Hi Guys, glad you like how its coming together,just in from the garden,been out there most of the day or away gathering more stone. I've been changing my mind about some aspects and making slight alterations as things progress but aye I'm quite pleased with how its coming together. can't wait till it has trains running but at the same time I enjoy the stonework. As for being a stone mason, sorry George never had a lesson in my life, just love workin wi natural stone. Once the rock plants and weather do their thing over the next couple of years it'll blend in even better. Ah well,away for a shower and get the head down for the night. Cheers DAVY
Davy lad,
It is I... your sort-of Scottish, and great Canadian amigo... Rick.
Killer view... from inside the house.
You know you've got a wee bit of talent with the stone. The seamless stone stairs... not friggin bad, me son.
Bin a little self-absorbed lately. Last Friday, I found out I had squamous cell in situ removed from my upper right chest. That kind of news, for the first time, carries an impact.
The doctor who removed it did a procedure called curettage and electrodesication, and told me there was nothing to worry about... nothing of concern.
Myself, I'm not a gambler. I like to feel sure about things. Tomorrow, at my request, the doctor has agreed to surgically excise the original tumor site.
When a cancerous tumor is surgically excised(removed), and a good margin is taken along with the tumor... the pathology department can determine, via microscopic inspection, if the margin is free of malignant cells...
That's what I'm hopping for.
Today, my train dealer informed me that the wrong type of locomotive came in for me. I had ordered a scale wheels CNW dash 9, and a hi-rail version arrived at my dealers. I wanted the scale wheels version, but told my dealer I would take the hi-rail version.
Most of my collection is hi-rail, so I can use it; and scale wheels and 3-rail... aren't my top concerns, at the moment.
BTW, the cancer is believed to be caused by the sun...
You've done good, lad; and you're going to have some good times... in your back garden.
Aye(I had to throw in an "Aye"), I'm still hoping for a kilt-clad, bagpipe performance... once she's done.
Cheers,
Rick
Hi Rick, wondered where you'd got to.Sosorry to hear about your health problem ,thats a bummer but never mind ,chin up I'm sure all will be well wi you. Well gave myself a right sore one a few days ago.Stood on a timber with a nail in it,right thru my shoe and into my right big toe all the way to the bone...ouch ! (or words to that effect came out ha ha !).Still annoyin me. Anyway I've been bustin my butt yesterday and today. Decided to take the stone patio work right out to the edge of the track instead of having a border with plants.Makes a big difference in useable space. means a bit of rebuilding but ach well,as well doin it right.Anyway these photos will explian quicker than me talkin. As you can see I've had to re-aline the track bed ,but so be it. Anyway Rick ,you take care.In a bit of a rush today . Catch you later, DAVY
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That would've of hurt, meeting up with the nail... Did you cry? When's the last time you had a tetanus shot?
Nice looking, the re-worked area, how it fans out...
Might the curved trench, the area where the track will lie, collect water after a good rain etc.?
Your wife is going to come home one day and find a proper stone castle, instead of your current house.
BTW, you've made yourself a nice little stage to perform on, the new stonework, in your back garden.
Take care lad,
Rick
I just spoke to my train dealer and asked him to get me a scale wheels CNW Dash 9. I don't want the 3-rail version that was mistakenly sent...
I'm hoping to capture some nice shots of it... outdoors.
Rick
Hi Rick,
Just took delivery of a diesel myself yesterday.Got it off ebay. An old atlas Santa Fe Warbonnet F9 A unit off ebay, No great quality wise,was as cheap as chips but its in good nick and looks the part. I have another two of these on the way from the states , Also a Rivarrossi C liner (Pennsylvania) and two Lionel B units to go witht the atlas A units. They are 3 rail dummies so I'll need to re-wheel them and hopefully they'll look the part together in a lash up ??.
Did I cry when I stood on the nail, aye I did that, started with F and finished with K and it wasn't"flip" either ,ha ha !. My grandughter pulled the offending plank with nail back out for me, it was well embedded. Didn't get a tetanus,suppose I should have but so far I've survived,it was galvanised nail so it wasn't rusty ? does that make a difference ? I hope so !??
As for the channel where the track runs , nah it will never collect water rick ,too much hardcore and rubble underneath. If I see any puddles gathering its a simple case of either drilling thru the cement or hammer a hol thru with a big nail .So no no chance of water retention. In fact its bucketing of rain right now and its fine. Anyway working in Glasgow tonight so I better scoot. catch you later DAVY
Davy,
Re: the nail wound - tetanus is an infection of the nervous system, involving potenially deadly bacteria.
The infection usually results from a deep cut or a puncture wound that gets contaminated.
I'd get a tetanus shot. They're good for about 10 years.
Re: your trains -
"cheap as chips", "good nick" I know what you mean, just haven't heard that wording before. Cool!
Aye, I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of your new engines, including the cheap as chips, in good nick 9 you just bought.
I don't have a C-liner yet, but I like them. A unique truck package in those locomotives.
I always thought getting a powered B unit would be tres cool, especially if it had sound.
As you were lad,
Rick
Looks pretty clean, Davy. F units were my favorites, when I first got into O gauge. Those classic lines never go out of style.
Thanks for the picture.
Later lad,
Rick
A smooth long radius curvature. Nice switches just begging for high speed expresses making up time. Yard limits be ****ed.
Hi Bruce ,aye I must admit I was quite impressed when I took the switch out the box.
Nice piece of kit .Just need to get the track laid now. Weathers been very wet last two days. Oh well,just need to wait for the sunshine ! DAVY
Hey Davy,
The yard is really looking good and I love the curved switch you just got. What code of rail are you using from Peco. Funny thing I can order Peco track from the UK and have it shipped to Idaho in the states cheaper than I can but it in th states. Somethings wrong here.
BTW see the surgeon on Monday for my knee. There go my summer.
Chuck
Hi Chuck , just checked PECO CODE 124 Bullhead rail. That switch was £47 UK pounds. The other switches medium left and rights cost me £36 a piece. Box of 12 yards flexi £60. Thats from Hattons of Liverpool,England. 1st class shop and their service is 2nd to none in my book.
As for the garden aye its comin together but theres still a whole load of work to be done yet ! , still,when I started this project I had quite a winter-time gut on me ,but goin back and forth from the front of the house to the back garden with bucket loads of hardcore ,sand and cement and rubble (went thru 1.5 tons of hardcore last week and about 1 ton of sand),not to mention climbing up and down a river bank wi bags of flat stones,well the belly isn't quite as rotund as it was,so I suppose thats a postive. ha ha ! Hope the knee doesn't take too long to heal . Cheers DAVY.
Now as a wee bit entertainment for Rick ,I'm goin to re-write this post in Scots.....
Hiya Chuck, jist checked, Peco Code 124 Bullheid rail. That switch wis £47 quid. The ither switches left and richt coast me £36 a piece. A boax o' twelve yairds o' flexi coasts £36 quid. Thats fae Hattons o' Liverpool Inglin. First class shoap and their service is second tae nane in ma book. As fir the gairden,aye its comin the gither but there's still a hale load o work tae git din yit,still when when ah stairtit this joab I had quite a winter kite oan me ,bit gawin back and furrit fae the front o the hoose tae the back gairden wi' buckit loads o hardcore ,sawn, and rubble,(went thru 1.5 tons o hardcoe last week an aboot a ton o sawn),no tae mention climbin up an doon a river bankin wi bags o flat staines,well the kite isny quite as roon as it wis,so I suppose thats guid ha ha ! Hope yir knee disny take too long tae heal Cheery the noo Dyte
Greetings me son,
I just about got all of your Scottish words/phrasing... except "kite". That word throws me off. Probably not saying, hearing it right, in my head. Is that the official school-taught Scottish grammar(if there is such a thing) or is it common hard-core Scottish street lingo?
Re: your last picture - "professional looking work"... your layout and grounds manicured just right.
I don't get much out of train forums anymore, except for coming to this thread. A nice combination of good O gauge work... and a wee bit of good natured chat.
She's a sunny day here today lad, so I'll be doing some yard work. Weather's bin off a little, lately. It's been cloudy/and or raining.
BTW, your frequent portage trips, through your house, must have worn out the floors some?
Combining your profession(music) and your hard labor into an edgy workout video could be lucrative - "Davy boys... Rock Hard Kites".
See ya,
Rick
Great looking yard area Davy. I understand about rain, it seems that is all we are getting lately.
I wonder if Rick sits up all night thinking of funny things to say. "
Combining your profession(music) and your hard labor into an edgy workout video could be lucrative - "Davy boys... Rock Hard Kites".
Chuck
Davy Mac, your garden railway is most impressive. Please keep the pictures coming!
By the way, if you can spare some of the rain you've been having, please send some to the Chicago area, or, better yet, to our brothers and sisters in Colorado, who are suffering terrific wildfires at the moment.
Hi Guys ,just made a mess of posting so I've started again. Rick, kite/kyte = "fat belly". Chuck ,John ,thanks for the thumbs up. I'm attaching 3 photos of the back of the garden. Still have the left hand corner to do with flat stones as per the patio with the sun loungers.Then I'll get the swing seat in there.Thats the last place to get the sun at night. The right hand side of the garden still has the G scale track in place (not shown) that still has to be lifted and the whole area reworked. I'm hoping to make that side like 2 single track lines over and under each other and returning to double track at the station area in front of the house. I was toying with the idea of a freight yard there but have decided on the more scenic option. Next year once all is finished and I get some flowers about the place it should look the part. However this summer will be occupied just rebuilding everything. Still,all good fun !. Aye Craig sent mer pictures of the fires in Colorado,what a heartbreak for those folk eh. ****ed shame. Such beautifull country too. Well as you can see,no chance of a forest fire here,everything soaking. Right need to scoot Davy
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Davy,
I think you should knock down that back fence and just keep building. 
Now that you're in fighting shape... chiseled kite and all, plundering and claiming victors rights to the large green property immediately behind your back garden, just might be the thing to do. Good thinking, Joe.
Rally the clan and attack! Expand your empire... at all costs.
Make sure you post pictures of the battle...; and lay some track quickly to protect the coveted spoils of war, the land. England used to have "squatters rights" laws. Maybe, Scotland does too?
Beware of those white things, on the stone patio, with two wheels on the back, they'll **** up your steel kite.
I can already hear the pipes playing, as I visualize you, kilt clad, leading the charge...
Aye lad, it's the right thing to do!
Later me bold son,
Rick
Davy
Your Garden is truly unique and a work of art. I know it is a physically demanding one to build and at the same time a joy. I have done considerable stonework in my time and have maximum respect for your results. I really look forward to your future progress-posts.
Hi Guys,
Joe,Rick,Dewy, aye I'd like fine to expand into that green space BUT I don't think the local council authorities would be too pleased as its council ground,or for that matter my Mrs. See,I have no way of disguising the big parcels from America that keep turning up with O gauge locomotives and rolling stock plus the boxes of turnouts and track from England,so she knows that theres money gettin spent....and well you know how women are about us guys being good to ourselves...ha ha !. AND my wife is NOT a railway enthusiast AT ALL. Anyway guys glad you are enjoying the thread. I'm desperate to get trains running BUT the groundwork must come first. Believe me Dewey sometimes it feels like a never ending grind. I do all the cement work with my bare fingers between the stones as I'm no use with a trowel. Between the abrasion of the sand particles and the effect of the lime in the cement my fingers get in a sorry state,however I just stick some insulating tape over the hacks and raw skin and get on with it. Soon heal up again. I've tried wearing gloves but its no use. Anyway not so much more to do now.Just that back cornerwitht he flat stonework. I'm looking forward to doing the right hand side of the garden where I want to split the parallel double tracks away from each other. Haven't quite figured out the exact plan but its kinda formulatin in my brain. I'll start them seperating away from each other as they come out of the back run one climbing one heading downgrade then at some point over and under X 2 then back to double track in parallel again. Anyway guys,we sure as he-l have plenty water here tonight, passed thru four major road floods to get home from Edinburgh . Its WET ! Anyway guys I'll say goodnight Cheery DAVY
Do ya need a good smack round the earhole, lad? What are ya doing putting your bare hands in wet cement?
There's warning labels for good reasons!
If you keep that up... a chronic condition, dermatitis, could develop or chemical burns...
Learn to work safely, Davy. You'll probably enjoy yourself more, too.
I know a little about this stuff..., because I was trained in Industrial First Aid. I had a "C" ticket.
BTW, you don't want to be inhaling the dry cement powder, either... made airborne by pouring and mixing the cement powder; and you should wear eye protection. Accidents can happen.
No point in doing all this work and not being able to enjoy it...
Lectures over.
Take care lad,
Rick
Hi Rick, my fingers are healing right now from the chemical burns from the cement but I'm fine. Just a bit more patio work to go and that will the last major cement work done. Anyway rain's off right now so I'm away to see if I can get some of that track laid. Worst that can happen there is me smacking myself on th fingers with the hammer....I think ha ha ! catrch you later Rick,by the way how are you post your op ? DAVY
Aye Davy, you say your Mrs. is not interested in the railway in the least?! She must be a right fair lass to put up with the complete rebuilding disarray you have been causing about the house.
Hi Chris,inside the house is her domain ,outside is mine. Only thing is I think I'll be gettin asked to live outside too ! ha ha . wee log cabin next to the pond would do me fine ! . Davy
I tell you what, I wouldn't mind living out in that backyard. Not one bit. I'm sure the wife will enjoy sitting back there when it's done. Thanks for keeping us posted. I'm enjoying the ride.
Hi Joe,
My father started off his life as a baby in a woodcutters hut (and I literally mean a small hut) in the Scottish highlands, my granny showed me how she used to clean her dirty pots and pans back then in the 20s without liquid detergents and stuff.And with pride she explained that she used to take her pots/frying pan etc to the burn(stream).She'd pull a grass divot complete with roots and soil and scour away the burnt debris , said she'd have matched her pots for cleanliness with anything modern today. (I since tried that and it works!) Anyway, comin off country stock like that maybe gives me the love of the country, open spaces /rocks /water etc. Think I'd have made a good rail hobo had I been born in America ha ha ! So aye, log cabin would do me fine. Anyway ,still have a log fire in the house and go cut my own firewood.So I still lead a kinda semi-country-suburban lifestyle today. See you come from New Jersey Joe. Was there a few years back. Liked it fine. In fact on the train front I just bought an MTH 2 rail jersey central Green Bullet 4-6-2 pacific,but I don't like that colourscheme so its gettin painted black and done in the late steam era black. Know where I can get O scale late era steam decals by any chance ? Cheers Davy
Aye... Davy friggin Crockett... are ya,
Mrs Crockett will be keeping score, Davy, and she'll be wanting what's coming to her. BEWARE!(Joking)
Re: the old ways... Some won, some lost. Generally speaking, though... our quality of life and longevity has improved, significantly, by effort and making good use of our acquired knowledge.
I don't buy into the belief that everything will work out just fine, on it's own, that something is looking out for us...
I was born with a degree of intelligence and the ability to think and learn; and a **** load of common sense. That, and some luck, is what's going to keep me in the game. Including, acting prudently when the opportunity arises.
Occasionally, some have said to me... you worry needlessly, or have suggested that I might be being a bit paranoid... Ignorance and simple laziness can spawn that type of approach. I'll continue to try and make the best possible prudent decisions, by keeping myself educated/sufficiently informed; and by doing what I can... when I can.
I naturally favor a preventative approach to life.
Re: the excision - I had the surgery on June 21st, and the biopsy results won't be available for a few weeks. The pathology department has a heavy workload.
BTW, for those that get diagnosed with squamous cell cancer. I recommend complete surgical removal(excision). Sometimes, only a small portion of the tumor is visible, when looking at the affected area of skin. In some cases, the actual tumor is like an iceberg...i.e. it's much larger than it appears on the surface. Superficially treating just the tip, what is visible, can be very dangerous. When the skin regrows over the wound site and if there are any remaining cancer cells hidden, undetected, then the tumor can spread/grow downward, through the basement membrane; and become "invasive squamous cell carcinoma". An extremely serious medical condition, where the tumor can metastasize. This can be lethal!
Hope this post provides some useful information.
Cheers,
Rick
Hi Rick, Davy Crockett was of Scots descent too ,did you know that ? ,thats true. And there were a few Scots died at the Alamo alongside him too. I might die at my Alamo too if my wife finds out how much I've actually spent on trains lately ha ha !!
Well been laying track between showers ,have the engine terminal sidings about halfway there. catch you later DAVY
Lad,
You might be surprised with how well-versed your Mrs Crockett is... when it comes to what you've been blowing, selfishly I might add(a bit more kidding), on your wee toy train addiction.
I am my own hero! Who needs Crockett? BTW, There was an even more famous Crockett, on M.V. Sonny.
Another BTW, have you ever caught Mrs. right sporting a look of utter contempt, while you're off in the clouds with your trains? That's when her internal calculator is mentally auditing you.
As long as there are a few cans of baked beans in the pantry you should have nothing to worry about, right???
Get back to that silly layout and sleep lightly my friend(with one eye open).
Peace,
Rick
Davy,
I don't know who would carry those decals. A lot of people would like to find them.
Many people didn't like the green livery MTH used for The Bullet. I say paint it any color that makes you smile.
Well your new locomotive is certainly colorful. I guess if your were to keep it green it might grow on you and or remind you of all the green, money your spending. I take that back I do not know the color of UK Money.. Great photos.
Hi Guys, horrible green that loco eh ?nah George that colour won't grow on me ,no chance, never mind it'll look good in the later black get up. I've seen the CNJ decals on ebay but not the numerals. Not to worry I'll find something somewhere no doubt. Oh well ,all the track in the engine terminal is almost in place as I finished tonight ,just a wee bit to do tomorrowto finish... weather permitting. Was too late to take pictures. Anyway guys I'm tired tonight so heading to bed. Gdnite DAVY
Hi Davy, I agree about the "colour" to green. What about exchangaing it for a CNJ Blue Comet? If they make that model, I remember your G scale B&O blue.
Hi George, I bought the green loco with the intention of painting it black.MTH do both versions. But both the Green Bullet and the Blue comets were history by the 1950s. All the engines were by then painted black. The B&O P7 President pacifics were blue right till the end in 1957 with one exception 5308(latterly 106). Apparently she was in an accident in late 1956 and received a coat of black paint after being repaired and spent the last few months of her working life in black. I have one Westside Samhongsa 2 rail B&O P7 which is currently being refurbished by a mate of mine and I have another 3 Williams 3 rail versions.The Williams versions use the same Samhongsa body and tender top as the Westside model but have less detail and very crude 3 rail chassis an running gear. I am putting 2 rail chassis on them and will be detailing them as individuals of the P7 class. 3 will be blue and one will be done up as the solitary black 106 By the end of their lives every single B&O P7 was different form its sisters in some respect. Once I get the layout and garden done I'll be turning my attention to working on my loco fleet. DAVY
Originally Posted by Davy Mac:
Once I get the layout and garden done I'll be turning my attention to working on my loco fleet. DAVY
Correction on that, Davy! Once you get the layout and garden done, you're going to turn your attention to photographing a lot of your gorgeous roster on that layout for a magazine article! Right? 
I'll vote for that!
