Garden Railway Forum

Does anyone have any experience with building and operating end-to-end garden railways?

My parents have been to look round our new house, and judging on what they've said, it looks like my new line is going to have to be one.

Presumably there isn't scope for a balloon loop either end. I like running round the train but I can understand it could probably get boring after a couple of trips on a short line. You'd probably be best fitting Accucraft choppers which propel very well.

Your right with the ballon loop. The garden is only about twice the size of our current, tiny patch of land, and my family want it for a trampaline. I'm thinking therefore of running it from the top side of the garden, and down the side of the house to the frount garden.

I would say try and put in balloon loops in if possible, even if there is room for only one at one end. I suppose an layout like the Seibiant hill railway would also be good if you have room for a small circle, with a line off to a terminus.

yeah Id go for a balloon loop at 1 end that way ya can set the train off and dont have to chase it, you can just wait for it to trundle back down.

wont there be any room in the front for a loop?

where are you moving roughly? Id be happy to help if your staying in Durham

Having said all that, if a squeezing in a baloon loop means using extremely sharp curves, personally I wouldn't bother. There are a couple of curves on the MVR that are sharper than I would like (LGB first radius) and they've given us no end of trouble derailing long-wheelbase stock.

I know an end-to-end line might be frusrating, but if that's all you can do then it's better than nothing. At least then you can run trains, which will keep your interest up. Does you loco have radio control? If so, I expect it will make operation considerably easier.

pauly wrote:yeah Id go for a balloon loop at 1 end that way ya can set the train off and dont have to chase it, you can just wait for it to trundle back down.

wont there be any room in the front for a loop?

where are you moving roughly? Id be happy to help if your staying in Durham  :)

Thanks for the advice.  However I'm moving back to cumbria.  I won't mention the town because last time I did, it caused a lot of off-topicness.

What ever line you build in that town that could be easily turned into a rude name, I wish you luck, and i'm sure the NWAG would be more than forthcoming with help and advice.

When you get moved over, might be worth contactin some of the grouip to come have a looksie at the plot and give suggestions based on what we can see as it is much easier thatn trying to decifer descriptions! I know FRthunderbolt sought advice and ideas from anyone he could get to come round!

bungle80a wrote:What ever line you build in that town that could be easily turned into a rude name, I wish you luck, and i'm sure the NWAG would be more than forthcoming with help and advice.

When you get moved over, might be worth contactin some of the grouip to come have a looksie at the plot and give suggestions based on what we can see as it is much easier thatn trying to decifer descriptions! I know FRthunderbolt sought advice and ideas from anyone he could get to come round!

Thanks guys. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I have plenty of ideas for my new line. The problem is fitting them around the demands of the planning officer.

What gauge are you using? There are 16.5" (422mm) curves available in 45mm, which would make a balloon loop possible in a very small sapce.

See http://www.aizoon.co.uk/PHLR/3getitright.html

Sorry, I use 32mm gauge, and even if I used 45mm, I don't think my Lawley would get round those corners.

I've been to look round the garden today, and I've come up with a basic plan for my railway.  The line will run from a station behind our house, up the top side of the garden, to a ballon loop, about 13 yards, including the ballon loop.  Due to land that will be used being weed ridden and unattractive, my mum has given me permission to build.

Any idea's on methods of construction?

well is it going to be raised in any way?  if not tradition ballesting all the way

youll get people saying that without a weed barrier its going to be constant hassle with the weeds, its just not true, all you have to do is take 30 seconds out of your day every day and walk along the track and pull any offending weeds out with your fingers and as long as you do that every day or so youll have no problems

and do you intend to visit my railway before you leave the area? Im not gonna bite

I'd like to see a photo of the site first.

I've got a photo, but it's on my brothers camera at the moment. i'll try and put it on this evening.

I'd love to come round to your railway pauly but 1, transport is a problem, and 2, I'm very busy revising for my GCSE's at the moment. Sorry.

Your parents won't drive you to a revising relaxation sesion so you can relax before revising more intensly?

Nope.

well Ferrysteam lives in Durham, I bet if you asked him he would bring you along next time he visited my railway

Well, here's the pic as promised.



The station will be down on the right, where the mud is.  The railway will then run up the side of the garden to the top left, where the ballon loop will be.

What do people think?

pauly wrote:well Ferrysteam lives in Durham, I bet if you asked him he would bring you along next time he visited my railway

Thanks for the offer. I do want to come, but with my GCSE exams just weeks away, I need to get as much revision done as possible.