Howey Garden Railway

[kenbrunt]

Hi Mick, I am lucky the neighbour came into the hobby about two years ago and as a nice layout in his shed. Which was the reason I came back to the hobby. All I have been doing is tinning small lengths of wire to solder onto track. After reading the comments about wiring a layout in other sections which have been of use to me.

[mick]

1 hour ago, kenbrunt said:

....I am lucky the neighbour came into the hobby about two years ago and as a nice layout in his shed....

That's great Ken...a shared interest and someone close by with experience which will always come in handy.

Happy 'tinning' - monotonous I know but well worthwhile.

[kenbrunt]

Hi Guys, not to bad a weekend. Have been out laying track for two days . My finger nails are a mess, with working on top of roofing felt. I have still got about half of the wires to join between rails yet. Unfortunately promised the C E O we would go away for a couple of days. Of cause its going to be dry and when we are away and come back rain. Still she deserved a treat for allowing me to proceed in our limited garden we have. Here's a picture of a Dapol Virgin Pendolino EMU. got for a cheap price. Runs nice to say the track a mess, but oh those fiddley copulins. Not made for my saw fingers and poor sight. (men in white coats here for me tomorrow) I not finish and thinking of stage 2.

Thankyou all for your very useful articles about your railways its a enjoyable way to spend a odd wet hour looking at all the ideas

[kenbrunt]

Just packed away and hopefully finished with the soldering. Had time to run a few locos I had picked up on eBay and had not been able to run them. What as surprised me is that I have only connected one power feed and so far runs ok. I was expecting to have to take a second feed up to the small loop end.

Tornado as some pulling power had nine Pullman coaches without a problem. While that was running my camera was flat, so picture of LMS and BR maroon stock.

I always wanted a blue Pullman when I had my N gauge layout. They came into production just as I sold off all my N stock. The price today in 00 is beyond my small budget but was able to get old of a Triang one. In good condition as not got all the bells and whistles but runs well and am looking for a couple more coaches to fill it out. Love watching the come into Snow Hill Station, Birmingham on a Saturday with my Ian Allen ABC book of loco numbers. Fond memories.

Then to close my evening running tried the Class 66 and was the only one to give me problems with the leading bogie and 5 LMS coaches was to much for it. Hopefully when its run in it might improve.

 

[Clay Mills Junction]

Looking good and nice to see trains running and a nice selection of stock you have.

[kenbrunt]

I have had a great time playing trains and watching them pass by. Sorting through my stock to find out what runs or not and so stared with  one of my Wrenn Duchesses and a Bachmann Jubilee. Very pleased that the Wrenn loco performed well. I know they not the most detailed Locos around but they have good weight and seem to pull well. Next a Western Class 52. Very pleasing to see them have a good run. The Dean Goods ran well but poor pulling power. Now these two newer sets  GWR HST and Class 67 with a rake of Pullman stock behind. So far all have managed curry loop by the shed well. Hopefully will try my older steam to see how they like playing outside.

[chris]

Looking great with all your stock out and running.

When I have a problem with a coach I try two things. Rotate the coach through 180º. If it still runs badly (derails) then I move the coach within the rake. Trail and error usually leads to a formation that can run smoothly (in one direction!).

The big issue is coaches from different manufacturers with coupling at different heights or arm length. Careful matching of coupling type is sometimes required.