Narrow Minded

Why not go with the "burnt finger brigade" first Andy? You could always retrofit R/C later if you wanted, but I'd heartily recommend at least giving manual control a go first. Not only will it keep the initial cost down, but the tactile experience itself is one not to be missed - plus, it's not always about the "driving", setting something running and sitting back with a beverage of choice is one of life's pleasures with a garden railway

Thanks Andy, it's an Accucraft "Caradoc". I've owned one before, and regretted trading it away - this one appeared at the right price and at the right time (cosmic ordering??) Once the steam tests are out of the way, I'll be carrying out a series of basic mods to hopefully recreate my original, as seen below.

Straight "outa-the-box" and still covered in packing fluff, a new arrival basks in the evening sun at Robin Square today

I'm terrible for changing my mind part way through a project Mike, so if I told you I could well be wrong

Really easy - the wheelsets would want either swapping out (this'd be the best option, especially if you replaced em with metal wheels) or re-gauging. The LGB hook & loop couplings come (you can just see in the photo) off by undoing a couple of screws, and then the centre buffer can be drilled for a three-link chain hook If you want to check your clearances, the coach is 113mm (just under 4 1/2inch) wide. I should get some progress made over the weekend - the shell is masked ready for priming and I've found my bottle of Humbrol Maskol for the doors (the glazing can't be removed from em without the risk of damage, and the molded window bars make applying masking tape a devil of a job)

Fabulous work O.B. (but the barrier arm seems to have shrunk with the damp weather - or are you going to extend it to meet the support by putting some dowel in the end, or maybe pushing a plastic drinking straw or summat over it?) As usual, it's looking splendid, even immediately after the work. Mine always looks 'raw' for ages until it's had time to weather in.

Great idea for a topic Q, and of course we'll need to see peoples set-ups for controlling battery electric loco's and live steam I'm pushed for time at the mo' but will post something up over the weekend.

Of course we'll be arriving in the "sweet chariot" (how on earth did you know what I'd named the van????) - and I'll save "swing low" for the encore at the end of the night...... it should ensure we have a quick get-away for the trip home

Nice work in the civils department there Idris - I hope you've instructed the navvies to save any off cuts from those blocks (they can be cut and carved into lineside huts etc quite easily) Now, speaking of rugby, we're off to Cwbran Rugby Club today......... do you think I'll be safe wearing my England top?!

Marvelous layout - the backscene and the 'fillable' harbour were great features (among several others) Shame his talents are lost to the hobby. I have the Garden Rail mag's with the line featured, and will be digging them out for a re-visit

How about a length of point rodding (bike spoke) from where you can reach, a bell crank (triangle of brass off-cut) and omega link (bit of bent wire) to operate the turnout switch ? You'd still probably want the "infill" removeable, but only for occasional jobs (or emergencies), but it could stay there the rest of the time and give you the lineside scenery as well as a 'safety net' in case summat takes the curve too fast ??

Ha ha ! Actually, I might take up hill walking in Lincolnshire - I like a challenge Here's the coach down in 'Pentrich Sidings' after the fitters stripped it to its component parts The clerestory and two roof brackets (the other two were missing) will go in the bits box.

NICE ! It suits the location (and the rest of the railway) perfectly, and I'm sure the folk of Houghton Chapel will be glad to get their station back

We're back, and after the sun, sand, sea and sssssssssssiix gigs on the trot, I took a short break before dismantling the LGB coach. Not much compared to the marvelous progress made by other forum members over the weekend, but I feel like I've at least achieved something

Plenty of eye candy there Many thanks for posting.

I've followed your Skaleby micro's (as inspiration for my own yet-to-be-started efforts), and I reckon you've already got the techniques mastered Think of your garden railway in the same way as a series of "linked micro's" and use appropriate 'view blockers' (structures, plantings, natural features) between them, and you'll create the effect of space. If you can stand just about anywhere in the garden and not see all the line, you'll have that magical ingredient of trains appearing and disappearing as they pass on their journey. My own small line is a basic loop for continuous running, but "operates" end-to-end. The two passenger terminus stations (freight operations are 'supposed' to continue beyond them - and why I'll be attempting two micro or boxfile layouts) are almost adjacent to each other, separated by little more than the garden path This short, featureless section of track is simply the equivalent of a "fiddle yard" in indoor layout terms Oh, and while I'm hijacking the thread, the continuous loop adds a bit of operational interest for end-to-end operation by allowing you to "stretch time" - simply by completing a set number of 'laps' of the circuit between each station stop

The notorious "sorting room five-aside-soccer league" strikes again Sorry to hear it, but glad you're on the way to getting things repaired! I've just been after some decals for my own Pickering rake - Garden Railway Specialists do them, but they're currently showing "out of stock" on their website. I've sent an email asking if and when they'll be available, so I'll let you know when I get a reply. I've used them before (and their "Cambrian alphanumeric" sheet) and can recommend them

Great progress on the foundation work Idris, and those "door bangers" look the biz

Flippin Eck! I only went away over the weekend and I've missed pages worth of stuff - really enjoyed seeing the sunny running shots and congrats on getting the civil engineering done on the curve I bet you think the railway's finished now? (but you should know better - it's never finished ) Fantastic stuff !

All the activity makes me want to dig part of mine up and make changes It happens about this time every year!

One of the oldest tricks in the book, and I've used it many times when acquiring stuff for the railway - "It'll be just right for doing the (insert suitable household task here) darling!"

Brimming with character! Great to see the terrace row forming the "street scene"

Cheers O.B - all is chaos around me as I type (once we set off for Huyton today, I won't really 'touch base' again until Tuesday afternoon except for quick pit stops, so everything's got to be prepped today!) Looking forward to getting back and catching up with all I've missed

Hmmmmm, that didn't work Yay!!!!!!

Attempting to post a video on here for the first time......... ....as the message says at the end, "Here's to a GREAT summer" on everone's garden railways!