mick

For maintaining electrical continuity the soldered join at the fishplate would prove ideal but I too feel that it's not going to allow the rails to expand sufficiently and I would expect it to cause problems eventually. As the rails expand they'll close any gap previously left above the fishplates so in effect you'll need the solder to contract in order to allow that to happen. In addition, I think you'll find that you'll experience rail expansion at somewhat less than 40 degrees and you'll also experience rail contraction during the colder months which may possibly break the soldered joint. You really need a flexible joint between the rails such as a short length of bonding wire and not a permanently soldered one. Can't offer any advice regarding the Skaledale platforms but there's bound to be some difference in finished size due to the casting process. Have you considered a cast (concrete/mortar) platform? Some good progress made judging by the photographs. Should be something runnning there soon!

Make..? Perhaps 'count', that sounds appropriate They say (whoever 'they' are) that counting sheep is an aid to going to sleep but perhaps counting boards is the Aussie way?

I've been really pleased with the veg Roy and the best part is that there's still lots to harvest over the coming weeks and months. Took my first carrots out of the ground this morning and they look excellent. Looking forward to the brussel sprouts over winter and to our ongoing potato harvest. Potatos have been somewhat less successful compared to last year but the most recent ones unearthed have fared better than the earlier plantings. Another 8 containers have been planted which should see us through to Xmas and beyond. The white box does indeed contain part of the weather station sensors. Yes, funny isn't it. You'd have thought that all that planting in the centre of the garden and the addition of the greenhoues would conceal the trains altogether and yet as you suggest, it now gives them somewhere to appear from and run on into. I'm hoping to grab a video next week (weather permitting) before I start to dismantle the viaduct so I can see how it all looks.

Yes, I'm afraid it will have to go. The protective tarpaulin has been removed, cleaned, and stored away, so it really is now at the mercy of the weather. I'm hoping so Duncan - unless something else comes along and prevents me from doing so. I've added a shed, erected a greenhouse, dug the whole garden just about, so I don't know what else there could be to divert my attention. It may not be quite so grand but the new one, whatever it's size and design, will have to be more practical.

I've been talking about replacing my viaduct with something more resistant to the weather for some time now and up to this time I've done nothing about it. Now, with the garden beginning to take shape and access to the area confined within the main area of track being required on a more frequent basis, I think it's time to tackle the viaduct. I've just been out and taken some photos with the intention that these will be the last ones before demolition begins so this is how things look right now with the smaller section of viaduct showing how I had previously taken it apart when I first considered its replacement many months ago: - http://www.selbygardenrailway.co.uk/images/construction/IMG_5706.jpg' alt='URL>'> http://www.selbygardenrailway.co.uk/images/construction/IMG_5708.jpg' alt='URL>'> http://www.selbygardenrailway.co.uk/images/construction/IMG_5714.jpg' alt='URL>'> The intention is to build a smaller concrete viaduct with a removable or lift up 'bridged' middle section to allow better access to that part of the garden, but the design and materials may well change. Whatever it is eventually made of it must be able to withstand the most extreme weather without needing to be covered up as before. One thing I have learned through the first of the photos above is that carrots make ideal background foliage! Don't they look great? Now can you get evergreen carrots? And I thought I'd just add this photo too. I've shown the toad before in my veggie thread but he's been around for a few weeks now and has taken to hiding himself away underneath the aubretia foliage. He pops out when you approach and normally leaps off into the border but on this occasions I managed to catch him before he did. http://www.selbygardenrailway.co.uk/images/construction/IMG_5713.jpg' alt='URL>'>

I think Dave's referring back to the video of your King hauled 24 coach rake which appeared about 5 pages ago - he's clearly playing catch-up - (where ya been Dave? )

You're going to have to be quick with this one Chris. I noticed Hattons had received some buffet cars a few days ago but already it looks like they've sold out, although it's possible there may be more stock on the way. I'd certainly have a scout around online and get an order in now if you want to guarantee getting hold of one.

I'm under the impression that ballasting using PVA has been tried outdoors with a less than satisfactory success rate. Perhaps it depends on the brand of PVA? I would assume that the exterior type would be more resilient than the interior version. With winter fast approaching it might be an idea to test the theory on a short section of track? I agree that the Norbreck Garden Railway featured in the video link is scenically excellent and something for us all to aspire towards. When the railway and the garden are at the same level then it makes merging them together much easier.

I'm always fascinated by the way some people can grasp the basics of electronics. I don't understand the difference between an ohm and an amp or a watt and a wotsit I can solder wires to the tracks (in my own way that is) and provided I adhere to the rule of wiring each side in different coloured wires so that I can keep them isolated from each other as and when necessary, then I'm fine, but that's about my limit. Perhaps I'll understand the concept behind it once I see how it all fits together but using the inners of a solar powered light to illuminate your buildings sounds like a brilliant idea to me and at 99p a throw then it's also a bargain.

Nice photos Dave - you've certainly made more progress than I have recently - puts my own efforts this summer to shame. Are you working to a track plan or are your ideas more flexible than that? More inportantly, have you got the necessary track so that we can all see something running soon?

Here's a few photos of my newly erected Walton polycarbonate clad greenhouse. I've erected the greenhouse at the top end of the garden where it should receive the most sunshine. The large curve of my railway layout now runs behind the greenhouse. The garden's looking a bit cluttered but it's better than having a plain old lawned area. At least there are some promising brussel sprouts, carrots, and a decent supply of other tasty vegetables available at mealtimes. For the past couple of days I've been making some wooden staging for the interior and this is where I've got to with that: - Only the left hand side will have staging, the right side will be used for growing tomatos etc in pots. Both sides will have the addition of a gravel floor. The tomato plants were given to me by my mum and although the seeds were sown late in the season the plants are now doing well. The protection of the greenhouse should see some fruit available soon.

Before I post photos of the greenhouse I thought I'd just show you these slug traps I recently purchased. It's well known that a dish or saucer containing a small amount of beer proves a very good lure for trapping slugs but when it rains the beer often becomes diluted or washed away. There are many commercial slug traps available but the one I have used is the 'http://www.kakoi.co.uk/productpages.asp?item=1&page=1' rel="external nofollow">Slug Inn' sold through the Kakoi website. The Slug Inn comprises an outer plastic container into which you pour your beer or lager, and an inner plastic container with a small hole in the bottom and a lid that attaches to the top of the container to prevent rain ingress. After pushing the outer container into the soil in your desired location, you fill it about half full of beer, place the inner container into it and the beer slowly fills the inner container by seeping through the small hole. The trap is then set and you just wait for the slugs to come along. The following photos show the two separate parts of the Slug Inn and how the inner container fits inside the outer container. The third photo shows the trap inserted into the ground. Are the traps successful? Well, I've been having trouble with something destroying my dwarf bean plants and suspecting slug damage I decided to purchase 12 of these traps for placing at various locations around the garden. I set 7 of the traps (that was one full can of Guinness!) on Monday afternoon and completely forgot about them yesterday. This morning I checked the one inserted between the dwarf beans and after lifting out the inner container and allowing the beer to drain back into the outer container (the outer container remains in the ground) this is what I discovered: - There were 13 slugs in that one single trap placed between the dwarf beans. Not a bad result. The 7 seperate traps captured a total of 29 slugs along with the odd unidentified beetle/spider. The traps cost £10 for a pack of 6 plus postage.

Good to hear that you've made more progress Dave. Looking forward to seeing the photo's later.

We cater for other interests too and I have a thread in 'the buffet' where I report on my gardening interests. I've been constructing some wooden staging for inside the greenhouse so I'll get some photos in the next day or two and post them on my veggie plot thread.

Hmmm, the garden is indeed filling up quite a bit - my little dog doesn't know where to go now. He has a hard time trying to find a vacant spot where he can lay out in the sun However, it's only a relatively small garden but there's so much interest for me out there now. It's great being able to combine several interests. On the loco front I have a new class 31 waiting for a run out next week. Haven't a clue what it sounds like yet!

We're off! Great seeing some progress and a nice set of accompanying photographs illustrating the work. The station's are a good idea - wish I'd decided to add one at the beginning too rather than trying to decide where to put one now. With the vegetable plot and greenhouse recently added I'm fast running out of a suitable location. Looking forward to seeing the track go down and some ballast added. The curve round the back of the shrubs is going to make a decent spot for watching trains.

There are many ways to build the necessary base for your outdoor layout and concrete posts would seem to offer another alternative. If I'm thinking along the right lines, these would be the posts that accept the standard wooden 'overlap' type fence panels? They're certainly strong and the groove where the panels locate may indeed prove useful for the electrics, however, as you've pointed out, they're not such a good idea for curved areas. I'm not aware of the relative costs but as reinforced concrete isn't necessary, perhaps the easier to handle lightweight building blocks (laid on their side if you require a set up at ground level) might be a better alternative and with some simple cutting would also allow you to continue around the curved areas. Any wiring you might require can easily be run alongside and hidden beneath an overhang of the timber base. A masonary base isn't necessary at all if you view other layouts featured on here. Wooden supports for the base itself would be fine too. Decisions, decisions....

You want to be careful who you communicate with Roy....

There's nothing wrong with lowering your expectations, and making a start with a single oval of track is much better than struggling along and never being able to complete two. I've always said that the important thing is to get something running as soon as possible and the use of commercially available track is thus the ideal choice to make. I spent hours running trains back and forth over a gradually increasing end to end section until I was finally able to complete the circuits of track to enable continuous running - even then it was via makeshift wooden ramp - so don't expect to finish the whole thing overnight. YouTube has been an inspiration to me too, there are now several very good OO guage garden railways featured on there and I try to keep up with them all. The 2 you listed are certainly on my list. I particularly like 'grumpygranddad's layout due to the fact that it's been operational for many years and it's clearly been a labour of love.

It's done nothing but rain all day but under the cover of the greenhouse I did manage to lay a few paving slabs to provide a central walkway before leaving the cement to harden. With an improving forecast for the coming days I'm hoping to get some wooden staging built and all the gaps in the greenhouse framework sealed. A few days ago I decided it was time to lift the onions and after some trial and error we managed to get the bulbs fastened up for drying. I've never been happy with the onions as they seem to take up a lot of space with a smaller return than the initial outlay, albeit at a slightly bigger size. I doubt onions will be in my plans for next year but these are what we've managed to harvest on this occasion. And finally, here's a chap who seems to have been following me around the garden for the past couple of weeks. Not exactly sure what type it is but I assume it's some kind of toad. How I've not trod on him before now or picked him up with the mower I really don't know.

Hand built track can look extremely realistic when done to a high standard but I can't really see what benefit there would be when used outdoors. With correct sleeper spacing and a finer rail section it would look better than the commercially available track systems but outdoors you need reliability above all else and a universally acceptable rail profile, especially if you intend running a lot of older stock. Peco Streamline code 100 will accommodate just about anything you wish to run and if it is indeed cheaper than handbuilt then it's a no brainer. With a bit of additional work the Peco track can be altered to provide better sleeper spacing but take a look at the ballasted track on IanRs Kirkfield & Warmthorpe Railway where just the addition of ballast has made an enormous difference to the appearance of standard Peco trackwork.

Forecast's looking better for Monday, at least it is up this way, so you should be able to make a start. Good to see a camera at the top of the packing list but a little concerned about the 2 dozen paving blocks in your car I assume you mean the small brick sized blocks used in block paving and not something like 18in x 18in concrete paving slabs? If it's the slabs, please take a photo of your car with 2 dozen of them inside Have you come to a decision yet regarding the electrics and block sections?

I can't imagine that would look quite the same indoors - it just looks made for outdoor running, excellent scenics all round. When I think of the progress I've made over the past 3 years I find it amazing that someone can attain that level of detail with all those different scenarios. I haven't time to read through the thread for construction details but it looks like several years (maybe even many years) have been spent on it.

Yes, and as I've just reported on my layout thread, that additional space created by the removal of the tree has enabled me to add a small greenhouse. I've never previously owned a greenhouse but I was tempted by the fact that the growing season could be extended slightly and that plants could be started off earlier in the year with the protection afforded by the greenhouse. The building itself is just one of the cheaer (and yet not so cheap) aluminium framed structures with polycarbonate glazing which I incorrectly assumed would come flat packed in sections for easy home assembly. As it turned out, it arrived in just 2 boxes with every single part needing to be assembled. The instructions provided were far from easy to understand but we slowly managed to get bits fastened together. I had previously cleared the ground where the tree had been planted and assembled the metal base, sinking the retaining legs into the ground to be concreted in once everything was completed. The first photo shows the outer framework of the two longer sides and the inner sections of one end. It was very flimsy in this state and the slightest breeze was enough to get the old heart fluttering - even more so once the glazing panels were being added. I'm sure it had been my partner's intention to make a photo diary of the entire construction but confusion and cut fingers meant that by the time of the next photos many of the lower glazing panels were in place. Partly obscured by the protective covering of the glazing panel, that's me sliding one of the front facing side panels in place. With the greenhouse base being assembled the previous day, construction of the actual greenhouse started at just gone 9am and was finally completed by 8pm that evening. It began raining just before the final sections of glazing were installed in the roof. I have yet to concrete the legs in place to hopefully keep it all in the garden during periods of high wind and there are several areas that would benefit from a bit of sealant to prevent water ingress, especially around the guttering area, but I need a prolonged period of dry weather which we haven't got just yet. Although the interior has yet to be completed (staging and pathway) I've already placed my tomato plants inside along with some other pots and tubs that had been cluttering up the patio area. I'll get some photos of the finished article later.

There's been some construction work on the Selby Garden Railway during the summer months but unfortunately not on the layout itself which remains much the same as it was at the beginning of the year. My new found interest in growing vegetables has resulted in the recent purchase of a small greenhouse which is now situated in the area adjacent to the top curve where previously a silver birch tree had been planted. I had intended keeping that tree to a manageable size but as with most things it was left until it exceeded my ability to get to it and so in the end it was decided to remove it completely and clear the area of roots which had spread beyond the layout's breeze-block base in places. The addition of the greenhouse will of course limit the area of layout that can be captured on video but obstacles sometimes provide additional vantage points and break things up into more manageable proportions so once the schools are back I'll see how it all looks.