Garden Railway Forum

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.

Another piece of the puzzle..

Charlie Banger's Circus?

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?

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....
In answer to Lonsdalers question about the mouldings, they were shown and described here...
https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?t=6537&start=3540

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.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:02 pm
In answer to Lonsdalers question about the mouldings, they were shown and described here...
https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?t=6537&start=3540

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.

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....
After cleaning the track it is now re-laid and tested and proved to be ready for new ballast.

I feel for you Peter, I've seen that effect myself.

Good to hear the timbers are still sound, despite the deterioration of the felt. Job looks like a good'un.

Rik

The guy who coined the term "permanent way" has a lot to answer for.
Good luck Peter.
Grant.

Peter .
You will soon be enjoying the fruits of your labour.

Chris

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!

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...
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!

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

Sounds like trains will be running soon. You guys up north have been a bit quiet.
Grant.