the Dorking Garden Railway

[jimbob]

Always thought this was a good idea but has never really taken off in the UK except in American or European (HO) format. From the UK groups l have found there seems to be some problems about what measurements and spacing to follow as the existing rules are for HO not OO. 

 

[Andrew]

There's a neat 17 min video of the FREMO session, shot by Ewan, here:

https://youtu.be/3Z-YtfmIAos

BTW, that superb station is Neuhausen, not Nordhausen.

Edited February 29, 2020 by Andrew
video link added

[Andrew]

First trains of the year

About time too, I hear some say.  Well, up till now the weather hasn't been great this year, and there's always real life which conspires to get in the way of running trains.  But with this recent spell of fine weather - and no social obligations intervening(!) - I was able to make the most of today.

It was a Southern day in honour of the sunshine, and the first train past was a coal train hauled by an N Class 2-6-0:

 

 

 

 

 

Then a West Country appeared with a passenger train, seen here running past the goods train at Northdown Sidings:

 

Running across the Northern Viaduct and past Foxdale Carr Hall:

 

Heading past the new footbridge on towards Foxdale Bank:

 

 

And past the commemorative platelayers hut:

 

Just caught a threequarter rear view as she passed:

 

 

 

Then the N Class reappeared on a local passenger train:

 

Rumbling past empty coaching stock in the sidings:

 

 

[mick]

12 hours ago, Andrew said:

....About time too, I hear some say.....

Been waiting in anticipation Andrew!

Trains on the DGR are generally the first signs of Spring and announce that Garden Railway season is officially opened.

Great photos and though I've probably said it many times before, the blacks and Southern green really do compliment the background vegetation, especially in the sunshine.

[ba14eagle]

I always love to see your pictures Andrew, you have a beautifully set railway.

[Andrew]

Thanks for the kind comments.

One more shot:

 

 

[Andrew]

Today I just enjoyed the sunshine while re-soldering a number of failed rail end bonds, after having buffed up the solder sites with a wire brush in the minidrill. 

Then it was time to plant out a few lineside telegraph poles on the scenic section, filling gaps which were overlong or where other poles have disappeared.  I stuck the poles onto cut down plastic garden spikes (around 5cm long) with a glue gun, so will have to see how durable that is. 

Perhaps running on Monday...

[Andrew]

It turned out that yesterday wasn't the best for weather, but it was fine for a running day and I managed to capture some sunshine shots in between the overcast phases.  Here is the Hornby Dublo 2-6-4T on a stopping train at various points on the layout.  As many ageing stars know, bright light can be cruel, but I still think we get some nice atmosphere:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andrew]

A Bulleid Pacific in action

There's a 2 minute video here:

 

 

 

 

[ba14eagle]

Great video Andrew - the cant on the curve looks superb and running just at the right speed.

[mick]

Your photos are always a source of inspiration Andrew but only rarely of late are we presented with a video so it's really great to see you back in the swing again.

A really enjoyable video - thank you.

[Andrew]

Thanks for those nice comments, gentlemen.

Various things happened today, but I'll begin with this photo of Thomas taking Annie and Clarabel out on an early morning train, passing Sycamore Cottage:

 

[Andrew]

Somewhere in Scotland?

I can't now remember whether these scenes from long ago were taken on the West Highland Line or the route to the Kyle of Lochalsh (or maybe even the Central Wales line).  Still, the Black 5's crew are handling the long train well - and not a hint of feathering from the safety valves!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe this version looks more authentic:

Edited April 12, 2020 by Andrew
afterthought

[Andrew]

A bluebell railway

Pictures from yesterday's running session. 

First, the Black 5 on Foxdale Bank:

 

 

The same stretch of track, here with a Jubilee and 10 bogies:

 

 

Scene at Throstlebeck (note Powercab):

 

 

and Sycamore Curve in late sunshine:

 

[mick]

9 hours ago, Andrew said:

....First, the Black 5 on Foxdale Bank:...

That bank appears steeper every time you photograph it! How on earth do you get up there to clean the track and so on?

Great scenery, great photos as usual Andrew.

[Andrew]

Thanks, Mick.  Gorilla arms.

[Andrew]

Just uploaded a hasty video of the Black 5 as a small sample of the last running session:

https://youtu.be/pgrsnHZuGSE

If you follow the soundtrack carefully there's a real live diesel horn intrudes at one point - and we're not particularly close to the North Downs Line.

You can see a few things running around near the track, which I think must be startled rabbits.

Here's a still of that train:

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by Andrew
photo added

[chris]

One day I record the sound of trains passing the garden and then mix them into a video of the same unit. 

Thinking about it, I have a recording of a Freightliner 66 passing slowly on a container train. That gives me an idea.

[mick]

Nice video Andrew - the cant on the curves looks particularly impressive.

Regarding the diesel horn, it's amazing sometimes just how far sound can travel given the right conditions.

[Andrew]

I can't take credit for the cant - it's a bonus(?) of having an ageing timber track base.  Mostly it tilts in the right direction!