First train of the year on the TDR

grumpfuttock · Post by **grumpfuttock** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:10 am

It was such a lovely day, that I just had to stop weeding and enjoy it. I haven't had time to bring out the buildings etc. from their winter storage, so it's all pretty bare. The wooden stakes visible in some of the photos were originally holding the track in place, but have now been removed so the track floats in the ballast, great for weeding, I just lift the track and pull'em out !

"hmmm this looks interesting"

"Are there any more in there?"

"If I hide behind this bush, it won't see me !"

After 45 minutes of "Misti" following the train around the layout, "Speedy" our neighbours ginger tom came over to see what was going on. Hours of running after trains had been one of his pastimes during the summer of 2009 when he was a kitten. It's nice that our latest cat enjoys it too !

Pendo Pilot · Post by **Pendo Pilot** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:39 am

Lovely shots & thats a cat with some good track safety skills, unlike mine who gets hit all the while.

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:50 am

All very nice and I bet both you and the cats are glad you made the decision to stop weeding!

bessytractor · Post by **bessytractor** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:51 pm

as quoted in the CJ Freezer book of garden railways, "cats love garden railways".

I hope your cat keeps his RIMMINI's up to date!

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:34 am

as quoted in the CJ Freezer book of garden railways, "cats love garden railways".

Actually, that's been another major advantage of switching to Rowlands Mix instead of loose ballast - the cats don't give it a second glance now, it obviously looks nothing like a linear litter tray

grumpfuttock · Post by **grumpfuttock** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:04 am

Narrow Minded:52490 wrote:
as quoted in the CJ Freezer book of garden railways, "cats love garden railways".
Actually, that's been another major advantage of switching to Rowlands Mix instead of loose ballast - the cats don't give it a second glance now, it obviously looks nothing like a linear litter tray

I have a couple of friends in the UK with garden railways, whose cats were a problem.
There must be a difference between British cats and Danish ones :lol:
I can honestly say that despite having at least 8 different neighbourhood cats visiting our garden regularly, plus our own, not one of them has ever mistaken the ballast for a litter tray or tried to dig in the railway area. In fact come to think of it, we also have pheasants regulary in the garden, an occasional fox or deer, hedgehogs and weasels, and the railway hasn't suffered any sort of animal damage since it was started in 2005 apart from the results of birds eating too many elderberries ! (Last famous words)
This state of Utopia will probably change soon, as I plan to add telegraph poles and signals in the near future !

I have a question for bessytractor or someone obviously more intelligent than myself..... :scratch:
Being an exiled English person who has been living on a little Danish island for the past 32 years, could you please stifle a snigger and explain what "RIMMINI's" are ?

TommyDodd · Post by **TommyDodd** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:08 am

grumpfuttock:52530 wrote:I have a question for bessytractor or someone obviously more intelligent than myself..... :scratch:
Being an exiled English person who has been living on a little Danish island for the past 32 years, could you please stifle a snigger and explain what "RIMMINI's" are ?

It's a modern railway industry term, short for RIsk MINImisation, and is the name of the byzantine and paper-heavy planning process any trackside or on-track activity must go through before getting the go-ahead.

grumpfuttock · Post by **grumpfuttock** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:21 am

TommyDodd:52531 wrote: It's a modern railway industry term, short for RIsk MINImisation, and is the name of the byzantine and paper-heavy planning process any trackside or on-track activity must go through before getting the go-ahead.

Thank you Tommy,

OMG, does this mean, that if I plan on relaxing by the side of my track, eating a pork pie and drinking a pint of cider, I will have to submit reams of forms to the appropriate authorities, and have a piece of paper allowing me to do so !!!! Arrrrghhh !

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:19 am

Just slap on one of those plastic "high visibility" flaps everybody wears these days. They'll protect you from anything.

grumpfuttock · Post by **grumpfuttock** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:38 am

Keith S:52533 wrote:Just slap on one of those plastic "high visibility" flaps everybody wears these days. They'll protect you from anything.

Brilliant, I'll get one to wear when I'm shopping in the local supermarket

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First train of the year on the TDR

First train of the year on the TDR

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