Here are some pics finaly of our new garden railway, currently running track power with a LGB Stainz and all Austrian wagons. Shifting to Live Steam power with a Roundhouse Billy this Monday. I finaly got the track ballested and my station built. I am planning to extend the track work around the pond with a bridge across the middle to reconnect in front of the water wheel. The whole area around the water wheel remains damp all the time, I plan to get moss growing and overtake the whole area with it, track an all. The idea is a rundown narrow gauge railway, hauling coal/slate/stone, between the wars somewhere in Europe. I wanted to go 32mm gauge track, and in time I may, but getting enough of it here in the states is both expensive and difficult for the good Peco track that will look the way I want. So for now the trains will polish the LGB rails. Its still quite harsh with no other buildings or other railway details, but that will change over time. The steam engine spent this years budget for the railway, and I got it about half what a new one costs, although it is new/unfired. I am working on bridge ideas for the pond, dont want just a wood plank. I have some metal that has all kinds of different bolt holes in it, kind of like the stuff you see in the Lowe’s hardware dept. I might use that as a base then make up some sides to it, make it look like a girder bridge where the low sides stick up on each side. A center support pillar would be nice, but not sure how to deal with it just yet. My garden railway is in the shade all day thanks to two huge maple trees, so getting the UK style overgrown look is possible, the line doesnt see direct sun till fall and spring when the trees are bare. More pics as I make some more progress. Mike
Nice work Mike. Thanks for sharing the photos. Do you consider this a complete project or are there thoughts of expansion?
I do plan to expand around the pond and back across with a bridge infront of the waterfall shortly. Have to negotiate funding for track from the “boss” before I can make the final track expansion. Where the curve is now at that end, I want to put small engine shed. The rest will be gettting more live plants and getting the line to look more grown over. Cheers Mike
Did some train spotting today on the WCLry. Caught the Stainz #2 on the late afternoon passenger extra. Cheers Mike
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/cadetpwr/000_1746.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/cadetpwr/000_1748.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/cadetpwr/000_1747.jpg)
I like that. Nice and simple - a great way to get started. Beware the coming addiction!
(Now if you need some track and switches send me a note. I’ve got a bunch of LGB R1 stuff left over from my first layout.)
Mike,
I like it simple yet has all the possibilities of expansion. My R & A RR is the same way expands as I go but started out a simple loop.
Todd
Mike,
For your bridge, are you interested in scratch building or a kit? Or already built?
not sure yet on the bridge, it will angle across the pond just infront of the water fall area. I will have to move the fountian head a bit more to one side. I wanted something open bottomed and free standing from side to side. But I doubt that will happen. I need to dig thru our shed to see if I brought the metal angle iron I used to have with me when we moved. It would give me a solid base for the track. I want to keep the bridge narrow, just as wide as the track. I also keep the pond full to the top, so it has to be a flat bottom bridge with no girders hanging downward. I remember the plate girder bridges I used for my Lionel layouts years ago. The would work well for the sides, just need several of the sides for what I am thinking.
Mike, for as small as it is, your layout is very photogenic. Well done!