Garden Railway Forum

MAM, who is the Potters Orchid Railway's Chair Person is mightily pleased with her work on the 2021 Christmas lights test train.

Meanwhile Captain plod was on S&T duties, sorting out the spaghetti mess of the signal wires at the Orchid House Loop. Plod reports he is most pleased with the result of the brass bus bars he made and the battery box.

"The board is off Gov, let her rip"

Mama and calf are out again. I hope that farmer mends the fences soon.

Plod submits proof the signals work at the Orchid House Loop and are fully interlocked. (unhook the junction points and trains simply trail through for unattended continuous running)

Servicing locos is fraught with peril. Amazing what lives in the drains at the Loop.

FWLR wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:36 am Glad you had a brilliant Christmas. Your'e correct in what you say about bringing joy to others Dazza, you do that in bounds....

Thanks Rod, we are doing our best to enjoy the fun as much as we can after the labour of winter past and the track laying three years ago. The vision, one must keep the vision and be patient and keep to the vision. In the next life, the lessons learnt from this build would be applied and we would love a longer run for more scenery and varied scenery. Rolling hills, river/viaduct then mountainous rock and gorge/bridge, also a bit higher and longer loops/sidings and a sizeable visitor's steaming bay area and rolling stock yard. Also a through run into the rolling stock storage shed which would be a room attached to the workshop (Red Room Mark 2) Now that is a dream, not a vision, the POR will be the only garden railway we will be making before I push up the daisies.

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:39 pm Servicing locos is fraught with peril.

I guess Beryl (the peril) is not on your favoured visitor list. Is she one to be avoided at all costs?

And I thought our jackdaws were a nuisance..............!

CFLR Andrew

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:39 pm

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:39 pm Servicing locos is fraught with peril.

I guess Beryl (the peril) is not on your favoured visitor list. Is she one to be avoided at all costs?

No, harmless. A bite may give irritation but you would have to try hard to get bitten.

The Bundy (Chris's) is leaving the Orchid house loop during his run yesterday.

Tales of the Footplate. Stories shared and a nice bottle of Soul Growers, OK it was two.

If you think showing us how you can sit out in the evening in shorts, eating smelly cheese and drinking red with your mates is going to make us wish we were there..... you're dead right!

There is no chance of us here in the UK doing what you and your mates are Dazza. We are all, well most of us now in Tier 4, which is now pretty much full lockdown.

Enjoying a nice red with mates would be really nice now though, just like you are mate.

FWLR wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 5:42 am There is no chance of us here in the UK doing what you and your mates are Dazza. We are all, well most of us now in Tier 4, which is now pretty much full lockdown.

Enjoying a nice red with mates would be really nice now though, just like you are mate.

Yes, this is not lost on me, it is grim, Australia cannot get cocky or complacent, we are fortunate to be a sparse nation and a moat of water around us. Sheer good fortune I live here, but it can be go pear shaped here and this virus is going to be with us for 2- 6 years. I hope you all can stay safe.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:10 pm If you think showing us how you can sit out in the evening in shorts, eating smelly cheese and drinking red with your mates is going to make us wish we were there..... you're dead right!

We are all complicit in the destruction of mother earth. I often contemplate my part in the destruction. I think it will be very grim in 50 - 100 years time, things like the great barrier reef which is dying right now, cooked and poisoned, every where, what a mess. Do I feel guilt when having fun and such a charmed life, yes I do, many times, so I try to live an honourable life and tread softly and help others.
I do my best to have empathy for the suffering of others at this time and down here, I know things can change , for the bad and quickly. Respect for others I muster. Maybe one day I can visit Wales again and make a pilgrimage to see your railway, burning fossil fuel for my enjoyment... All the best for 2021 and fingers crossed this Virus does the usual path of mutating to a weaker strain as the others have did, but quickly, please !!!!! (MAM's sister is trying recover from it at this time)

Happy New Year Dazza and MAM. I really hope MAM's sister is able to beat that really nasty awful virus and has an enjoyable and long life.

All The Best to you both.

Rod & Anne.

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 7:02 am

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:10 pm If you think showing us how you can sit out in the evening in shorts, eating smelly cheese and drinking red with your mates is going to make us wish we were there..... you're dead right!

..... Maybe one day I can visit Wales again and make a pilgrimage to see your railway, (MAM's sister is trying recover from it at this time)

Thanks Dazza, you would both be made most welcome if ever the opportunity arose, I always have the red stuff to hand and a penchant for smelly cheese too, you would feel at home, apart from the weather!
Diane's sister (nearly 200 miles from us and where we used to live) is slowly recovering from the virus, we thought she was a gonner! Unfortunately she is in a heavily built-up area near Birmingham, where the virus has an opportunity to spread more easily. We are now in a rural area with no next-door neighbours but remain cautious all the same.
Thanks for your wishes and posts, I always follow your work with interest. Keep safe..... and stay away from the wildlife!

Dodgy looking mob waiting for a train at the location of the Orchid Loop station platform to be.

There has been a been a break through with realistic 16mm modeling at the POR. A fully working 16mm scale Brown Snake. The controlability of this model snake is still a bit iffy but work is ongoing with this prototype.