Staple Hill Railway - New Line

What is your latest project?
Post Reply
James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Staple Hill Railway - New Line

Post by James from Devon » Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:29 pm

Hi Everyone.

I am new to the forums and the hobby but after many years of planning I am underway. I built a temporary railway last year to run my locos and and now underway with the permanent version.

I hope this is of interest to you, I found a lot of ideas from reading posts here.

This is the pic of my station with the first platform complete and the tram testing clearances. There will be a second platform on the left.

I built the platform using concrete reinforced with wire mesh. The edge slabs were glued on with no more nails ( I made clay masters for these then cast lots of them in resin, then sprayed and varnished)  the surface is dyed mortar mix. The track on the wooden planks is my temporary line which is now about 10 days away from being removed.

Image
Image
Last edited by James from Devon on Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:14 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Tue Mar 29, 2016 5:31 pm

Platform under construction
Image
Image
Track base for the start of the station loop in cutting
Image
I am very much looking forward to the time when its less like a building site...as is my wife :)
Last edited by James from Devon on Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:09 pm

There was a little more progress last week, not as much as I would have liked but the rain made indoor projects more appealing!

The sidings on the left will house the engine shed

Image

The start of the bridge, sides are underway. There will be a second bridge on the right leading to the storage sidings and lighting up area

Image

Station area

Image

More track being laid

Image

Hopefully, I will be able to post some more later in the week.
Thanks for looking
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

User avatar
Dwayne
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 681
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 12:15 am
Location: Oklahoma City

Post by Dwayne » Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:24 pm

Welcome to the forum. Nice start to your layout. Looking forward to more.

Joe
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 465
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 6:18 pm
Location: West Midlands

Post by Joe » Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:25 pm

Welcome, looks very good and plenty of space, i like the platform edgeing
Steam is highly under rated

User avatar
Soar Valley Light
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1451
Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 5:18 pm
Location: North West Leicestershire

Post by Soar Valley Light » Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:06 pm

Excellent work James. I am always in awe of people like you who jump in and get something running, then consolidate on that. I'm also in awe of people who progress at a smart pace (compared to my efforts that's most people!). Please keep the pictures coming to encourage us slow coaches! :P
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Tue Mar 29, 2016 8:23 pm

Thanks for all the kind words!

Soar valley... I can't claim to be working fast...it took me a decade to actually make a start! early last year I bought a Ragleth and was just too impatient to see it run. So I knocked up the raised temporary railway over a weekend. I knew I would have to get on with the proper one as wood in the elements would not be a long term solution.

I am also very lucky that I live a couple of hundred yards away from Graham Wilkins (and work with his wife!) and have run on his South Hams Light Railway and got loads of inspiration and advice - he really has built a lovely railway.

It also made me want to get on with building rolling stock. Which is handy since the winter was so wet it made it impossible to work outside. Here are some pics for you:

Running on Graham's "South Hams Light Railway"
Image[/url]
IP Engineering Penrhyn coach:
Image[/url]
Weathered and repainted Konrad (now with a roof)
Image
Chaloner with my scratchbuilt coal wagons:
Image[/url]
Ragleth "Lady Isabella" with the coal train:
Image[/url]
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

User avatar
MDLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4027
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:38 pm
Location: Near Ripley, Derbyshire, UK
Contact:

Post by MDLR » Tue Mar 29, 2016 9:45 pm

James from Devon:117062 wrote:Image[/url]
I LOVE that filthy coach!
Brian L Dominic
Managing Director
Flagg Fluorspar Co
www.mdlr.co.uk/ff.html

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Post by Peter Butler » Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:11 pm

I agree with Brian, your weathering looks just right and the scratch-built wagons are very impressive too.
Give us an idea of the materials you use please.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:14 pm

Thanks Brian

I am very happy with that model...love grubby narrow gauge railways...just as they should be!
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:20 pm

Hi Peter

Thanks very much for the comments.

The coal wagons bodies are made from Obeche wood which I scribe planking detail into, the corners and strapping are from plasticard with square head rivets individually applied.

Wheels are IP on some and Binnie on others (I like the wagons in the rake to look slightly different) I made a mould for axle holders for the binnie wheels, I use a centre axle tube like swift sixteen.

For painting, I use acrylics and matt enamels and I weather by using a combination of weathering powders, pastels and watered down paint, then a top coat of matt spray varnish.

I am quite new to building these models so am refining my methods by trial and error as I learn! - for me, this is the fun part.

Cheers

Jim
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

User avatar
LNR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1533
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:26 am
Location: Australia

Post by LNR » Wed Mar 30, 2016 3:45 am

Hi Jim, and welcome from down here. Rather new here myself. Your certainly off to a flying start, the forethought and planning certainly show. Guess your railway will have to feature some tankers! ( for the wine, red I hope :lol: :lol: )
Grant.

User avatar
sstjc
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 442
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:47 am
Location: Faversham Kent
Contact:

Post by sstjc » Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:25 am

My goodness me those wagons are stunning. As others have commented you certainly have a good eye for weathering. Any chance of some more detail at some point about how you do it. Many have tried, including me, but few reach that standard I have to say.

Keep us updated. Its very interesting to follow !
Barry
Regards
Barry

www.5inchrail.com

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:03 pm

Hi Grant

Red wine tankers?? not thought of that...excellent idea!

Hi Barry

Thanks so much for those kind words, so nice of you. Tell you what, I'll build up another wagon at the weekend and take pictures of each stage and post them, that'll be easier than trying to explain. I live quite close to the South Devon Railway's Staverton station and while not narrow gauge, they always have a couple of rusting wagons around that you can get up close and personal with to see how to create the well-used look!

Thanks again guys

Jim
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

User avatar
Andrew
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3247
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:33 pm
Location: Bristol, UK
Contact:

Post by Andrew » Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:22 pm

Hello!

Just catching up with this thread - it looks like it's going to be a lovely railway, I look forward to seeing more soon!

Cheers,

Andrew.

mightymax
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 48
Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 1:05 pm
Location: cambridgeshire

Post by mightymax » Mon Apr 11, 2016 2:30 pm

Hi James, love seeing projects as they are built. Love the station, what are them edging stones you used on the platform, and where do they come from?

User avatar
Keith S
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1624
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:44 pm
Location: Canada

Post by Keith S » Mon Apr 11, 2016 2:58 pm

He says he made masters himself out of clay, and then casts them in resin and paints them. The "filling" is mortar dyed black. Clever, eh?

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:36 pm

Thanks chaps!

The weather in Devon over the last 2 weeks has been ...well...disappointing! it managed to rain or even hail on every day off so progress has been slowed. I did manage to get out yesterday and today for a while so here are the updates and pictures:

The end of the first bridge and the embankment taking shape. There will be rocks and logs at the bottom of the slope to hold back the soil and I think I am going to plant the sides with Chamomile:

Image

Embankment from the other end. There will be a junction here to a short balloon loop back to the station and also a choice of routes around one or both sides of the garden:

Image

The cutting through the rockery at the top of the garden. I couldn't resist posing "Gulliver" with some clay wagon empties for a picture. The plants are in so should start looking nice come summer. The point is the junction for Platform 1 or 2. Just ballasting on this section to finish.

Image

Thanks for looking chaps, hope you like them.

Jim
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

James from Devon
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:58 pm
Location: Devon

Post by James from Devon » Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:42 pm

mightymax:117385 wrote:Hi James, love seeing projects as they are built. Love the station, what are them edging stones you used on the platform, and where do they come from?
Hi Mightymax.

thanks for your comments, much appreciated

Keith is right. I used air drying clay to make 4 large and 4 half sized slabs so they were all slightly different, rustic looking. I used chinese takeaway tubs and made moulds from RTV silicone and then cast hundreds from resin. Once set, i used car spray paint primer and once that was dry i sprayed them dark grey. Before that dried, I oversprayed with brown and a little white to get them the colour i wanted. Last step was to spray them with varnish ...a good few coats to make them last.

Platform was made from reinforced concrete ... I made a 20mm high mould. I glued the edge slabs on with no more nails and then as keith said, filled in the gap with cement...you can buy dye from Amazon for about a fiver! It takes some time but I am happy with the results.

Let me know if you want any more info.

Cheers

Jim
Garden railways don't run on steam or electric rather wine and Jedi master level patience

User avatar
Dwayne
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 681
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 12:15 am
Location: Oklahoma City

Post by Dwayne » Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:57 pm

Great shot of Gulliver. :thumbright:

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests