RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

A place for the discussion of garden railways and any garden style/scale portable and/or indoor layouts
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Gremlin
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Post by Gremlin » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:52 am

I certainly will, not much fun on a day like today though.

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:27 pm

After two weeks of braving the cold (and getting a cold in the process) I have finally completed a circuit of track :twisted:

This is my first go at a YouTube video as Photobucket does not allow you to host videos at a decent resolution:

Watch the 'First complete run on the RWLR'

I did film this in HD, however, my Internet connection is rubbish so excuse the quality. I also had to drive the train at the same time so the stalling on the curves is not down to poor track laying ;)

I hope though it gives you an idea of what I have built.

The noise you hear near the end of the clip is Eurostar on its way to France...

Cheers,

Tom

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Gremlin
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Post by Gremlin » Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:36 pm

a nice line to be proud of, I can see a lot of work has gone into that and constructed well, I bet it will see a lot of running this coming season.

Lner fan Sam

Post by Lner fan Sam » Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:36 pm

Lovely little track you have there Tom. I like to whistle you have there too. Is there any chances of extensions on the track?

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:19 pm

Cheers chaps, its taken a while!

I think the only changes I will make in the future is to replace the points on the loops with the new Peco short radius versions so I can have a gentler curve connected to them (these were not available at the time).

Still plenty to do. Scenery, station, buildings, etc...

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:29 pm

We had some sunshine today here in Kent so made the most of it with some ballasting (unfinished):

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Testing an idea for here for making the ballast look dirty with charcoal. Seems to do well when soaked with the garden hose so could stand the elements if maintained:

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Lner fan Sam

Post by Lner fan Sam » Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:40 pm

Looks great Tom, are you glueing the ballast to your track?

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:31 pm

I am glad that you like it Sam :)

As the line is raised and enclosed there is no reason to glue it in place. I think one of the advantages of garden railways is that you can model using `real world` materials and methods.

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:56 pm

My recent test day went very well with a good turn out from Kent members. The passing loop proved very useful for running two or more trains!

Test fitted the point levers I am going to use on the line today:

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The base will be covered in ballast to hide the screws and the lever itself I will paint black with the iron weight painted white on both sides.

The rodding is just electrical wire (ring main type) which does not flex easily unlike wiring used for lighting circuits.

Colinjamesporter

Post by Colinjamesporter » Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:00 pm

Very good progress being made. Where are the point levers from?
Best wishes
Colin

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:06 pm

Thanks Colin.

You can buy them from Cliff Barker at www.cliffbarker.talktalk.net

I use his A.S.A fish plates as well which make fitting Peco track a breeze.

Colinjamesporter

Post by Colinjamesporter » Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:36 pm

Thanks for the information.

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:37 pm

Finally got round to painting the lever:

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I think with a few more of these placed around the line it will give it a bit more realism.

LnBmad

Post by LnBmad » Mon Jun 03, 2013 11:00 pm

That looks grand! Great job!

LnBmad

Post by LnBmad » Thu Jun 27, 2013 12:14 am

Was looking at my line and garden again today and feeling a bit down about it as its nowhere near where I want it to be and I was feeling uninspired... I remembered our plans were similar so have just reread all of this and can honestly say I want to make my line work! Totally reinspired! Cheers Tom! Next time I'm at the in-laws I may have to bring a loco to run as will be in your end of the country.... :)

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Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:18 am

I am glad it's given you the motivation (as other people's lines have for me).

Everything just takes time. The garden you see now was nothing like that when we first moved in. The patio was not laid, no flower beds or plants, rotten decking and a shed that was about to fall over.

Even now there is plently still to do.

You would be very welcome to visit. Runnning more than one train on my little line is possible now due to the passing loop and makes for much more interesting running.

Whenever of if ever you get fed up or down about the quality of your work with 16mm just have a look around at other members achievements. That always gives me a boot up the a!#e to be grateful and get on ;)

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Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:26 pm

Clarey finally get's a steam-up bay:

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There is another point lever to go on the point you see in the picture (currently drying) and I will see how the wood naturally weathers. If it does not weather to the look I want I will use my wire-wool/vinegar treatment instead.

When time allows I want to scratch build a metal water tower so it will rust.

Lner fan Sam

Post by Lner fan Sam » Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:39 pm

Looks brill Tom!

LnBmad

Post by LnBmad » Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:00 pm

Clarey looking awesome there Tom!

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williamfj
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Post by williamfj » Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:09 pm

Simple, but effective. 8)

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