RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted September 29, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 29, 2017 Im aware that most of the railways featured in this section are of the "normal" garden railway scales - ie big! but here is my OO gauge railway - more a railway in the garden, as opposed to a garden railway. The Summer Hampton Railway is built on, what was, my 15' x 15' patch of grass, in my back garden. This is my second railway outdoors, the first being the Hampton Field Railway (search on YouTube) which was more a garden railway. That went through 3 phases - at the outset it was an O gauge line, then G scale and then OO gauge! A forced change of home led me to my current home and garden, which in all respects, is a lot smaller! Construction of Summer Hampton started in March 2016 and full running achieved during June 2016 The baseboards are recycled plastic material, supported on recycled plastic posts. I had previously used cast concrete for my trackbed, but that was effectively at ground level and I wanted this railway to be higher - we are all getting older and I didnt want too much bending down!! The decision to use recycled plastic was made to try and minimise maintenance on this aspect of the build, as I am fully aware that garden railways involve enough maintenance, without worrying about what your wood is doing... There is some linear expansion / contraction with the material, which needs keeping an eye on, during the course of the year. The railway isnt for displaying my skills at modelling fine detail, but for running scale length trains, of a fairly specific time period, from my youth. This being the 12 - 15 months immediately prior to sectorisation liveries appearing on BR. I have recently started running some steam outline models, but I dont give them the same attention, detail wise, as I do the diesels - they are just run for fun One issue I have experienced with the steam locos is that they cope less well with the steep gradients the railway has. I am currently in the process of retro fitting dcc concepts powerbase to the gradients on the railway. I have yet to see if this completely overcomes the problems - fingers crossed!! My railways also feature on the OO garden Railway Forum on the web. If youve never looked at this forum, its a very good source of information and ideas, covering many aspects of garden railways, in smaller scales. Videos of the Summer Hampton Railway and the previous Hampton Field Railway, can be accessed following this link; https://www.youtube.com/user/ba14eagle/featured This was how the garden looked in March 2016, before construction started. This was the railway just 3 months after construction started - and I still have a full time job on the 12" to 1' railway to do too! 14 months later, August 2017, and the plants have matured too nicely in places! The station and signalbox lighting were installed by my late Father and are solar powered, through an accumulator battery. Dont ask me how it works - I havent a clue 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Billiant i love it! I'd be really tempted to roof the whole lot over gazebo style like one of those smoking huts they now build behind most pubs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturminster_Newton Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Billiant i love it! I'd be really tempted to roof the whole lot over gazebo style like one of those smoking huts they now build behind most pubs. If it's a glazed roof and has ventilation on most faces to make an 'alpine' style greenhouse under old planning law you could cover your garden with a 'greenhouse' probably still can under permitted development rules. Whilst it would be an utter ball ache to retro fit, starting the gradient from the point at which the lower line emerges from beneath the upper may well solve the steam loco haulage problem. Although with DCC control adding a 'banker' would be feasible it's probably more hassle to get the banker onto and off the train than the benefit it gives. Looks good all the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted March 27, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 27, 2018 Running season arrived yesterday - temporarily! Anyway, there is plenty of maintenance to do, so roll on some more dry weather! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkingian Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 That's a very nice video. Shows off the railway well. The plants are looking good at track level. Particularly liked the Class 56 and stone wagons - the different grades of stone are a nice touch. Well done all round. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted June 13, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2018 It seems to have been a while since I did any running on Summer Hampton, so it was nice to be able to spend some time out in the garden, in the blazing sunshine. Some Sulzer action for those of that persuasion! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartb Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Thats a great looking garden railway, do you cover it up when not in use ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ColinK Posted June 14, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 14, 2018 (edited) Nice railway, I like the steps to get into the middle. Excellent videos too. Edited June 14, 2018 by ColinK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted June 14, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted June 14, 2018 Thats a great looking garden railway, do you cover it up when not in use ? No, its open to the elements all year round 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted July 25, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2018 English Electric traction takes centre stage at Summer Hampton today 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted September 26, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 26, 2018 Having recently purchased one of the latest batch of Heljan O gauge "Western", I have been looking at how I could scaleback the OO railway and incorporate an O gauge circuit. I had planned on removing the outer 2 circuits of OO and using this space for the O gauge. The O gauge couldnt go around the centre section / pond, so the boards nearest the back of the house would be split lengthways and the O gauge route would drop down under the footbridge. To make use of the best radii around the pond section, the remaining OO gauge lines wouldve been slewed to connect with the now disconnected outer tracks. However, after surveying today, Ive found that I would have to employ a 36" radius curve on the O gauge line to make this fit. This Im not prepared to do - I was prepared to try 42", but nothing less. So, my plans for an expansion into O gauge in the garden have been shelved for the time being. We need a bigger house to live in and I need a bigger garden to play in, so we will just keep hoping the Euromillions comes up soon! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted May 4, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 4, 2020 Its been a while since I posted on this thread, so here goes! A lot has happened in the last 12 months. The railway was removed from the garden, when a house move was happening. Unfortunately, this didn't complete and the move shelved, So Ive been redeveloping the railway - plenty of time in lock-down! It is a lot simpler this time around and the trackbed is solid concrete - the recycled plastic boards didn't work as well as hoped, so have been done away with. The railway is now a combination of both O and OO gauges. Ive had to utilise Peco setrack on the O gauge which isn't ideal, but I can live with the compromise. Each scale has a single line with loop. The OO loop is huge, mainly to comfortably accommodate my representation of 1S19 Bristol to Glasgow / Edinburgh sleeper train. Control is now provided by a Powercab system with 5amp booster. Here is a short video featuring my only dcc sound fitted O gauge loco to date, D1010 "Western Campaigner". I have a Hymek which is waiting a sound chip - something that will get sorted as soon as lock-down is over, along with a shopping trip to the garden centre for plants. The next locos on the shopping list are a 31 and a 25. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted May 7, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 7, 2020 A couple of videos of the first OO gauge running sessions at Summer Hampton. The first one has a definite Southern Region feel to it - with a small supporting cast. The second film has a mix of freight and NPCCS action 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted May 18, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 18, 2020 With some gorgeous weather and few of the noisy kids about, a few big steam locos came out to play today! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted May 22, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 22, 2020 A bit of sleeper and mgr action! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted June 2, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted June 2, 2020 Phew! What cracking weather. There has been more work going on (planting, ballasting and soldering) than playing trains, just lately, so, before I start my next run of shifts and the weather turns, I had a little running session. All EE locomotives - my 3 x 37's and my 3 x 50's. Split into 2 films - one for each type. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted August 4, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 4, 2020 (edited) On 04/05/2020 at 15:47, ba14eagle said: cut..... It is a lot simpler this time around and the trackbed is solid concrete - the recycled plastic boards didn't work as well as hoped, so have been done away with. .......cut... Could you add a bit more about the problems of the recycled plastic boards please? I was looking at that option for an outdoor circular patio layout/test track* as no room in the house for a long roundy-roundy set up. *Basic oval with the vegetation around the layout growing in patio tubs. Edited August 4, 2020 by john new Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted August 4, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 4, 2020 22 minutes ago, john new said: Could you add a bit more about the problems of the recycled plastic boards please? I was looking at that option for an outdoor circular patio layout/test track* as no room in the house for a long roundy-roundy set up. *Basic oval with the vegetation around the layout growing in patio tubs. There was too much expansion and contraction John. Maybe, shorter pieces would have been more effective? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted August 4, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 4, 2020 (edited) 22 minutes ago, ba14eagle said: There was too much expansion and contraction John. Maybe, shorter pieces would have been more effective? Thanks for this, a problem I hadn't foreseen as an issue. Both possible locations would be in full sun a lot of the day so probably not a wise move. I may well sling something down for the next month or so on a temporary basis using scrap timber bits with a view to doing something better next summer. I can, just, run a temporary 2nd radius oval on the garden dining table for testing (one of B&Q's range) but, as this video clip shows, it is quite a tight fit hence thinking of a patio layout alternative. Also, although good for drainage run off, nowhere was the concrete yard/patio base laid level by the former property owners which doesn't help; the table occupies the one area mostly in the shade. Edited August 4, 2020 by john new Typos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted August 4, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 4, 2020 Where the track was flexed and in the hottest of the sun, is where I had the most breakage. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted August 5, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 5, 2020 (edited) 23 hours ago, john new said: Thanks for this, a problem I hadn't foreseen as an issue. Both possible locations would be in full sun a lot of the day so probably not a wise move. I may well sling something down for the next month or so on a temporary basis using scrap timber bits with a view to doing something better next summer. And today’s bonus, as a result of some roof repairs we are having done a massive quantity of scrap wooden sheeting has come my way for free. The short term solution is therefore pretty obvious. Edited August 5, 2020 by john new Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted September 15, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 15, 2020 Taking advantage of the Autumn sunshine 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold halsey Posted September 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 20, 2020 Hi, Sorry if this has already been asked but HOW do you keep the track electrically clean? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted October 1, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2020 On 20/09/2020 at 10:27, halsey said: Hi, Sorry if this has already been asked but HOW do you keep the track electrically clean? The track is carefully cleaned with a decorators sanding block, before each running session. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ba14eagle Posted January 7, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2021 I seem to have neglected this thread lately. There hasn't been much building or development with the layout itself, but I have purchased a number of new O gauge items of rolling stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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