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the Dorking Garden Railway


Andrew
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The sound of Class 66 music

Josh, who is a regular visitor to the DGR, has very kindly fitted my Class 66 with top quality sound.  Here's a video of it running on his layout - which is well worth a listen.  Looking forward to letting her out on the DGR again...

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Sounds really good Andrew - looking forward to seeing this on the DGR in the near future.

I've got a few of Jamie's soundfiles in my loco's and they are among the best out there - his class 37 being especially good.

I think the Bachmann 66 is still a pretty decent model despite its age. I have several and I honestly wouldn't wish to change them for the more recent Hattons version. We need something more rugged and able to withstand frequent handling and as you've proven, the addition of sound brings it to a new level. You've got a great representation of the real thing!

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It sounds very like a 66. It'll be interesting to see and hear it on DGR. I'm not a fan of 66s, too ubiquitous nowadays. Whenever I go down to the crossing it is always 66s that pass on freights (along with the crosscountry 220/221s and 170s on passenger).

But the model does look good as Mick says, no need for the extra detail on the Hattons or its fragility.

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  • 3 weeks later...

The Long Way Home

The Bachmann Class 66 has been away for a works visit to have superb sound installed (ESU LokSound chip, Jamie Goodman sound files and two speakers), the result of Josh being generous with his skills, time and advice.  This evening we tested her out on Wellbridge, a layout belonging to the Crawley Model Railway Society, and the result was impressive.  I'm hoping to get her out onto DGR metals again soon.

Here's a nice photo of her attracting professional attention from the station staff (thanks to Ewan for the pic):

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Edited by Andrew
typo
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  • 2 weeks later...

Back at the Ranch

I like to get some winter running done, partly to show the doubters that it's nothing special.  Outdoor operation is down to the weather, not the season.  Today's chilly sunshine following a dry period was ideal.  Mind you, I had to do quite a bit of gardening first to clear growth and debris off the track, but once the rails were rubbed clean and vacuumed the Class 66 with her newly acquired sound chip had a good day out, as did I.  Now that the loco has a chip, photos can be taken with the headlights on which looks much better.  Thanks, Josh.

Memo to self: need to weight the containers to improve the poor riding - and to weather the wagons and containers...

Not sure the pictures need any captions, except to say that the loco is shown hauling two different intermodal trains.

 

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Good to see you out on the layout in January Andrew. I would have done so myself if it hadn't been for messing around up in the attic but you can only be in one place at a time and I need to finish off up there before starting out elsewhere.

It's funny that you mentioning weighting the containers as I've just spent time removing the weights from most of mine. The class 66 struggled round the curves in the attic when hauling the complete rake but with the container weights removed it's no longer a problem. Not entirely sure why the weights are required as the wagons are heavy enough on their own but you're probably right with the stability aspect. I added a small amount of black-tack beneath the containers just to hold them securely in place.

Have fun with the weathering - it's worth it.

 

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  • 1 month later...

Goods to Go

It was a freightful day in Dorking, and although we saw some wonderful wagons, there were also a few troublesome trucks (mostly in fact showing up track defects).

First, a 9F came through Throstlebeck with a mixed goods train:

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Passing Foxdale Carr Hall

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Across Foxdale Bank

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and rounding Sycamore Curve

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Meanwhile, back at Throstlebeck Sidings a Black 5 was assisting with shunting

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and after being turned, departed with a rake of coal wagons

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Running off the Northern Viaduct

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across Foxdale Bank

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and passing beneath Black Ghyll

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Not long after, the 9F returned with another mixed goods

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which was last seen heading away from Foxdale Bank...

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On 30/01/2022 at 18:29, Andrew said:

Memo to self: need to weight the containers to improve the poor riding - and to weather the wagons and containers...

I feel your pain. My Spring challenge is to get my intermodal train looping without derailments.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Sleeping Cars for Fort William

It being high summer(!), photos can more easily be taken of sleeping cars in daylight.  So here are a few on the West Highland Line of a train taking passengers towards the Western Isles...

The first photo shows the sleepers arriving from London in the suburbs of Glasgow, to be joined to a local portion for the onward journey.

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The two portions are combined into a 9 coach train...

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Quite a challenge for a Class 4 engine on what will be an arduous route

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Hear those exhaust echoes ringing off the rocks...

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But the crew enjoy the downgrades...

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And glance out at the dramatic scenery...

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While keeping careful eyes on the road ahead...

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So all is looking good for an on-time arrival:

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Edited by Andrew
afterthought
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  • 2 weeks later...

Homage to Paul Riley

After spending yesterday evening watching an RCTS Zoom presentation of the late Paul Riley's BR steam photos, I realised that in order to look like period 1960s photos, it helps if the colour has a faded, 'period' look.  So I've reworked my last set of pictures by reducing the colour element by about 25 per cent in the hope that this makes them look more realistic. 

Perhaps colour accuracy and scene authenticity aren't quite the same thing.  I think the faded look adds something to the atmosphere and makes it look less like a shiny heritage railway.  The first photo shows shows the difference:

 

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Edited by Andrew
afterthought
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  • 1 month later...

How does your garden grow?

Answer: very rapidly during May.  I had to do some long overdue cutting back of vegetation on the scenic section of the railway this afternoon.  Let's hope there'll be some scope for running trains shortly.

 

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1952 Jubilation (well, I haven't got a Coronation)

I managed to dig out and scan some 70 year-old slides of Jubilee 45611 taking an excited crowd of people to London for a special occasion in 1952!

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Note trespasser on roof of first coach in final photo.

 

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Andrew, Your photos of Jubilee 45611 are wonderful and I can't wait to get something running at Howey. Nature as a habit of growing in the blink of an eye. Especially if its something you do not want to grow.  I would like to thank you for all your past photos and story of Dorking Garden Railway. You have given me loads of inspiration.

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On 04/06/2022 at 19:56, kenbrunt said:

...I would like to thank you for all your past photos and story of Dorking Garden Railway. You have given me loads of inspiration.

I agree. Those photos should give inspiration to anyone contemplating building an OO gauge garden railway. Great to see.

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That's very kind of you both, thanks.  While I enjoy running trains and watching them run past in the sunshine, I also like to notch up a few good photos as a record of each session.  The aim of these is to look passably realistic, which seems much easier on a garden railway than indoors.  And my steam era pictures seem to look a bit more authentic if they have slightly faded colours...

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  • 1 month later...

Running a modular railway

A great day today helping to operate the UK FREMO group's German outline railway, with full timetable running (to a speeded-up clock).  This weekend's layout had been assembled in a school hall and drivers had to drop off and collect wagons and run a train to schedule.  All very enjoyable.  Many thanks to the group for generously inviting us along to help run their trains!

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