Skip to main content

"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.

Post your non-O scale stuff here!

Hi Guys ,well after a long break from the garden railway-build and with winter just round the corner I'm finally gettin a chance to do a bit more to things before the cold weather shuts down things till the spring. For the last few weeks I've been totally preoccupied re-hashing my old mother's place which was in a sorry ,run down and weed strewn state. Heres a couple of pics of the place then and now. Her new downstairs ground floor extension now well under way

 

DSCN5150DSCN5151DSCN5464DSCN5465DSCN5463

Attachments

Images (5)
  • DSCN5150
  • DSCN5151
  • DSCN5464
  • DSCN5465
  • DSCN5463

Anyway, about the only  positive thing  thats happened over the summer with my own garden is that the wee trackside area that I got planted out with miniature trees and creepin plants has matured quite nicely. Today am workin on finishing stonework . Would be nice to get things pushed on a good bit before next spring. Bought a few nice wee trees and stuff so with a bit of luck I might get them planted trackside before the year's outDSCN5478DSCN5481DSCN5479

Attachments

Images (3)
  • DSCN5478
  • DSCN5481
  • DSCN5479
Mark Boyce posted:

Wow!  You were busy!  Looks like a different place!!

Hi Mark, busy's the word, at my mother's place I had to finish the back garden before the extension work began .It involved demolishing my father's old brick garage .(99%) of which I buried under the new place.I also imported 16 tons of crushed rock,also used tons of sand and cement and ornamental chips. Laid/relaid about 100 concrete slabs. etc.,etc., the rockeries in front of the porch are planted with perrenial alpines ,so low maintenance will be the order of the day. Just the grass to cut pretty much . Once the builders are finished the extension there will be a decked area off it so ma old girl can sit out on nice days . I'll finish her decking area out with the same kinda flower box type fencing that I did in my own place.Heres my builder mates Chris ,Gareth and Colin happy at their work the other day... lolDSCN5467

 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN5467

Davy,

That's a lot you did for Mum!  We had to move my Mum and Dad to a personal care home this summer, but have the empty house, out buildings, and 4 acres to maintain.  Dad was hoping my brother would move in, but he works over 150 mile away, is younger than me, and couldn't get a high enough paying job in the area at his age to carry him through until he can afford to retire.  I had hoped it would work for one of the grandchildren, even just temporary.  So my sister, brother-in-law, and I am looking after the place for now.

On to your back yard railroad!  The roadbed by the fence looks good.  You have worked hard for Mum, so I hope you get some good weather before winter to make some progress of your own!

Hi Guys, hope you all had a nice Xmas and New Year,  dealing with me old mother's senile dementia 24/7 and other life priorities  unfortunately  haven't allowed me any room at all for the railway hobbies lately so nothing to report ,just hopin things'll change for the better in the not too  distant future and hopefully along with some good weather too so I can get the garden railway complete. Hope you are all in good health and have a great 2018.    Davy 

 

Summerdale Junction posted:

Good hearing from you Davy . I hope this new year brings you some peace and joy . It's not easy being a caregiver . I've been in your shoes and I do not envy what you are facing . That's why its called "The Long Goodbye".

It's good that you have your garden to help take your mind off of things when the weather gets better . 

Jim

Hi Jim, long goodbye for sure. Its heavy goin. My mother and an old aunt are both in advanced stages of dementia and have no quality of life , they'd be far better passing away sooner than later. We wouldn't let an animal suffer in similar circumstances but modern medicine and healthcare keeps some old folks goin beyond what would be a natural time to pass on. But hey ho....it is what it is .... just need to make the best of it.  Upwards and onwards !! 

 

Hi Guys, well my mother fell and broke her hip and that was  the beginning of the end for her ,she passed away last week and her funeral is this Thursday. She made it to 90 though and all in all had a good long life . Sad she's gone but glad too that she's at rest because her quality of life latterly was very poor with no prospects of improvement.......

On the trains front,just saw this you-tube film of the latest 1/32nd scale loco products from Germany.... best ****ed sound and smoke I've ever seen...... WOW ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W556ur3R3B4

 

Condolences on your loss.    A difficult time that will be made better by the memories.

For all to remember:  As you plan for the what will happen to your trains after your passing (in your will, presumably), it's well to think about all those end-of-life possibilities (such as life support, etc.) and make WRITTEN your wishes. 

It's a good discussion to have with your health provider   -----   sooner rather than later.

 

Hi Guys, ah well still waitin for the winter weather to turn to spring so I can get on with the garden railway again.  However if any of you guys like steam locos as first preference heres a film of the last "real" workaday steam in europe. This coal mine in Bosnia is still using a few German built "Kriegslok" (war locomotives) BR 52 2-10-0 (although renumbered by the Bosnians as their  class 33 type )  some great footage of them working last year.Sound is great . Theres also footage of one working a modern container train,so I don't know what the story is with this ?.... I take it the loco has been hired out or is on loan to the Bosnian state railways for the day ?  ,whatever WW2 steam still in action in 2017 and as far as I'm aware is still the case now that we're into 2018.    Enjoy .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9-yqgnoQfI

 

Davy Mac posted:

Hi Guys, well my mother fell and broke her hip and that was  the beginning of the end for her ,she passed away last week and her funeral is this Thursday. She made it to 90 though and all in all had a good long life . Sad she's gone but glad too that she's at rest because her quality of life latterly was very poor with no prospects of improvement.......

 

Hi Davy. I'm very sorry for the loss of your mother. My prayers are with you and your family.

Hi Guys, well after another pretty long break I'm finally back at the garden project.With my mother passin away ,dealing with all that and a VERY long winter this year I've had next to no time to myself and garden work has been impossible. Spring was a long time comin this year,with plenty snow and hard frosts,however the sun's shinin again so I'm back into things. Started work today on the back left hand corner scenic work. Will need to get back up the river yet again for more stone to get the trackside scenic stuff finished.  Shouldn't take so long with a bit of decent weather on-side. Forecast for the rest of this week is pretty good so ..."make hay while the sun shines". The ground huggin plants and small trees are doin their thing nicely on the trackside run along the flower planter fence. Can't wait to see the trains running along there.The alpine plants  I planted in the main garden have fairly spread as well.  Anyway guys good to be back. Hope you are all well and doin good. DSCN5919DSCN5920DSCN5921DSCN5922DSCN5923  Davy 

Attachments

Images (5)
  • DSCN5919
  • DSCN5920
  • DSCN5921
  • DSCN5922
  • DSCN5923
Mark Boyce posted:

Yes Davy, I hope you can get trains running too!  I understand about weather permitting.  Here in Western Pennsylvania we had a late spring, and now that it has gotten warmer we have had mostly rain!  Next thing you know the leaves will be falling. (I have dreams about that this time of year; I wake up in the dream, and it's fall already!

Hi Mark, we had a long cold winter this year, the ski resorts in the Scottish highlands  did great because they had a great ski-ing season. The Scottish mountains ain't all that high,highest around four and a half thousand feet, so mild winter weather is a killer for the ski guys but this year they got snow and hard frost right thru the season so they were delighted. Everybody else was glad to see the back of the winter this year. Right now we're gettin beautifull sunny weather. How long it'll last is anybody's guess but we'll just make the best of it while it's here.  . 6.15 AM just about to head up the river and get more stone for the scenic work. Picture attached shows what it was like much of this winter. DSCN5709

 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN5709
Last edited by Davy Mac
Seacoast posted:

Hey Davy! Good to hear from you!  Your mason/stone work always amazes me no Styrofoam and plaster for you. You use the real deal! AWESOME!

Hi George, cheers, oh well heres a couple of pics taken at the end of play tonight. Once the cement's cured I'll get that narrow trough between the stones along the fence-side filled with soil and planted. That curve will probably be the first to get the track laid. watch this space DSCN5929DSCN5930

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN5929
  • DSCN5930
Last edited by Davy Mac

Hi Mike, sweltering hot here today, had some other garden chores to catch up with but got a bit more done. Started pinning fixing timbers on that curve. Pain in the butt and monotonous not to mention sore on the knees ! ,but makes the track laying much easier. Because the O gauge track is so much finer than G scale which I normally pin straight on to the timbers in the cement ,gettin the O gauge track up off the cement work makes for better ballasting. Bit of extra work but worth it. Givin it a coat of creosote as I go. DSCN5940

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN5940
Last edited by Davy Mac

Hi Guys, never got much done yesterday but made a start to laying track on that curve. Will need to take my time with this though. The O gauge track being much more flimsy than G scale is much more tricky to get sittin dead level. Been testing it with a B&O coach with 6 wheel trucks which is very track-sensitive. The least wee dip in the track and she's off the rails. So will need to get the track leveling just right. Especially on the curves.The ballast is granite quarry "dust" or as we call it in Scotland "quarry stoor".    I reckon if the coach runs fine then the rest of my rolling stock should be OK....we'll see !   DSCN5946

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN5946

Up early this mornin and got the outer track circuit laid and ballasted on that curve.Tested it with a French diesel loco ... running fine  and no problems. So far so good. Now I'll need to lay the timbers for the inner circuit and get it tracked and ballsted too. Then I can complete the landscape work around that area and move on to other bits of the layout. DSCN5952 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN5952
mike g. posted:

Davy, that just looks great! I hope the weather is still nice there and that you still have your little helper keeping you going!

Hi Mike, I'm afraid the wee helper is back at school, he was only with me because he was on holiday for a couple of days. However when the main summer holidays start in a couple of weeks no doubt he'll be with me a lot more,especially if I manage to get a circuit of track complete and a train running. Spent the afternoon edging my sittin area in that corner. Trough work all round for plants. Also did some stone step building at the other end of the layout at the access point. Weather's been great and is lookin good for another couple of weeks so fingers crossed the weather forecast is right.  DSCN5958DSCN5957

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN5958
  • DSCN5957
mike g. posted:

You got some great work going on there Davy! Not only for the trains, but the garden is looking just as good! Nice stone work, I cant wait to see what's next! Can you do me a favor when you get a chance can you post a few pictures of your whole back yard again?

Hi Mike, I'll post some whole-garden pics soon. Theres a couple of places where I've decided it looks a bit bare of colour so I'm in the process of adding a few more stone troughs so that there will be even more colour next spring. The alpines are great, they've spread so well and hardly a weed gets a chance. Maintenance is so easy. A few plants gave up the ghost due to the severe winter weather we've had  so they'll be replaced with hardier plants. 

Hi Guys, well quite a productive day yesterday. The left hand corner of the layout is almost complete ,now movin forward onto the back straight section and turntable area. Have to have access to the turntable pully mechanism  for maintentance/ repair  so have done the scenic work in such a way that I can still get at it. Took the stonework right to the edges but left a brick-wide trough. Loose bricks cover the trough then in turn will be covered by loose natural stones. 

Attachments

Images (4)
  • DSCN5960
  • DSCN5963
  • DSCN5964
  • DSCN5965

Hi Guys thanks for the thumbs up !. Didn't get so much done yesterday as I had other must-dos to deal with ,however I covered the bricks over the turntable workings with some stones and also got the last stone step cemented in at the access from the patio at the other end of the layout. You can see in the second pic where the G scale line runs to the side of the steps next to the wee hut and underneath the O gauge track bed.  Hoping to get a fair bit done today. Fingers crossed ! DSCN5967DSCN5968

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN5967
  • DSCN5968

Hi Guys ,well spent this mornin sortin out the turntable centre. Again its a situation where access for maintenance or repair might be required so I bricked around the hole where the spindle is situated leaving room to get my hands in if required .Then I made a timber cover from two bits of board pinned together with a central notch cut out for the spindle. Its already pressure treated timber, but I gave it a coat of creosote for good measure. Rough and ready joinery work to say the least but easily enough pulled apart if need be for maintenance. Put some dabs of cement at each side.Once this sets it will hold the frame in place. Then I'll fill the turntable well with fine granite chips covering the timber frame as well.  Another job almost done  !  DSCN5969DSCN5970

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN5969
  • DSCN5970

Hi Mark and Mike, the bridge of the turntable will be fitted with a timber top,bolted in place thru the 6 holes you can see drilled in the metal bridge.  Then the track will be laid on top. I'm hoping to fit some kinda copper brushes or maybe small wheel fittings or somesuch soldered to the rails on the bridge that will make electrical contact with the two on/off  roads . I have a couple of ideas but I'll worry about that when the time comes. I've actually got the turntable well half filled with granite chips and am about to head to the builders merchants for another couple of bags as I've run out of them.  As I write this a heavy thunderstorm has just broken.First rain we've had here for weeks , Good news is its only here for this evening and then we're back to nice weather again.... fine wi me !! 

 

 

Last edited by Davy Mac

Been lurking around your thread lately Davey. Everything is looking great. Love the details you are putting in- which is not easy when working with rock, brick, and concrete. Creosote? Really? That stuff's been banned in the States for decades.

Some how the weather gods have things mixed up. I live in NY and we usually have great weather this time of year but this year its been raining more than sunny. Been feeling more like we are in the UK than the US. 

keep up the good work and keep posting lots of photos.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

Been lurking around your thread lately Davey. Everything is looking great. Love the details you are putting in- which is not easy when working with rock, brick, and concrete. Creosote? Really? That stuff's been banned in the States for decades.

Some how the weather gods have things mixed up. I live in NY and we usually have great weather this time of year but this year its been raining more than sunny. Been feeling more like we are in the UK than the US. 

keep up the good work and keep posting lots of photos.

Bob

Creosote!  Yes, when I read Davy's comment I thought I hadn't seen creosote in years!  I didn't know it was actually banned, but no surprise.  If some folk had their way everything would be banned here!   

The turntable pit looks great that way, Davy!  

Keep playing those pipes!!  Both mine and my wife's folks immigrated here from Scotland generations ago, but we still like hearing the pipes.  Maybe it's in the blood!  

Larry Sr. posted:

Davy

The turntable is fascinating to me. I want one badly on my build but just can't get the engineering process clear in my head yet.

Seems fairly simple but yet NOT.

But I'm cutting and pasting every picture you post on yours in a attempt to figure it out.

  You build is really looking good over there.

Larry

Hi Larry, the turntable ain't rocket science.  The mechanism is simple enough. If you have a local scrap yard nearby /car/bus breakers yard ,go buy an old water pump mechanism or even a suitable axle end .Get a welder to weld a bridge on it (has to be level and centred of course) ,  All you need after that is an old rubber washing machine belt and a way to tension it and a handle to turn it..   I now have two turntables in my garden ,one on the G scale line and the one on the O gauge line.   I'll dig out some old pics .Are you talkin about for the garden ? or inside ?     

 

Hi Larry ,heres a good picture of a G scale turntable I built a few years ago. Long since demolished . Shows the turning mechanism. Also a couple of pics of an experimental power supply mech. The turntable was a one road on and off .The wires from the on road were soldered onto the rails and bedded into the cement bottom of the well .Then they cam up and were soldered on to the switch mech. When the point lever was switched it pushed the metal blocks + and - onto the turntable's rails .Simple power supply method. Albeit wouldn't be practical for a multi on /off road turntable. (Rebuilt Aristo B&O pacific on the bridge.)turntablemech3turntable mech 1turntablemech2 

Attachments

Images (3)
  • turntablemech3
  • turntable mech 1
  • turntablemech2
Last edited by Davy Mac

heres another pic Larry, At this time I had 4 G scale track circuits ,a 3 track mainline with an upper level single track line. Was quite impressive but, the place was like a model railway with a garden in it somewhere rather than a garden with a model railway in it ...  . This is the area where the new O gauge line is now taking shape. old garden 3

Attachments

Images (1)
  • old garden 3

Hi Davy

Thanks for the  extra information and really would appreciate any other pictures. I can follow that idea of the parts hunt. Even that information helps explain the concept.

It's for my outside  garden layout I started last spring. Not as complicated as yours but a lot of fun. Getting back on it currently with buildings.

But the TT project is going to be inside a building but for G scale train outside layout.

I have a additional track plan that goes from this existing area to one  of my out buildings and it run the G trains in and out from the building hopefully with the assistance of a TT .

I really like the way you did those TT. Especially cost.

Boy the price for a factory made one over here is astronomical!!!! so I'm going to make one.   with some luck

Larry

 

IMG_0641IMG_0643

Larry

Attachments

Images (2)
  • IMG_0641
  • IMG_0643

Hi Guys, Larry ..If your TT is inside it should should be even easier. Inside in the dry you can do it in timber. I've seen some pretty good home made turntables online. The very first garden turntable I made was in timber .   I built everything onto  a board (external quality plywood) Mounted the pivot and the turning mechanism (which was an old car steering column with steering wheel) It worked well and was sound in principle but the weather got to it in time. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of it on this PC ,nor do I know if I have any pictures of it at all ?  Was back in the days before I had a digital camera.

Larry, found a picture online where the old car steering column TT turner can just be made out behind and just left of the 2 box cars. The steering wheel isn't even on it!. Unfortunately the rest of the turntable can't be seen very well but theres a wee black Aristocraft 0-4-0 sittin on the TT bridge . This was way back many years ago. Incidentally the wee boy at the front,Grant Macnamara ) is now an airline pilot !   This photo will be of absolutely no use to you building your TT  but pure nostalgia for me. Have rebuilt the garden umpteen times since then ,but this current re-vamp is most definately the last !  Incidentally the red mess on the tracks wasn't the spilled blood of some terrible rail crash's victims it was an attempt by me to get a rust effect on the rails , however the oxide paint I used turned out oxide and nowhere near rust in appearance...ach well you lives and learns.... 

 

cormac3

Attachments

Images (1)
  • cormac3
Last edited by Davy Mac

PS check the crow in some of the pics. He/she ? and her partner think they own my garden. My wife feeds them and they've become almost tame.  They turn up and land about 6 feet away and look at you as much as say...."OK...so where's the food ? " I;ve even see them fighting with squirrels over  food. Last week I saw him take a lump of fur out of a squirrels butt when its back was turned.   

WOW Davy, I think you have a great place to relax! I was thinking I would show my wife, but I don't know it could mean a lot more outside work for me and less time for trains! But I do love the way it looks! I could spend hours on hours just sitting there watching trains go around! Great Job!

Hi Guys ,well another beautifull mornin here in Scotland so was up and at the railway early AM. Now working on the track fixing timbers on the curve at the other end of the layout next to the wee shed and also further along behind the flowerbox fence where the loco servicing sidings and the first of the two on/off roads to the turntable will be .  Long may this weather last !   DSCN5988DSCN5989

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN5988
  • DSCN5989

Hi Guys ,well after another lovely day I managed to get on quite well. Got the fixing timbers cemented in down that long run. ,and went to the river for more stone, etc.,etc., with the inside track timbering complete it begins to look like a railway line ...oh well tomorrow is another day .....and with a good weather forecast ...beer time!  DSCN5990DSCN5991DSCN5992

Attachments

Images (3)
  • DSCN5990
  • DSCN5991
  • DSCN5992

Hi Guys, started to get to grips with the track laying down the back of the flowerbox fence. No matter how I tried to wangle the pointwork and sidings there was no way I could get a satisfactory set up for the steam locomotive servicing area so part of the 1:1 scale footpath is being  ripped out and re-hashed so I can get another road in.  Bit of a nuisance but hey-ho needs must !  DSCN5993DSCN5994 

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN5993
  • DSCN5994

Weather is scorching here  25C .Weathers been great for weeks now. Was piping at a wedding this afternoon,unusual day for it being a Thursday,funny enough had one last Thursday too.  Anyway will get a full day at the garden tomorrow as I have no gigs again till Saturday.  I know that in the states some coaling plants straddled main running lines and locomotives would take coal and water without unhitching from their trains,however I wanted the coal dock off the mainline so an extra service road was required. 

Hi Mark. , I know it gets a lot hotter in many countries but 77F is well hot enough for me,in fact I;m quite happy at 17/18C (whatever that converts to ?)  Well came home from the gig was goin to head for the big chair and the telly then decided to get the workin togs on and go back out to the railway. Laid a bit of track and ran a test train. Couple of issues with the point blades but they're just needing cleaned after lying out doors for too long.Will fix it in the mornin ,but the train ran!  SNCF (French) diesel and a couple of euro-wagons in trail ... hopin to have a lot more done by close of play tomorrow. DSCN5998DSCN5999

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN5998
  • DSCN5999

Hi guys, busy laying more track this mornin.However stopped for a wee bit lunch. Heres a wee short movie of the fish in the pond havin their lunch.... crushed dried mealworms... they're like pirhanna ...but are just humble river minnows or as wee call them in Scotland..."baggies" or "baggy minnons".... hope you can view the vid. 

Attachments

Videos (1)
DSCN6000

Hi Guys 4.30PM here now . Been a long day in the heat laying track and track fixing timbers etc., some of the work will need overnight for the cement to cure before I can finish the track laying.However the required extra road is in situ and the footpath mostly repaired to suit. Doing no more tonight. Dinner beer and feet up for the rest of the night !  DSCN6004DSCN6005DSCN6006DSCN6007

Attachments

Images (4)
  • DSCN6004
  • DSCN6005
  • DSCN6006
  • DSCN6007

Mike, it played for me here. Maybe Davy fixed it? If not, I am using Windows 10 Home and Chrome browser, FWIW.

OTOH, I just looked and it's an .MOV file which I think is Apple exclusive. I have iTunes and some other stuff installed on my PC which might be the reason it worked here, but can't say that for certain it's was the reason for it playing here?

Davy, also FWIW, I use a free program to convert .MOV to .AVI, it's called 'Pazera Free MOV to AVI Converter'. I have had it for years and it does a good job. I think .AVI is a more Windows friendly format, my photo/video database program doesn't like the .MOV files either and my camera only records .MOVs.

Hi Guys, my apologies to those of you for whom the video doesn't work. I will get round to sortin out this problem and get to grips with converting the videos to a suitable format. Working today so not a lot of time for the railway.However got all the track laid around the locomotive servicing area plus the siding off to the turntable if not on to the turntable itself as yet. Track has still to be tweaked and ballasted but I couldn't resist a couple of steam-era photos . Classic lines of the USRA light pacific by the coaling plant. Superb. Ah well better scoot, busy day today. DSCN6008DSCN6009DSCN6010DSCN6011 

Attachments

Images (4)
  • DSCN6008
  • DSCN6009
  • DSCN6010
  • DSCN6011

Cheers guys, as a person who is old enough to have experienced the final years of the UK steam scene and indeed to a degree the end of steam in France too,I have come to appreciate some aspects of modern diesel and electric traction ,however steam locomotives in and around their servicing infrastructure is for me the ultimate in rail appeal. "when trains were trains".... " real trains". Have never seen US steam in action but have watched manys a video from the 50s. USRA steam types and their copies/and derivatives are for me the best lookin steam America ever produced. Ah well,had some rain late this afternoon after  what otherwise was another beautifull day.So a bit damp but back into the garden railway tomorrow.... 

Hi Guys, well, only spent a wee while on the layout this mornin, finished the footpath stonework next to the loco servicing area. Also finished gettin the facing stones cemented in along the flowerbiox fence . Still need to form troughs behind them to get some plants in but that will need to wait till tomorrow. Also got a bit of track laid down the spur and onto the bridge that will take locos on to the turntable. Need to investigate what method Im goin to use for the turntable rails to make electrical contact with the rails off the spur. Have a couple of ideas for this .Will need to take a trip to the local hardware store and have look-see at whats available for the ideas I have in mind.

    While my scale line will be digital the O gauge line will be analog.So I need to look at isolating sections etc.,  So final track ballasting will need to wait till I have the wiring soldered and laid so it will be hiddenbeneath the track ballast. Not so much done today but still a bit progress nonetheless ! DSCN6022

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN6022
Last edited by Davy Mac

Hi Guys, didn't get very much done yesterday but the stonework along the flowerbox fence is now pretty much finished ,planted and dressed. Have just laid the fixing timbers on the curve by the wee hut. Still pretty good weather here but more normal Scottish weather arriving tomorrow afternoon and into Thursday.(WET!!)  So pushin on while the weather is with me. DSCN6023DSCN6024DSCN6025DSCN6026DSCN6027

Attachments

Images (5)
  • DSCN6023
  • DSCN6024
  • DSCN6025
  • DSCN6026
  • DSCN6027

Up at the crack of dawn this mornin to get on with the track fixing timber work.Heavy rain and gail force winds due this afternoon and tomorrow so gettin as much done as I can before the weather breaks.Probably the last real work I'll get done for a few days. Anyway the curve at the other end of the layout is now timbered and ready for track. DSCN6028DSCN6029DSCN6030

Attachments

Images (3)
  • DSCN6028
  • DSCN6029
  • DSCN6030

Hi Guys ,well the weather forecast said rain around 4PM and it's just started on Q . Couple of miserable lookin days ahead ,....still can't complain ,apart from a couple of days with thunderstorms we've had fantastic weather for weeks now. The latest timber work might have looked the part however when I tried laying the track I found the curve I had set in the back RH corner too tight. So I ripped it back up because I knew I;d never be happy with it. Its a pretty tight corner anyway but with a bit of rehashing I should just manage to get a more acceptable wider curve. However it will need to wait till the sun shines again !  DSCN6031DSCN6032DSCN6033

Attachments

Images (3)
  • DSCN6031
  • DSCN6032
  • DSCN6033

Hi Guys,well weather's been very mixed since my last post. However between the showers we've had some dry spells so I managed to re-lay the timbers and track in that back corner next to the wee hut. Workin fine now apart from one small area of track where my longest coaches just fowl each other slightly while passing in opposite directions.An easy ajustment .Weather still unsettled for a few days yet so don't know how things'll progress. Will need to buy more track as what I had left from the old layout is running out fast.  

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN6036
  • DSCN6037

Hi Guys, oh well no more progress on the cards for a while.Was workin in a friends garden yesterday , swingin the pickaxe at the very end of the day I felt a distinct pain in my upper chest like somethin went "pop" , turns out its intercostal muscle damage , painfull to put it mildly,so I'm afraid I'm in recuperation mode.  Apparently it can take a few days or a few weeks to heal .... unbelievable ,great weather forecast for the next while too.... typical !  anyway will be back as and when  absolutely NOT PLEASED ! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Davy Mac posted:

Hi Guys, oh well no more progress on the cards for a while.Was workin in a friends garden yesterday , swingin the pickaxe at the very end of the day I felt a distinct pain in my upper chest like somethin went "pop" , turns out its intercostal muscle damage , painfull to put it mildly,so I'm afraid I'm in recuperation mode.  Apparently it can take a few days or a few weeks to heal .... unbelievable ,great weather forecast for the next while too.... typical !  anyway will be back as and when  absolutely NOT PLEASED ! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOW Sorry to hear that Davy! Take the time and heal up, the garden and trains will still be there, but I have to say I was getting into your build once again! I just love all the work you do not only with the trains but the beautiful garden! Take care of yourself!

NJCJOE posted:

Davy,

How are you doing? Hope you're feeling better.

Hi Joe, cheers and a Happy New Year to you. Unfortunately I never got a single bit more progress on the garden railway done all summer.  Once I'd healed I finished my friends garden which took me till September. Also my wife had heart ops to go in for (she's thru it all and fine now). Then one of my daughters moved house and I got landed with completely rehashing her new garden ,which was about 95% finished before the winter arrived ,which this year has been very mild compared to last year. However finishing that off will be my first project when spring gets here which shouldn't take me too long.... so the trains have had absolutely nothing more done since I stopped workin on them.  Not goin to count my chickens this year but I remain hopefull for 2019 to be the year that I actually get to run something! . Having said that things were pretty well advanced so a couple of good weeks work should see things just about complete. Definately on the home stretch.  Hope all's well with you and yours    Davy

Davy,

I’m glad you and your family are all well again and the young folks have moved.  Your story sounds like mine, although we are still going through it.  Nothing life threatening by any means, and we hope to move one daughter and her husband into the family homestead I grew up in.

I will be happy to follow along the completion of your rehash when you have time, as I hope to get at building my new indoor layout this year.  Yes we have had unseasonably good weather so far here in Western Pennsylvania, when it has been cold we haven’t had much snow.

hI guys, well after yet another long break due to other life things gettin in the way,not to mention some rotten weather as well,I've finally got round to pushin on witht he last leg of the O scale line. ie the section down the back fence of my garden. Hopin to get all the timbers into cement before the day's out and the rain re-appears .  one clear week's weather and no interruptions should see at least one train making a circuit ! Fingers crossed. The G scale line track is all completed and only needs some ballasting and wiring and its ready to roll. Anyway hope yer all well and life's being good to you !    DavyDSCN7190DSCN7191   

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN7190
  • DSCN7191
Last edited by Davy Mac

Well look who is back! DAVY! Sure is nice to see you and that your back at the garden! Things sure are looking good! I hope you get the dry weather with no interruptions so you can get your one line running! Best of luck and I will be hoping to see a train shortly!

Nice to see you back Davy!

mike g. posted:

Well look who is back! DAVY! Sure is nice to see you and that your back at the garden! Things sure are looking good! I hope you get the dry weather with no interruptions so you can get your one line running! Best of luck and I will be hoping to see a train shortly!

Nice to see you back Davy!

Hi Mike, cheers !  with a bit of luck I'll have the bottom timbers set in place a couple of hours from now. Just stopped for lunch. Warm and clammy here today, not ideal for workin but rain forecast tonight so I'll push on regardless ! Once thats done and the cement set,everything else is hammer and nails ,complicated stuff all done. ! Think I'll need another couple of boxes of track to complete every thing but nearly there. Thank goodness !  The plants that were planted a while back have done their thing quite nicely.They're even encroaching on the track in some places but easy enough to fix that. ! 

 

Larry Sr. posted:

Yes, glad to hear from you and that your at it again

Larry

Hi Larry, good to hear from you guys too, workin away here. Clammy cloudy mornin has given way to blue sky and sunshine, on the home straight now as far as laying track fixing timbers go.  couple of hours and should be finished. Hopefully get the rest of the track down in the next few days. DSCN7192DSCN7193

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN7192
  • DSCN7193
Last edited by Davy Mac

I too am glad to see you back, Davy!!  Yes, Mike and I have been commiserating together about life getting in the way of building our layouts!!  I turned 60 almost 3 years ago, and it seems like I have been falling apart ever since!     Mike isn't quite as old, but he has had it worse than me!  Your work by the fence is looking great!!  Before I read it, I was thinking you mentioning rain would mean good growing for the flora!!

Hi Mark , good to hear from you again, other life things just have a way opf gettin in the way at times eh ?? Anyway since my last post,not a lot done because mega heavy rain here the last coupla days.However was out for a wee while today and got the top longitudinal track fixing timbers nailed down. Last picture shows the last bit that needs cemented and timbered .rain again tomorrow apparently but hot weather forecast for next week. The G scale line is complete now,just some ballasting in a few places and a clean up and get the DCC module wired up in the wee hut then the  PIKO German engines can finally roll.  PIKO is introducing a big German BR 50 2-10-0 this year ,supposed to be out in October.So I have one ordered. Lookin forward to that.  DSCN7339DSCN7340DSCN7341

Attachments

Images (3)
  • DSCN7339
  • DSCN7340
  • DSCN7341
Mark Boyce posted:

The BR50 is pretty neat looking, Davy!  Thank you for the photograph.

Hi Mark The German BR (Baureihe) 50 was the locomotive that the Germans based their wartime Class 52 on,the "kriegslok" ie., war locomotive. The 52 was built with a lot more welding used and a lot less clutter for ease of mass production . 50s and 52s survived in workaday use in East Germany into the 1980s. I actually prefer the smoother lines of the 52 but I'll settle for a 50. Heres a picture of an East german 50. Although East and West Germany shared many of the same types of locomotive ,developments of the types in the West (DB) Duetsche Bundesbahn, and in the communist East (Deutsche Reichsban) went in different directions and obtained different looks,   

Cheers George, hopefully will be at least partially up and running by August.  On the subject of german 2-10-0s , there were still a couple of Kriegslok 52s in regular day to day working service at a coal mine in Bosnia in 2017 (see attached film). As far as I'm aware they were still active in 2018 but don't know if the operation still continues in 2019 ? Certainly the last workaday steam in Europe. good film with some nice night time shots. Something magical about steam locomotives at night.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9-yqgnoQfI

 

Thank you for the information and film, Davy.  Yes, I see the cleaner sides.  The tenders are a very different design than I have seen.  Also, I have never seen double headers with the tenders back to back.  In the USA, they were always run elephant parade style to my knowledge.  The coal hoppers are interesting as well, with what looks like doors on the sides, if they are hoppers.  I agree about night scenes.

Hi Guys, well after  couple of days of too-hot weather in which I just could not find the energy to work in the sun and humidity I finally got round to doin the last major bit of cement work on the main track bed. The nearer I get to finishing the less room I have to work in too ,flippin awkward,but hey-ho, once this batch of cement has cured I can really start to push on with the O gauge track work . A bit of stonework and some plant planting to be done and some fernickety work fixing the spurs onto the turntable. But nearly there ! 

DSCN7349DSCN7350

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN7349
  • DSCN7350
Mark Boyce posted:

Yes Davy, I can see you have less room to work, but it will all be worth it!  Looking great!!

Hi Mark, well thats the last of the serious cement work done so most of the remaining work is track laying once the cement is cured. Rain forecast for the next coupla days so a wee break from it till the sun re-appears. Nice long double track run down that back fence .Might do a station scene there. Don't intend to go overboard with sidings just the one passing loop with its acces spur to the turntable. I also have room for a siding in far right hand corner. With some fair weather should have trains running early August !  Can't wait ! 

 

mike g. posted:

Looking great Davy! Its been a long haul and I cant wait to see your finish!

Hi Mike ,cheers for the thumbs up, 5PM here and the sun's just appeared after a dull and wet day, might get a wee bitty more done tonight. The spurs to the turntable will be a bit tricky I'm hopin to use ball and spring type internal door locks to conduct the power feed to the turntable tracks. So when the table-track lines up with the off roads the sprung-balls will make contact with copper feelers. Should make life simple and avoids complicated switching or wiring. Thats the plan anyway !  we'll see how it pans out !  Am quite nifty if its a spade or pick ..etc., not so good (or patient!! ) with fernickety stuff... 

Hi Guys, well mixed weather,bright sunshine this mornin then very warm and sticky then rain, back to sun tonight as I write this.  Managed to get the main timber block cemented into position for the 2nd turntable off road. Once thats set I can get the rest of the required timber and cement work done to complete that.Other than that managed to get the longitudinal timbers nailed down to take the double track mainline. Then the rain came on ! So that was pretty much that for the day. DSCN7385DSCN7386DSCN7387

Attachments

Images (4)
  • DSCN7384
  • DSCN7385
  • DSCN7386
  • DSCN7387

So being rained off today I went and worked inside on another rail project. Years ago I was heavily into G scale 1/29th. Mainly Aristocraft. However, lost interest and sold most of my stuff off. Kept a few things though. One item I did keep was the very last Aristocraft 4-6-2 I bought.The Aristo pacifics were notorious for poor drive assemblies however this was one of the last production models which were a lot better. the Aristo pacific was based on the B&O P7 "President" class which is one of my all-time favourite US types. Especially the rebuilt P7c version. The Aristo model needs quite a lot of rebuilding to get it looking right for a P7c. I started the project years ago and shelfed it and its sat there unfinished since. However now that my G scale line is rebuilt and nearly back in action, I took a notion to finish the P7c. My G scale line will be mainly German outline with German loco sounds etc., but I'm thinkin a US pacific with American steam sounds would be nice for a wee bit variety. The B&O P7 pacifics were all in all-over Royal Blue at the end of steam irrespect of sublass. However a solitary one 5308 /latterly 106 was in a crossing accident in 1956 and against all the odds so late in the steam game it was repaired and outshopped in freight engine black. To the best of my knowledge the only P7 ever that wore black . So 106 in black my loco will be. In real life the P7s boilers were all re-lagged in later years right over the smokebox sides which gave them a fatter appearance . I've mimicked this using fine balsa wood glued on to the boiler barrel and wrapped in paper-thin plastic card.  Still a bit to be done. I'll aso need to re-work the smokebox front etc.,  anyway here she is still in pieces posing for a shot. The tender top also required major surgery as the Aristocraft tender was modelled on a non standard version of the P7 tender and was only correct for one loco in the class for a short period of time DSCN7388DSCN7389DSCN7390   

Attachments

Images (3)
  • DSCN7388
  • DSCN7389
  • DSCN7390

Hopefully she'll look like this when finished,albeit in black. This picture was taken at Benwood Virginia when she was still numbered 5308 and in blue. Must have been soon after this pic was taken that the loco was damaged in the crossing accident and received her 3 digit number 106. All remaining B&O steam received 3 digit numbers in late '56 as the 4 digit numbers were being used for the diesel incumbents.

Image result for B&O P7 5308 

Hi Guys,well not a lotta progress the last few days, some fairly regular bouts of torrential rain haven't helped . Plus yesterday while workin on the track I tripped and fell ,went down like a ton of bricks,took a chunk out my right knee bashed my other leg and battered my side and twisted my back..... so I had a lovely day ....not....  however have survived the ordeal , needless to say my wife and daughters thought it was hilarious...... despite the pain I had to laugh as well.... ... got fixed up went back out only to immediately run out of track pinning nails . But hey ho will get a pack today. Coupla days should see a train making a circuit !   DSCN7485DSCN7486

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN7485
  • DSCN7486

Hi Guys ,well rain actually stayed off for an hour this mornin and the sun came out, so got some track laying done. Thats the first circuit down the back run complete. Rain's just come back on so that'll be it for the day probably. Still progress...slow but sure. I;ve nearly run outta track as well so I'll need to measure up and see exactly what I need to finish. Some of the plantlife has invaded the track in places so that'll need cut back too before any trains can move. Gettin there though ! DSCN7504DSCN7505

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN7504
  • DSCN7505

Hi Guys, well a dry day today for a change, managed to get some more track laid and a bitta tidyin up done. On the final stages now. Have run out of track and so has the shop I get it from ! ,so hope it comes in sooner than later.  Meantime I have some other bits and pieces that can be done. DSCN7512 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN7512

Hi Mike, weather just ain't playin the game  Warm but regular torrential downpours. Just havin to grin and bare it . Sun comes out, everything dries up ,make another start then the big grey clouds appear again and down it comes. Cut back most of the plants yesterday and cleaned out the wee plant trench alongside the brick path. Too much effluent from mixing cement got in it so when everythings finished I'll re plant it with thyme and the like . Just been out layin a bit more track,just some spare bits and pieces I have left . Half a (dry) hour's work would see the outer circuit complete and a train running. However can do nuthin about the weather....   Just managed to get a wee loco lay-by siding into that corner laid this mornin (1st attached pic) and in the process right now of finishing the switch work between the two mainlines (2nd pic) ,however thats the rain back on ! 

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN7527
  • DSCN7528
Seacoast posted:

Hi Davy,

Just trying to remember. Your doing all O scale around the garden and a smaller G scale layout in the back of the garden.

Hi George, no ,its the other way about.I used to have a great big 3 track mainline round the garden in G a few years ago. then decided to replace it with O ,Then changed the plan again.The G line is now a single line with a couple of passing loops . which runs right round the whole garden including thru the centre of the O gauge layout but at a lower level.The O gauge is a double track mainline with a couple of passing loops on the inner line. Both the G scale O gauge set up have turntables and a few sidings for loco storage. Thats pretty much it. I'll post some photos showing the whole set up shortly.

   

Seacoast posted:

Hi Davy,

Just trying to remember. Your doing all O scale around the garden and a smaller G scale layout in the back of the garden.

Hi george OK heres some pics to clarify whats goin on. This first pic is lookin up the garden from the house end .G scale turntable in the foreground lookin up the G scale mainline on the left side of the garden. Line goes right up and under the flowerbox fenceDSCN7542

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN7542
Scotie posted:

Davy

Hard to imagine you sitting still for a time just watching the trains run. You really get into the stone work, a lot of effort and a fabulous result.

Whats next?

Hi Scotie, thanks, I enjoy the stonework but whether I like it or not age is catchin up ! So am lookin forward to actually playin trains in future.Havin said that theres still a fair bitta minor hardscapin to be done. I'll need to make sure that theres sufficient lineside stonework on the O gauge section along the back fence to retain the fine crushed granite ballast thats still to get laid. Still need some more low growin creepin plants here and there as well. So plenty to keep me occupied. Plus I still have to get the turntable for the O gauge wired and working . Well it rained non stop all day yesterday (Sunday) and its now 1.37 AM Monday here and its still rainin ! So hope somebody turns the sun back on sometime soon ! 

 

 

Last edited by Davy Mac

Hi Mike, well rain finally stopped so been workin on the O gauge line. Just took a break ,knees killin me kneelin all the time. Just one short length of track to lay on the outer circuit then I'll try a train on it and see how it performs. Did a wee bitty work on rebuilding the Aristocraft G scale pacific last night .  She's beginning to come together. However a lotta detailing work to go yet. Still its takin shape. should look like last pic when finishedDSCN7592DSCN7593

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN7592
  • DSCN7593
Last edited by Davy Mac

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×