Garden Railway Forum

FWLR wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:01 am That does look like it has been there for quite some time Aaron. Brilliantly done with both the photography and the weathering.

Ditto
My thoughts exactly

Rik

That's very effective!

Love the spices idea - I'm guessing cinnamon? My WD Baldwin's smokebox door is still smeared with the cocoa powder I used for some temporary weathering...

Mmmm - that looks 'crusty' several more in similar condition and you would have the makings of Barry scrapyard in the 60's and 70's.

Thanks again, I'm also pleased with the overall effect. Letting the weeds do their thing would further improve it..

that is indeed cinnamon, with a little paprika here and there for highlights. I particularly like how the oil has wept out of each joint in the motion, and turned very dark.
I'll have to remember that, when I get round to bodging a spare LGB Koppel body, into my own boneyard loco.. The owner of this one, informs me he'd like to "restore" it with a motor driving the rear axle, a-la "Moreton" "preserved" at the Yandina Ginger Factory.

30/08/21

At the time these photos were taken, we expected to buy a place and move out of this sardine-suburbian hole early next year. So to give myself plenty of time to lift the line and re-terraform it into a driveway, (and so the grass under the elevated section can grow back) a final visitor's day was held at the end of August.

"Victoria" on the bins.


Ben's recently-completed coal-fired Fowler "Eudlo" of the local (closed 2003) Moreton Mill.
Four Fowlers (or is it 3½?)
On the next line, I'd love to make it a regular thing, to try and beat the previous record for Fowlers in attendance.



Due to dropping a nut which was thankfully later found, "Eudlo" never got to pull the bins this time.
But we posed this "what-if-Moreton-steamers-lasted-into-the-diesel-era" shot anyway.
I should build up a stock of spares from Roundhouse, for this sort of thing..


Ben's R/C-ed Ruby "Ida" was an impressively smooth and docile runner - besides the tender and R/C conversion, I believe it's a bog-standard Ruby!
Now that he's about finished "Eudlo", Ben plans on giving "Ida" a ten-year overhaul, new tender and plenty of other mods.
Having owned and heavily-rebuilt a Ruby in the past, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what he does with his loco.
More photos to come..

Even ran into the night. Next time, I'd like to better-facilitate night running, a bit like Dazza's done on his line.
Some clips thrown together.



06/09/21
A week later, demolition begins with the elevated section. ⅔ of the material was salvageable. Though all future elevated sections will be raised garden beds, rather than this temporary wood and fibro thing.



Another not-unexpected change of plans that came about, the day after that photo was taken, means we'll be staying here until this time next year, at least.

Whilst normally, this would mean that nothing needs to be dismantled yet, I'd already set in motion a new project. One that will require the side yard becoming a driveway sooner rather than later.. Something that will in time, end up on the off-topic board..



Tomorrow morning, I'll have one final run, then this little test track's apocalypse will begin..

Always great pictures from your line, such a shame to have to take it down, especially under the last minute circumstances. Time to build more stock and wait patiently.

Lovely pictures Aaron. Somehow I managed to miss your previous post and the superb night shots.

It is a shame that you have to lift it all, but since you alwasy planned for it, I guess it isn't as much ofa wrench as it might have been.
Fingers crossed for the future.

Yet more great pictures - I do love your line, such a shame it has to go, although I'm sure the next one will be even better. The research you've done re ballast etc in particular makes such a difference, I don't think I've seen more realistic looking track, roads and other "ground cover" on a garden railway. If you ever get a chance, I think you might enjoy reading Ian Stock's book, "The Art of Garden Railways"...

Anyway, good luck with the next project, keep us posted!

Andrew

A really great set of photos. So, these may not be the last ..... for now?

Rik

Favourite photo is the first one. It's very atmospheric.

Sorry to hear the line is coming up, especially as your plans have been delayed by 12 months, but I'm very intrigued by the 'off-topic' project. Look forward to reading about it!

Aye, it'll allow time to complete all the things I wanted to do by the end of this year..
Andrew - thanks for the book suggestion, just ordered a copy

09/09/21
After a final run in the morning, lifting the line began mid-afternoon. Bet you've never seen pre-ballasted track in 45mm gauge.
All of the ballast remained attached to the pieces of track. Some of the rockier stuff had to be chipped away with a screwdriver, but most was "rubbery" thanks to the PVA, and pushed out in fairly clean chunks. All was then stacked behind the house, and will be pressure washed in the lead-up to eventual moving. Two of the "trees" were relocated to help disguise the besser blocks.
A fair amount of the garden had to come out. To spread out the job, and to allow some testing track to remain, the caravan end of the line will be left in place for the coming year. A few plants were saved, and some others relocated to the empty garden bed between van and fence.
All the displaced soil and mulch was spread out. Was going to buy some grass seed for it, but it's got a year to fill in by itself.


20/09/21
Another 2m3 of gravel was brought in (over-ordered yet again) and spread out. The excess pile round the back has doubled in size. At least I won't be short for gravel when the van is removed and that area has to be "graveled" properly. (the van was just parked on the dirt, and some gravel shoveled in underneath so it looks right)


Train shed for a 2½" terminus?



I'll leave this off with some photos of the very final run, eleven days ago. It's been good to have a test loop, but needs must.



















Thanks again for all the kind words and advice. Here's to the next one.. (working title)

Ouch!

Glad you manged to salavage the track and some plants, it will give you a head start when the time comes .. one day.