Main circuit completed at last

The main circuit of the line is now in place and has had a brief test run, work and family matters have got in the way of a proper opperating session but that will happen soon.

 

No. 2 on a short test train.

More pictures will be added when I get time for a proper run.

Track panels delivered

The final bits of track required to complete the main circuit have been delivered just in time for my long weekend. Hopefully I will get the track laid on Friday and get some trains running over the weekend.
A cab ride video of the line will follow next week.

Nice shiny new track and fishplates.

Trackbed Completed

Over the last few days the trackbed has been completed and a coat of preservative has been put on it to protect it. Now there is just the top layer of preservative to be put on and then the track to lay and the loop of the railway will be complete.

Work in progress and the beam is leveled and the legs are driven into the ground. No concrete as I dont want to damage the roots of the shrubs.

The beam from the trestle bridge in place and leveled

The other beam is getting its wooden trackbed fitted

A small gap

A visitor overhead. We live near to North Weald airfield and it is not unusual to be buzzed by spitfires and gnats.

All in place and waiting for a coat of preservative.

Lets talk weather

No progress has been made on the railway mostly due to the weather but also due to other commitments like going to the BTCC at Snetterton and having a meal on the train at the Great Central railway with my daughter as part of my birthday present.

I will be doing a proper update soon and adding pictures from my holiday as well as from the great central soon.

Another gap bridged.

The new removable bridge has had plank work added to it and received a good coat of preservative. It will eventually get handrails as well.

The new bridge in place complete with trackwork.

No. 2 gets the job of testing the bridge, she approaches with caution

On the bridge and everything is fine with the low slung buffer beams easily clearing the planking.

She ran right across to the current limit of the line.

The rails are held in alignment using an old OO gauge trick with stiff wire, in this case the shanks of pop rivets, in copper tube soldered to the rails.

The last bit of trackbed is now being constructed and will be a wooden beam supported on posts so that it will not interfere with shrubs I already have in the garden. Pictures and progress, as always, will follow soon.

Nameplates and bridges

A few things have been done to the line. The abutments for the trestle have been finished and the bridge put back in position (pictures will follow) and I have started on the next, removable, bridge. In the workshop I have had a go at making nameplates for the locos.

The trackbed through the flower bed is now complete, time for a bridge.

And this will be that bridge. I have put strengthening struts underneath it (forgot to photograph them) and given it a couple of coats of creosote. Detail will follow.

First go at making a nameplate using 5mm letters and scrap plastic. Backing needs to be thinner next time.

Once painted and fixed to the loco they look good

More trackbed down and tarting up the bridge supports

I have had a productive week or so slowly getting the railway done with more track down and a start made on the station. The pictures, as always, tell the story.

The station area needs to be started and I have put my buildings, both finished and unfinished, in place to see what it will look like.

I started laying out the station area

There is enough room for all the buildings, I hope to make a start on the engine shed soon.

I track level view. The signal box is down a hole that will be filled when the platform is laid

The station building, toilet and bench. Another bench will be ordered soon.

 The trestle bridge end supports look a bit stark as they are only concrete blocks. I purchased a bag of decorative slate and I am using that to disguise them.

Pieces of slate were chosen and stuck in place using out door water proof mastic.

The slate has now been grouted with cement. Once dry it will get a wire brushing and wash to clean it up.

Whilst on holiday we visited the National Slate Museum in Llanberis and I purchased a slate sheet. I am now cutting it up and splitting it to make paving slabs to line the platform edge and also to create a base for the station waiting room.

The miniature slabs are laid in place to ensure I have enough

simple tools to make the slabs

A small section of trackbed has been laid

The track bed in and waiting for track.

There we go, much better. The slab under the point towards the top of the picture has been removed as it broke when I put weight on it plus it was in the wrong place.

I finish on a oops moment. Both a check rail from one of the points and a buffer stop succumbed to my clumsiness!