Dorkingian

That looks a very promising layout. I like your improvised use of three rail track with the centre rail removed - hope the metal parts manage to resist the weather. Looking forward to seeing more photos of your rolling stock... Keep up the good work!

Ultimate Cornish To finish this photographic account of that foray into Cornwall, 68xx Grange class 4-6-0, No.6869 ‘Resolven Grange’, of Penzance shed (83G) brings an empty stock working down from Newquay into St Blazey. The first vehicle is a Siphon G. Meanwhile, a 45xx (again probably No.4570), is still busy in the yard marshalling china clay empties.

Furthermore... After working an express down to Plymouth, Castle Class No. 5043 ‘Earl of Mount Edgcumbe’ of Old Oak Common (81A) retired to Laira shed (83D) for servicing and repairs to a damaged smoke-box dart. A smart turn-round on these tasks provided the Laira shed master with the opportunity to allocate this locomotive to a special duty, taking a large party from various local Sunday Schools back to Newquay after an outing. The first photograph shows No. 5043 easing down towards Laira Junction, where it will turn on the triangle. The next image shows No.5043 passing through the north end of the yards at St Blazey, before making an assault on the long climb up to Luxulyan, some of it at 1 in 37. In the yard an unknown 45xx (but possibly visiting No.4570) is shunting china clay empties. The last photograph shows No.5043 and its train approaching Luxulyan.

A third helping Having eventually arrived back at its home shed, Penzance (83G), No. 4570 was returned to its more usual haunts on the St Erth to St Ives branch for the rest of 1961. The first photograph shows No. 4570, with the usual ubiquitous B set, crossing the viaduct after leaving Carbis Bay, the penultimate stop before reaching St Ives. The train is starting to head due north on its way to round Porthminster Point below the erstwhile GWR Tregenna Castle Hotel. The other image shows No. 4570 and its two-coach train down by the waterside, shortly after leaving Lelant, the first station after St. Erth.

Cornish Pastures (2) Following an overhaul at Swindon works c. 1961, 45xx ‘Small Prairie’ tank class No. 4570 stopped off at St Blazey shed (83E) for servicing whilst working its way back to it home depôt, Penzance (83G). Not wishing to look a gift horse in the mouth, St Blazey used the locomotive for several runs up the former Cornwall Minerals Railway route towards Newquay on a succession of china clay workings. It is seen on a short train of empties en route for the Wheal Rose branch, firstly, climbing up the Luxulyan Valley towards the Treffry Viaduct and also on the approach to Bugle, where the train will be left.

Cornish Pastures (Thanks to Julian for bringing lots of superb GW assets to visit recently, including signals and now captions) Large Prairie 51xx 2-6-2 tank No.5158 of St Blazey shed stands in the yard before working a short train of china clay empties up to Bugle. The year is 1947 and the cleanliness of ex-GW locomotives has yet to return to pre-War standards.

A touch of Jubilation Jubilee "Hong Kong" tackling Foxdale Bank with a mixed rake of pre- and post-nationalisation coaches: And at the end of the day, heading home along Bamboo Curtain Straight:

Black 5 on a stopping train The new platelayers' hut needs a bit more weathering. And the platelayers need to deal with all that vegetation in the four-foot -- this isn't Network Rail! It won't be long before Sycamore Curve is knee-deep in leaves...

Yesterday I had an enjoyable morning at the annual American flavoured exhibition of the Seaboard Southern group who are based in Crawley. Ian Lampkin's excellent Fort Myres layout is a very effective depiction of railroads in Florida, as in this photo with two local residents thinking about lunch.

It would be churlish not to share even one photo here, so here's the Little Barford at the exchange sidings (with a bigger b****rd waiting nearby):

Size isn't everything But it's a nuisance if we have to shrink photos first in order to stay within the daily 10MB quota, whereas some websites reduce uploaded files automatically. So for anything more than a couple of pictures (including in this case a real Little Barford, a GW Pannier and Stephenson's Rocket), it's much easier to put them somewhere more convenient and then just provide a link: https://www.oogardenrailway.co.uk/index.php?/topic/354-the-dorking-garden-railway/&do=findComment&comment=19556

In Chile you might try the occasional diesel hauled weekend excursion trains Tren del Recuerdo which run from Santiago (Estacion Central) to the port of San Antonio and back. A great day out (you'll be the only foreigners on the train) and you get to see some of the countryside and the Pacific. I seem to recall paying about GBP25 per head, and with four people you can book a table. Modest refreshments are provided. Some of the coaches are clerestory, and my train in Nov 2017 was triple headed in both directions. Easy online booking at http://www.efe.cl/empresa/servicios/trenes-turisticos/recuerdo.html

Thanks for that update, David. Those "Castles" were certainly an elegant class of engine, though.

Belle Époque Layout I'm surprised there isn't more activity, nor anything very recent, around French railway modelling in general, not just on this thread. I've just visited my friend Philip who has an O gauge layout featuring French rolling stock of the 1880s, '90s and early twentieth century. Here are a couple of pictures, and the link to more is below: More here: https://www.oogardenrailway.co.uk/index.php?/topic/354-the-dorking-garden-railway/&do=findComment&comment=19537

All of the above are good. I've found Mind-your-own-business or baby’s tears, Soleirolia soleirolii (syn. Helxine soleirolii) to work well. It is a creeping perennial with tiny rounded leaves. Despite looking pretty in cracks in paving, it re-grows from the smallest stem sections and can apparently get out of control - although that hasn't been a problem yet on the Dorking Garden Railway. But I could do with getting rid of all that ivy.

The Ikea stuff is pretty good We've just bought some items from Ikea's Lillabo range. There's a figure of eight layout which includes an overbridge and a three vehicle push-along train. We also bought a train set of three wagons each with two demountable tops. But the real killer is the battery powered locomotive (two AAs); this costs £7 and, being very low geared and with good adhesion, can pull half a dozen other vehicles behind it, even successfully climbing the hill to the overbridge - and it has headlights which increase its fascination for young and old. Grandson (and grandfather) love it.

David's rebuilt Battle of Britain class "603 Squadron" looked at home on Foxdale Bank (although the p.w. men don't seem to have spotted a failed jumper joint):

More visiting engines Yesterday afternoon David P. came round with a great selection of engines needing to stretch their legs in the fresh air. First a BR Standard 2-6-2T: The uniquely rebuilt Duke looked in fine form: ...while somehow the Class 66 and the S15 managed to avoid the photographer.

Here's another coal train on Foxdale Bank in the charge of a Black 5:

The country used to run on coal So scenes like this Standard Class 4 with a rake of mostly mineral wagons were common. First, passing Throstlebeck Sidings: Then on Sycamore Curve: And finally passing Foxdale Carr Hall:

As the Black 5 headed off with its train of vans... ...leaving Throstlebeck Sidings with extra wagons in tow: Before crossing Foxdale Bank: ...and, having dropped off some wagons, rounding Sycamore Curve:

With a little help from my friends While getting the railway ready for today's running session, the guardian robin popped up to see what was happening: Shortly afterwards, a less common visitor turned up: and eventually the trains started to run:

That's a nice video of a very nice railway! Thanks for sharing it. Very good video technique - you have a professional touch. I like the eery night freight sequence, for which the music is just right. As for the railway, it shows how tight curves can even work in G scale. Enjoy your layout!

Magical mystery tour Roll up for the Hogwarts Express, fittingly hauled by Hogwarts Castle (Anyone seen a Ford Anglia flying around?): Isn't this a wizard loco!

After seven years of my Code 100 Streamline outdoors, the track is still fine, although my creosoted timber base is starting to show its age. Nevertheless, I think the appearance of weathered wood is unbeatable for this purpose. I find Garryflex abrasive blocks are cheaper and better than most things sold as "rail cleaners". Years of photos are here (ignore the first few before the proper track was laid): https://www.oogardenrailway.co.uk/index.php?/topic/354-the-dorking-garden-railway/