Garden Railway Memories from the past

[stevelewis]

I have recently come across some photos taken during my early Garden Railway Period ie late 70s -early 80s

The quality is not very good as this was before the digital age, but I am posting them here for your interest & criticism!!

Perhaps others may be able to post some of their early efforts?

The top photo is my very first garden line in Hazel Grove Stockport, it was a simple continous run with a spur into the shed for storage, the lower line in the pic took a sharp R1 turn to the left just before the shed and disappeared into a longish tunnel under a rockery!
The U class and the 3 coaches were my 1st LGB Purchases and with some track & a couple of points cost Just £157 (but still a lot of cash in `78)

2nd photo is a scratch built SAR 2-8-2, mostly plasticard & plastic tube for boiler, on a U class chassis with an extra axle & extended coupling rods.

 

[stevelewis]

A move to Wales in the early 80s saw a brief foray into 16mm/ft (32mm Gauge) this pic shows a Merlin Models 0-4-0 Batttery powered Motor Mule, it was actually not bad for an early example, I have some more 16mm photos not yet locoated of some of my Live steam locos, I will post these when I find them.

 

[stevelewis]

On the day i bought it, ( the first one Beatties MAnchester sold 1 day after they received them!) from memory about £375.00
early 80s My firstLGB Mallet.

 

[Dtsteam]

Ok earwigo....
Although I picked up various bits of LGB whilst I was a student in the late seventies, I didn`t have any track or anywhere to play until I moved home and started working in 1980. Mum gave me half her tiny garden to do with as I pleased :

So, when in doubt , lay track... an early purchase from Tower Models, who had not long set up shop in Blackpool.

The entire fleet - mostly as a result of a season on the Pleasure Beach as a ferris wheel driver.

The character on the left was the council rent collector for our estate. He`d seen the trackbed from where the piccy was taken, and put the fear of god in my mum by calling back and demanding to know all about it. Turns out he was just starting out in G scale, and didn`t know anyone in the area with LGB. We became great friends, but mum had to brew up every time he called so he had time to inspect the railway.

 

[stevelewis]

Nice pics! I called in at Tower Models in Blackpool within his 1st year, we had gone to see the 'lights' and just happened on the shop in the afternoon, Dave tried to sell me an LGB Steep;e cab 2nd hand but with suspiciously unworn skates!!

Mind you in the 30 years or so since i must have spent quite a few Grand with Tower Models on 0 gauge & 0n30!

 

[stockers]

A late starter here - in the larger gauges. 2006
the very first piece of LGB I purchased - always liked the big `uns.

 

[KentKeith]

.....and, believe it or not, this is how the EG&SNNR started - soon after a visit to Tim at Arcadia many, many moons ago.

 

[AustrianNG]

This was my indoor layout that was finished in 2005 shortly after I started. I had H0e when I was a teenager.

http://youtu.be/7IYR6XiKluA

 

[stockers]

Magic, I remember it well (the photos that is!)

 

[maxi-model]

2003. A couple of USAT items, a length of track and some gravel. The start of the West Well.

One year on a full circuit has landed arond the lawn and a little planting has taken place.

That little bright green tree in the foreground is now 15 ft tall, And stock has grown from 1:29 to 1:20.3 & 16 mm too.
Max.

 

[ge_rik]

Thought I`d dig out some photos from 2006 and do a few then and now shots










Rik

 

[AustrianNG]

I kno I've said it before Rik - your stream is excellent.

 

[stevelewis]

Yes a stream certainly helps.

I dont suppose many will remember when Tom Cooper had his works for Merlin Models at Llanfair Caerenion, and within he had a large demo layout, with rocks & live plants and a stream ( all this was indoors)
I used to visit quite often and always had to smile when a potential customer arrived and he would run to turn on the water supply for the stream.
I am sure the stream did increase his sales though. Including me no doubt...............the 2 in the photos must have been Pre `84 as they were on my first line in Hazel Grove

 

[Bredebahn]

.....and, believe it or not, this is how the EG&SNNR started - soon after a visit to Tim at Arcadia many, many moons ago.

View attachment 202172

There really was a garden there beforehand then Keith. You really ought to publish a "now" view!

 

[stevedenver]

id guess this is about 1995. About the time I got my first digital camera. Cant say I took pics of my railroad before then, using film. One of my extemporaneous layouts. Looks like fall has begun.

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[duncan1_9_8_4]

First time for me was at the old house in Dewsbury. 2008 onwards. And looking back, it looks rubbish!

 

[Madman]

Interesting how our garden railways evolve. Mostly for the better. Be it aesthetics or operation. Here's a few 35 mm slides that I transferred to the computer a couple of years ago. All of them were taken from the early to mid nineties.