Time to build a railway...but where?

[LNR]

Nice work Peter, can I see a bit of Dick Kerr "Beaconsfield" influence in the design. Not carrying a load of pipes on the roof though.
Grant.
PS is this an indication that BURPS owners are trying to reduce running costs.

[ge_rik]

Your production rate is astounding, Peter. No sooner is one project finished than another emerges from the workshop - and all of such good quality. That tram loco looks like a great addition to the fleet.

Rik

[philipy]

2 weeks since your last offering, Peter. Is that ALL you've done in that time???

Seriously, lovely job, as always. It always amazes me how you see the potential for conversion in things.

[Big Jim]

Splendid Peter.
I was wondering where you had been over the last few days.

[Peter Butler]

Many thanks for your replies guys, I am always pleased to hear your comments. First though I must apologise for the strange appearance of my last post as it shows duplication and is out of sequence. I discovered this after posting but was unable to correct it by the usual 'edit' process.... perhaps Tom can help with that one?
Philip, I have been busy elsewhere with installation and connection of lamp-posts, general weeding and planting of trays of new plants which my wife (a valued member of staff!) has grown for me in her greenhouse.
The reason for building a steam tram loco is because I already had another passenger vehicle which has been unused for some years because it simply didn't look right in an ordinary train. Now I can bring it out to play......

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EDIT.... it has happened again..... duplication!!!!.... Ideas please?

[Soar Valley Light]

Hi Peter,

What an absolutely fantastic train! I echo everyone else's comments.

Andrew

[jim@NAL]

another wonderful model peter how long does it run on one charge

[Peter Butler]

Hi Jim, I'm afraid I can't answer your question just yet as it is so new but I will fully charge it (10 cells @ 1.2v) and let it go. I will probably run out of patience first though.

[ge_rik]

Another miniature masterpiece, Peter.

Please don't tell me you cut out the holes in the latticework on the stairs by hand otherwise I shall be forced to hang up my craft knife and retreat to a nunnery ........ (hopefully more fun than a monastery)

Rik

[Peter Butler]

Please don't tell me you cut out the holes in the latticework on the stairs by hand

Rik

All done by trained mice Rik... just takes time to mark out the area to be removed with cheese spread and mask out the rest.... easy!!!

[ge_rik]

All done by trained mice Rik... just takes time to mark out the area to be removed with cheese spread and mask out the rest.... easy!!!

Aha ... well that's all right. I'll put my cassock on ice for now - but I fear the tonsure is irreversible.

Rik

[Big Jim]

A cassock is draughty at the best of times, and icy one sounds positively painfull.

[Peter Butler]

It seems a long time since my last post but I have made progress on a couple of fronts.... firstly, I have now finished converting, painting installing and wiring my street lamps which originated as Christmas decorations. They were sold in pairs with 3v LED's and are plastic with weatherproof lenses. Following some work to make them taller and add a tube inside for strength, they are set onto a socket stuck into the baseboard and wired to a transformer in the shed.....

The other work was to repair a broken point tie-bar and make it operate from a position about a metre away using a wire-in-tube method. For this I have fitted a bike brake cable which has a twisted stainless steel wire inside a flexible outer. No doubt these are weatherproof and are very smooth in action with little frictional resistance.... so little that my locos will trail through the point with no trouble still leaving me with the ability to change direction on demand. The spring in the Peco point holds the direction as designed.

The small cable end is inconspicuous but enough to grab and work the point if required. In this instance a push is likely to be the most common action so easily catered for.

Another point is being fitted with a 2.3m cable in the same way and so far appears to be equally smooth in operation.

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[Peter Butler]

As you can see I am still having some difficulty loading pictures which have installed in reverse order...... sorry about that, but it holds your attention!

[daan]

What a fantastic detail, the laterns on the pavement have welsh dragons on it..

[Peter Butler]

What a fantastic detail, the laterns on the pavement have welsh dragons on it..

Thanks Daan, it's due to the fact I live in Wales and have set the railway in a vaguely Welsh environment with reference to Dylan Thomas's literary work, 'Under Milk Wood'. Apart from the Welsh dragon I have a figure of Merlin who also has local connections.

[ge_rik]

Those lights look just the part. Are they wired-in or are you considering installing batteries in the bases along the same lines as those electric tea lights?

Rik

[Peter Butler]

Rik, the lights are set into my treated wood baseboard so access to them underneath is possible. They are all wired to a single cable and a three volt transformer is in the shed to power them.

[Peter Butler]

Yesterday was another Toy and Train Fair where we display our models to attract new members..... some hope! Collectors are not modellers it seems.
However, I am always on the look-out for items of interest which can be adapted to 16mm rail use and found this...

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It is a smaller scale but a model of a large tank so can be converted to use on a bogie frame...

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The remainder of the wagon might be useful as a road trailer, possibly for logs?

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I haven't started the build yet but will keep you posted.

I forgot to say it is all die-cast and quite heavy so should ride well.

[jim@NAL]

looks perfect for a conversion peter.This look like a Brittan's farm toy copy even the logo looks quite similar