Garden Railway Forum

With so many cows in such a confined space, pats are definitely called for...
I am surrounded by beef and dairy farms so must do a site visit and measure up some of the real thing!
I might even post photographs with scale measurements alongside for those who don't have immediate access to cow pats and need this information.
Is there no end to the value of membership of this forum?

Stop talking sh*t and get on with the modelling Peter.

Hi Peter, I have just read your thread from top to bottom. I have enjoyed it very much, so far, and look forward to the progress as things move on. It just goes to show no matter how challenging the terrain, a desirable railway can be built. Personally I am not a fan of the raised lines on stilts but I like how you have a bit of everything and I understand why you have done that. You have inspired me to integrate a garden shed into my future layout, I love haw you have retired a travelling show piece into there, wonderful!

So many points of interest!

I do look forward to seeing the line age and grow over time, credit where it is due Peter, you have done a wonderful job!

Well thank you Ace, I'm glad you have enjoyed my ramblings.... I will continue to add to my thread as time goes by and new projects emerge. Having been exhibiting model railways for more than 40 years I have some experience of what the public want to see, whether it is prototypical or not. I try to make my railway in such a way that it has that sort of appeal as I have little knowledge of real railway operation. I tend not to play trains, I just enjoy building the railway and stock.
The best part is when we hold an open day to support our local model club and other 16millers come with their models. Big Jim (of this forum) lives just a few miles away and brings his steamers.
I wish you every success with your future layout and look forward to watching it progress.

It has been a long time since my last post on this thread because of other projects....but I have now completed the electrics on the 2CV twins.


At last I have managed to buy a six battery holder and connect via a centre-off, two way switch.


It works very well in both directions and looks pretty good plodding around the railway.

Lovely station, cars are nice too, other projects..... MOTY?

They look like the sort of thing that you could cause great mischief with, and then video for youtube...

They look like the sort of thing that Killer rodent's love...

On Thursday 17th April 2014, the B.U.R.P.S. aquired its first steam locomotive. This is a Roundhouse 'Billy' built from one of their Modular Systems. The loco was made by a very good friend only a year ago and barely run-in. I know the history of this engine and it is also good to know the maker has 'visiting rights' to come and play any time he wishes!
As mentioned on another thread, the reason it has come to stay is due to my 'special' 65th Birthday and is a combined present from my family.





Billy will soon be fitted with RC and probably a paint job at the same ime.

Peter Butler:98093 wrote:It has been a long time since my last post on this thread because of other projects....but I have now completed the electrics on the 2CV twins.

It works very well in both directions and looks pretty good plodding around the railway.

Excellent idea with 2CVs back-to-back. I thought about doing two Bedford OBs in the same fashion, but the wheel bases are too short and the overhang too long So it´s a real pleasure to see these two.

bazzer42:98096 wrote:Lovely station, cars are nice too, other projects..... MOTY?

Thanks bazzer, there are so many projects in the pipeline I don't know which to begin first!
As for MOTY..... as you know I managed to come home with the Gordon Diplock Trophy last year but thought I would give this year's show a miss. It is a long way from West Wales and I couldn't justify the journey, so probably next year? However.... although I would have entered the MOTY again, there is no doubt I would have been ignored by the judges who selected a most impressive and worthy winner... a locomotive with square wheels!!!!! Where did that come from?
The competition is attracting new and more outrageous entries and raising the bar, so next time it has to be something really special.

Peter Butler:99713 wrote:

bazzer42:98096 wrote:Lovely station, cars are nice too, other projects..... MOTY?

 Thanks bazzer, there are so many projects in the pipeline I don't know which to begin first!
 As for MOTY..... as you know I managed to come home with the Gordon Diplock Trophy last year but thought  I would give this year's show a miss.   It is a long way from West Wales and I couldn't justify the journey, so probably next year?   However.... although I would have entered the MOTY again, there is no doubt I would have been ignored by the judges who selected a most impressive and worthy winner... a locomotive with square wheels!!!!!    Where did that come from?
 The competition is attracting new and more outrageous entries and raising the bar, so next time it has to be something really special.

Looking forward to seeing some new stuff

Getting the bug now! Spending more time watching the trains go by, something I never expected to say!
Of course, having a steamer makes a difference as I must spend time getting to grips with the control system. It runs very smoothly when I get it right, and just about the time I do master it I will be fitting RC anyway!
Yesterday, my friend (and Forum Member, Dick H) brought his beautiful locomotive to run on B.U.R.P.S. and let me 'drive' using his RC system which is so positive it is a real pleasure to use.

[quote="Peter Butler:99985"]Getting the bug now!    Spending more time watching the trains go by, something I never expected to say!  
Of course, having a steamer makes a difference as I must spend time getting to grips with the control system.   It runs very smoothly when I get it right, and just about the time I do master it I will be fitting RC anyway!
Yesterday, my friend (and Forum Member, Dick H) brought his beautiful locomotive to run on B.U.R.P.S. and let me 'drive' using his RC system which is so positive it is a real pleasure to use.

quote]

Glad to hear it

And it was an absolute pleasure to visit Peter and his family - hospitality was magnificent if not a problem for the diet and his railway is a joy. I think you have all seen the modelling capabilities of Peter on this forum but to see the standard of his indoor layout is something to behold - truly talented - but it was nice to see him have a twinkle in his eyes playing with the steam trains!!!

DickH:99989 wrote:but it was nice to see him have a twinkle in his eyes playing with the steam trains!!!

That's what we like to hear! Sounds like a fun day...

Well we can't play trains all day, can we?
Anyway, the weather has been pretty wet over the past few days and other things to do..... again!
Today I spent most of the time at a local Toy and Train Fair where our Club had a display stand to promote our exhibition, next Saturday, May 3rd.
One of the jobs on the railway is to make sides for the curved viaduct...

I had planned to make them all the same from Plasticard and got around to producing one but then got bored...


With a total of 16 to make I was not looking forward to doing it again so looked for an alternative for at least one span. At the Train Fair I saw one of these....

I already have one which is almost as old as me, so with four sides available I did some cutting...

And filing....

You can tell their age from the Rovex manufacturing stamp, must be 55 years old at least!
When put together they are just the right length for one span which crosses the roadway and will look much better there than the girders.


A length of metal rod set into the top framework and a Plasticard strip to bond the two together at the bottom and they are ready for painting.
Now only another 13 to go!

The girders are now in place to try for clearance of my stock and for load testing prior to painting.



I think that a steam loco with a van full of elephants is a suitable load-test, and it looks pretty good too!
Since taking these pictures I have sprayed them with plastic primer and an acrylic top coat in green..... pictures to follow.

Peter Butler:100152 wrote:!
  Since taking these pictures I have sprayed them with plastic primer and an acrylic top coat in green..... pictures to follow.

Err.... I though Elephants were supposed to be grey?!!

Like the idea of bridge testing with model elephants!