Levelling begins...

Further ground works this weekend as the family and I braved the damp weather and muddy clay soils for a second weekend on the trot...

It may look an absolute mess, but actually we've made really good progress! A 'soakaways' was dug in the lowest corner, deep enough to break through most of the clay - whether it makes any difference long term we'll see, but it's peace of mind. We then roughly marked out the new patio area with bricks (by the bench) and started to dig along the top edge, slowly moving material to the bottom corner (closest to the shed).

Hard work, but the nature of the compacted, clay heavy soil meant it clumped so you could almost dig it out in bricks. My daughter broke these up with a small hand fork, before my wife then smoothed it out. My 3 year old son mainly supervised, whilst I did most of the digging.

So this is how things stand now - it's not level yet, but it's getting there. We'll have a long plank and spirit level out next weekend - to check it properly. The aim isn't a perfectly level layout as we'll then put out the track, mark it's position, dig out for some sand and ballast foundation, compact, and level the track bed. After that we'll re-lay the track, wire it up, ballast and then start planting. More soon...

New Feldbahn coach...

It's multiplying...

Ahead of the Feldbahn diesel release later in the year, I am looking to add a few specific items to my collection. The first was a suitable van to use as crew car/brake coach. This one was just £29.99 delivered, brand new, split from the LGB starter set.

My little boy Alex thinks it's great! So what else am I hoping to get? I'd like two more of the planked open wagons and the two hoppers - the other feldbahn four wagon set. We'll see what the finances look like when LGB release the diesel so I can get them at the same time.
More soon...

A rebirth...

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...

James

Sent from my iPhone

A last hurrah...

Well I didn't think the line in Chester would see anymore action...

But the weather was good and family commitments lined up so Alex and I headed over to Chester to play trains!

In all honesty track maintenance (ballasting and post rabbit damage repairs) took as long as play time but we enjoyed ourselves and we got to run the new Feldbahn outside! 

Talk of what next obviously. We will have to see...

O&K fettling...

Well as is usual for me - the very least my little O&K was going to get was some minor fettling...

This evening I dug out the satin red and satin black paint. First up was painting the rims (not the tyres!) of the wheels satin red - this makes a big visual difference, so despite the large flanges still being bright silver, it certainly helps reduce the toy appearance of the model. Secondly I used the red to paint the green clips and black screws in the buffer beam at the back under the cab. Finally I touched in the smokebox door handle in red.

The black was used to paint the brass coloured rod that connected the steam feed from the dome to the cylinders to the controls in the cab. I also used the black to paint the red section on the top of the rear coupling.

The big question is what next... I originally intended a repaint but I quite like the base colours. I am planning on doing some etched works and line plates, and could change KJF to KJE quite easily...
I need to check, but I think the underside of the cab roof, and possibly the cab inside front spectacle plate would have been cream or light grey. Then some light weathering perhaps? More soon...

Feldbahn arrives...

The LGB Feldbahn is an interesting range, scaling out at 1:18 making the gauge about 810mm, unusually wide for a field railway but not unheard of! The O&K is a lovely model and runs very smoothly, the four cars are nice enough but the first and last in this first photo are the best. I will look to add a few more cars and the Deutz diesel during the year, and a new layout to run it on? Perhaps....

U tank repairs...

The spare motion arrived from Modell-land this morning so I managed to fit it to the U-tank this evening. The motion bracket is red now rather than black and the motion is a darker silver than before, but it works! 

James

Sent from my iPhone

A new era on the EJ&KLR...

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!

Another weekend of trains...

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.   

James

Sent from my iPhone

Running weekend...

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!

Christmas trains...

Alex and I ran trains today but the good photos are on the other camera.

Autumn trains...

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.

James

Sent from my iPhone