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Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2026 1:42 pm
by drewzero1
Traveling bank teller's window or horseracing bookie's office? Transportation for lawyers, mimes, and other hazardous individuals?
Actually, scratch that... Everybody knows that if you want to contain a mime, you need to use a glass box...
Edit: Oops, I was a page behind on guessing. That's not where I thought those bars were going at all! Looks like it will go very well with Morgan the Organ.
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2026 3:39 pm
by Peter Butler
Another piece of the puzzle..
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Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 8:55 am
by tommygander1941
Charlie Banger's Circus?
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2026 9:01 am
by Lonsdaler
Well that is simply stunning. It will go magnificently with your travelling organ. Have you created the 'filigree' type work, or used commercially available items?
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:02 pm
by Peter Butler
The two parts are now permanently attached complete with driver figure. Further gilded ornamentation has been applied to the horizontal strips above the windows and on the clerestory sides.
As the traditional van would originally have been horse drawn I thought a suitable mascot would be in order... easier said than done!
With all of the horse toys available during the past 50 years or so, surely something so simple would be easy to find... not so! Too large, too small, wrong pose, anything but. By accident (often the best way) I discovered for sale a choice of single chess pieces.... Good knight.... result!
Once spray painted red primer and gold leaf coated, it looks perfect....
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In answer to Lonsdalers question about the mouldings, they were shown and described here...
https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?t=6537&start=3540
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2026 10:24 am
by Scrat
Looks great.
I have had the problem on a 5" gauge horse wagon.
It was not easy to find horses that were to scale, not pink, no unicorns,...
But I finally found some.
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2026 10:55 am
by Lonsdaler
Oops. Apologies Peter, I clearly have a "short little span of attention" to quote the Paul Simon song. Particularly embarrassing as it was I who asked how the gold leaf was applied.
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sat May 23, 2026 11:05 pm
by Peter Butler
The last post on this thread was just about three months ago. I've had little to add I fear as I haven't been modelling indoors or anything else towards maintaining the railway itself, the weather here, similar to most of the UK, has been dreadful. The rain has been persistent and the winds strong and cold. We have not been troubled by global warming here!
Meanwhile, the weeds have taken full advantage of the situation and much of the line has disappeared, just as it did in my report of structural repairs last year.
At last the sun is shining and I have been able to begin to tidy up, only to discover more wear and tear has occurred to my track-bed. All of my track is laid on treated timber boards supported above the ground. the boards themselves are still in great condition considering their age, however, the roofing felt I used has perished (because I used the wrong type!). The exposed boards are now showing in places and where I have previously replaced ballast using SBR it has become loose again due to expansion and contraction of the timber. The only way to cure that is to lift the track and replace the felt with better quality material....
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After cleaning the track it is now re-laid and tested and proved to be ready for new ballast.
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Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 5:50 am
by philipy
I feel for you Peter, I've seen that effect myself.
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 6:03 am
by ge_rik
Good to hear the timbers are still sound, despite the deterioration of the felt. Job looks like a good'un.
Rik
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 6:38 am
by LNR
The guy who coined the term "permanent way" has a lot to answer for.
Good luck Peter.
Grant.
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 12:02 pm
by Preseli Chris
Peter .
You will soon be enjoying the fruits of your labour.
Chris
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sun May 24, 2026 8:16 pm
by Peter Butler
Yes Chris, as long as I can take advantage of the better weather I should be in a position to spread the word for an open day for our Local Area Group members. That will certainly put a smile on my face!
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2026 10:11 pm
by Peter Butler
Most of yesterday I was again on hands and knees (for the third time) weeding along the track. The surrounding foliage will follow in due course as that is completely out of control...
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The rails are now ready to be given a thorough clearance by my trusty companion, Henry. He can reach all those places I can't!
Next will be to ensure all points are in good working order and lubricated followed by a good running test to discover any movement in rail joins etc.
The same problem as previously mentioned with the missing roofing felt will need much attention to first coat exposed timber with bitumen, then
re-ballasting where necessary, which means most of it!!!
Unfortunately, after a short spell of hot and dry weather, it has now returned to being decidedly Welsh!
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 7:32 am
by ge_rik
Peter Butler wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2026 10:11 pm
Unfortunately, after a short spell of hot and dry weather, it has now returned to being decidedly Welsh!
I think you've also sent the weather over the border ....
Rik
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 9:35 am
by LNR
Sounds like trains will be running soon. You guys up north have been a bit quiet.
Grant.
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2026 10:56 am
by Lonsdaler
You certainly made use of the spell of better weather, Peter. What is 'the right type of roofing felt'? Do you just mean a heavier weight, or is there a grading system that I'm unaware of (highly possible)?
Grant - I suspect the generally poor weather 'up north' is responsible for the lull in activity in this part of the Northern hemisphere. 3 or 4 days of 25°C plus temperatures is not enough to get acclimatised especially when it's humid. And today it is torrential rain and 11°C at 11a.m. here in the Northwest of England. Flaming June indeed!
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2026 3:20 pm
by Peter Butler
Yes Phil, the recent changeable weather conditions, combined with a positive mental attitude and ever increasing years on the clock (77 and counting!) have become more of a challenge to get everything lined up. However, once begun, the outcome is inevitable, though slightly prolonged.
At the outset I had no previous experience of outdoor railway construction but had heard of using roofing felt as a track base. I also lacked knowledge of building materials and used under roof felt, (as discovered in our loft) which is a lighter weight felt and has a fabric 'netting' to one side. I can't trace it now on line so has probably been superseded by something more suitable. It appears to have been inappropriate for outdoor use, probably not UV resistant?
The replacement felt now used is a heavier material with a fine grained crushed 'stone' effect, which also gives a better grip to the ballast and SBR.
All my track is laid on treated timber, which is still in good order. In easily accessible areas it might be simpler to lift the track, clean the surface and start again with new felt. Other areas might just get coated in bitumen to seal the timber before re-ballasting.
This week has been very wet, again! I'm hoping for my next opportunity to get outdoors to finish the work having committed to my annual open day for our 16mm Local Area Group open day.... No pressure then!
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2026 10:46 pm
by Lonsdaler
Peter Butler wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2026 3:20 pm
Yes Phil, the recent changeable weather conditions, combined with a positive mental attitude and ever increasing years on the clock (77 and counting!) have become more of a challenge to get everything lined up. However, once begun, the outcome is inevitable, though slightly prolonged.
At the outset I had no previous experience of outdoor railway construction but had heard of using roofing felt as a track base. I also lacked knowledge of building materials and used under roof felt, (as discovered in our loft) which is a lighter weight felt and has a fabric 'netting' to one side. I can't trace it now on line so has probably been superseded by something more suitable. It appears to have been inappropriate for outdoor use, probably not UV resistant?
The replacement felt now used is a heavier material with a fine grained crushed 'stone' effect, which also gives a better grip to the ballast and SBR.
All my track is laid on treated timber, which is still in good order. In easily accessible areas it might be simpler to lift the track, clean the surface and start again with new felt. Other areas might just get coated in bitumen to seal the timber before re-ballasting.
This week has been very wet, again! I'm hoping for my next opportunity to get outdoors to finish the work having committed to my annual open day for our 16mm Local Area Group open day.... No pressure then!
I think they use some sort of manmade textile sheeting for under roofing now. With regard to protecting wood, I've recently seen mention of Boric Acid (aka Borax) as a wood preservative, although my only experience of it is for flameproofing natural fabrics. I'm tempted to give that a go.
Re: Time to build a railway...but where?
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2026 8:02 pm
by Peter Butler
Hard to believe here in UK we are already in June 2026, so called 'Flaming June' for its traditional warm holiday weather, but certainly not in Wales!
I am struggling to find opportunity to complete my railway clean-up in preparation for my annual open day for friends in the 16mm Association Local Area Group. As I go around the track I have managed to replace a few structures, just to give myself a little confidence that at least something is progressing. This is my harbour scene...
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Today I received an email from one of our group members with a gentle reminder that we are not yet past the worst weather conditions which might hinder me further...
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If you look closely at the image, the warehouse, lamp-post, harbour wall, barrels and crates are in position but the weather conditions have been slightly manipulated! All clever stuff and an image I will frame to display in my train shed for my visitors to view. I have no idea how long it would take to produce such an image but I'm grateful that someone would make the effort to do so.
The forecast for next week is dreadful too, so no grass-cutting or weeding anticipated for a few more days.
