The main challenge in laying the track was the fact that the new wooden deck slopes slightly downhill away from the house, in line with the old, pre-railway patio surface on which it rests. By contrast, the breezeblock tracked laid in 2004 is level. Therefore, the track at each end of the new deck - as well as Potter Bridge - has been packed using strips of plywood and roofing felt, in order to ease the transition. This solution won't win any prizes for aesthetics, but right now my priority is simply to get trains running again as quickly as possible. As noted in previous posts, the MVR is expected to last only a few more years, so I am reluctant to invest time and resources into major cosmetic work on the new station.
The only outstanding task is to electrically bond the relaid track. Until this is done, it is unlikely that Albatross or Lyn will be able to run reliably through Rutton. Nevertheless, for the first time since February, it is now possible for trains to complete a full circuit of the line. Naturally, a celebratory gala is being planned to commemorate both the station reconstruction and the MVR's 10th anniversary - watch this space!
Unfortunately, the light was failing by the time tracklaying was completed, and I only had my cameraphone available. Better photos of the completed station will follow in due course!
This line has a very different character to the MVR. Although we are short in terms of route length, in terms of track and loading gauge we are a relatively big railway. By contrast, this railway's loco fleet started with a Finescale Quarry Hunslet, and the loading gauge was planned around it. Most garden railway fans will know that a Finescale Hunslet is at the smaller end of the 16mm scale model spectrum!
I brought the LTR brake coach with me, hoping that I would finally be able to give it a run for the first time since I acquired it in 2012; however, we quickly established that it would not fit through the station platform. It was probably just as well that Russell has, for the time being, been left in Buckinghamshire! Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching a visiting Roundhouse Bertie and Millie making their way round the circuit, along with battery locos by IP and Essel Engineering. Even the rain couldn't dampen the atmosphere! Hopefully, visits to other local open days will follow, work commitments permitting...