jameshilton
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I finally got round to cutting up the dried prunings I took last heat for the logging flats, but was surprised by how little they covered...
The EJ&KLR: Austrian narrow gauge in Cheshire
- Thread starter jameshilton
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jameshilton
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This year hasn't seen much actual modelling in G scale for me but it has seen a bit more playing over 2013. This may be the last year of the line in it's current location as Mum gas bought a new house so a move in 2015 is definitely going to happen. Enjoy these last shots of trains on the line in the autumn.
jameshilton
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THIS ONE FROM CHRISTMAS 2014...
Alex and I ran trains today but the good photos are on the other camera.
Alex and I ran trains today but the good photos are on the other camera.
jameshilton
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FAST FORWARD (well backwards) TO EASTER 2015...
Well it may be few and far between but the raging EJ&KLR still delights. Alex, my 2/1/2 year old and Elly helped run the line again this weekend. It took just 15 minutes to clean and get back up and running and with a little weeding things looked as good as they always do when you play trains in the garden with blue skies and sunshine. Unfortunately my U-tank has developed a fault in that part of it's motion has snapped so I have contacted Marklin spares to see if they can help. Here's to more trains in 2015!
Well it may be few and far between but the raging EJ&KLR still delights. Alex, my 2/1/2 year old and Elly helped run the line again this weekend. It took just 15 minutes to clean and get back up and running and with a little weeding things looked as good as they always do when you play trains in the garden with blue skies and sunshine. Unfortunately my U-tank has developed a fault in that part of it's motion has snapped so I have contacted Marklin spares to see if they can help. Here's to more trains in 2015!
jameshilton
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Finally - the last update to my blog from May 2015...
Alex and I had a lovely time playing with the railway today. A little melancholy as this afternoon some people were round looking at Mum's house which is for sale. It really is the swan song of this version of the EJKLR.
Alex and I had a lovely time playing with the railway today. A little melancholy as this afternoon some people were round looking at Mum's house which is for sale. It really is the swan song of this version of the EJKLR.
jameshilton
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So there you go - you're fully up to date - think we've run trains once or twice over the summer without photos but nothing this autumn and the rabbits have had fun on the embankment so that will need repairing in the spring if the house isn't sold. I'm seeing Mum over New Year so we'll start talking about whether we should lift the railway now, or wait until the house is sold... either way, we're very much in the death throws of version 1 of the EJKLR - it's been an ace journey, one that helped me through 5 years of grief and depression - and it's ignited a love of trains in my children that I dreamt of... it brought happiness to my family, and a purpose to my Mum for a time too, and it brought me in touch with old friends - and I met a load of new ones through this forum too!
I'm not going anywhere though! Just need to work out what and where to build next - and whether to stick Austrian/Eastern European or try something else... Two top ideas are stay Eastern European and go for a forest railway - or ditch the big stuff and build a feldbahn.
I'm not going anywhere though! Just need to work out what and where to build next - and whether to stick Austrian/Eastern European or try something else... Two top ideas are stay Eastern European and go for a forest railway - or ditch the big stuff and build a feldbahn.
jameshilton
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Sorry Jon - no idea why but it didn't make much of an appearance in the photos... just this one..
playmofire
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It certainly has matured well, James. It must be a delight to run trains on it at any time of year.
AustrianNG
Director of my railway
Looking forward to your modelling exploits in whatever scale.
jameshilton
Registered
Thanks chaps 
If you search for 'EJ&KLR' there is another thread on here about the proposed railway in my garden - Cathinian branch or something...
The track plan for that probably wouldn't change that much for a forest plan - if I do a Feldbahn though that'd be quite different and need some careful thought.
If you search for 'EJ&KLR' there is another thread on here about the proposed railway in my garden - Cathinian branch or something...
The track plan for that probably wouldn't change that much for a forest plan - if I do a Feldbahn though that'd be quite different and need some careful thought.
jameshilton
Registered
As 2015 draws to a close, and the original line in Cheshire awaits lifting I'm reflecting on my garden railway journey and what the future holds for the EJ&KLR?
The line has matured wonderfully, shown here in May 2015.
This project was started with my Dad in November 2010 just two months before he passed away. He never saw a train run in the garden in anger, but the project was a great tonic during grief and it's construction brought my Mum and I closer together. In the years that have passed since, it's become a real focal point when we visit with both my children loving to play with the big trains in the garden, so much so that when it's raining we still get out the 'indoor' track and set it up in the lounge.
My late father, playing with the original starter set.
The line looked very bare when first built, this is from May 2011, 4 years prior to the photo at the top of this post.
After my daughter's Stainz starter set, and my Dad's Bachmann 3-truck Shay, my original preference was for Austrian outline narrow gauge - and this included both off the peg LGB models (the U and 2095) and modified (Frank S tank) and scratchbuilt (O&K diesel). I also added some other suitable models (the Rugen tank, with a more standard roof) and a beautiful kit built Romanian built Faur L18H (Lxd2) diesel. The stock was modified and repainted and refurbished bargain purchases of E-bay and some interesting scratchbuild projects (the Roll-wagen).
The LGB Frank S tank conversion, with some refurbished and repainted rolling stock.
The wonderful Blauturm Faur L18H kit.
The scratchbuilt O&K, parts from a Bachmann Davenport and LGB cab.
The roll-wagen with LGB standard gauge wagon load.
However as my kids got older nipping over to Mum's was less frequent and the line became less used, and my modelling interest found a home in 009 (1:76) modelling.
Creech Bottom, my 009 layout.
So what does the future hold for the EJ&KLR? Well I don't intend on selling any of the original stock, but where a line will be built remains to be seen. My Mum is keen on a small layout being built at her new home in Pembrokeshire - but the garden is very small so it will be only suitable for the Stainz tanks and small 2-axle stock I'm afraid. There is scope to build a line at my home in Cheshire as well but we have pretty terrible weather so I'm not sure how much running vs maintenance would be required. As my 009 interests have morped into UK outline, French outline and Eastern European outline, I found myself searching for the LGB Feldbahn stuff, and have recently bought a 20hp O&K and 4 wagon set - and plan to add the Deutz diesel when it's available... this gives me options... Re-focus the EJ&KLR as a forestry railway 'somewhere' in Eastern Europe (and rebrand the U-tank as EJ&KLR - sell off the 2095), or think about building a field railway, think overgrown track, scruffy buildings, small trains - that gives me an excuse for 1) low maintenance and 2) use of cheap R1 track and points (field railways usually use sharp radius panel track).
Whatever happens though, LGB and garden railways, albeit indoor for the short-term, have a part in my life. Thank you for reading this blog over the years - I hope in 2016 I have more content to share and more frequently keep things up to date!
The line has matured wonderfully, shown here in May 2015.
This project was started with my Dad in November 2010 just two months before he passed away. He never saw a train run in the garden in anger, but the project was a great tonic during grief and it's construction brought my Mum and I closer together. In the years that have passed since, it's become a real focal point when we visit with both my children loving to play with the big trains in the garden, so much so that when it's raining we still get out the 'indoor' track and set it up in the lounge.
My late father, playing with the original starter set.
The line looked very bare when first built, this is from May 2011, 4 years prior to the photo at the top of this post.
After my daughter's Stainz starter set, and my Dad's Bachmann 3-truck Shay, my original preference was for Austrian outline narrow gauge - and this included both off the peg LGB models (the U and 2095) and modified (Frank S tank) and scratchbuilt (O&K diesel). I also added some other suitable models (the Rugen tank, with a more standard roof) and a beautiful kit built Romanian built Faur L18H (Lxd2) diesel. The stock was modified and repainted and refurbished bargain purchases of E-bay and some interesting scratchbuild projects (the Roll-wagen).
The LGB Frank S tank conversion, with some refurbished and repainted rolling stock.
The wonderful Blauturm Faur L18H kit.
The scratchbuilt O&K, parts from a Bachmann Davenport and LGB cab.
The roll-wagen with LGB standard gauge wagon load.
However as my kids got older nipping over to Mum's was less frequent and the line became less used, and my modelling interest found a home in 009 (1:76) modelling.
Creech Bottom, my 009 layout.
So what does the future hold for the EJ&KLR? Well I don't intend on selling any of the original stock, but where a line will be built remains to be seen. My Mum is keen on a small layout being built at her new home in Pembrokeshire - but the garden is very small so it will be only suitable for the Stainz tanks and small 2-axle stock I'm afraid. There is scope to build a line at my home in Cheshire as well but we have pretty terrible weather so I'm not sure how much running vs maintenance would be required. As my 009 interests have morped into UK outline, French outline and Eastern European outline, I found myself searching for the LGB Feldbahn stuff, and have recently bought a 20hp O&K and 4 wagon set - and plan to add the Deutz diesel when it's available... this gives me options... Re-focus the EJ&KLR as a forestry railway 'somewhere' in Eastern Europe (and rebrand the U-tank as EJ&KLR - sell off the 2095), or think about building a field railway, think overgrown track, scruffy buildings, small trains - that gives me an excuse for 1) low maintenance and 2) use of cheap R1 track and points (field railways usually use sharp radius panel track).
Whatever happens though, LGB and garden railways, albeit indoor for the short-term, have a part in my life. Thank you for reading this blog over the years - I hope in 2016 I have more content to share and more frequently keep things up to date!
playmofire
Registered
It's been very interesting and rewarding following your railway and its development and I look forward to seeing what happens in the future, and wish you all the best. Meanwhile, maybe we could see more of your 009 developments in the other scales forum.
duncan1_9_8_4
UK Railway Signaller and Garden Railway Operator
Never good to see a railway shut down, especially one where the detail is amazing. It has matured well over the years. Looking forward to seeing the next venture.
jameshilton
Registered
Well isn't it funny how things turn out... Talking with my wife in recent weeks we've decided that a family project would be a great thing to work on this year. It wasn't even my suggestion - but hers - that 'a project' could be renovating the garden and building a garden railway...
So this weekend we got the kids wrapped up warm and into the garden and after an hour and half cleared most of the bushes and plants from the proposed location - which was a great way to get a feel for the space. It's a lot bigger than we had imagined, and there is plenty of space for a decent run.
Alex and I put down some 'indoor' track (so it's R1) but it gives an idea of the run we're planning, although I think we'll move the station area to the other side, so that the front edge just features the train meandering through some trees... That could well change though... we'll see!
We've filled the garden waste bin and still have an absolute ton of cut back bushes to chop up and get rid off. Next up though is working out how to level the space, whether we build up the bottom, dig down at the top, or a mixture of both - as the intention is definitely for a level line!
In this last photo you can see the height difference from the front bottom edge (next to the shed) to where the bins are... The bins will be shielded by a wall and fence, and the bench (you can see it behind Alex) will be a lovely spot to 'observe' the garden and railway. We're hoping to keep it pushing forwards this winter so we have something to enjoy this summer...
So this weekend we got the kids wrapped up warm and into the garden and after an hour and half cleared most of the bushes and plants from the proposed location - which was a great way to get a feel for the space. It's a lot bigger than we had imagined, and there is plenty of space for a decent run.
Alex and I put down some 'indoor' track (so it's R1) but it gives an idea of the run we're planning, although I think we'll move the station area to the other side, so that the front edge just features the train meandering through some trees... That could well change though... we'll see!
We've filled the garden waste bin and still have an absolute ton of cut back bushes to chop up and get rid off. Next up though is working out how to level the space, whether we build up the bottom, dig down at the top, or a mixture of both - as the intention is definitely for a level line!
In this last photo you can see the height difference from the front bottom edge (next to the shed) to where the bins are... The bins will be shielded by a wall and fence, and the bench (you can see it behind Alex) will be a lovely spot to 'observe' the garden and railway. We're hoping to keep it pushing forwards this winter so we have something to enjoy this summer...
playmofire
Registered
A great idea for a family project and a good start to it. Look forward to seeing the story develop.
