Garden Railway Forum

Having worked with sleepers most of my life and coated fences across three counties, all with the minimal of use of PPE, I can honestly say that I've never gone rusty!

Nor I....

Back to the FBGR.

Here is the latest, with the replaced section of decking backed up by the re-painted factory background and the loco shed replaced (in a slightly revised location / orientation) with track going into same.
Now we can start to fill in the places round the shed and tracks.

For the next area of timber decking which has had some of its supports rot away, we are considering rebuilding using mostly plastic of some form, mainly to prevent further extended discussion on the merits and availability of creosote.

JOhn

Sorry about that John, looking good though, where did you get your engine shed from, it’s great.

That's a nice tidy workman-like job John, well done. Should last a good few years by the look of it.

Andrew

Without creosote?
(Ducks and runs for cover)
Seriously though. Nice looking job that, scratch built in assume?

The loco shed is POLA 330911, and one of the earliest items bought for the railway, back in 2008 I think, when all I was scratch building was rolling stock. It is currently being advertised as available from Top Slots n Trains at £210 reduced down to £173. I don’t think we would have paid anything like this price. The parts can be assembled to form various permutations

It has stood up to being moved a few times, but the sticking-out-bits, like chimneys and roof vents have been knocked off. Re-gluing of the roof has also had to be carried out more than once. At one time a local cat used to sleep on the roof.

JOhn

Thanks John, that’s good to know, it’s resin then assume. I know Darren very well at Topslots, i bought all of my Unitrack stuff from him when i converted from Peco track to Kato.

Start to tidy up round the Loco Shed, which had been repositioned slightly, with some filler boards.

I have tried to give the grass a bit more texture, so have used scouring pads and string (twine), suitably painted and varnished.

I have not used this before, so we will have to see how well this weathers.
JOhn

Looks great John.

Another bit of background filling between track and retaining wall was replaced yesterday.
Separate bits in each archway seems to work, although I shall probably paint the edges green rather than black next time.

JOhn

Works for me John, but agree...green next time.

Work continues on greening the space between the back track and the retaining wall.
This will make a nice area to use as a background for photographing rolling stock – always useful to have a few of these around the railway.

J0hn

Nice job so far John, but get the groundsman on the lawn opposite mate to start on that before the summer rush....lol..

A few more bits added to tidy up the area in front of the retaining wall opposite the station.
The corner looks a bit boring, we shall have to find something to put in here.

Here is a (rather unfair) close-up of the edge. We don’t use this ballast any more.
This end of the area is basically finished now (got to add a couple of bits inside the arch recesses and some re-ballasting). We have now moved to the other end and starting to fill the area at the end of the Loco Shed, which will follow round onto the newly (plastic) decked area.
I cut the basic shape on site then take it home to do the rest. I don’t risk my measuring / surveying skills for me to turn up with a fully finished and painted part only to find that it don’t fit – you can guess how I learnt this

J0hn

It’s looking great John, loving your scenery...

Area behind the loco shed back corner fitted today. I have added an old water tank to add interest. Fence from old sleepers (foamboard) also makes a nice edge to the area.
J0hn

Looking good John.

Nice detail John.

Preparations for a new bridge (actually half a bridge) moved on today, with the offering up and fixing for position of the bridge hole, and trying to work out how to do the adjacent abutments and retaining walls.
We havn't worked out yet whether it will be a road (half) bridge or a railway (half) bridge.

J0hn