A visit to the Peckforton Railway

[flyingsignalman]

Today we went to see ge_rik's garden railway near Chester.
He's fully described it in his blog so I'll just say it consists of a figure of 8 with 2 branches off it, there are also a couple of connecting lines that add to the operational interest.
The way the line has been planted out, means that there are a lot of "view blocks" so you can't see the whole line at once. I came away with more than a few ideas!
When we arrived his track cleaning loco was running around

Rik then got some stock out and allowed me to use my tram loco to pull the passenger train from Beeston Market

3 coaches proved too much for the tram on the gradients so one was taken off

after which she trundled round quite happily

Meanwhile Rik's locos waited patiently at Beeston Market

The diesel waited in the Mine sidings with full wagons that have just traversed a hidden line (off to the left) from Beeston Market as if it had gone to the standard gauge interchange sidings. The diesel will then take the empties back through the hidden connection to Beeston Market. It would then run the length of the line and using various connections arrive back in the Mine sidings (this time from the right hand end).

Rik has used his imagination and I think this is a really clever designed layout which allows protoype operation or just watching the trains go round.

 

[yb281]

A fantastic railway .

 

[flyingsignalman]

After I had hogged the line for a while I took the tram back to Beeston Market to allow a freight train to run

When the train reached Peckforton Station we added some wagons to the train

The train stopped in the station and the loco unhooked

Then picked up the wagons

The extra wagons were then pushed out on to the main line and the loco then pushed the freight train on the extra ones

The loco then ran round the entire train and went on its way

Running through Bulkeley Station

and then onto the swing bridge

I took a load of pics of which these are just a few.
If you ever find yourself near Chester I would pm Rik and arrange a visit; its well worth the detour!
Thanks to Rik for his hospitality and for putting up with us, we hope to make another visit soon.

 

[jameshilton]

Looks like fun - your tram loco looks very much at home

 

[flyingsignalman]

Looks like fun - your tram loco looks very much at home

Rik did say I could leave the loco with him if I wanted....................

I politely declined the offer

 

[ge_rik]

Really good to see Keith and Pauline today. First time the line has had visitors (who know something about trains) so I was pleased the railway and the stock behaved themselves. Keith left me with a fine set of signalling diagrams for each station which he must have spent ages preparing - so I've got no excuse now

Thanks Keith for the visit and the advice (and the pictures!) - pity the tram loco had to go home with you though

Rik

 

[mike]

this is what makes this hobbie... terffic!!

 

[CoggesRailway]

I always admire this railway, great stuff

 

[garrymartin]

Good pictures, I would like to know more about #2, Beeston.

 

[GlenF]

Great pics of a great railway. I do like the locos made from those GRS kits, very tempting. Might have to start saving up the pennies!

By the way Rik, I love your blog, lots of very useful info.

Cheers, Glen

 

[ge_rik]

Good pictures, I would like to know more about #2, Beeston.

Garry
She was sold to me secondhand by GRS. I happened to take a trip out to Princes Risborough when on a trip to London and couldn't resist her.

http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2010/01/progress-report-26-overview-of.html

She was sold to me as a 'Berkley' - but they meant 'Barclay' - and seems to be based loosely on an Irish prototype. I posted an enquiry on the old GSM website and someone felt that GRS used to make a kit for this loco. It's powered by an LGB two axle motor bogie with extended axles for the fly cranks. Seems to have been made from the heavy gauge black styrene that all GRS kits used to use (they are now mostly resin).

Took me a couple of years to repaint her (made the mistake of not checking before spraying Humbrol acrylic over the existing rubbed-down hand-painted finish only to find the acrylic spray acted as a very efficient paint stripper!! - Lesson learned the hard way!).

She's now a mainstay of the line - runs really well.

My next loco project is to 'bash' a Zillertal 0-6-2 into a Manning Wardle inspired by Southwold's Wenhaston. But that will have to wait until the winter.

Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Great pics of a great railway. I do like the locos made from those GRS kits, very tempting. Might have to start saving up the pennies!
By the way Rik, I love your blog, lots of very useful info.
Cheers, Glen

Thanks Glen
I can recommend the GRS kits - now even better since they cast them in resin. My only reservation is the instructions, which are quite vague in places. Fortunately, the kits are really easy to put together - it's just there is a certain element of guesswork as to where some of the fittings go. I think the designers of the kits assume that anyone making the kit would know where every nut, bolt and rivet goes on a steam loco (not to mention, gauge, lever, handle, pipe and knob).

Thanks for the feedback on the blog. My aim there is just to share with others the journey I've taken with my model. I'm certainly not professing to be an expert, but I spent ages looking at others' railways (in books, online and through videos) when I first started, and still do. I'm always learning something from the experiences of others. I am deeply envious of fellow modellers who produce immaculate looking models with seemingly little effort. My hope is that my ham-fisted efforts might encourage others to have a go themselves.

Rik

 

[adeshers]

.......... My hope is that my ham-fisted efforts might encourage others to have a go themselves.
Rik

You are certainly doing that Rik - keep up the good work. I especially liked the blow by blow account of the Playmobile diesel conversion into a Fowler.

 

[flyingsignalman]

My hope is that my ham-fisted efforts might encourage others to have a go themselves.

Rik

Rik, I'd hardly call your "efforts" ham fisted but they're very encouraging

 

[Shawn]

Nice pictures and RR. I really like how the moss took over the track. ives it a real nice look.

 

[ge_rik]

Looks well bedded in and has its own distinct narro gauge character.

Nice pictures and RR. I really like how the moss took over the track. Gives it a real nice look.

Yes - the overgrown look is partly design and partly accident. It helps that the garden faces North and is mostly in the shadow of the house - so moss and MYOB grows like crazy but not a lot else in the way of flowers etc.. When I read postings from others desperate to get moss to grow on their railways I can't help thinking - I've got masses (mosses??) to spare!
Rik

 

[ge_rik]

You are probably only 12 miles from me as the crow flies, and I must cycle close to your place on my way past Peckforton to the Tattenhall Ice Cream Farm.

Paul
You're always welcome to drop in - though I'm not sure I can compete with Cheshire Farm ice cream!
Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Blog page favourited.......tis a brill read.....thanks fer sharing

Thanks (can't find a smiley for 'blushing')

Rik

 

[C&S]

Just found your blog, which I must return to when I've more time to have a good browse. Lovely work on that Fowler conversion - I particularly like the radiator detailing.

 

[ge_rik]

Just found your blog, which I must return to when I've more time to have a good browse. Lovely work on that Fowler conversion - I particularly like the radiator detailing.

Have heard that the namplates are on their way from Narrow Planet. Will post a few piccies when they've been applied.

Rik