Garden Railway Forum

Hi, I am a completely beginner in garden railways. Can anyone recommend the best beginners book?
Thank's

Hi and welcome.

There is enough content on this forum to answer all your questions and if not then just post your question in the help section and someone will know the answer.

Hi Mikael, welcome.

Tom is right, you'll always find, or get an answer on here.
However, I'd suggest reading Rik's Peckforton blogs. They will tell you most of what you need to know, starting from the beginning:
https://riksrailway.blogspot.com/p/contents.html

Welcome!

Are you a member of the 16mm association? I found the handbook they send to new members the single most useful overview - it's brief but quite comprehensive, giving you a good idea of which direction to go in next pursuing your interests...

Welcome to the forum, If you do want a book, then I would suggest "Practical Garden Railways" by Peter Jones, published by the Crowood Press in 2008. It covers pretty much everything although I will admit there are methods for doing things out there that are not mentioned in the book, likewise there are also plenty of ideas in there that you may not find elsewhere and some really inspirational photos.

Welcome to the forum.

Thank's for the advices!

Welcome Mikael56,

I agree with phillipy, Rik’s Peckforton Blogs are brilliant. You will learn so much from his wonderful way of showing you “How To”.

tom_tom_go is correct also, there is loads of information in the Help section on the forum.

And there is always a member willing to help if you can’t get the answer you are looking for.

Mikael56,

All the advice already given is sound. This forum is friendly and the members don't judge and are very helpful. One advantage of the 16mm Association, besides the handbook is the local groups. This gives you the ability to see how others have made things and speak directly to like minded people.

Welcome to the forum and the world of garden railways.

Ian

Hi Mikael, welcome to the forum.

There is a lot of information here and on the web but would also endorse the 16mm handbook that has a section on most aspects of the hobby and may help your "searches" for info. Never be afraid to ask a question, we all started somewhere and learned the hard way! Rik's blog is well worth a visit.

Good luck and have fun.

Maybe Rik needs to write a book on garden railways?

tom_tom_go wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:28 pm Maybe Rik needs to write a book on garden railways?

There are far more knowledgeable and skilled people on the forum than me. I just muddle my way through, borrowing everyone else's ideas.

Rik

ge_rik wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:50 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:28 pm Maybe Rik needs to write a book on garden railways?

There are far more knowledgeable and skilled people on the forum than me. I just muddle my way through, borrowing everyone else's ideas.

Rik

But then you document what you've done so us mere mortals can understand, and have a go ourselves.
When I decided to put a railway in the garden last year, I read your blog from start to finish, truly inspirational.

My other primary source of inspiration was reading through the threads in the layouts section, watching peoples ideas develop, and then unashamedly stealing them .

My recommendation is also to join the 16mmngm. You get an nice membership package and a superb magazine.

ge_rik wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:50 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:28 pm Maybe Rik needs to write a book on garden railways?

There are far more knowledgeable and skilled people on the forum than me. I just muddle my way through, borrowing everyone else's ideas.

Rik

My approach exactly. I take other peoples ideas and experiences and adapt them to suit my limited ability.

Ian

Hi Mikael and welcome... like you I was a complete novice in garden railways when I joined the Forum and from the start all my questions were answered but, unlike a book where there is usually only the authors preferred choice, several different solutions to the same question are often available for you to choose.
On the Forum regular updates can be made available if something is found to be a more suitable alternative or where things have been proved to fail.
Your first and most important step is to listen to advice on what NOT to do. Failures can be time wasting and expensive.
Just start with the basic questions and there is always someone here to help.

Peter Butler’s advice is worth taking note of….

Welcome aboard - totally agree with all the points above - the 16mm society handbook is great but meeting people locally via the groups is a great way to learn so much more

And I also would recommend Rik's blog - it shows how a line can develop and Rik is brilliant at explaining how he does things!

ge_rik wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:50 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:28 pm Maybe Rik needs to write a book on garden railways?

There are far more knowledgeable and skilled people on the forum than me. I just muddle my way through, borrowing everyone else's ideas.

Rik

That's like Sir Christopher Wren saying he'd designed and built a couple of churches¬!

Soar Valley Light wrote: Thu Aug 02, 2018 7:12 pm That's like Sir Christopher Wren saying he'd designed and built a couple of churches¬!

Good Heavens, Andrew. That's very kind of you, but totally unwarranted. You've clearly not seen any of my models close-up. I think if ever I did engage in church building, mine would end up like Chesterfield's noted spire.

http://www.derbyshireuk.net/chesterfield_church.html

I'm more Barratt Homes than Wren - cheap, cheerful, utilitarian and, more often than not, jerry-built.

Rik