Notley Docks Light Railway (NDLR)

Stuvon · Post by **Stuvon** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:14 pm

Welcome to the Notley Docks Light Railway a 16mm/ft 32mm gauge line on the Essex - Suffolk Border.

The line was built in 2011 by my Dad & currently takes the form of a Dog Bone with two balloon loops joined by a section of single track. The trains change the points themselves meaning that a train left running will always pass you in alternate directions. There are plans afoot to add a branch line to small station / yard allowing shunting operations to take place.

Trackwork is currently exclusively Peco SM32, using a mix of 2ft6 Setrack curves and medium radius points. Work is currently being undertaken to scratch-build a set of 2ft6 radius points to allow for the branch line to be added to the top balloon loop (watch this space for build progress!!)

While my dad built and nearly exclusively operates the NDLR I run the NDLR Stanway Works - an excuse to buy rolling stock and Loco's without actually having a garden railway! (My own garden railway – The NDLR Stanway Works Test Track is a box full of Big Big track sometimes laid out on the lawn).

The line has no theme as my dad is a strong believer of “It's my line and I shall run what I want!”

Motive power takes the form of Steam and Battery Electric – The fleet currently consists of:

Motive Power Owned by the NDLR

No. Class Fuel Notes:

1 Mamod Steam/Butane-Propane Mix Built in the NDLR workshops from
parts purchased from various sources,
has Radio Control fitted on regulator

2 NDLR TRAM Battery/Electric Scratch Built in NDLR workshops,
fitted with radio control (Forward, Reverse &
lights)

3 IP Rapier Battery/Electric Built in NDLR workshops
Manual Control

4 Ted Glens Truck Battery/Electric Purchased new from the Postman Pat Range
Fitted with RC (Forward / Reverse) headlights
Hazard lights – usually used by the
Permanent way team

5 Leader Steam/Butane Purchased new from the Isle of Man, since been fitted
with RC on the reverser, nameplates and a wooden cab floor

Motive Power owned by NDLR Stanway Works

No. Class Fuel Notes:

9 Big Big Ruston Battery/Electric Purchased second hand by the
NDLR Stanway Works, since been fitted
with 7.2V electric system, 2.4 GhZ RC
(proportional forward, reverse &
Directional lights)
ACME sound unit fitted.

10 Ragleth Steam/Butane Purchased second hand by the
NDLR Stanway Works, since been fitted
with RC on the reverser, nameplates and a wooden cab floor

Stock List:

Passenger Stock

1x IP Freelance 3 Compartment Coach
1x IP Freelance 2 Compartment / Guard Coach
1x NDLR Scratch Built workman’s coach

Goods Stock:

2x IP Ezee Range Brake Van
1x IP Ezee Range Parcel Wagon (normally used for timber or digital cameras)
1x IP Ezee Range Goods Van
2x Andel open trucks (left outside for effect)
4x NDLR Scratch Built open trucks (2 used for coal) 2 general purpose
1x NDLR Scratch Built Long wheel base Flat Truck
1x NDLR Scratch Built Medium wheel base Flat Truck
1x NDLR Scratch Built Short wheel base Flat Truck (used for Mamod RC battery)
1x NDLR Scratch Built Goods Van (built to the Freelance coach Loading Gauge)
1x NDLR Scratch Built Penrhyn Style Tender Wagon (used as coupling height adaptor)

Misc. Stock.
1x Cement Mixer Wagon

Owned by the NDLR Stanway Works:

10x Big Big Tippers

No. 5 (left) and No. 10 pose for the camera

No. 2 on a local parcel service

Ted Glen out in No.4 the permanent way maintenance truck

No. 9 on a small coal and ballast train

And Finally some very short "taster" videos: (clicking will probably take you to photobucket?)

No.1

No.4

No.5

No. 9

N0.10

Watch this space for a feature length "Day on the NDLR" - coming soon!

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:52 pm

Looks excellent! Will have to arrange some visits, I'm in East Suffolk.

90733 · Post by **90733** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:37 pm

Looks great, very neat.

Gremlin · Post by **Gremlin** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:33 am

That looks a nice run and a good amount of stock.

Annie · Post by **Annie** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 12:30 pm

I love the conversion on Ted Glen's truck

George · Post by **George** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:28 pm

Great selection of photos

nice line!

Stuvon · Post by **Stuvon** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:49 pm

It's been far too long since this thread was updated.

However, my dad is still working hard and currently he is working on the newest item of rolling stock, a scratch built NER style snowplough.

Once complete we probably won't get anymore snow so it will have to wait until next year before being tested in anger.

In other news No.4 has had an entirely new radio control set-up installed meaning the unsightly box on the back can be removed and replaced with a tarpaulin.

Lastly, No.3 has had all of it's finishing touches applied and so could be classed as complete?!? (is this possible - nothing in this hobby is ever complete surely??)

williamfj · Post by **williamfj** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:37 pm

Very nice Rapier there, and that snowplough!

Sylvian Tennant · Post by **Sylvian Tennant** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:13 am

I love the line and I second that man's feelings on the snowplough

Lner fan Sam · Post by **Lner fan Sam** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:33 pm

Like the rapier how much does it pull be the way?

Stuvon · Post by **Stuvon** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:16 pm

Lner fan Sam:81264 wrote: how much does it pull be the way?

The rapier has no problem pulling 8 trucks around the 2ft6in curves, My personal record (when dad wasn't looking) is 7 Big Big tippers full of concrete, 2 Andel coal trucks and an IP Ezee range brake van.

It has the 4WD kit and LOTS of lead. It needed the weight to help it change the Peco points as it goes round, the extra pulling power is just a bonus.

The rapier, usually has flat batteries in to keep the speed down, and has used the current set for for 6-9 months!!

williamfj:81248 wrote: that snowplough! :love10:

That snowplough is "inspired" by NER No. 12 currently in the NRM at Shildon.

Stuvon · Post by **Stuvon** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:26 pm

The completed snowplough got it's first run today in helpfully snowy conditions. The snow was a little damp and sticky but with the help of No. 9 Czezowski Castle the Stanway Works Ruston (the heaviest RC diesel we have), half the line was cleared in 20 minutes.

Any thoughts of a full test with steam power were quickly forgotten as it was blowing a very cold gale with driving snow and neither my dad or me was prepared to stay outside long enough to steam an engine.

Below is a short video showing how wrong our choice of loco probably was. The fact that you can barely hear the sound unit under the Ruston probably points to a knackered gearbox (I'm not surprised) due to repeatedly charging the snow for 20 mins before this was taken.
Click the photo below to view the video in photobucket.

Lner fan Sam · Post by **Lner fan Sam** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:46 pm

Looks fun up. Up here in the north we had nothing in the form of snow.

Sylvian Tennant · Post by **Sylvian Tennant** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:31 am

Yeah, we're just below sam and we had sod all, but it's still too cold.

I love that Snowplough!

Stuvon · Post by **Stuvon** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:18 pm

Here is a video taken during a running session on 7/4/13, it's the first video I've tried to edit - please be gentle!!

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Stuvon · Post by **Stuvon** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:11 pm

It's been far too long since this thread was updated, and what better time to do it as today I visited my parents for the first time in a few weeks (been on holiday). The long planned branch line is now well underway, taking the line up the garden, turning at the top and down the other side to a proposed terminus and dock.

The eventual running plan will probably end up with trains running as per the Statfold Barn Railway: ie. out of terminus, round a far balloon loop, and return to terminus to run round etc.

Here are some photos to illustrate progress:

Overview of Windmill Junction

New platform location at Windmill Junction

New bridge crossing the stream

As yet unnamed back (1in47)

Curve at the top of the garden (the highest point of the line)

LnBmad · Post by **LnBmad** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:26 pm

Looks good! What radii are the curves you're putting down there?

Stuvon · Post by **Stuvon** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:28 pm

LnBmad:86529 wrote:Looks good! What radii are the curves you're putting down there?

There is a mixture of radii, but all of the "original" line and some of the branch uses 2ft6" Set track curves. Most of the motive power is RC and we get very few issues. It just means that with a long train you have to drive the line rather than sitting back.

Here is a video of No.10 Emma-Jane on gauging trials storming the bank with 10 rock filled tippers.
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Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:15 pm

I really love the stream!
Excellent progress

Big Al · Post by **Big Al** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:29 am

Hi stuart, Are you fixing the ballast down or is it left loose.

Garden Railway Forum

Notley Docks Light Railway (NDLR)

Notley Docks Light Railway (NDLR)

Update: 14/3/13

August 2013 Update

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