The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
Hi John here, I'm writing this on behalf of my Dad Tommy! I'm starting my own garden railway at the miment, but that will be a seperate topic so more to come!
The BDLR railway began in 1997, originally planned as an 0 gauge layout having scooped a bargain charity shop LMS 4f fowler some wagons and 3 coaches. We had a 00 gauge layout in the attic and the topic of a garden railway was something that would come up now and again. It was felt that OOgauge was too small so an Ogauge seemed the only other viable option. So work began in 1997 with the construction of a station area followed by a viaduct. And that was it for about a year and a half until the next section was constucted in order to form a continuous loop. The next part of the project was to aquire some Ogauge track. That was until we came across a train set in Blenerville near Tralee in County Kerry running in the window. It was an LGB Stainz with two maroon carriages and that was it! O gauge was concined to the history books once we realised that G scale was a thing having never heard of LGB before! It was the size that was appealing and my Dad had a soft spot for narrow gauge and could see the potential with this new found gauge. Luckily the infastructure of the garden layout thus far could accomodate this larger track and there were only a few ajustments to be made. I remember going to Dublin a year later to buy the LGB starter set and then picking up the Bachmann big hauler RC set a few months later. Finally a track was laid and connected and a train ran, not until 2000 though! The railway has had 3 major phases and it looks much different now to when it began running 20 years ago. The viaduct is the only original piece of the railway that exists now in the same place it always was.
John
Track -LGB
Locos- LGB and Bachmann. 4 in total
Rolling Stock- LGB, Bachmann, ECR and Scratch built
Building- all scratch built
Controls- Analogue
The BDLR railway began in 1997, originally planned as an 0 gauge layout having scooped a bargain charity shop LMS 4f fowler some wagons and 3 coaches. We had a 00 gauge layout in the attic and the topic of a garden railway was something that would come up now and again. It was felt that OOgauge was too small so an Ogauge seemed the only other viable option. So work began in 1997 with the construction of a station area followed by a viaduct. And that was it for about a year and a half until the next section was constucted in order to form a continuous loop. The next part of the project was to aquire some Ogauge track. That was until we came across a train set in Blenerville near Tralee in County Kerry running in the window. It was an LGB Stainz with two maroon carriages and that was it! O gauge was concined to the history books once we realised that G scale was a thing having never heard of LGB before! It was the size that was appealing and my Dad had a soft spot for narrow gauge and could see the potential with this new found gauge. Luckily the infastructure of the garden layout thus far could accomodate this larger track and there were only a few ajustments to be made. I remember going to Dublin a year later to buy the LGB starter set and then picking up the Bachmann big hauler RC set a few months later. Finally a track was laid and connected and a train ran, not until 2000 though! The railway has had 3 major phases and it looks much different now to when it began running 20 years ago. The viaduct is the only original piece of the railway that exists now in the same place it always was.
John
Track -LGB
Locos- LGB and Bachmann. 4 in total
Rolling Stock- LGB, Bachmann, ECR and Scratch built
Building- all scratch built
Controls- Analogue
- Attachments
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- Spreewald arriving at Ballinacraig from Newry with a lunchtime passenger service
- IMG-20200414-WA0014.jpg (245.03 KiB) Viewed 6211 times
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- LGB Spreewald has just left Ballinacraig with a service to Derrylecka. The viaduct looks imposing as it towers over the locals
- IMG-20200414-WA0013.jpg (361.18 KiB) Viewed 6211 times
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- LGB Spreewald crosses the swing bridge with a service to Derrylecka. The bridge is on hinges and locks in place when running
- IMG-20200414-WA0023.jpg (393.53 KiB) Viewed 6211 times
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
I'm assuming that it's track powered?
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
Yes, hopefully live steam will grace the line some day though
- Peter Butler
- Driver
- Posts: 5266
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
- Location: West Wales
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
Remember to isolate the power supply otherwise sparks will fly!
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
Or ensure your steam loco has insulated wheelsPeter Butler wrote: ↑Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:21 pmRemember to isolate the power supply otherwise sparks will fly!
- Old Man Aaron
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 11:08 am
- Location: Sunshine Coast QLD, Australia
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
It all looks very "lived in" and natural. Nice work. Would love to see more of your work. Welcome to the forum!
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works
Aaron - Scum Class Works
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
Are the buildings concrete castings?
Rik
Rik
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
In particular I do like the viaduct setting and especially the corrugated iron roofed cottage. That whole row sits so realistically in front of the viaduct, somehow.
Philip
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
A few more pics of the buildings. Each has a story attached to it. Cheadles pub is named after my wife's family, McGoverns bakery after my brothers's wife's family. Very typical looking buildings found in Irish villages.
- Attachments
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- Polish_20200513_204230454_compress81.jpg (173.79 KiB) Viewed 6000 times
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- IMG-20200414-WA0009_compress31.jpg (232.17 KiB) Viewed 6000 times
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- IMG-20200414-WA0011_compress54.jpg (209 KiB) Viewed 6000 times
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
You have some nice street scenes there, like to see more.
Grant.
Grant.
- Peter Butler
- Driver
- Posts: 5266
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
- Location: West Wales
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
I love to see structures and roadways in a garden railway, it gives it a reason for being there. These pictures are wonderful.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
Great photos!
I love how the buildings sit on the steeply sloping streets, just like the real thing...
Andrew.
I love how the buildings sit on the steeply sloping streets, just like the real thing...
Andrew.
Re: The Ballinacraig and Derrylecka Light Railway
Some lovely street scenes there - remind me very much of the best 'model villages' that are scattered around here and there. I have a small area that needs something doing with it, and the inspiration is right here - Thank you.
Phil
Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds
My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077
Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds
My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077
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