Aledgedly, we are going to get another 'beast from the east' and blizzard on Christmas day...
IF you believe the noos-papers?
PhilP.
(I have looked at sorting a little bit of track, before then, and am looking to charge the SLA in the blower...).
The Woodlock Line
- Thread starter duncan1_9_8_4
- Start date
IF you believe the noos-papers?
PhilP.
(I have looked at sorting a little bit of track, before then, and am looking to charge the SLA in the blower...).
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
I wasn't going to get a locomotive out due to the weather, but our lass surprised me with some Massoth Christmas Trees. I love them.
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
This afternoon, in the fog, I've started a little project. I've taken down the metal railings, because I've not been totally happy with how they make the railway look. I've now covered the sleepers in roof felt, to secure some rocks to, with cement. This also gives me some grip when making the big leap into the middle. It will also look a lot more natural when done too.
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
A trip to Wickes for cement. A detour to the super secret rock stash. And a race to get it done before dark. I just need to re-place the solar panels for the lights tomorrow, but it's now dark, damp, and cold. It looks a lot more natural now, and helps blend the railway into the garden.
Photo Bomb below:
Photo Bomb below:
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
I covered the cement up overnight in case of frost and rain. A little inspection this morning and all is good. Though covered up again until properly set. The visual effect is good, in my opinion. Better than metal railings. A few rockery plants in due course.
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
Finally got a bit of sunshine to grab a few pictures of the new stone on the central section.
Well Duncan1984 I have followed your reports since 2014, and greatly admire your achievements in enjoying garden railwaying in such a small space: well done.
Now on Boxing Day I visited a local newsagent at Palm Beach and purchased issue 99 of “Narrow Gauge Downunder”. Inside the the Editor announced that in January 2026 issue 100 will probably be the last! An article, “Large Scale Splendour: Russell Malley’s Live Steam” debuting on the cover caught my eye. I subscribed to the magazine since the first issue but digital technical problems earlier this year terminated the renewal of my mailed subscription.
The photo spread of a 1:20.3 scale shows live steam Accucraft D&RGW locos running ‘point-to-point’ on a circular layout in a backyard garden area 9 meters by 11 meters - small by customary Brisbane backyards where wooden houses raised on wooden stumps about 8 to 12 feet above ground level (for cooling ventilation purpose ie the fabulous Queenslander style), were customary until after WWII, sitting on blocks of land ranging from 16 to 24 to 36 to 48 perches in area. Now social engineering urban planners have convinced the Local Authorities to in-fill these blocks to areas often less than 6 perches: future slums, and now found to be residential fire hazards due to widespread use of dubious lithium batteries in powering bikes and scooters with the gutters on the edge of the over hanging (24 inches) eaves, necessary to provide shade on the windows in the subtropics only a few inches or centimetres apart - the former rules required the gutter/eaves to be 6 feet from the fence boundary, ie 12 feet between wooden, brick or fibrolite walled dwellings in order to minimse or slow
Duncan you have really created a wonderful area to relax playing trains or rather operating an outdoor model railway.
Scary building regs, in UK though we have quite strict building regs they are often ‘fiddled’ by dodgy builders who even on a new estate near me have not installed insulation in the cavity walls where they thought they could get away with it. Some in those houses will be wondering why their heating costs are so high! What makes UK new gardens so small is the eye watering costs of land in a small overpopulated Island. Good farming land is now being taken for house building and installation of Solar Panels. Never mind the availability of many miles of spare land next to Motorways and Railways very suitable for such Solar purposes.
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
Thanks very much. Makes me happy that it gets noticed!
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
Christmas is over, normal service resumed , at least from a Beer and Food point of view....
, at least from a Beer and Food point of view....
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
And a rather lame attempt, as I bounced around the garden in my dressing gown, trying to get a picture from a different angle.... Annoyingly I just noticed through looking at the photo, a cat has knocked my man down on the station. Looks like he's had a tragic accident involving the F7. I'll add it to the list of jobs. 
playmofire
Registered
Ah, that's what's happened. I thought at first that he was the result of normal service being resumed "at least from a Beer and Food point of view...."And a rather lame attempt, as I bounced around the garden in my dressing gown, trying to get a picture from a different angle.... Annoyingly I just noticed through looking at the photo, a cat has knocked my man down on the station. Looks like he's had a tragic accident involving the F7. I'll add it to the list of jobs.
BTW, the cat in the window looks as if it would happily do the same to the F7 it could.
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
If I could get said cat to go outside for longer than 2.5mins....
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
And, of course some night shots.
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
A little job today. Re-did the walk through. I foolishly got cement on it when I was doing the rocks, and it didn't look obvious when wet, but was bugging me when dry. So, it's been sorted. In due course I'm going to get a building for this gap, that easily lifts out if I need access. But what building....
Fezwig
Just a man in the middle of a complicated plan.
Train crew messroom obviously
duncan1_9_8_4
Garden Railway Operator
Now that the unused crossover has been removed, plans are in place to install a new Island platform. This will create a 3 platform station, and give this end of my railway a greater sense of importance. Historically, it has always been the station down at the bottom that has had all the interest and train movements. This year is going to be all about scenery and a good-looking railway. The platform will have a few simple benches, and a level crossing wigwag. A new building has also been ordered for between my new rocks that I did just before Christmas, with the ability to remove it, when I need to jump into the middle.
