Once again, this site has been left without an update for much longer than I would have liked. There just aren't enough hours in the day! However, the good news is that I have managed to find some time for garden railway activities in the last few months, so I have resolved to write them up now before the rest of 2017 slips away.
So cast your mind back, if you can, the bright, sunny days of August...it feels a long time ago now! On the 12th I took Russell to Oxfordshire for the opening of the Vale of White Horse Railway. Much of the rolling stock will be familiar to readers of this website, having formerly been resident at our near-neighbour the Woodrow Light Railway; many items have visited the MVR over the years. These have been joined by a number of new acquisitions.
So cast your mind back, if you can, the bright, sunny days of August...it feels a long time ago now! On the 12th I took Russell to Oxfordshire for the opening of the Vale of White Horse Railway. Much of the rolling stock will be familiar to readers of this website, having formerly been resident at our near-neighbour the Woodrow Light Railway; many items have visited the MVR over the years. These have been joined by a number of new acquisitions.
The VWHR is unusual, in terms of 16mm scale garden railways, in having been designed primarily for end-to-end operation. Trains start and end their journeys at the main station, Wantage, proceeding via Uffington which sits at the end of a balloon loop. The conventional wisdom is that garden railways - and particularly those designed for live steam operation - should be designed to allow continuous running. The MVR, of course, is perfect in this respect, and it is quite true that I find this mode of operation to be relaxing and enjoyable. However, running on the VWHR was equally enjoyable in a different way: the need to run the locomotive round at the end of each trip adds operational realism and makes for a more hands-on experience. One might think that, with traditional three-link coupling chains to deal with, such an operation would be fiddly and tedious, but with two operators available JP and I managed to achieve a slick operation; admittedly the turntable at Wantage helps to speed up the process. Two-train operation adds another dimension, as one must try to complete the run-round and return to the passing loop in time to meet the other train! However, there is a cut-off on the balloon loop which creates a very small continuous circuit; if desired, this can be used to extend the length of a run before returning to Wantage. Despite the indifferent weather, this was a most enjoyable day, and I hope to pay a return visit before too long.
Sadly, in recent months I have had few opportunities to go back to Bucks to run trains on the MVR. However, the good news is that I have recently got involved with the Guildford Model Engineering Society. They have proved very welcoming and provide regular opportunities for live steam running. To date, Russell has made only one appearance on the outdoor, mixed-gauge circuit. However, an indoor layout is available for running during the winter and I hope that Russell will make an appearance on this in due course. In the meantime I have enjoyed watching a very interesting selection of engines brought by other members; below I have illustrated a handful which have caught my eye.
Sadly, in recent months I have had few opportunities to go back to Bucks to run trains on the MVR. However, the good news is that I have recently got involved with the Guildford Model Engineering Society. They have proved very welcoming and provide regular opportunities for live steam running. To date, Russell has made only one appearance on the outdoor, mixed-gauge circuit. However, an indoor layout is available for running during the winter and I hope that Russell will make an appearance on this in due course. In the meantime I have enjoyed watching a very interesting selection of engines brought by other members; below I have illustrated a handful which have caught my eye.
Progress on my workshop projects continues to be hampered by the long periods of time I spend away from my workshop! Nevertheless, I have continued to chip away at the W&L flat wagon V2, and Russell's new carrying box. The former is, at last, complete except for painting; and the latter is on the home straight. I will share pictures of both at the next update; hopefully you won't have to wait too long this time!