The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

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Nomis
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The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:55 am

Hello again!

After finally working out how to properly link Flickr images again, it is time that I put up a thread on my new garden line (although construction actually started over a year ago now....).

My previous railway (the apple valley railway) is described elsewhere on its own thread (which has details on the stock built previously) https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=11275

The following video gives a good idea of the railway at its fullest extent:


We sold the house in the autumn of 2018, and moved to a new place with much more room for railway building.

The old railway was left in situ (at the request of yhe buyers), but all stock came with me.

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:02 am

The original sketch for the new line:

Image20181213_110106 by simon mace, on Flickr

Things didn't quite end up like this, but it gives an idea.

So I hired a large van and took a trip to the miniature railway supply company http://www.miniaturerailwaysupply.com/

Which resulted in a big stack of 25mm tall steel rail:

Image20190127_104819 by simon mace, on Flickr

And some matching cast iron point frogs:

Image20190127_104834 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:07 am

After demolishing two small sheds, the space next to the garage was opened up and the first lengths of track put down:
Image20190217_170322 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190217_170301 by simon mace, on Flickr

This section is actually built with steel bar, partly to save the "proper" rail for where it is more visible, and partly because this track will ultimatley connect to the driveway crossing (which will need all the strength it can get to withstand cars driving over it regularly).

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:13 am

Around this time I was building a wickham trolley inspired loco for a friend. These sort sections allowed for some track testing:

Image20190115_195730 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image
20190115_195730 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190216_121521 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190224_124543 by simon mace, on Flickr

(Picture of the finished loco taken at the kensey valley railway)

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:19 am

Building points by scaling up from peco....

Image20190202_092149 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190202_154835 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190202_160702 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190210_095218 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190204_144156 by simon mace, on Flickr

The point blades themselves are built up from 25mm angle iron - allows them to be shaped using an angle grinder (rather than the milling that proper rail section would really need)

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:24 am

A nice shot in the spring sunshine (although there is almost as much train as track at this point!)

Image20190317_120037 by simon mace, on Flickr

Removal of a very big (and fairly rotten) shed allowed breaking through into the back garden proper - good job we have a wood burner!

Image20190317_121211 by simon mace, on Flickr

The future station site takes shape:

Image20190317_155356 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image20190331_175908 by simon mace, on Flickr

Quite complex at this point to allow maximum passing loop & siding length, while also maintaining a constant 1:50 gradient (to allow for how the garden falls away further on).

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:28 am

I was lucky that there were quite a lot of building materials left by the previous owners - still heavy though!

Image2019-04-14_06-03-31 by simon mace, on Flickr

The trackbed marches forward!

Here entering a cutting on a falling gradient and 20' radius curve. All of the stone was extracted while digging the cutting.

ImageDSC_0015 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:31 am

An obstacle:

ImageDSC_0003 by simon mace, on Flickr

Cleared and dug:

ImageDSC_0014 by simon mace, on Flickr

At least I had a ready means to move the dirt - this was all piled up near the track for embankment building later.

ImageDSC_0024 by simon mace, on Flickr

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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:35 am

Marking out the curve:

ImageDSC_0021 by simon mace, on Flickr

The view from the bedroom window as the dirt pile grows:

ImageDSC_0020 by simon mace, on Flickr

Construction trains:

ImageDSC_0025 by simon mace, on Flickr

Image2019-04-18_08-51-15 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:39 am

I found digging a "guide trench" to be an efficient way to keep the trackbed more accurately aligned:

ImageDSC_0021_1555692355392 by simon mace, on Flickr

Not all of the rocks dug out were of a convenient size!

ImageDSC_0026_1557157693309 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0027 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0028 by simon mace, on Flickr

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Palmerston
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Palmerston » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:42 am

Very interesting post!
Live steam on 45 & 184mm, battery 45mm only.

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:45 am

As the track progressed down the garden, the cutting became an embankment.

The rear wall was built up from stacked turf:

ImageDSC_0029 by simon mace, on Flickr

And the future site of a bridge marked out:
(The railway passes over a drainpipe here, so it's an ideal way to retain access while adding a scenic feature)

ImageDSC_0030 by simon mace, on Flickr

Looking like a garden railway :)

ImageDSC_0029_1557569558999 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:57 am

Gave the steam loco a (short) run:

ImageDSC_0033 by simon mace, on Flickr

And dad brought his loco for a visit:

ImageDSC_0030_1558381425738 by simon mace, on Flickr

Furry track inspection:

Image_20190523_174134 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:01 am

A trackside rockery takes shape:

ImageDSC_0030_1558188660757 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0030_1558612634631 by simon mace, on Flickr

Digging and pouring bridge pier foundations:

ImageDSC_0051_1560969627227 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0052_1561287258429 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:03 am

More construction trains:

ImageDSC_0053_1561287258214 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0051_1561287258603 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:07 am

Building a higher capacity wagon for hauling larger construction loads:

ImageDSC_0029_1558723351775 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0053_1562180804707 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0058 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0052_1562510501507 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:09 am

The first 5 tons (!) of ballast is delivered:

Imagereceived_2603362169698139 by simon mace, on Flickr

Imagereceived_325610658324124 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0052_1562787561559 by simon mace, on Flickr

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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:09 am

I have more questions when you have finished your posts but I have to ask now did you dig all this without any mechanical equipment?!

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:12 am

Fortunately I had some help in spreading it:

ImageDSC_0053_1562787561368 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0054_1562787561101 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0054_1563033565836 by simon mace, on Flickr

ImageDSC_0053_1563033566039 by simon mace, on Flickr


ImageDSC_0068 by simon mace, on Flickr

Nomis
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Re: The Gables Garden Railway (7 1/4")

Post by Nomis » Sun Jun 28, 2020 11:14 am

No mechanical digger - just a spade and a lot of excercise!

I have a desk job monday-friday, so this saves on a gym membership at least!

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