Garden Railway Forum

idlemarvel wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2019 8:57 pm At least I should finish before Crossrail.

And cheaper

Really enjoying watching this develop. As Tom says, a proper railway.....

Rik

If I had the space I would be building something similar as I plan to buy or build a NG steam 5" gauge loco that should be able to handle small radius curves.

I have browsed the PNP site many times and I would certainly use plastic sleepers and chairs like you are:

https://www.pnp-railways.co.uk/products ... -fittings/

So the "golden spike" moment has arrived and I have assembled, laid and joined the last track panel!
I have checked the level / grade and "pitch" (is that the right word? I mean slope left or right). Even though these are tight curves I have not provided any superelevation as speeds will be very low and I think it would further encourage the outer wheels to climb up the rail. Tomorrow I will try the bogie driving truck to check clearances and any dips or peaks in the trackbed. Then I can finish the ballasting and maybe run a train. I have collected the loco, and just bought two car batteries (the loco is 24 v) which are charging in the shed as I write this. Nearly there!

Exciting times Dave, I think the term is 'camber'.

Are you able to take an aerial photo of the entire line from a 1st floor room in your house?

I have purchased my first 5" gauge loco and awaiting delivery but will post that in another topic.

Excellent can't wait to see your loco.

My house is 25m from the track so it's unlikely that an aerial photo would show much, but I'll take a look from the loft window.

I must say congratulations to you for achieving your goal so quickly and efficiently, it all looks so well engineered it is sure to work effectively. As in all things there are those who can, and those who say they can...... you have proved to be one of the former!

Thank you for your kind words Peter much appreciated. The jury hasn't sat yet on whether it has all worked!

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:57 pm As in all things there are those who can, and those who say they can...... you have proved to be one of the former!

I agree with Peter, Dave. You have done a brilliant job on your line and you are differently one of the former.....

Hope to see some photos and possibly a video soon of your loco...

Some testing of the track with a 100kg load on my driver bogie wagon.
I'm finding quite a lot of dips in the ballast with this load.

Also marked the platform clearances so I know where to paint the "stand behind" line. Need to allow room for feet protruding from the running boards.

Best I could do for an "aerial shot", stood on some stepladders in the corner of the plot. You can see most of the track, just waiting for the final layer of ballast.

That was yesterday. Today I completed the ballasting and final track checks, and went for a test run. All aboard!

https://youtu.be/TYZHfUQj4r4

That's a great photo Dave and gives me a clear shot of the entire line.

Congratulations on the first run, it must feel like quite an achievement.

Thanks very much.

I am very pleased with the outcome, quite close to how I saw it in my mind's eye last autumn.

There were points in dreary days of March digging over the plot for the third time and pulling out yet more weeds when I thought I'd never get here. Confronted by 200 bricks and lugging 40 bags of sharp sand and ballast the length of the garden the thought kept popping up, what have I started, I must have been mad. That may still be the case but it's very pleasing to be here. My grandson can't wait for his first ride.

I appreciate the effort required to achieve where you have got to today.

So, when is the extension line taking place?

I will be relying on grandson to persuade grandma that grandpa needs more rolling stock and track!

Great job, well done Dave.

The grandson will have the biggest smile ever.....

First trips out on the Circle Line with passengers. The misses insisted on being first but here is my grandson enjoying the on-board catering...

https://youtu.be/qRXsVrZZ_zs

Of course he insisted on driving; he soon got the hang of it!

https://youtu.be/75C34v3akbs

Congratulations!

I would of been in my element at your grandson's age driving that train. My imagination would of pictured it a much larger line where I had to pickup passengers and deliver goods.

tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 12:42 pm Congratulations!

I would of been in my element at your grandson's age driving that train. My imagination would of pictured it a much larger line where I had to pickup passengers and deliver goods.

Thanks. There are already plans for a goods siding and a passenger wagon, so the current driving truck can be used as a bogie open goods wagon and we can do a bit of shunting.

The plans are only in my head at the moment, but I have the land and permission , I just need the funds .

This is the passenger wagon I have in mind:


I have seen one in the Ride on Railways workshop, they look fantastic.

I would probably go for GWR brown and cream, like on the Welshpool and Llanfair.