Garden Railway Forum

Herewith, the photo that got lost yesterday. I hope!

Just a quick posed shot of my Ragleth with the mechanical lubricator that I made for my 3 1/2" Spencer sitting on the running board to give you some idea of what could be achieved. Thanks to all for your feedback about the pros and cons of displacement versus mechanical lubricators, the none re...

I've been pondering for a while as to why in our garden scales we always use displacement lubricators. Apart from the relative ease of manufacture and use I'm not seeing many advantages. I can think of numerous occasions of posters here and magazine authors who complain about the unprototypical and ...

I always take my railway structures in for the winter with the exception of the few concrete items that I have, although I have noticed deterioration and some frost damage even with these. This winter as an experiment I did leave a couple of resin wall sections out as I wanted to see how they would ...

Thanks Graeme for the update on treble tube, I didn't realise that the K&S range of materials was produced to such standards. Dazza, I've checked my Regner whistle and the tube not including the pipe fitting measures 58mm long, 10mm diameter and ~ 0.5mm wall thickness. Sorry I can't be more accu...

Years ago whistles would have been made from 'treble tube', tube that had been drawn through the forming die three times, hence the name. I don't think that it is still available but I'm prepared to be proved wrong. I do know that the thinner the tube is the better the sound will be, please don't as...

Wow that is a magnificent project in it's own right, never mind all the other aspects of your railway. You clearly must have at least 36 hours available in each day in your part of the world. Would you please expand on your intriguing statement that you turn your tyres from plumbing grommets, suitab...

I would say that is a fairly reasonable price to pay, depending on any wear and what equipment comes with it ie. chucks, centres, toolholders/bits etc. From the photo it looks as if it has been cared for but appearances can be deceptive, check for any excessive play in the headsgock bearings and als...

For what it's worth I use rechargeable batteries to power most of my lighting and motor driven projects. Freshly charged batteries are put out at the start of the running season and are taken in for the winter, in all cases they are undercover ie. inside buildings but they do suffer slightly from th...

Well, if nothing else this thread has certainly promoted some spirited and emotional responses. I don't ever recall seeing such before, four pages of replies in just over one day and so far no real answer to Rik's original question. Personally I run both live steam and battery electric steam outline...

That's really quite a feat of engineering that you creating there, reminds me of some of the aircraft hangers at Duxford that are still used for storage and restoration. Did you curve the top members or cut them from sheet? Either way another remarkable creation.

Mind you with all the general rubbish on the box at the moment, it can't be much worse. Or can it?

There was a series around 8 years ago specifically devoted to garden railways, if I remember correctly it was a series of about 12 half hour episodes made by an organisation called the Railway Channel. I hesitate to endorse it as worth watching, although there was some interesting content (to me) it...

The etch cut parts for my Ellie arrived today, I must say I'm quite impressed with the quality. All the dimensions that I have checked are within .01mm at least as accurately as I can measure. Now I've got something to fit the various turned parts that I have already made to, so must spend more time...

James, that's truly inspirational. Would you be so kind as to pass on details as to your moulding and casting techniques?

Sadly the TV companies are largely constrained by what the advertisers are prepared to pay for, although CH4 does seem to be a bit of an exception. The advertisers are in turn driven by the viewing public (not the likes of us obviously) and presumably they do not want the in depth type of programmes...

Yes I agree the drawings do leave a little to be desired. However the dimensions are there but does mean that you have work a number of things out for yourself.
I don't think that really counts as a "begineer's" engine!

Grant, I am very impressed by the detail and realism that you have achieved here. A question I have, are the bell crank mounting plates fixed to your sub base or are they in some way attached to the track? I ask because I am proposing a rodded operation of points to my line's extension and I have be...

These trees look very suitable for a long trem project that I have in mind for my railway but I'm always wary of the growth as I have been caught out in the past with so called miniature trees. With your experience of them what sort of growth rate would you expect to see, is it a foot in a year or a...

A very ingenious technique, I am particularly interested in this as I am planning a turntable for my line's extension. One question, what are you proposing to do about water drainage from the turntable pit? I have thought about putting a slight fall on mine and a drain hole but then that will throw ...