Garden Railway Forum

So I have finaly decided on the name of mine line and put some track down. It's going fairly well, Just waiting on my next monthly budget for concrete blocks.

Foundations for the first loop
IMAG0068 by benmaple

And the track starting to go down now to, (sorry its a bit blurry). Need to start hiding the gravel now, this was left of from redoing the garden itself. I also have a large pile of Purbeck stone left for edging at the back of the loop perhaps?
IMAG0110 by benmaple, on Flickr

Nice start. How big is that loop and what do you run?

its 3' radius and I run on sm32 track, the largest look is a Keith Bucklitch isibutu when I finish it( I have already tested the chassis on the curve)

Looks a good start. I have a similar ballon loop and the key to success is to make sure it is as level as you can get it. I have found that locos don't mind slight hills and don't mind curves but hate both together.

Cheers Dan, I made every effort to make it as level as possible but a test run will tell when all the track is down. All things point to it being level but its still a degree of blind hope . I should be able to test the loop this weekend I hope. I will have another at the other end of the line aswell

Anyone buildings is a good thing...Hey! Bodgers lived in the woods turing wood with great skill.


(I don't know when the name reversed its meaning, anyone?)

steamie1:102897 wrote:Anyone buildings  is a good thing...Hey! Bodgers lived in the woods turing wood with great skill.


(I don't know when the name reversed its meaning, anyone?)

Agreed, a Bodger was a skilled wood turner living in the woods where his raw material grew and using a pole lathe to maker chair legs etc..

I understand that the term " to bodge" something is actually a corruption of 'botch' not bodger, and is derived from the Middle English' bocchen' which means “to mend, patch up, repair”.
It could be that the word Bodger is derived from the same origin but a different branch of the tree, so to speak!

That's wonderful..... clearly this is the place to be for education and information! Oh, and brilliant garden railways too.

philipy:102899 wrote:

steamie1:102897 wrote:Anyone buildings  is a good thing...Hey! Bodgers lived in the woods turing wood with great skill.


(I don't know when the name reversed its meaning, anyone?)

Agreed, a Bodger was  a skilled wood turner living in the woods where his raw material grew and using a pole lathe to maker chair legs etc..

I understand that the term " to bodge" something is actually a corruption of 'botch'  not bodger, and is derived from the Middle English' bocchen' which means “to mend, patch up, repair”.
It could be that the word Bodger is derived from the same origin but a different branch of the tree, so to speak!

It´s Middle English for "repair", without the implication that it is work badly done. And in Old French, it´s probably related to "boche" or "boss", as we would say today.

kandnwlr:102902 wrote:

philipy:102899 wrote:

steamie1:102897 wrote:Anyone buildings  is a good thing...Hey! Bodgers lived in the woods turing wood with great skill.


(I don't know when the name reversed its meaning, anyone?)

Agreed, a Bodger was  a skilled wood turner living in the woods where his raw material grew and using a pole lathe to maker chair legs etc..

I understand that the term " to bodge" something is actually a corruption of 'botch'  not bodger, and is derived from the Middle English' bocchen' which means “to mend, patch up, repair”.
It could be that the word Bodger is derived from the same origin but a different branch of the tree, so to speak!

It´s Middle English for "repair", without the implication that it is work badly done. And in Old French, it´s probably related to "boche" or "boss", as we would say today.

And you wouldn't get a response like that on facebook!

One if the reasons I don't like face book. Glad that you guys like the loop. Payday tomorrow so more blocks soon. . As for the Borger. It's nice to think it could turn be an actuall profession

long time but he is the progress. got a first run without derailing all the rolling stock the other day. the slip points where working but not with the binne rolling stock i use a lot of(to light and wheels to small), but the normal homemade points are fine. i will take more(and better pictures soon) i have lifted the slip points and put in the second straight rail section (just easier)

The paint finish wa not so great, So we have been having a repaint while the planting and work on the steamers is being done. The builders rubble and gravel is slowly disappearing now. Will post photos when done

DSC_0094 by benmaple, on Flickr

A few pictures from recent workings, the home made Oscillating quarry hunslet is on a RWM Janet Chassis. The yard area is really starting to look the part. The engine shed is having all of its stone carved atm. And wild rose chassis is coming along nicely, the isibutu was sold as could not do the curves. And another small electric loco has been added to aid in operations

The funny thing is that in the version of 'English as she is spokken' used around my way 'bodge' has the sense of making the best of a bad job, whereas botch is making the worst of a bad job, but then the North is conservative about language, tha knaws!

Peter in AZ

'making the best of a bad job' is more me i think.

Has anyone got any advice on two things, 1) working lever frames and 2) a regner Vincent ?( run time etc )

Your home made Hunslet looks very good.

Chris Cairns

Maple:112810 wrote:'making the best of a bad job'  is more me  i think.

Has anyone got any advice on two things, 1) working lever frames and 2) a regner Vincent ?( run time etc )

I regularly get thirty five mins plus from my Vincent. You have to watch the water levels though as the gas lasts longer than "one fill"of water.

Working lever frames : MODRATEC seem to make nice brass lever frames with working inter locking to your design. Their software "Sigscribe" is great fun to play around with if you like interlocking...

On a cheaper note. GEM make nice white metal lever frames with brass levers. No interlocking but quite sturdy. I have experimented with some very fine white metal "ground frame" kits (can't remember who from) but they can't put up with the abuse of actually working.

Vincent - 35 to 40 minutes on a warm day but as above, water little and often!

I believe Model Signal Engineering also make a frame. I don't think it is capable of being locked in itself but you can always make a locking tray through which the drive from the levers can be taken. I'm always mildly amazed that no one has produced a realistic working frame on a commercial scale before now. Pitch it right sizewise and it would be suitable for use with railways of most scales.