Birth of the LVAGR

[johnl]

That's the Lune Valley Anything Goes Railway.

I've been a member here for about 18 months and contributed very little, but learned a lot and had some fantastic help from members at times of (imaginary) crisis! Having learned to master the art of uploading photos last week, again with help, I'm now able to show what I've been up to, and how it started.
I'm 66, retired, and have been a keen gardener and "00" gauge (indoors) modeller most of my life. The arrival of our first granddaughter nearly 4 years ago lit the fuse that started this project, because she was mad about Thomas the tank.
I got the Bachmann set for Xmas 2011, and spent 2012 planning and building the line.It wasn't meant to take all year, but the lousy weather, unavailability of some parts when needed, and yes, an ambition that grew faster than the railway, meant that trains only ran intermittently on track thrown down temporarily.
The planning stage threw up just 2 essentials.
The layout should raised off the ground .I am already too aware, as a gardener, the the ground gets further away every year!, and continuous running. My indoor experience is that I only really like watching trains go round!

This is a rough track plan. One circuit is about 150 feet, the shortest loop is 22 feet.javascript:void(InsertSmiley('[attachment=0]')) < Link To DSC00202.JPG
I will post this now (hopefully) and start a new post.

 

[johnl]

Oh well, I thought I had only posted the plan photo, but will keep going !

X and Y mark an automatic shuttle line. this was not planned, but built in because I acquired a 2nd hand Train engineer system which included this feature. Y is site of the main station and play area for cars, figures, teddy bears etc.(Anything Goes).
If you're thinking the line is a bit big for Thomas, you're right. The only way to deal with that issue was to get more stock, much more! more about that later.
I decided on 3"x3" posts, set in postcrete, with top boards in 8"x2"( I have a mate with a wood yard.) It's a bit overspecced, but i find that gives less trouble, usually, than underspeccing! I will try a single photo upload (one of the above) to see if that works better than uploading a batch.
javascript:void(InsertSmiley('[attachment=0]')) < Link To IMG_2374.JPG

 

[johnl]

I've been trying to see why the piccys came up as thumbnails, whereas my test last week was a full piccy.
I think I've found the reason (in the instructions.Apparently you get these with lots of things.)

It does seem silly to repost pictures that are available in the first post though, so I'll just say that they are intended to show progress through 2012, which ended about this time last year with all boards tanalised before arrival, cut to size and sent back, where necessary for re-tanalising cut edges, before being screwed in place.
Torch-on felt was applied, after a recommendation from Bobg,. You're always learning new skills in this game aren't you - even first aid
I didn't see the point of starting proper track laying at that time, although a few yards were thrown down when Ellie (granddaughter, and inspiration for the railway) visited.
That's it for 2012, 2013 coming up when get back from hols in 10 days time John

 

[3Valve]

Love the name

I've edited the post to include the piccies for you.

 

[3Valve]

Pictures will come up as thumbnails unless you insert them into the post prior to posting as it were (i.e. after uploading but before clicking the "Post Message" button).

Once you have selected and uploaded your pictures, scroll down to the bottom of your post and you should see the pictures listed. Click on each one to insert it into your post (as shown below).

Once inserted you should see "]" followed by a number (0, 1 , 2 etc., depending upon how many pictures you insert), actually in the body text of the post. In the example below only 1 picture is inserted but it should give the general idea.

Once all pictures have been inserted, then click on the "Post Message" button.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gizzy]

That looks like a solid construction?

Belts and braces....

 

[johnl]

Hi gareth,

Thanks very much for your help. it's so much better than thumbnails. john

 

[playmofire]

A very interesting and useful set pf photos and text. Look forward to seeing what happened in 2013.

 

[annieshalt]

seriously strong framework, it should do you well in the future.

 

[mike]

nicely done john.

 

[viaEstrecha]

That's a great beginning, John, and very well thought out to fit in with your sickeningly neat and attractive garden! Plenty of photo opportunities to come, with the way it weaves through the planting.

 

[Steve]

Looking good ,look forward to seeing more progress

 

[beavercreek]

Lovely garden and soon to be great new railway.
Excellent stuff there.

 

[stockers]

Neat. Looks like a great beginning. Looking forward to seeing this one develop.

 

[JRinTawa]

A solid start indeed, build solid now, less problems later Lovely looking garden, it will compliment the railway nicely.

 

[johnl]

Thanks very much for your kind and encouraging comments, fellas. That 'team spirit" is what makes this place so enjoyable to visit.

The decision to over-engineer the build was not taken lightly, after all, it cost more!
I assumed at first that I would build the legs from plastic downspout. However, I decided wood suited the garden better, but was then concerned about rotting.
My supplier/mate was confident though, that if I used this "weight" of wood, well tanalised, and made sure that soil was not allowed to build up round the legs, I could easily get 2025 years service out of the structure, especially if I kept a reasonable air circulation flowing underneath. He also suggested using double legs so that if one went bad, the structure would be fine, and I would have the scope to expand sideways, (already done on one stretch) because of the strength, if I wanted to.
The fact that this used more wood, and he sells wood, had nothing to do with it!
I reckon the extra cost was about equal to a small LGB loco. If that enables me to tick the job done box as far as the structure is concerned for probably my operating lifetime, I'm happy with that.
Anyway, I'll be back after my hols, thanks again for your comments,

John

 

[bobg]

You mean you get to go holidays as WELL???

'Spose we'll just have to wait then!

 

[robsmorgan]

Looks really promising John,
I used similar treated roofing timbers for my track - supported on/screwed to 2 levels of 18" concrete building blocks. My garden isn't as tidy as yours and the area I've used is north of a stone wall.... virtually unuseable for wothwhile planting - so now disguised as a rock face.

I will watch your work with interest!

Regards
Rob