
overall view of one half of the railway
IMG_2688.jpeg (185.53 KiB) Viewed 8035 times
the track is down!
the track is down!
IMG_2687.jpeg (172.27 KiB) Viewed 8035 times
a train can now be run the opposite way out of St Kew Highway
a train can now be run the opposite way out of St Kew Highway
IMG_2686.jpeg (165.08 KiB) Viewed 8035 times
planning Port Isaac Road
planning Port Isaac Road
IMG_2685.jpeg (200.66 KiB) Viewed 8035 times
constructing the stone 'walls' to retain the ballast  for the section of line across the path. the concrete is to the ratio 4:1 and is fixed to a foundation of packed hardcore
constructing the stone 'walls' to retain the ballast for the section of line across the path. the concrete is to the ratio 4:1 and is fixed to a foundation of packed hardcore
IMG_2684.jpeg (209.87 KiB) Viewed 8035 times
trench for the trackbed leading to the path
trench for the trackbed leading to the path
IMG_20180719_122615232.jpeg (131.9 KiB) Viewed 8035 times
track laid up to Port Isaac Road
track laid up to Port Isaac Road
IMG_2529.jpeg (177.34 KiB) Viewed 8035 times
Last edited by steamgeorge on Sat Sep 29, 2018 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

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steamgeorge
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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Sat Sep 29, 2018 9:33 am

There is still a lot of work to do but at least the line is up and running. I will post more about the lines fictional history in a later post.
Thank you for all the comments.

George

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by pandsrowe » Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:57 am

One thing that certainly impresses me with your railway is the nice neat edges between the trackbed and the grass. If that was in my garden the blackbirds would have thrown half of the ballast onto the grass in their search for food and the cat would have dislodged the remainder as he used it as a litter tray, you must spend an awful lot of time in maintaining the pristine look!
Phil

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by FWLR » Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:28 am

Put it on here George for everyone to see.

Thanks for the link. It is very easy to put it on yourself though, Just click the video box and move in-between the two video boxes that comes up and then paste the video. It then will show the video without going onto Youtube.



Nice loco and rolling stock by the way.

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steamgeorge
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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Sun Sep 30, 2018 12:11 pm

pandsrowe wrote: Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:57 am One thing that certainly impresses me with your railway is the nice neat edges between the trackbed and the grass. If that was in my garden the blackbirds would have thrown half of the ballast onto the grass in their search for food and the cat would have dislodged the remainder as he used it as a litter tray, you must spend an awful lot of time in maintaining the pristine look!
Thank you Pandsrowe, I am pleased you appreciate how much effort goes into maintaining a line with loose ballast. Unfortunately, a neighbours cat uses the railway as a litter tray . However, as the railway progresses, more areas of ballast will be covered up which should help. I am thinking of securing the ballast down with tile adhesive as well.

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by steamgeorge » Sun Sep 30, 2018 1:01 pm

A bit of progress yesterday, I have finally got round to making the platform at St Kew Highway. It is made of concrete and reflects many narrow gauge lines as it is only level with the top of the sleepers. There will be a water tower, lamp hut, station building, benches etc on it once I get round to building them. I have also posted some pictures of Trethevan halt crossing as this was started a few weeks ago. There is still a lot of work to do though including actually building the halt!
Attachments
close up of the level crossing
close up of the level crossing
IMG_20180930_120111603.jpeg (275.48 KiB) Viewed 6334 times
Trethevan halt
Trethevan halt
IMG_20180930_120100042.jpeg (363.2 KiB) Viewed 6334 times
the platform
the platform
IMG_20180930_115937299.jpeg (404.63 KiB) Viewed 6334 times
unfortunately I ran out of sand just before I could complete to south side of the station
unfortunately I ran out of sand just before I could complete to south side of the station
IMG_20180930_120038700.jpeg (372.25 KiB) Viewed 6334 times

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Re: Wadebridge Light Railway

Post by FWLR » Mon Oct 01, 2018 7:40 am

Nice job George. :thumbright:

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