New garden layout

Hi Allan,Dewey, well the weather had better pick up some time soon for its keeping me back and the forecast for the next few days isn't good either. Can't get my flat river stones because the river level is up over where I usually gather them by a number of feet.So I'd need to snorkel for them right now ! Anyway,today I've been trying to get the engine terminal tracks in place between downpours. A couple of bits to do but the general layout is complete now.Just need a few good weather days to get it ballasted and titivated up. heres the lates pic I took two minutes ago. Catch you later guys    DAVY 

Lad,

Bollocks! Aye, ya may go arse over elbow a wee bit if the rivers raging, but isn't that part of the adventure... the fun. Don some goggles, tie off one of your legs to a nearby tree and dive in, man! If you've got a water proof camera take it with ya and get some underwater shots of the river bottom, and the flat rocks that you're after.

It would be like doing your own National Geographic type thing. Now hurry up, lad... we're waiting!

Davy Crockett would have gone in... raccoon hat and all.

So far, you've battled the ****ed midges, drove a spike into your toe and burned the skin off your hands. What's a little rushing water....?

Make Scotland proud, Davy... makes us all proud!

BTW, I sort of like that green engine.

Rick

You've no doubt heard of the famous Scottish Bell Rock lighthouse, built by the world famous engineers, the Stevenson family.

I read an excellent book years ago called "the lighthouse Stevensons" by Bella Bathurst. The Bell Rock lighthouse is a great engineering feat and a brilliant example of human perseverance.

It blows me away... how they built the Bell Rock lighthouse in that unbelievably challenging location... Creating a stable base, that would withstand the test of time, in an area almost always under water; and that is subject to the most brutal weather conditions...

That is just brilliant!

Don't let the Stevenson's capture all the glory...

Rick

The age of Enlightenment - Scottish Enlightenment(18th century Scotland)

Scotland's Golden Age.

An impressive period...

Rick

Davy,

Is it possible for you to capture your entire layout... in one  frame? A picture showing your overall layout. I've been waiting to see the whole thing.

I was looking at a picture of a real Pennsylvania S1, recently, and I think a well-done model of the 6-4-4-6 would look quite good, on a layout like yours.

Rick

Hi Rick,

         Aye it's possible...... but no yet ! Weather permitting I'll be startin the right hand side of the garden this week ,in the meantime heres a UP FEF on the turntable 

Aye, keeping the best for last...

You're pretty much at your limit with the FEF, re: your turntable, a 6-4-4-6 probably wouldn't fit. That's when your wye could reverse larger locomotives.

It just dawned on me, as I am typing this, that appropriate trackside lighting(i.e. signals etc.) would probably look quite good in the evening. The trains would look cool running with their lights on... as well.

See ya,

Rick

Hi Guys ,not a lot to report as wet weather and other commitments have kept me back the last few days. However got the back left hand corner of the trackbed pushed on a bit and got the back run along the fence prepared for cementing.  Also bought a few cheap and cheerfull British outline O gauge models. They will be getting re-painted in late British Railways colours as they are in pre-1947 colours scheme at present. I intend to have the US outline water columns /coaling dock etc interchangeable with British style ones so's I can chop and change as the mood takes me.   DAVY

Hi Davy

I am sort of surprised you did not have drainage "ditches" on either side of the track in that depressed cut as shown in the last photo. Won't that channel rainfall directly onto the track?

Hi Bruce , hasn't been a problem so far,bear in mind that that whole area is rubble underneath. If I do get any puddling it'll be a simple case of drilling a hole/holes thru the cement with a masonry drill wherever required but so far no water has gathered anywhere yet.  The next part of the railway along that back straight,over the stream and down the  right hand side is where I am hoping to make things quite scenic and interesting .I'm hoping to "over and under" the lines twice single track style and return to paralel running towards the station area along the lawn. Don't know exactly how it will pan out yet,still kinda visualising it in my head,but I have a fair idea of what I want to do.  Cheers   DAVY  

Hi Guys, well nothing doing right now on the garden due to rotten weather. However heres a wee interlude to warm the hearts of any of you with Scots or Irish  blood in your veins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l2A8av9srE&feature=related I think you'll enjoy this Rick.  The scenery is the Isle of Skye,Scotland the, music and langauge is Gaelic.  ENJOY

Davy, thanks for posting that video...beautiful scenery and music! Skye is on my bucket list. I also want to take that rail line to Kyle of Lochalsh.  I have roots on both sides of the Irish Sea, but have no facility with Gaelic, alas. I have been enjoying the updates on your garden railway. Thank you!

Hi John, glad you liked it, heres a slightly different slant musically  ,I recommend a good set of earphones full up or crank up the sub-woofers and bass !  A wee tune called "Sleepy Maggie", live concert in Germany by the Scots band Celtica last year...enjoy.  (This island here ISN'T ALL ENGLAND !)   ha ha ! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPcKudXY8LM

Cracking! ( or whatever adjective comes to mind.)

Aye, I've always Liked the look of rock, rolling hills... and the sea.

The music... very emotionally powerful. When I'm in a reflective mindset, that type of music can be almost too intense. In me, it can produce a beautiful melancholy...

Thanks lad,

Rick

Hi Rick,

          Aye I know exactly what you mean. Glad you liked it.    DAVY

Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, but sometimes melancholy is the richest, most pleasurable experience... when it comes to emotions.

A good pipe man, such as yourself, would likely know this...

BTW, there is a great knowledge-type TV series called "Planet Earth". Recently, there was a good bit on the Earth's weather.

Here, in south western British Columbia, we're finally in for some good weather.

Take care lad,

Rick

Hi Guys,well hasn't stopped raining since I last posted,however hopefully the rain has to abate overnight so hopefully will get some work done at last. Anyway found this short clip on you tube. Rick you'll like this.

The location is Comrie Miniature Railway in Highland Perthshire last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxTzrClsRA  enjoy !! 

Hey Davy,

Great video, which one are you? Nice looking steam engine.

Hi Chuck, No ,I'm no in that video. I actually just found it on you tube. I have been to that railway in Comrie though and its quite a set up .  Cheers  DAVY