Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Back in 2016 a few of us at Warley club who liked garden railways decided to build what we called an indoor garden railway to try to encourage others outside. It was a superlight construction using styrofoam. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Although we did have a problem with the track falling off when stored vertically this has worked rather well. The layout itself is 16ft by 10ft and will fit in the back of a hatchback but a second car is needed to carry stock. It went to about half a dozen exhibitions in this form and saw a very wide variety of rolling stock. We were trying to recreate the feel of a garden railway. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 We even did an outdoor event which was nice 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 This photos shows the support for the boards. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted November 16, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2022 We did a similar idea back in the early 2000’s but it was rather heavier as we used chipboard so it only came out at events at Moors Valley Railway. 2003 the front loader was RC The support frame was almost identical being a slot together set of 4x1 planks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Thanks Paul, looks like a very similar theme. Time and members moved, some members to be looked after elsewhere in the country and some to that great layout in the sky. Hortus Halt found itself in deep storage and with only me as a friend. I must confess I thought the next move would be to bin it. The story doesn't end there. Earlier this year a new member came along who was interested in garden railways and as the Warley NEC show likes to have layouts in as many scales as possible it was decided by the exhibition management that Hortus Halt should go to the 2022 show. This led to discussion between the new member and myself. We decided the indoor garden railway theme hadn't really worked and wanted to go for a new theme. After a chat we decided to go for a"Dukes of Hazzard" theme. Surprisingly no alcohol had been consumed before making this decision. The track work couldn't be changed and the baseboards had to remain flat for storage and transport but apart from that we could do what we liked (on a very small budget). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 After a few months work this is what we have come up with. We have got a Dukes of Hazzard theme. Uncle Jesse with his moonshine still And the Boars Nest This rustic old barn is based on the Dukes barn 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 (edited) A few more photos of the somewhat crudely modelled Boars Steady chaps! Edited November 16, 2022 by Chris M 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 The station depot got an update and a name change. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 And goods shed and backscene have been added. The whole backscene is from a holiday snap I took back I 2019. It kind of fits the theme song words - sometime the mountain might get them but the law never will. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 (edited) Yes, it isn’t the worlds greatest moddling by a long way but we’ve had a bit of a laugh so far and hope to create a few smiles at the NEC exhibition. There is a rumour that this layout will also go to the Swindon Steam exhibition next September. So maybe there is life in the old dog yet, and it has learnt a few new tricks. The styrofoam based boards have given no issues and remain wonderfully light. Edited November 16, 2022 by Chris M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted November 16, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2022 So I guess no General Lee due to the flag? I have a 1/24 one if you don’t have one and to avoid contention it could get a temp stars n stripes instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Well the flag might be a slight issue but it has to be said that General Lee cars are quite expensive which put me off more than anything else. I haven't got Bo or Luke Duke either probably because I decided not to get a General Lee. I managed to get the other cars at quite a reasonable price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 (edited) I had to do a bit of work on Daisy’s jeep. This is the jeep just a few weeks ago being given a road test. She’s not allowed to go near it now! The poor Smurf is now car less. Edited November 16, 2022 by Chris M 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now