playmofire
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Looks like a good afternoon was had by all, and even good weather, too.
Ruritanian Railways - 2012
- Thread starter whatlep
- Start date
shropshire lad
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Looks like you all had a good day
chris m01
Registered
In my defence said music was especially selected to reflect the central European nature of Ruritania and the mountainous nature of pootank hill. It could have been worse, I also had the lonely goatherd from the Sound of Music available....whatlep said:
....can't understand why the family wouldn't allow me to play my music on our recent trip to Switzerland...
CoggesRailway
Registered
Thanks it was a great afternoon. wife and kids enjoyed it too, and yes while I worried the children would break something of someone else's i ended up breaking their stuff! Life's like that sometimes....
whatlep
Registered
A quiet morning in Ruritania saw our phtographer rewarded by some short trains.
First out of the shed, the always reliable railbus on local duty to Polapiko:
Next, the empty stock for one of the periodic Kleindampfzugfreundeklub (small steam train friends club or KFC) excursions approached Zenda. These trains are always very popular with the Ruritanian peasantry as Prince Rudolf himself subsidises their operation and occasionally drives the loco. Alas, not today.
Later in the morning, Mighty Mouse was caught entering the goods loop at Polapiko with a very short pickup goods train. Much more economical than a Mallet for such a train, though hardly as attractive!
First out of the shed, the always reliable railbus on local duty to Polapiko:
Next, the empty stock for one of the periodic Kleindampfzugfreundeklub (small steam train friends club or KFC) excursions approached Zenda. These trains are always very popular with the Ruritanian peasantry as Prince Rudolf himself subsidises their operation and occasionally drives the loco. Alas, not today.
Later in the morning, Mighty Mouse was caught entering the goods loop at Polapiko with a very short pickup goods train. Much more economical than a Mallet for such a train, though hardly as attractive!
playmofire
Registered
Surely this must be the perfect day - sitting in the in Ruritania's green and pleasant fields and watching the trains go by.
whatlep
Registered
If it's Wednesday, it must be time for a WOPA. So here it is, the return Wednesdays Only (with passenger accommodation) train caught at the foot of Pootank Pass on its return working to Zenda.
Behind the WOPA another Mallet is shunting the ballast hoppers to get some much needed exercise. Somewhat to everyone's surprise, "Frenchie" (Mallet 413) has not been in service for several months due to the very wet summer. Like anything French, 413 looks stylish even at rest and can pull with ease:
Behind the WOPA another Mallet is shunting the ballast hoppers to get some much needed exercise. Somewhat to everyone's surprise, "Frenchie" (Mallet 413) has not been in service for several months due to the very wet summer. Like anything French, 413 looks stylish even at rest and can pull with ease:
whatlep
Registered
Another day, another train or two. Thursday saw lots of freight in Ruritania....
Ruritania's first two Mallets pass near the border. On the left is a block train of vans returning empty to Zenda after delivering export supplies of bottle Ruritanian air. On the right a trip working to Polapiko.
Later in the day the vans and the inevitable rake of hoppers fill Zenda yard as the railbus arrives. As the school term has now started, two vehicles will be required for the return *Monkey special" from Zenda.
Ruritania's first two Mallets pass near the border. On the left is a block train of vans returning empty to Zenda after delivering export supplies of bottle Ruritanian air. On the right a trip working to Polapiko.
Later in the day the vans and the inevitable rake of hoppers fill Zenda yard as the railbus arrives. As the school term has now started, two vehicles will be required for the return *Monkey special" from Zenda.
whatlep
Registered
A pleasant Saturday saw various goods vehicles around the goods shed at Polapiko:
Within a few minutes the purposeful growl of a Mallet could be heard, bringing empty hoppers down Pootank Pass and into the goods loop:
The loco quickly proceeded to the goods depot and set about preparing the various vehicles for departure:
Normally by this point the quarry shunter would be busy doing its own shunting to get the hoppers loaded, but there wasn't enough time. The railbus was hard on the hoppers' heels:
Once that had arrived, the quarry shunter was finally free to go about its business, all of which made Polapiko look rather busy.
After the first set of hoppers had been shunted to the quarry loader, the railbus departed on its way back to Zenda. The Mallet was now free to do some slightly convoluted shunting. All the vehicles at the goods shed had to be collected, plus an empty oil tanker at the fuel depot. Complicating matters, for saftey reasons steam locos may not couple directly to oil tanks and 5 hoppers remained in the goods loop. After a bit of head-scratching, the first two vehicles were dragged into the passenger loop and the loco ran round.
Next, the empty open wagon was detached and used to get at the fuel tanker. There was just enough room in the goods loop to allow the move:
The oil tank and open wagen were attached to what would become the rear of a pickup freight. This also allowed both loaded vans to be at the head of the train, as is preferred practice. One last run round was needed to get the second van in its rightful place:
All of these moves took quite some time. By the time the goods vehicles' brakes had been connected and tested, the railbus was back on the scene with another local working.
Finally the Mallet was captured starting the climb back to Zenda. Note the tail board correctly positioned on the last vehicle. Just another day of efficient freight haulage on Ruritanian Railways.
Within a few minutes the purposeful growl of a Mallet could be heard, bringing empty hoppers down Pootank Pass and into the goods loop:
The loco quickly proceeded to the goods depot and set about preparing the various vehicles for departure:
Normally by this point the quarry shunter would be busy doing its own shunting to get the hoppers loaded, but there wasn't enough time. The railbus was hard on the hoppers' heels:
Once that had arrived, the quarry shunter was finally free to go about its business, all of which made Polapiko look rather busy.
After the first set of hoppers had been shunted to the quarry loader, the railbus departed on its way back to Zenda. The Mallet was now free to do some slightly convoluted shunting. All the vehicles at the goods shed had to be collected, plus an empty oil tanker at the fuel depot. Complicating matters, for saftey reasons steam locos may not couple directly to oil tanks and 5 hoppers remained in the goods loop. After a bit of head-scratching, the first two vehicles were dragged into the passenger loop and the loco ran round.
Next, the empty open wagon was detached and used to get at the fuel tanker. There was just enough room in the goods loop to allow the move:
The oil tank and open wagen were attached to what would become the rear of a pickup freight. This also allowed both loaded vans to be at the head of the train, as is preferred practice. One last run round was needed to get the second van in its rightful place:
All of these moves took quite some time. By the time the goods vehicles' brakes had been connected and tested, the railbus was back on the scene with another local working.
Finally the Mallet was captured starting the climb back to Zenda. Note the tail board correctly positioned on the last vehicle. Just another day of efficient freight haulage on Ruritanian Railways.
jameshilton
Registered
Lovely seizes of photos Peter 
playmofire
Registered
A great days' work. Thanks for sharing it with us.
garrymartin
My Family,Railways, Beer and the Seaside
Lovely pictures and a pleasant narrative, I hope the railway workers of Ruritainia are relaxing with an enjoyable pint this Saturday night.
whatlep
Registered
Goodness it's been a long time since a report emerged from Ruritania!
Well, as many readers know, Ruritania suffered floods again last weekend, but fortunately the country was well-prepared. Today a special inspection train descended Pootank Pass to check on the state of the line. The leaves in the background next to the track are at the high-water mark...
Some idea of the measures put in place to prevent the track moving. Heavy lifting aircraft of the Ruritanian Air Force (RAF) have moved bags of hardcore aside to permit trains to run, albeit only on battery power for the moment.
A close up of the border bridge shows the earthmoving required to get matters back in order. Topsoil will be need to get back to a level surface next spring. Note that the bridge's deck is in line with the wooden posts. Until yesterday it was 35mm above due to the water's force making the bridge become a pontoon and move off its foundations. Enhanced ground anchors will be needed once the ground is neither too wet, nor too frozen to dig out.
A wide view from the high-water mark showing by how much the innocent looking brook rose in just 3 hours. All the track in view was under water. All the pointwork needs a good clean before trains can run in safety, though that's fairly academic as all the points are currently frozen. Don't you just love the British climate?
Fortunately the test train managed to get round the line with the aid of some de-icing fluid. The crew parked the Stainz alongside a sister loco at Zenda depot before taking a warming cup of hot chocolate kindly supplied by Prince Rudolf.
Well, as many readers know, Ruritania suffered floods again last weekend, but fortunately the country was well-prepared. Today a special inspection train descended Pootank Pass to check on the state of the line. The leaves in the background next to the track are at the high-water mark...
Some idea of the measures put in place to prevent the track moving. Heavy lifting aircraft of the Ruritanian Air Force (RAF) have moved bags of hardcore aside to permit trains to run, albeit only on battery power for the moment.
A close up of the border bridge shows the earthmoving required to get matters back in order. Topsoil will be need to get back to a level surface next spring. Note that the bridge's deck is in line with the wooden posts. Until yesterday it was 35mm above due to the water's force making the bridge become a pontoon and move off its foundations. Enhanced ground anchors will be needed once the ground is neither too wet, nor too frozen to dig out.
A wide view from the high-water mark showing by how much the innocent looking brook rose in just 3 hours. All the track in view was under water. All the pointwork needs a good clean before trains can run in safety, though that's fairly academic as all the points are currently frozen. Don't you just love the British climate?
Fortunately the test train managed to get round the line with the aid of some de-icing fluid. The crew parked the Stainz alongside a sister loco at Zenda depot before taking a warming cup of hot chocolate kindly supplied by Prince Rudolf.
Shawn
Hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing
Hope to see everything back up and running again. Thats one thing I always loved about a garden railroad. They suffer the same as the real stuff. Sometimes its tough all the work done to the layout only to have the weather destroy/damage it. But it is neat to see how the stuff survives. Good test to show that you built it to survive the weather or you have to rebuild to withstand the next one. All part of the fun I think.
whatlep
Registered
SWMBO says no. :crying:Stainzmeister said:You've just got to cross that bridge with the railway - screw it down to the planks, so it stays put !
Go on, you know you want to.
If I had a stream in my garden, there would be at least two bridges over it - the voices can't be ignored.
She means it.
