The Hour Before The Open Day

Anything related to the garden railway world that is not catered for in another board
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Lner fan Sam

The Hour Before The Open Day

Post by Lner fan Sam » Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:35 pm

Here's a little story because why not? ;)

It was 9:00 am. It was the hour before the railway chairman would open it's doors to fellow 16mm members. He had a cup of coffee in one hand and a brush for clearing of all of those small debris of the rails in the other. He starts at his main station at the top of his garden checking all of points and rail joints in the station. As he does this his wife looks down from the kitchen window looking suitably unimpressed at the whole process. He moves down the line looking at the single track as it winds its way down the garden passing small derelict buildings and abandoned trucks. The line reaches a small passing loop only watched over by the small signal box.

He checks the first point and notices it wont operate correctly. "That wont do", he thinks to himself and notes it in his mind. He moves swiftly on sweeping off any small stones and twigs in the way that would hamper any fun. He then arrives at the next station modeled on the station "Dolgoch" on the Talyllyn Railway. He thinks back to the days when he was constructing this part of his line. All those times his wife complained about the garden looking more like a construction site than a garden and all of those heavy stones he had to carry by hand to make a wall for the track here. He notices that a member will be coming today with a big loco so he decides to remove the water tower from its footings for its own safety.

He continues his walk along his line, his pride and joy to the main station back at the top of the line. He checks the passing loops along the line to the top of the garden making sure everything is in order. He completes his lap around and goes to repairing that point at the first passing loop. Once completing that job he hears shouts from his wife telling him, "One of your mates is at the front door!"

He replies and goes to answer the front door...

hope you enjoyed that, I certainly did writing it! :D

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Peter Butler
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Location: West Wales

Post by Peter Butler » Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:45 pm

If, as you say, you don't have a line yet, you certainly do inside your head!
That story was brilliant in getting the reader to believe it is real, and one day that line will be yours!
I'm soon to have my own first open day and can already feel the tension rising in making sure everything is in place and presentable.   Of course it won't be finished, no railways ever are, but at least it will be a fun day to enjoy the company of friends and neighbours.    Just like the guy in your story.....

MDLR

Post by MDLR » Sun Jul 21, 2013 11:48 pm

I had a mad dash on the morning of my second ever open day. I'd built a wooden platform the day before - 12mm square running the length of the platform with 12 x 4 mm or thereabouts running front-to-back as the visible surface. Unfortunately, I hadn't left a gap between the planks and by the next morning the dew had converted the flat platform into a BEAUTIFUL arc.......................

Cue mad dash to B&Q for more 12mm square and a quick rebuild, with more of a gap between the planks!

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