The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

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Tommy56
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The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Tommy56 » Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:06 pm

Hi John here, I'm writing this on behalf of my Dad Tommy! I'm starting my own garden railway at the miment, but that will be a seperate topic so more to come!

The BDLR railway began in 1997, originally planned as an 0 gauge layout having scooped a bargain charity shop LMS 4f fowler some wagons and 3 coaches. We had a 00 gauge layout in the attic and the topic of a garden railway was something that would come up now and again. It was felt that OOgauge was too small so an Ogauge seemed the only other viable option. So work began in 1997 with the construction of a station area followed by a viaduct. And that was it for about a year and a half until the next section was constucted in order to form a continuous loop. The next part of the project was to aquire some Ogauge track. That was until we came across a train set in Blenerville near Tralee in County Kerry running in the window. It was an LGB Stainz with two maroon carriages and that was it! O gauge was concined to the history books once we realised that G scale was a thing having never heard of LGB before! It was the size that was appealing and my Dad had a soft spot for narrow gauge and could see the potential with this new found gauge. Luckily the infastructure of the garden layout thus far could accomodate this larger track and there were only a few ajustments to be made. I remember going to Dublin a year later to buy the LGB starter set and then picking up the Bachmann big hauler RC set a few months later. Finally a track was laid and connected and a train ran, not until 2000 though! The railway has had 3 major phases and it looks much different now to when it began running 20 years ago. The viaduct is the only original piece of the railway that exists now in the same place it always was.

John

Track -LGB
Locos- LGB and Bachmann. 4 in total
Rolling Stock- LGB, Bachmann, ECR and Scratch built
Building- all scratch built
Controls- Analogue
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Spreewald arriving  at Ballinacraig from Newry with a lunchtime passenger service
Spreewald arriving at Ballinacraig from Newry with a lunchtime passenger service
IMG-20200414-WA0014.jpg (245.03 KiB) Viewed 6049 times
LGB Spreewald has just left Ballinacraig with a service to Derrylecka. The viaduct looks imposing as it towers over the locals
LGB Spreewald has just left Ballinacraig with a service to Derrylecka. The viaduct looks imposing as it towers over the locals
IMG-20200414-WA0013.jpg (361.18 KiB) Viewed 6049 times
LGB Spreewald crosses the swing bridge with a service to Derrylecka. The bridge is on hinges and locks in place when running
LGB Spreewald crosses the swing bridge with a service to Derrylecka. The bridge is on hinges and locks in place when running
IMG-20200414-WA0023.jpg (393.53 KiB) Viewed 6049 times

Nojahoda
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Nojahoda » Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:29 pm

I'm assuming that it's track powered?

Tommy56
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Tommy56 » Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:45 pm

Yes, hopefully live steam will grace the line some day though 👍🏼

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Peter Butler
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:21 pm

Tommy56 wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:45 pm Yes, hopefully live steam will grace the line some day though 👍🏼
Remember to isolate the power supply otherwise sparks will fly!
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Jimmyb
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Jimmyb » Mon Apr 27, 2020 9:15 am

Peter Butler wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:21 pm
Tommy56 wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:45 pm Yes, hopefully live steam will grace the line some day though 👍🏼
Remember to isolate the power supply otherwise sparks will fly!
Or ensure your steam loco has insulated wheels :)

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Old Man Aaron
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Old Man Aaron » Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:56 pm

It all looks very "lived in" and natural. Nice work. Would love to see more of your work. Welcome to the forum!
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works

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ge_rik
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by ge_rik » Thu Apr 30, 2020 8:42 am

Are the buildings concrete castings?

Rik
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philipy
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by philipy » Thu Apr 30, 2020 8:49 am

In particular I do like the viaduct setting and especially the corrugated iron roofed cottage. That whole row sits so realistically in front of the viaduct, somehow.
Philip

Tommy56
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Tommy56 » Wed May 13, 2020 8:51 pm

ge_rik wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2020 8:42 am Are the buildings concrete castings?

Rik
Hi Rik, the viaduct is concrete but all other buildings are scratch made from various wood types. Building slot in to place and are stored away over the winter :thumbright:

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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Tommy56 » Wed May 13, 2020 9:01 pm

A few more pics of the buildings. Each has a story attached to it. Cheadles pub is named after my wife's family, McGoverns bakery after my brothers's wife's family. Very typical looking buildings found in Irish villages.
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Polish_20200513_204230454_compress81.jpg
Polish_20200513_204230454_compress81.jpg (173.79 KiB) Viewed 5838 times
IMG-20200414-WA0009_compress31.jpg
IMG-20200414-WA0009_compress31.jpg (232.17 KiB) Viewed 5838 times
IMG-20200414-WA0011_compress54.jpg
IMG-20200414-WA0011_compress54.jpg (209 KiB) Viewed 5838 times

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LNR
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by LNR » Thu May 14, 2020 12:31 am

You have some nice street scenes there, like to see more.
Grant.

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ge_rik
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by ge_rik » Thu May 14, 2020 6:18 am

LNR wrote: Thu May 14, 2020 12:31 am You have some nice street scenes there, like to see more.
Grant.
I very much agree - with both statements 👍

Rik
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philipy
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by philipy » Thu May 14, 2020 6:56 am

Absoluteley agree. :D
Philip

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Peter Butler
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Thu May 14, 2020 10:12 am

I love to see structures and roadways in a garden railway, it gives it a reason for being there. These pictures are wonderful.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

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Andrew
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Andrew » Thu May 14, 2020 10:16 am

Great photos!

I love how the buildings sit on the steeply sloping streets, just like the real thing...

Andrew.

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Lonsdaler
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Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway

Post by Lonsdaler » Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:04 pm

Some lovely street scenes there - remind me very much of the best 'model villages' that are scattered around here and there. I have a small area that needs something doing with it, and the inspiration is right here - Thank you. :thumbup:
Phil

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My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

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