The EJ&KLR: Austrian narrow gauge in Cheshire
- Thread starter jameshilton
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jameshilton
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Re:The EJ&KLR project
Thank you everyone for your kind words
Thank you everyone for your kind words
Brixham
No buffers were hurt at this sign
Re:The EJ&KLR project
Fab pictures....and I keep coming back to read the whole thread. Well done
As I was on my way home, I thought a bit about your newly acquired railway land, and the restrictions imposed.
If it were me, and it's not, I would have a different arrangement of the tracks for EJ&KLR2, so as to have a different feel to #1. Even a different theme ( US short line/Welsh NG/'Colonial', but this gets expensive with double the stock.
How about a large folded dogbone, with a station on the 'double track' arranged at the rear. This would leave a central area free of infrastructure, suitable for a clothes drying apparatus ( also suitable for drying spray painted items ). The dogbone loops at either side/ends could also be at different elevations to add interest. A central pathway between the loops gives operator access to the station, via the ( removable ) clothes dryer. This would just about fit into 14 ft square, the loops at each end would have to be radius 2, with transition curves of radius 3 and 5 if you wish to keep to sectional track. The station would then appear to be a junction of 4 single lines, or with a closer track spacing, double track into 2 single branches.
Electrically, treat as a single track, or, if you want operating crossovers in the station area, treat that as parallel track, with switchable polarity in the loops. Or go dcc/mts.
I would post a diagram, but I can't from home.
Another idea I've just had is to have a folded figure of 8 running around the perimiter of the area, there's just enough running length to have gradients that permit an overbridge. Trains would run twice around the plot before returning to their starting point.
Food for thought....
Malcolm
Fab pictures....and I keep coming back to read the whole thread. Well done
As I was on my way home, I thought a bit about your newly acquired railway land, and the restrictions imposed.
If it were me, and it's not, I would have a different arrangement of the tracks for EJ&KLR2, so as to have a different feel to #1. Even a different theme ( US short line/Welsh NG/'Colonial', but this gets expensive with double the stock.
How about a large folded dogbone, with a station on the 'double track' arranged at the rear. This would leave a central area free of infrastructure, suitable for a clothes drying apparatus ( also suitable for drying spray painted items ). The dogbone loops at either side/ends could also be at different elevations to add interest. A central pathway between the loops gives operator access to the station, via the ( removable ) clothes dryer. This would just about fit into 14 ft square, the loops at each end would have to be radius 2, with transition curves of radius 3 and 5 if you wish to keep to sectional track. The station would then appear to be a junction of 4 single lines, or with a closer track spacing, double track into 2 single branches.
Electrically, treat as a single track, or, if you want operating crossovers in the station area, treat that as parallel track, with switchable polarity in the loops. Or go dcc/mts.
I would post a diagram, but I can't from home.
Another idea I've just had is to have a folded figure of 8 running around the perimiter of the area, there's just enough running length to have gradients that permit an overbridge. Trains would run twice around the plot before returning to their starting point.
Food for thought....
Malcolm
jameshilton
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Re:The EJ&KLR project
Malcolm - thanks, food for thought.
Malcolm - thanks, food for thought.
jameshilton
Registered
Re:The EJ&KLR project
Forever in search of realism I have adjusted some of the photos I took into black and white, adjusting the exposure, contrast and shadows with iPhoto - as well as careful cropping...
I think the results speak for themselves
Really pleased with these, thinking of refreshing the blog with a new top image as a result - which one is people's favourite and why?
Forever in search of realism I have adjusted some of the photos I took into black and white, adjusting the exposure, contrast and shadows with iPhoto - as well as careful cropping...
I think the results speak for themselves
Really pleased with these, thinking of refreshing the blog with a new top image as a result - which one is people's favourite and why?
garrymartin
My Family,Railways, Beer and the Seaside
Re:The EJ&KLR project
Excellent results James, my vote goes to the 3 loco's on shed
Excellent results James, my vote goes to the 3 loco's on shed
jameshilton
Registered
Re:The EJ&KLR project
Gary - one of my favourites too, and it works well even as a signature image
Gary - one of my favourites too, and it works well even as a signature image
PaulRhB
This Way Up
Re:The EJ&KLR project
2,4 & 5 are my favourites as the scenery behind scales better to the train. Nice work as usual James
I think the current branch has proved how tastefully it can work in the garden and probably Elly's involvement has made it even better as it truly is a family thing. Looking forward to progress, you could imagine it as a branch up another valley much like the different parts of the Harz have specific names and even architecture differences. How will the lines connect though? A small train ferry that fits in the car perhaps, or a tunnel?
2,4 & 5 are my favourites as the scenery behind scales better to the train. Nice work as usual James
I think the current branch has proved how tastefully it can work in the garden and probably Elly's involvement has made it even better as it truly is a family thing. Looking forward to progress, you could imagine it as a branch up another valley much like the different parts of the Harz have specific names and even architecture differences. How will the lines connect though? A small train ferry that fits in the car perhaps, or a tunnel?
CoggesRailway
Registered
Re:The EJ&KLR project
Great news the empire is expanding. Always enjoy your pictures.
Great news the empire is expanding. Always enjoy your pictures.
jameshilton
Registered
Re:The EJ&KLR project
Today was only the second time this year I've managed a running day! I'm going to post up four sets of photos, as I had a friend visiting!
So we started off doing quite a bit of testing of 'new' stuff. First outdoor use of my new Helmsman controller, first use of the Schoema diesel and first use of the roll-wagen... all worked faultlessly, I'm a very happy man.
So first up I'll share some photos of the EJ&JLR in 1980s mode, with a very short train (until my other modern stock is ready). This ran very well indeed - you'd not believe the flat wagon and Schoema both started off as Lehmann Oil starter set items! The roll-wagen ran very well both forwards and backwards but was getting a touch squeaky after an hour or so of running so I'll need to bring over the graphite dust again for that next time I run it.
Next up a time warp back to the 1950s...
Today was only the second time this year I've managed a running day! I'm going to post up four sets of photos, as I had a friend visiting!
So we started off doing quite a bit of testing of 'new' stuff. First outdoor use of my new Helmsman controller, first use of the Schoema diesel and first use of the roll-wagen... all worked faultlessly, I'm a very happy man.
So first up I'll share some photos of the EJ&JLR in 1980s mode, with a very short train (until my other modern stock is ready). This ran very well indeed - you'd not believe the flat wagon and Schoema both started off as Lehmann Oil starter set items! The roll-wagen ran very well both forwards and backwards but was getting a touch squeaky after an hour or so of running so I'll need to bring over the graphite dust again for that next time I run it.
Next up a time warp back to the 1950s...
jameshilton
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Re:The EJ&KLR project
So after the Schoema had a run I wanted to try out the Rugens. I could get it to run ok outside with the starter set controller but it was jerky and not very nice to operate. What a transformation with the handheld Helmsman, smooth and buttery, controllable, and kept the Rugens at a smoother pace through the R2 sections of the sharper corners...
I was also pleased with how the roll-wagen looked with the older stock as well, and it shows how flexible the scenery can be - all I changed was the stock...
So after the Schoema had a run I wanted to try out the Rugens. I could get it to run ok outside with the starter set controller but it was jerky and not very nice to operate. What a transformation with the handheld Helmsman, smooth and buttery, controllable, and kept the Rugens at a smoother pace through the R2 sections of the sharper corners...
I was also pleased with how the roll-wagen looked with the older stock as well, and it shows how flexible the scenery can be - all I changed was the stock...
jameshilton
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Re:The EJ&KLR project
So even further back in time, for the first time, and a change of continents...
My friend Tim (Persistant Bodger) has been scratchbuilding this Irish/Isle of Man inspired stock on 1980s Chinese 'Echo' chassis. This Norwegian Beyer Peacock is on a Stainz chassis, and he has a Barclay 4-4-0T and a IOM BP inspired tank as well... Absolutely lovely models, you can tell I was always the designer and Tim was always the artist, whereas my models are sharp, clean and neat, his stuff is more of an impression, artistic and very easy on the eye. He is on here, and is hooked on the garden stuff, so he might be around a bit more, although he doesn't have a permanent outdoor line (yet).
So even further back in time, for the first time, and a change of continents...
My friend Tim (Persistant Bodger) has been scratchbuilding this Irish/Isle of Man inspired stock on 1980s Chinese 'Echo' chassis. This Norwegian Beyer Peacock is on a Stainz chassis, and he has a Barclay 4-4-0T and a IOM BP inspired tank as well... Absolutely lovely models, you can tell I was always the designer and Tim was always the artist, whereas my models are sharp, clean and neat, his stuff is more of an impression, artistic and very easy on the eye. He is on here, and is hooked on the garden stuff, so he might be around a bit more, although he doesn't have a permanent outdoor line (yet).
jameshilton
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Re:The EJ&KLR project
So from the beautifully observed and inspired Irish set to the cheap and bonkers South African inspired Garratt...
Tim scratchbuilt this from a pair of free 2-6-0 battery powered American outline engines that came with a job lot of the 'Echo' wagons. It ran, to a fashion but looked great. Running it in reverse was a bit too much and after less than a quarter of a circuit it sheared a rod, that dug in the ballast, tipped it over and spilt it's batteries out!
Tim said it will be repaired and become a shelf queen. It looks great but did run like a dog!
So from the beautifully observed and inspired Irish set to the cheap and bonkers South African inspired Garratt...
Tim scratchbuilt this from a pair of free 2-6-0 battery powered American outline engines that came with a job lot of the 'Echo' wagons. It ran, to a fashion but looked great. Running it in reverse was a bit too much and after less than a quarter of a circuit it sheared a rod, that dug in the ballast, tipped it over and spilt it's batteries out!
Tim said it will be repaired and become a shelf queen. It looks great but did run like a dog!
jameshilton
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Re:The EJ&KLR project
And finally a few detail photos of the Irish wagons, another small engine (Barclay inspired I'd say) that is a work in progress and a Faller e-train railbus that runs on a battery powered noisy but effective chassis. I believe he'll be selling it shortly on eBay
And finally a few detail photos of the Irish wagons, another small engine (Barclay inspired I'd say) that is a work in progress and a Faller e-train railbus that runs on a battery powered noisy but effective chassis. I believe he'll be selling it shortly on eBay
nicebutdim
Registered
Re:The EJ&KLR project
Excellent pictures there James. I really like the second to last of the first set, showing the Schoema close up. You've done an excellent job there
Excellent pictures there James. I really like the second to last of the first set, showing the Schoema close up. You've done an excellent job there