1/32 Gauge 1. Hollywater line.

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
At last a little bit of dry weather and I have marked out the circuit for the new line in the garden . This is all very exciting and I hope all goes to plan. I'm sure that with your help it will all go well. The plan is firstly to work out how to post pictures and text on the forum so that it makes sense. The easy bit will be building a garden railway.
The plan is for two railways. The first is the main line loops running around the garden to a length of about 125 foot each. The other is a copy of a shunting line I saw hundreds of years ago at Railex which will form the goods/shunting side of the line. I marked the route out today to gain planning approval from the higher powers and she said I may proceed with the scheme.
Curves are a modest 10 to 12 foot and the intention is to use the dikitriki construction method of scaffold poles, cable trays and hardibaker boards. Cliff Barker track with super elevation and several prayers to the gods of model railway builders and operators and away we go.
It all seems quite straightforward at this point, pushing canes into the lawn and flower beds. To be honest I am a bit worried about how things are going to turn out. Courage and good luck and all will be well.
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Dikitriki

Flying Squad
The poles in lawn approach looks familiar. :) I well remember the 'ulp' moment when it all began for real. Having the higher powers on board is important. Are you on your own, or will you have assistance?

I wish you all the best.

Richard
 

JimG

Western Thunderer
It looks as though you have a good location for your garden line. If you are on your own you need a bit of luck and a fair wind to progress. :) I lost almost all of last spring and summer on my line since we had a particularly wet time and my heavy clay soil was pretty well unworkable until the late summer and autumn. I'm hoping this year will be better although it hasn't been too good so far. :)

If your layout is going to be an oval with semi-circular ends you might want to do what I did and "plant" a couple of temporary posts at the centres of the radii of the ends which gives two fixed points which lets you set out the track and supports a lot easier. You can see them in a message on my thread and my layout drawing with them as the reference.

A Venture into the Garden

I also placed a good few other trig points in the garden but I had to negotiate around trees and other garden features so I had to know exactly where I had to put things when placing baseboard supports.. :)

But it is all good fun. :):)

Jim.
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
The poles in lawn approach looks familiar. :) I well remember the 'ulp' moment when it all began for real. Having the higher powers on board is important. Are you on your own, or will you have assistance?

I wish you all the best.

Richard
It looks like I'll be on my own at the moment. The chief engineer will be getting in the way at regular intervals wanting me to throw a toy for her and Mrs. Phillips will keep me supplied with tea. I hope that word might spread of what I'm doing and offers of help may arrive.
Regards, Keith

It looks as though you have a good location for your garden line. If you are on your own you need a bit of luck and a fair wind to progress. :) I lost almost all of last spring and summer on my line since we had a particularly wet time and my heavy clay soil was pretty well unworkable until the late summer and autumn. I'm hoping this year will be better although it hasn't been too good so far. :)

If your layout is going to be an oval with semi-circular ends you might want to do what I did and "plant" a couple of temporary posts at the centres of the radii of the ends which gives two fixed points which lets you set out the track and supports a lot easier. You can see them in a message on my thread and my layout drawing with them as the reference.

A Venture into the Garden

I also placed a good few other trig points in the garden but I had to negotiate around trees and other garden features so I had to know exactly where I had to put things when placing baseboard supports.. :)

But it is all good fun. :):)

Jim.

That's a good idea to place reference points for radii. I will need to do that today when I get out there. I hope you are able to make progress with your line soon. It's starting to dry out a bit here so fingers crossed for some fine weather in Bristol too.

Regards, Keith
 
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unklian

Western Thunderer
One thing you might need to give some thought to, if you have not already, is getting access to the inside of the 'circle' . Especially getting the lawn mower in to cut the grass. It could be a factor in your decision over what height to make the rail level at .
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
One thing you might need to give some thought to, if you have not already, is getting access to the inside of the 'circle' . Especially getting the lawn mower in to cut the grass. It could be a factor in your decision over what height to make the rail level at .

I'm on the case with that one. There will be a lift out section across the grass in the last picture for the mower and steps over the line by the winter palace (should have been a summer house but it took me ages to build). Thanks for the pointer though.
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
Bit of a blow today as the cable tray people will not deliver to my address. Plan B will have to be thought up. Any ideas out there? I imagine my choices are Filcris or timber supports. I can fix a timber to the jack plate to make a 'T' and then stretchers between each post 'T'. What sort of dimension timber should I be looking at?

The scaffold poles and jacks have arrived and so has the Hardibacker board or boards. I'll have to work with these.
 
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Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
The line has been started. Pole dancing yesterday, not a pretty sight! The upper level is complete as far as the main line goes. Got to cut a load of jacks to make up the supports which is not much fun as just three ate a cutting disc. Need to find something more robust to cut them with. The lower level is still marked out with canes to guide me along but should not take me too long once I can get out there again.P1060591.JPG P1060593.JPG
I have also acquired my first loco for the line and then took it to bits and repainted it. Now Radio Controlled and waiting weathering and cab and smokebox numbers. Had a go at detailing the cab which looks much better now.
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Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
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Finally been able to get out and start bashing a few more poles into the ground. This will be the station area. Two platforms and two bays with a goods loop are the plan. A head shunt will continue alongside the mainline and follow the curve.


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This will be the station approach with platforms on the curve and a small goods loop. Two sidings extend towards the camera.

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Looking back towards the house. The head shunt will finish half way around the curve and eventually the area to the right of the mainline and before the tree will have the engine shed and turntable on it.
The mainline will enter a tunnel to pass next to the tree and avoid the leaves dropping all over it. I realise that the leaves will actually drop off and then be blown into the tunnel to make it impossible to run but I have to try.

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The need for a geological survey became clear when I started knocking in the poles this end of the garden. Everything started off well and then they just seemed to get gobbled up by the ground. Much softer for a much greater depth and so to level the line the jacks are extended probably too far. They might be okay once the timbers are all in place to tie it all together. Your thoughts are welcome.
This is also where the lift out bridge will go.

MVL Bridges

Off to rehydrate now.

Cheers

Keith
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
Have been getting on with cutting the jacks for the supports and I'm pretty much there. The timber for the next phase arrived today too and with the jacks in place I can get started on cutting the cross pieces to support the stretchers between each post.

Chief Engineer is overjoyed at the progress.

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Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
Terrific progress today :D.
I can now start to see how the line will look and more importantly so can Mrs Phillips. She is happy for things to progress in the current direction so all is well on the domestic front.

I've been cutting the timbers for the cross supports and have managed to get them fixed down with the exception of a few near the house which I still have to get longer scaffold poles for.

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The Chief Engineer and Head Gardener was as helpful as ever and kept me company all day. It's amazing how just by adding a few lengths of timber the whole thing seems to take shape.


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At least if it goes wrong the new timbers make excellent cream tea supports :)) .

I also took the total of my stock down to the South Devon Garden Railway Group at Buckfastleigh on Sunday. It was very hot but satisfying to see my engine running around the track there. Hope to have a run on the Hollywater line soon.


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Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
A significant couple of days for the line. I have completed the timbers for the circuit and got the painting done in preparation for the boards going on top :D.

I'm really pleased with how it is looking and can't wait to get on to the next stage. We're even starting to think about planting and landscaping. One step at a time perhaps.

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Chief Engineer is taking the head of planning to inspect the progress.

I'd just like to thank all that have offered advice and guidance so far with the project as I don't think I would have been able to move along with it quite so far without that help.

Cheers.

Keith
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
A very satisfying few days work sees the baseboards cut and installed.

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The station area was a real jigsaw puzzle trying to get every board supported.


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I found that three of the Hardibaker boards had delaminated before I got to them for use which I am pretty cheesed off about. A few choice words were uttered when I also managed to trim a board too tight to the supports. Those issues aside it all went surprisingly well.
I also retain full support of the Chief Engineer.

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Now I have to decide on what to cover the boards with before track laying. I fully intended to paint with masonry paint and ballast the track once it has been laid. However the additional protection of roofing felt might be an option

For now I will rest on my laurels for a bit and maybe do a bit of work for the 1:1 scale railway.

Keith
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
The chief engineer reminds me of my spaniel, Sophie, sadly not with us now, though.

Jon

Jon,
I'm sure that Sophie was just as helpful when you were working in the garden as the Chief Engineer is when I try to do something. She either sits in the way or picks up and runs off with whatever bit I need next. Love 'em always though.
 
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