40126
Western Thunderer
Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
Very satisfying clickety-clack sounds, there. I bet the guard had a few scratches and may have lost his hat from encounters with the greenery, though!
Simon
Flying Squad
Thanks Heather, and yes I fear for the guard too - definitely a bit more cutting back to be done. The "guard" is actually a posh Iwotsit phone thing that Dave bought especially for its video capabilities, thank god it wasn't caught by the bridge girders!
I've been out there doing battle with Dandelions and Daisies today but various serious cutting back and clearance initiatives are also underway, I now have much better access to the back of the station area together with the makings of a platforms plan, although the hedge has suffered rather badly in the process
I'll put some pictures up when I'm feeling braver about it
Simon
Simon
Flying Squad
A further snap from yesterday featuring Fred's D600 and two of the new vans made up and painted.
Today's steam visitors. Both locos were sound and steam effect fitted - just magic.
"Bideford" approaching at speed with its whistle howling was especially knee trembling
Quite possibly the grandest two days in the garden so far….
Simon
Today's steam visitors. Both locos were sound and steam effect fitted - just magic.
"Bideford" approaching at speed with its whistle howling was especially knee trembling
Quite possibly the grandest two days in the garden so far….
Simon
Simon
Flying Squad
Another day in the garden with Dave Easto, a fair bit of garden tidying and not much in the way of new stock, although two brake vans were noted at Launceston Road in the lunchtime sunshine.
In other news I have commenced work on re-commisioning D6319 with its repaired transmission - it will be good to have it back in traffic. Next on the list will then be replacing the motor and gearbox in the T9 for a new ABC unit which will hopefully transform its rather mediocre performance.
Permanent way-wise, everything performed as it should today, although there are an increasing number of ballast washouts that require the gang's attention.
In other news I have commenced work on re-commisioning D6319 with its repaired transmission - it will be good to have it back in traffic. Next on the list will then be replacing the motor and gearbox in the T9 for a new ABC unit which will hopefully transform its rather mediocre performance.
Permanent way-wise, everything performed as it should today, although there are an increasing number of ballast washouts that require the gang's attention.
Simon
Flying Squad
Some snaps from the post Larkrail Sunday.
Jonathan Persse makes the most beautiful structures, I asked him to make me Combe Junction signal box and here it is out in yesterday's sunshine.
D6319 is stil in the works, so the Manning Wardle had a rare outing. After fiddling with the contacts I ran it more then it has ever been run before, seen here passing the signal box.
Not exactly the North Cornwall line
More trains today….
Simon
Jonathan Persse makes the most beautiful structures, I asked him to make me Combe Junction signal box and here it is out in yesterday's sunshine.
D6319 is stil in the works, so the Manning Wardle had a rare outing. After fiddling with the contacts I ran it more then it has ever been run before, seen here passing the signal box.
Not exactly the North Cornwall line
More trains today….
Simon
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Jonathan Persse makes the most beautiful structures, I asked him to make me Combe Junction signal box and here it is out in yesterday's sunshine.
Not exactly the North Cornwall line
Beautiful photos of your lovely models, but I still reckon that you ought to replace this well built and painted but very un S&Dish structure with something more suitable to a light railway on the levels....
He can't have unmitigated adulation all the time, it'll go to his head
Beautiful model!
queensquare
Western Thunderer
Beautiful signal box. These large scale buildings were one of the many treats at this years Larkrail.
Jerry
Jerry
Simon
Flying Squad
All change behind the sheds. This was going to involve fencing but owing to political pressures on a number of fronts it has morphed into a hedge creation project
With much assistance from my friend Dickie, the hedge behind the sheds has been dug out in preparation for laying a new one. The old hedge was way too tall, parts of it had died, and it was leaning right across to the railway from the boundary in places. Here's the worksite this morning, the string marks the boundary around and along which the new hedge (Lonicera Nitida) will be planted and the timbers are to retain the neighbouring garden, which is quite a lot higher.
The timbers are retained by angle iron uprights driven into the ground, which are secured to the timber near their tops by coach screws. Behind the timbers I have put quite a lot of broken stone so that soil in the higher garden won't cover all the timber, which I have also creosoted on both sides. Tomorrow we will drag the soil across to fill in the remaining gap behind the timbers as well as covering the top of the timber "wall".
All this to stop the new hedge getting pushed into our garden (again).
Unfortunately, in taking out the hedge the track has been pulled off the base and out of its ballasting for about a yard, with one rail joint coming adrift. This is a pain but in fact is where I think I'm going to add a point as part of a cunning plan for some secure on track storage, so I will put it back temporarily with no ballast and just being pinned for the moment. The damaged section shows in the picture as the darker section between the rails just in front of the two bricks in the middle distance.
Not now though, I'm completely banjaxed!
Simon
With much assistance from my friend Dickie, the hedge behind the sheds has been dug out in preparation for laying a new one. The old hedge was way too tall, parts of it had died, and it was leaning right across to the railway from the boundary in places. Here's the worksite this morning, the string marks the boundary around and along which the new hedge (Lonicera Nitida) will be planted and the timbers are to retain the neighbouring garden, which is quite a lot higher.
The timbers are retained by angle iron uprights driven into the ground, which are secured to the timber near their tops by coach screws. Behind the timbers I have put quite a lot of broken stone so that soil in the higher garden won't cover all the timber, which I have also creosoted on both sides. Tomorrow we will drag the soil across to fill in the remaining gap behind the timbers as well as covering the top of the timber "wall".
All this to stop the new hedge getting pushed into our garden (again).
Unfortunately, in taking out the hedge the track has been pulled off the base and out of its ballasting for about a yard, with one rail joint coming adrift. This is a pain but in fact is where I think I'm going to add a point as part of a cunning plan for some secure on track storage, so I will put it back temporarily with no ballast and just being pinned for the moment. The damaged section shows in the picture as the darker section between the rails just in front of the two bricks in the middle distance.
Not now though, I'm completely banjaxed!
Simon
vonmarshall
Active Member
Simon
I have spent the last 5-10 commutes sat on my train reading this wonderful journey.
Your work is an inspiration, as a gardener, an engineer and a modeller. You have a nice writing style too. Awesome stuff and most enjoyable.
I have a pipe-dream myself to build a single line loop, firmly embedded into the garden, to represent the Paignton to Kingswear line in the 30's, and I have taken a lot of ideas from your journey so far.
The only issue I have is that between yourself and Dikitriki, I have the urge to start to sell my O gauge collection and move into G1.
Please keep the photos and videos coming (I would love to see the Castle again!).
I have spent the last 5-10 commutes sat on my train reading this wonderful journey.
Your work is an inspiration, as a gardener, an engineer and a modeller. You have a nice writing style too. Awesome stuff and most enjoyable.
I have a pipe-dream myself to build a single line loop, firmly embedded into the garden, to represent the Paignton to Kingswear line in the 30's, and I have taken a lot of ideas from your journey so far.
The only issue I have is that between yourself and Dikitriki, I have the urge to start to sell my O gauge collection and move into G1.
Please keep the photos and videos coming (I would love to see the Castle again!).
Simon
Flying Squad
Thank you for your very kind comments, it certainly is a journey and who knows what its destination will end up being
In the meantime, Chris and Dennis Lepper came over yesterday to test out their own locomotives. Although Chris's approach isn't exactly what I'm aiming for, he has created some very beautiful locomotives and all completely from scratch. At the grand age of 85 he is cheerfully continuing and the current project is a Stirling O class seen unpainted in the below pictures, with another locomotive being planned as we speak. Dennis does all the painting and has also built the matching wagons.
It is all so wonderfully "Southern" too
And some of the home stock, the road van is the second wagon that I ever built and the roof is gently "going its own way".
A great pleasure to see Chris and Dennis again and I'm happy to report that everything ran perfectly too.
Simon
In the meantime, Chris and Dennis Lepper came over yesterday to test out their own locomotives. Although Chris's approach isn't exactly what I'm aiming for, he has created some very beautiful locomotives and all completely from scratch. At the grand age of 85 he is cheerfully continuing and the current project is a Stirling O class seen unpainted in the below pictures, with another locomotive being planned as we speak. Dennis does all the painting and has also built the matching wagons.
It is all so wonderfully "Southern" too
And some of the home stock, the road van is the second wagon that I ever built and the roof is gently "going its own way".
A great pleasure to see Chris and Dennis again and I'm happy to report that everything ran perfectly too.
Simon
