The ravages of time

[railwayman198]

It is 9 years now since I built my garden railway. The track and electrics are fine but a lot of the structures are starting to suffer from years in the great outdoors. Just for a change I thought it would be interesting to show the bits of the railway where maintenance or replacement is needed rather than the good bits....

A major casuality has been my platform. The weather started to breakdown the walls that it had taken me so long to build. The waterproof tile adhesive started to give out and after a few attempts at patch repair I bit the bullet and tore them down. This is how the platform used to look (note also the lamps - we will come back to them later)

This how it looks now. TBH not as bad as I feared. I'm not sure yet whether to re-face it or leave it as it is. As you can see the ballast has suffered badly too. It was good for the first 6 or 7 years but once the birds start to break it down it does not take them long to clear most of it.

The LGB lamps had been broken and repaired often over the years so eventually I cut them off to leave a row of bollards

The plastic fencing (GRS) became brittle and was taken up

The remaining resin buildings are on their last legs and will need a lot of work. My couple of Piko plastic buildings are still ok

And my Fern Gully station sign hasn't lasted 3 years - ok it was only varnished paper but it was under the station awning so I thought it would be protected

I'm not complaining - it is just the reality of garden railways.
I wonder if anyone has any other examples of exceptional durability or fragility that they would like to share?

 

[Andy Worsfold]

Your line looks in need of a Preservation Society. I think it looks great. I'm in a very similar place except that my resin buildings just need some minor repair.

 

[railwayman198]

I should add that these two played no small part in the destruction....

 

[Madman]

Been there. Experienced that. The small details don't last. Particularly if you railway is a ground level. No canopies or lamp posts any more, here. Those building awnings only serve as leaf and debris catchers. I have better things to do rather than clean up constantly. Like maintain the mechanical part of the railway itself.
Those two culprits, as you pointed out, would make a nice stew

 

[railwayman198]

I should add that these two played no small part in the destruction....

PIE!
It's a tempting idea sometimes Ross. Those rabbits will eat almost anything - electric cables, wallpaper, door frames, prized plants...

Think blackbirds we have do more damage than the bunnies. Watched them picking up large gravel and flinging it about all over the place. Magpies just as bad.

 

[Andy Worsfold]

If your bunnies have caused those problems, I dread to think what our new family member is going to do. It seems we were lucky with our first Cairn Terrier Soks, but with Bo we're not too sure.

 

[playmofire]

It looks great, you've achieved 100% realistic weathering there.

 

[railwayman198]

Bo looks like she could do some mischief

 

[minimans]

Don't get me started on dogs!!!!!!!!!!

 

[royale]

Someone needs a dog whisperer!

 

[Madman]

Someone needs a dog whisperer!

Cranky dog? There's an app for that. :sleep:

 

[dunnyrail]

Mr 198 and many others. I have the book by Peter Jones "Making Model Buildings for Garden Railways". It has to be said that many of the problems we all have are due to our stuff being out 24/7/365. There are many solutions to help in the book including some amazing refurbishments of really bad damage caused by longevity out side. But the main lesson that I think I learnt is general maintenance. Would you leave the wood on your house uncleaned or never repainted for more than 7 years? Probably not so why would we expect something only 1.24th or therabouts the size to survive. Specially with pesky birds, rain, frost, snow, UV etc.
JonD

 

[funandtrains]

I had a track down in my parents garden for 20 years and all the LGB plastic bridges and bits together with the Peco track went brittle and broke. The cast concrete bridges that I made were just as good but all the timber had gone rotten. Unless you have the time to do lots of regular maintenance it is best to use concrete, aluminium and brass but don't soft solder has the joints fall apart after a few years.

 

[owlpool]

fantastic way to weather - if you have the time
Hi Phil

 

[dragon]

If you really want to see the ravages of time and weathering after 83 years, I could post an up to date photograph of myself.

 

[flyingsignalman]

If you really want to see the ravages of time and weathering after 83 years, I could post an up to date photograph of myself.

Now there's an offer you couldn't refuse

 

[yb281]

If you really want to see the ravages of time and weathering after 83 years, I could post an up to date photograph of myself.

Now there's an offer you couldn't refuse

You wouldn't like to put money on that would you mate? :bleh::bleh:

 

[whatlep]

This thread has just reminded me that I need to get some glue out for running repairs I spotted needed doing yesterday, but immediately forgot about!

As far the station railings, nothing is inquisitive cat proof....

 

[stevedenver]

great pics and enjoyable thread

 

[flyingsignalman]

If you really want to see the ravages of time and weathering after 83 years, I could post an up to date photograph of myself.

Now there's an offer you couldn't refuse

You wouldn't like to put money on that would you mate? :bleh::bleh:

Now you come to mention it, no:'(