Garden Railway - max track width.

Post by **philipy** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 3:24 pm

qh45:104278 wrote:Is track width a factor in determining what is a garden railway?

I don't see why it would be, the deciding factor, IMO, is it being in a garden!
I had N Gauge in the garden for a while. That still counted as a garden railway in my book, even though it was less than totally practical and didn't last more than a couple of seasons.

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:03 pm

Though you CAN run N gauge, 00 gauge and 009 in the garden, the usual smallest track gauge is 32mm, followed by 45mm. Small, ride-on railways of 3 1/2" gauge upwards are also garden railways, though some of the larger gauge ones in large gardens eventually turn out to be vast!!

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 2:39 pm

qh45:104340 wrote:I am beginning to think that mine is coming into the vast area. Using 7/8th scale on 45mm track, we dropped a clanger in thinking that our Lynton and Barnstaple Pilton depot, working to original full size railway plans, would fit into our shed. Not so, so we are now extending it from 120 feet to 180 feet in length. At least we will be able to run trains in the dry in winter months.

Wow!!! Are you planning to model the L&B in 7/8th??? In a shed 180 feet long?!! That's 6 times as long as my garden!

As much as I like all the little Hunslets etc with their 2 or 3 little trucks, I'd love to see something REALLY BIG in 7/8ths... Keep us posted!

Andrew.

Snailrail · Post by **Snailrail** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:54 pm

Andrew:104341 wrote:
qh45:104340 wrote:I'd love to see something REALLY BIG
You want REALLY big ? Then let's not muck about with this tiddly stuff.

How about 12in scale on 1435mm track, at least it would be if I could get some track and a couple of pairs of wheels.

Well it is a carriage and it is in the garden so surely it counts . . .

Brian

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 12:31 am

Great Easton 4w brake composite?

Post by **philipy** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:54 am

Mr. Bond of the DVLR:104352 wrote:Great Easton 4w brake composite?

Errr... should that read, "No wheel, broken, compost heap"?

Snailrail · Post by **Snailrail** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:50 am

philipy:104353 wrote:"No wheel, broken, compost heap"?

How rude, that's my home you're talking about

Seriously, it's not actually as bad as it looks, apart from the doors, and it looks a lot better than that now since I started doing some restoration work on it.

It's a Great Eastern brake third and I had thought about writing a thread about it if anyone was interested but where to put it, Off Topic, General Garden Railways, Rolling Stock ? Probably won't be doing much rolling again.

Brian

Big Jim · Post by **Big Jim** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:41 am

I think that you should start a thread on it.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:02 am

Yeah, me too, it's lovely...

Coincidentally I came across a drawing of something very similar- looking last night whilst flicking through one of my Dad's books on obscure GE branchlines. Love the long guard's compartment, and the shape of the windows and panelling. Was it 4 or 6 wheeled originally?

Peter Butler · Post by **Peter Butler** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:14 am

Big Jim:104357 wrote:I think that you should start a thread on it.

Beginning with.... how you found it, moved it, installed it and what you plan to do with it.
I would be so proud to have one in my garden. Lucky you!

Alan P · Post by **Alan P** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:28 am

I second what Peter said plus, if you know, what happened to the wheels, couplings etc :)

Snailrail · Post by **Snailrail** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:25 am

Ok, thanks for your interest. Later on I'll start a thread in Off Topic and tell you the full story as far as I know it

Brian

Post by **philipy** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 1:34 pm

Snailrail:104355 wrote:
philipy:104353 wrote:"No wheel, broken, compost heap"?
How rude, that's my home you're talking about ;)

Sorry, couldn't resist it!

Yes, a thread would be good please.

Snailrail · Post by **Snailrail** » Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:02 pm

Sorry if my post seems to have hijacked your thread, hope you're not offended

To be honest I wasn't quite sure what you were getting at with your original question. As someone else said I think the only factor is that it is a railway in the garden. I don't think track width is relevant. If I could get my coach on wheels and drag it up and down 50 ft of track I could justifiably call it a garden railway. It all depends on how big your garden is and what size railway you want or can accommodate.

Brian

IrishPeter · Post by **IrishPeter** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 4:30 am

I tend to regard garden railways as being 'non-riding model railways' with a gauge between 16.5mm (which seems to be the smallest practical) and 2.5" and between 4mm and 7/8th" scale. Bigger than that and you are into the realm of ride-on model engineering stuff, but there are a few guys on here who fudge that distinction!

HOWEVER, that is my opinion, and as a colleague of mine says - "that and a buck and a half will get you a ride down town" (and very little else these days!)

Peter in AZ

SteveC · Post by **SteveC** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:28 pm

Well our planned railway is now two! Both will be in a garden, but totally different. The original plan is a narrow gauge style on 45mm, for which I have all the main components (track, points, 4 locos and assorted rolling stock). The second will be a ride-on 5" gauge, at the request of the financial controller, which will be in the form of a large oval around the edge of the garden. For this I am currently finishing off battery/diesel using a Maxitrak chassis. So far it has been driven the length of our flat. The only issues I've had so far is a simple wiring error and the wrong paint. Both will be solved over the next few days. I think both are garden railways.

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