Garden Railway Forum

The Little Morecambe Steam Railway runs between the former railway town of Carnforth, and the seaside resort of Morecambe. Despite the apparent tourist potential, during the time of my visit an intensive freight service was in operation, transporting wood and gravel from Carnforth to Morecambe. The ...

Today I visited the Little Morecambe Steam Railway. I will post a fuller account of my findings tomorrow, however in summery the line was generally good, with some issues. The main problem was the extremely steep gradient from Carnforth to the junction, which caused some difficulty in keeping speed ...

That inconsiderate driver giving me a shock like that at the SLR north really did top off a truly horrid day. However, I believe that another local line, the "Little Morecambe Steam Railway" shall be operating this coming weekend, giving me the opportunity to carry out a full inspection. I...

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/laalratty/Random%20silliness/DSC01845_zps001f0fff.jpg The curve beyond Waterslack showed no sign of any ballast at all, although the actual trackbed seemed solid enough. The width of the embankment was also of grave concern, whilst to say the cross-levels we...

Today I had the complete misfortune to visit the Silverdale Light Railway (North). I honestly thought I had seen it all when it comes to bad garden railways. But this disastrous line really did take the biscuit. The Afonglas and Nant Llwyd Railway had sent a loco and some stock to visit, as had othe...

I understand that tomorrow I am going to be visiting another line in the locality of my current residence, the Silverdale Light Railway (North). Posters advertising this line at stations on the ANLR have a note at the bottom that says "Travelling on this haphazard railway is done entirely at yo...

I have always thought that having more locomotives hauling a train then needed is something of a frivolous activity that is a waste of time and money. I also find the sight of driver Laurence quite obviously playing the fool whilst in charge of a locomotive extremely disturbing.

I have now concluded the writing of my report of my findings from the Afonglas and Nant Llwyd Railway. Sir, I have the honour to report to the Minister for Miniature Transport upon my inspection of the Afonglas and Nant Llwyd Railway. This narrow gauge line has been open and running between the port...

Hmmmm, yes Slack End was nice but I wouldn't in any way call it award winning. The halt had a siding with the usual haphazard form of control, and no sign of a facing point lock. I believe there was a further network of sidings round the back with similar controls. Anyway, I am hoping to compile my ...

Today has certainly been busy, the shortness of the line I'm currently on (it doesn't appear to have a name although the halt does, "Slack End") meant that trains passed by every few seconds, some stopped and some didn't. I was also pointed out by some big people. There were occasional der...

I've been removed from the hideous little box, and have been placed on a very small railway that appears to be raised on legs. The railway is circular and cannot be more then 12 or 13 yards long. Some of the track laying looks rather dodgy. The room is full of very small railways and some stands wit...

As I have mentioned previously I am a collector of rare and interesting split pins. I also have an interest in collecting stamps.

A "Vortex Manipulator chuff pipe"? This does NOT sound like a suitable fitting for a steam locomotive. My concern over this railway and its staff continues to grow...

Oh for goodness sakes, I was really enjoying living out in the open for once but now I've been put back in that horribly uncomfortable box, and by the sounds of it I'm now in a bigger box, from what I've heard I'm off to some place called Kendal to take part in a "Model Railway Exhibition"...

Yesterday, I witnessed "Scafell" in steam http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/laalratty/Random%20silliness/DSC01525_zps07eed7df.jpg http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/laalratty/Random%20silliness/DSC01526_zps2fa82de3.jpg The driver suddenly used the whistle. I did not find this ...

Today the management opened the box http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/laalratty/Random%20silliness/DSC01522_zpse8cf3389.jpg Inside was what can only be described as a monstrosity. It is a 2-6-0+0-6-2 garratt, built by Locobox in Cumbria, a type I have not come across before, in fact this is t...

Just tell him you'll set the Dragon on him and he'll behave himself This I have done. Bunny looked slightly nervous then hopped it. This allowed me to have a look over the locos and facilities http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/laalratty/Random%20silliness/DSC01491_zps7d160b12.jpg First up wa...

Unfortunately poor weather has meant that the loco testing has been postponed, so I am hoping to inspect the locos and workshops tomorrow. At the current time I am living on the lounge table of the General Manager, with that bunny that tried to kill me on day one for company. He keeps looking at me....

Today I have had a day off from my inspection, whilst the General Manager did some allegedly essential paperwork in his capacity of secretary of something called the "NWAG". I've noticed that this organisation has usually been mentioned in relation to "failing", "crashing&qu...

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/laalratty/Random%20silliness/DSC01442_zps37db7f80.jpg We carried on up the line, it must be said the scenery above the viaduct is very impressive as the line clings to a ledge above the valley. The line appears to be well engineered http://i251.photobucket.c...