Garden Railway Forum

Hello Everyone,

Since it is winter and snow is at times hindering normal railway operations in the garden, it is an ideal time to build some rolling stock. A while ago I bought two chassis from ebay from I guess IP engineering from the old days. They are solid built, brass frames and metal wheelsets, brass gearing and heavy duty motors. I had a 3 axle and a 2 axle chassis to work with.

The 3 axle one has been built using aluminium and plasticcard in various sizes, mainly 5mm and 3mm thick polystyrene and brass angle and rod for the handrails. An old cab from an LGB locomotive has got a new life on this little engine, though I'm not sure if it is what I want. Probably it fits a lot better when everything is painted.







It has an 8 battery compartiment which can be switched by pairs (2, 4, 6 and 8 ) by the rotary switch on the hood. Behind the steps in front the switches for forward/ backward and on/off are hidden. Light is always on 8 batteries and can also be used to drain the batteries before recharging.

The other one is a 2 axle locomotive, featuring an all stainless steel housing, made from scrap material from my work which I welded together with a tig welding machine. Batteries are 4, switchable in pairs (2 and 4) and are under the hood, which is made from 5mm polystyrene in order to prevent shorts.







Couplers and buffers are LGB and this little engine has no lights yet.

Today I let them get a spinn on the layout to test them. Wheels are a bit too far apart, causing whobble and sometimes derailing on the frogs, but I'll sort that out.



Cheers, Daan.

Some impressive panel work in stainless steel on the little 0-4-0. Well done, runs a treat too.
Grant.

Interesting locomotives and very well made, nice work Daan.

Hi Daan excellent work on building these two lovely locos. I like your layout the way it snakes through the rocks and follage.

Thanks for the nice comments! It's a small layout, but it has a lot of nice points to watch the trains go by and I like the alpine setting. It serves both ways: it looks nice and also keeps the dogs away..

Superb job on both of them. I think the SS body on the 040 is particularly good, I like the curves you have achieved on the bonnet/grill area.

I think the chassis look like Essel Engineering items. Smooth and well made.

Otto is a very smooth runner, great work.

Two cracking locos Daan. Your metalwork skills are something I can only envy. I think your 0-6-0 with a cannibalised LGB cab would be typical on a narrow gauge railway wanting to make a bespoke engine

Nice locos, very tidy welding. Wish I could weld.

Both nice litte loco's, and yet another forum member with metalworkng skills that I can only look at wth envy. Do show us the painted end results, please.

Wish I could weld.

Give it a go, Mig welding is not that tricky, it does take a bit of practice, but if you have the machine set up right and the metal is clean great things can be achieved.

Stainless steel can also be soldered, so you don't need to weld it. I can use a professional Tig welder at work. Tig is one of the easiest and cleanest ways of welding, since the welding process is very stable and you can see what you're doing. I can weld with almost anything, but mig/mag or electrodes its always a big mess, since the molten metal splatters everywhere. Tig is more like a marriage between silver soldering and welding.

I'll keep you all informed when the loco's are painted and finished.

Both little diesel loco's have received a coat of paint. Both have been lightly weathered with some antracite paint in order tot get the "shine" of them. It mimics dust and dirt after a long day's work at the railway..







The big green diesel "Messner" on it's first working day of the year.









Little red diesel "Schäfer" accompanying the others on the shunting work in progress.



All engines at work in the station "Aueli" on the "Schwägalp bahn". In front the green diesel "Messner", second in front of the 3 goods carriages little steamer "Meglisalp", the passenger service in in hands of the big steamer "Tierwies" and the little red "Schäfer" is on the spare track shunting a fuelcar.



"Tierwies" at full speed towards the station.



where there is a busy day going on since this is the first regular service day since a long time. Due to snow and heavy rains past winter. Everyone who can tries to get on the steamtrain for a trip through the mountains..

Plenty to see and lots of fun on this compact layout. I really like your use of rocks,stone, paving bricks and plants. Looks very attractive.

Good to see your railway back in operation after winter Daan. Your layout is proof that you don't need a large space to run a garden railway.
Grant.

Thanks for the compliments. Though it looks aalright and gives a lot of fun, there is always a whish to make it grow..

in the meantime the little red diesel "Schäfer" has made it's rounds on the track through the snow and ice. The restaurant needs supplies, so there was a little extra train today..


Have a nice sunday!

Nice video Daniel,love your little Diesels.