Garden Railway Forum

SimonWood wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 11:25 am Fantastic Chris. Good choice on the whistle - absolutely essential of course. I've fitted that and the top up to mine. I've also got one of the new burners but haven't tried it yet, it's really good to hear yours lit first time. Anyway, congrats on the new acquisition. Regner steam rally next time we meet!

Thanks Simon . I can report back that the burner ignites first time outdoors as well ! I made up a coupling hook from some brass bar and gave Vincent a run .

The long awaited construction of a water feature has begun with help from the Lambak Railway's Civil Engineer. There was a weather window of opportunity last week which enabled work on the pond retaining wall to commence.
The stones have been recycled from a demolished Chapel not to far away .Good progress was made with the first load . Just waiting for some drier weather to continue the build .

Love the dry-stone wall, that will make such a difference to the presentation of the railway.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Sun Jan 25, 2026 1:36 pm Love the dry-stone wall, that will make such a difference to the presentation of the railway.

I agree. That section from the station to the curve gave the illusion of the railway floating mid air.
The dry stone wall method used was a joy to watch as a pile of rubble took form .
Inspired by the progress made led me to think about what type of watercraft would be on the pond,which made me think about making a coracle. The frame was made from garden wire and the canvas from a toe end of a sock. To make the Hull water tight I used some car underseal diluted with some white spirit . The paddle and seat were made from coffee stirrers l will use some clear marine varnish to seal the hull
Chris

That is real class! Absolutely brilliant!

Superb Chris, love it!
Living in West Wales I can't imagine where you got such a brilliant idea.

Great idea. What will you waterproof it with?

Rik

As a Welshman and a naval architect, I am loving the coracle!

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Mon Jan 26, 2026 1:45 pm Superb Chris, love it!
Living in West Wales I can't imagine where you got such a brilliant idea.

Inspiration came in two forms , The Teifi, and an infamous Character from the Barry Welsh Comedy series whose punchline was "Mainly because its challenge ".

ge_rik wrote: ↑Tue Jan 27, 2026 8:16 am Great idea. What will you waterproof it with?

Rik

Hi Rik
I have given the Coracle two coats of yacht varnish to seal the hull just waiting for it to cure before test floating it in a bowl of water.

Durley wrote: ↑Tue Jan 27, 2026 10:07 am As a Welshman and a naval architect, I am loving the coracle!

Diolch am y ganmoliaeth.

Thanks all for the positive comments.
Here is a link to one of the Barry Welsh coracle sketches.

Wonderful coracle sketch, Welsh humour!

Lovely picture too... Cenarth Falls.

Best of luck with the waterproofing, what a great detail to add.

Wall's nice too.

It Floats! I had some coins at hand to use as ballast in case the coracle was unstable, but all is well. The multiple coats of varnish added to the weight.
Now where's that pond?
Talking of which another load of stone arrived last week on a very dull, and windy day . Good progress was made . The front retaining wall was completed and it incorporates a step for access to the railway and to the rear of the water feature.

Nice work, beautifully done by an expert.

I did wonder if it would be top heavy with the figure sitting on the thwart. I believe there is an art for the rower in keeping the thing upright on the water.

Rik

All really coming on well. The coracle is a nice excuse for a pond!

ge_rik wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 3:09 pm I did wonder if it would be top heavy with the figure sitting on the thwart. I believe there is an art for the rower in keeping the thing upright on the water.

Rik

Possibly explains why many are knelt in?
Keeps the CoG lower.

Phil.P

Phil.P wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 2:33 pm

ge_rik wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 3:09 pm I did wonder if it would be top heavy with the figure sitting on the thwart. I believe there is an art for the rower in keeping the thing upright on the water.

Rik

Possibly explains why many are knelt in?
Keeps the CoG lower.

Phil.P

I think most are seated not knelt in the UK. Don't know about in Asia There are various designs for the coracle all depending on the river it has been made for . The Teifi coracle is different to the Carmarthenshire variant. Having a wide flat bottom so it sits on the water as to displacing it. This allows for it to be able to float in a few inches of water .

Chris

I really like the coracle. Thankyou to Chris for sharing this idea and build.

ge_rik wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 3:09 pm I did wonder if it would be top heavy with the figure sitting on the thwart. I believe there is an art for the rower in keeping the thing upright on the water.

Rik

And according to https://www.coraclesociety.org.uk/coracles/using getting in and out without taking an involuntary cold bath. Anyone else remember Treasure Island and Jim's adventures in Ben Gunn's coracle? Going in - even vaguely - the intended direction was mentioned as a problem for him.

Now I plan to have some water on my line, so maybe...

Petersfield wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 4:17 pm I really like the coracle. Thankyou to Chris for sharing this idea and build.

ge_rik wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 3:09 pm I did wonder if it would be top heavy with the figure sitting on the thwart. I believe there is an art for the rower in keeping the thing upright on the water.

Rik

And according to https://www.coraclesociety.org.uk/coracles/using getting in and out without taking an involuntary cold bath. Anyone else remember Treasure Island and Jim's adventures in Ben Gunn's coracle? Going in - even vaguely - the intended direction was mentioned as a problem for him.

Now I plan to have some water on my line, so maybe...

We just read Voyage of the Dawn Treader with the kids and a coracle features pretty prominently in a few chapters. Having never seen one in use, I appreciate this model as a visual aid of how someone who isn't a large talking mouse would use it!

drewzero1 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 2:32 am We just read Voyage of the Dawn Treader with the kids and a coracle features pretty prominently in a few chapters. Having never seen one in use, I appreciate this model as a visual aid of how someone who isn't a large talking mouse would use it!

I'd forgotten Reepicheep! Still, probably not too many coracle users wear swords. For those that do, to reduce the risk of making an embarrassing insurance claim, maybe wear it over your back rather than at your waist?