Garden Railway Forum

By coincidence, while Mr. I.N. Spectre has been traveling to (old) south Wales to inspect the Brockhampton and Umbridge Railway, an investigative reporter in New South Wales has uncovered a secret report on the state of the Sandstone and Termite.

As a result, it has been closed to all traffic between Lilyvale and Ti-tree.

Link to Newspaper article and Report on the closing of Ti-tree

That was the fantasy version. In a few days, I’ll put up the real reasons for its closing.

Meanwhile, here is the video of the last day of operation.

Nice video Greg and I love the report, even though it doesn't make for happy reading.
I do hope that your post headline means what it says and it is only a partial closure. Dare we hope for a re-opening in due course?

Thanks for a great video Greg. It's sad to hear the closing of the line. It will be intriguing to find out what will take its place.

Nice video Greg and I love the fake newspaper article. I assume the character Will E. Gobust is based on your good self?

Like the others I enjoyed the video and newpaper. Here's hoping for Bigger and Better.

Don

idlemarvel wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 7:42 am Nice video Greg and I love the fake newspaper article. I assume the character Will E. Gobust is based on your good self?

Yes, one of my alter-egos.
Thanks for all your comments.
Just to clarify - only about one third of the SaTR will close. There will still be plenty to run (and maintain).

Following on from the 1950s ‘fairytale’, this is what is really happening in 2019.

Ti-tree station was part of my ‘round-the-yard’ line which followed the yard boundaries. See the plan further down. While allowing a continuous run, its main purpose was to form part of the single line, 200m long, end-to-end line of Termite to Sandstone. It has provided a great deal of fun when 4 or 5 visitors tried running their trains while arranging crossings at the 5 intermediate stations. But in reality, I seldom used it on my own. (If you would like to see a video on the whole line running see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrwIXRbZ31Q or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dqag7bieGM both are about 10 minutes long.)

The ‘round-the-yard’ run was severed in 2017 by a neighbour’s tree dropping branches and damaging a bridge. . see this short video…


I had then planned to make Ti-tree into a terminus station and actually replaced some track and started building a turntable. BUT...
The baseboard at Ti-tree is 42’ long and made of fibro over old fence palings. About 6’ of the righthand end has now been destroyed by another falling branch. I am very worried about even being in that part of the yard for fear of being hit.


At tiny Oleander, a similar problem with branches (my tree this time) has punched big holes in the fibro.
The track is mostly handmade, brass rails nailed to wood sleepers and is 17 years old. The nails are rusting and it is starting to fall to pieces. It will need a lot of work to fix.

The rest of the layout is 25 years old and is needing more and more maintenance. I have less time to work on, or use the train, because of my wife’s illness, so I have decided to remove the whole of Ti-tree and the line from Lilyvale. The truncated layout will still provide more than enough work and operations for me.
This is the plan…
So very soon, I’ll have some mates around and we will have a ‘closing ceremony’.
Watch for that video!!!!

All makes perfect sense, Greg, sadly. It was in my mind that your reasons would be along those lines ( without knowing any detail, of course). Still, as you say you'll still have plenty left to work with, which is something at least.

Sorry to hear of your wife's illness. It does make sense to reduce the amount of maintenance and you will still have a pretty complex layout.

Don

After seeing your video Greg it's now understandable why you are doing it. Can you not join the track were the x's are just past Melaleuca Station is, or isn't it possible

You will still have a continuous run then wouldn't you.

Sad times, Greg, but understandable given the maintenance issues. Given the level of traffic when you have visitors to the line, it looks like you'll still have plenty of potential in what's left.

Rik

Thanks for the comments.
I know the track plan is a bit convoluted, so in simplified form, this will be the new arrangement. There is still a continuous run from Termite to Lilvale reverse loops. I will add a few more sidings at Lilyvale to provide more Operations.

I think that will work very well Greg. You will have the choice of a continuous run via the loops as well as end to end. If you have more than one operator you can have fun working out where you will pass each other.

Don

DonW wrote: ↑Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:40 am I think that will work very well Greg. You will have the choice of a continuous run via the loops as well as end to end. If you have more than one operator you can have fun working out where you will pass each other.

Don

Yes. Maple Jn may become a real bottle-neck with just the one loop and no sidings (and no space to extend).

gregh wrote: ↑Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:47 am

DonW wrote: ↑Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:40 am I think that will work very well Greg. You will have the choice of a continuous run via the loops as well as end to end. If you have more than one operator you can have fun working out where you will pass each other.

Don

Yes. Maple Jn may become a real bottle-neck with just the one loop and no sidings (and no space to extend).

Just like big railways sometimes.
Don

Community protests have delayed the actual Official Closing, but Management have decided to press ahead with some siding track removal anyhow!
So much for listening to community concerns. Luckily some residents were on hand to record the unauthorised work.


Here Mr Chainsaw starts to clear a fallen log, while the first track panel is readied for lifting.
The crane swings the first panel up and away.

The second panel is swung onto the wagon, while Mr Chainsaw clears the next track panel.

It looks fun to be doing the job properly.

Don

I love the second photo with the view down the platform; very atmospheric.

Great little story Greg.

Love the photos of the crane.

FWLR wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2019 8:41 am Great little story Greg.
Love the photos of the crane.

Thanks Rod. The crane is just an Aldi cheapie with a few mods. I wondered about painting the yellow but then decided it shows up better in pics.