New arrival...

Just arrived is a Saxon coach to run with the IVK Saxon Meyer loco acquired earlier this year, and another Saxon coach which the H&DLR purchased a few years ago. The general idea is to re-create the sort of once typical scene on the Saxon narrow gauge seen in the photo below... pure narrow gauge charm...

The H&DLR features in GardenRail once again

The H&DLR has just featured once again in GardenRail, with a feature article on the railway's timetable (thanks, Tag!). To read the full article, you'll need to buy a copy of Issue 183 (November 2009), or subscribe on line. Here's a photo of 298.56 arriving at Birkenhof with a passenger service.

New train...

The H&DLR is pleased to annouce the arrival of a new excursion service. The LGB Dortmunder Bier Train now operates an occasional trip out for those who enjoy a beer or two... certainly there are plenty of supplies...

Autumnal running

On the Leyland, Garstang and Burscough...

Had a day out today...

Late summer running

It's been a while since we posted, but a few trains have been run...

VL21 heads a freight working in the late afternoon sunshine (yes, we've finally had some).

Traincrew enjoying the late summer weather.

Summer running...

Not that the weather's been fit... 399.03 on a classic Waldviertel formation a little earlier this year. More updates if and when we get some sunshine!

Dienstwagen D/s 6485 enters service

Regular readers will know that the General Manager believes a railway cannot have too many brake vans. Until very recently, the H&DLR didn't have much in the way of authentic ÖBB brake vans or service vehicles. However, with the entry into service of passenger brake vans D/s 6495 (ex Steyrtalbahn) and D/s 6461, the problem was alleviated. Nevertheless, there was a long standing desire to acquire a suitable vehicle for freight trains. ÖBB practice is to provide a passenger coach for the travelling shunters to use. On the Steyrtal, a coach was permanently converted for their use... D/s 6485...

The management obtained a second hand vehicle in Zillertal livery, similar to the one seen on the left of the photo. This was stripped down and repainted, a stove added to keep the staff warm, new decals (as ever from Michael Tröger)...

The service vehicle entered service yesterday. Seen here at Holzapfel in a scene just possibly reminiscent of the final days of the Sierning branch on the Steyrtalbahn...

Some photos...

A quiet moment at the little halt of Holzapfel...

2095.11 heads a freight service...

Zillertal waits at Birkenhof for the right of way...

Double headed service passes Dottendorf...

Saxon Meyer

I know, the H&DLR has just had a new locomotive, another one so soon is quite unjustified. But the price was right, and who knows with LGB in receivership (again) whether the opportunity will ever arise again. The H&DLR took delivery of Saxon Meyer 99 594 this afternoon. Unlike a certain other locomotive, this one worked absolutely perfectly straight out of the box. The detailing is also much better than the Regner 399. All in all, a superb locomotive. You might be able to tell that I'm absolutely delighted with it.

...and the Class 399 arrives again...

After a trip back to Martin's Models, 399.03 has resumed acceptance tests on the H&DLR. The gearbox has been rebuilt, and it now runs smoothly. Power pickup is still highly suspect and the steel wheels appear to be very susceptible to collecting dirt. But so far, operation has been significantly more reliable than previously.

Dienstwagen D/s 6461 enters service

The second Dienstwagen, D/s 6461, recently entered service. The management would prefer this vehicle to have a low profile roof but LGB spare parts continue to be all but unobtainable. For the time being, therefore, it will have to operate with the high profile roof that rather too obviously betrays its origins.

...and the Class 399 departs...

Regular readers might wonder why the long dreamed for class 399 has not featured more on this blog. The locomotive has, sadly, been little short of a complete failure. The redesign by Regner from live steam to electric propulsion shows, in my opinion, some very serious design flaws and the locomotive has simply failed to operate reliably. It will now be returned to Martin's Models for investigation and repair. In my view a locomotive that cost much more than any LGB locomotive and which took two years to be redesigned, constructed and delivered, should work properly. It may look nice but I did not buy it as an ornament. Words cannot convey my disappointment.

The Class 399 arrives...

Here she is...

Dienstwagen D/s 6495 finished

The first of the two new Dienstwagen has been completed, and will enter service this weekend. Here it is, resplendent in green passenger livery with new transfers applied and all ready to roll.

Dienstwagen update

Well, the project to create a couple of new Dienstwagen has moved on. The van seen here was originally brown (see the article below) but has now got new side windows, the door has been reversed, new door furniture has been fitted, and everything has been painted. New transfers have been received from Michael Troeger, and will be applied soon. The chassis has received metal wheels, a bit of clean up, and may yet get some paint as well. More to follow, and there's another van in the paint shops as well.

Class 399 to arrive shortly

The Mh class locomotives spent most of their lives up on the Waldviertelbahn. Here, 399.06 is seen at Gmünd on a passenger train in 1981. The H&DLR has long hankered after just such a locomotive, and now the Regner version is available. The H&DLR should be taking delivery of this fine locomotive at the Lincoln garden railway show in a few weeks time. Photos will follow, as will extensive testing!

Snow plough in action...

Driver's eye view exiting the tunnel into the drifts...

2091.03 does sterling work battling through heavy snow with the plough. The plough is capable of clearing snow to a depth of 6" or 7", as it has done today. The loco is battery powered and heavy, although repeated ramming of the drifts was very necessary!

I don't think that there will be many passengers today...

Clearing the way...

But the fuel oil train managed to get through in the end.

Conversion work

The H&DLR recently took delivery of two second hand vans. One is already a baggage vehicle, the other was a goods van but is being converted - as the Austrian railways actually did - into a baggage/brake vehicle. The photos show that work has started. The side doors have been reversed to slide the other way, new windows have been formed, a door has been made in the veranda end, holes are being filled. Must get some transfers ordered...

Last trains of 2008

It may have been -4°C outside today with a heavy frost, but such matters do not stop trains operating on the H&DLR! Both battery and track powered trains ran this afternoon, to see the old year out. All things being equal, trains will also run tomorrow to see the New Year in. Of course, the station bar was open, serving Glühwein no doubt. Seen in the lower photo, 2091.03 leads a short passenger train into Dottendorf station on the last services of 2008.

More station upgrades

Following on from the repaint and new station name boards at Holzapfel, some further work at Birkenhof has seen new posters on the walls. The original ones lasted about a fortnight before they faded away, so new posters on self adhesive vinyl have been made and applied. So far, these seem to be lasting much better. The very observant may also notice that there is now a water fountain on the front of the station, inspired by Mittersil station on the Pinzgau line, and the station staff have left a pushbike against the wall.

Meanwhile, at Dottendorf, the station has also received new a name board and new timetables. The old name board from the station's previous incarnation on the old H&DLR (see main website for details) has been removed and all the stations on the line now sport new name boards in a reasonably consistent Austrian style.

Holzapfel halt updated

The halt has now received a nameboard - Holzapfel, from the halt of similar design on the Ybbstalbahn Bergstrecke. It has also received a new, darker coat of paint, again similar to the prototype. Like the H&DLR station, the real Holzapfel has a single, dead-end siding. A number of these small Austrian halts seem to have additional benches along the end wall, and so to add a little colour, Holzapfel has acquired such a bench, inspired by Andlwirt on the Taurachbahn.

New loco joins the fleet

A new loco has joined the H&DLR roster - a former Deutsche Bundesbahn class V51 diesel loco, acquired second hand and in good condition. Now sporting the patch panel applied during the 27 years spent on the Steiermärkische Landesbahnen in Austria, VL21 is seen posing at Birkenhof station (above) and hard at work on an oil train passing Dottendorf (below).

Looking after our customers

The H&DLR has always sought to provide a fine range of beers for its customers. Now, in response to customer demand (!) spirits are also served on board. Here customers enjoy an evening drink in the Zillertal beer car.

Orient Express

The H&DLR has long provided baggage van accommodation for the passengers on the Orient Express (connecting service). However, the plain box van provided didn't really match the style to which the management would like to become accustomed. A more appropriate baggage van, acquired second hand from the line of the late Brian Williams, has now entered service and is seen just behind the locomotive in these photos. The loco has also been in the workshops, and has emerged with a replacement brass shield on one side. For many years a photographic copy has been in situ, but a recent e-bay bid resulted in a nice brass replacement finding its way to the H&DLR.

Birkenhof station update

The new station has acquired name boards - Birkenhof, courtesy of "Nostalgic Miniatures", and some advertising. Mainly beer adverts... logos from the internet, to accompany the traffic that will soon be flowing (we hope) through brewery siding, seen just to the right of the building. The station looks a little windswept on this distinctly autumnal photo. A couple of dioramas are planned to bring it to life.

Autumn 2008 on the H&DLR

Had a visitor last weekend, with a very good camera... thanks, Chris! For more images, visit the album I've created.

Autumn on the H&DLR

The autumn "leaf fall" season is well under way here on the H&DLR. A new (well, second hand) ÖBB coach joined the fleet in the week... it will allow the operation of more prototypical Steyrtal and Waldviertel trains going forwards. No.3 Camusterrach Pier has been out and about today as well.

New station building

Following hard on the heels of Brewery Siding, a new station building has been installed. This is the Piko Rosenbach kit, although with a few modifications. The kit as supplied belies its 1:32 scale origins and the proportions aren't quite right for 1:22.5. However, it is a compact (bijou?!) building that just fits the available space.

The main objection that I had to the building as designed by Piko was that the windows on the first floor were impossibly low... so I raised them! On one side I have raised one central window, while on the other, I made the windows smaller. I've also amended the canopy to be more typical of the Austrian narrow gauge.

Brewery siding open for traffic

The new siding at the main station has opened to traffic. There isn't a station building yet (I'm working on that), but the beer is being delivered! The original plan foresaw an extension up onto another part of the garden, and the siding may yet become a branch line, but for now the new siding will add some operating interest.

New building installed

Light refreshments for waiting passengers are now assured, thanks to a new snack food bar that has just opened outside the station. Customers are queuing up already!

Zillertal train gains a buffet car

At the Garden Rail show in Llanfair last weekend the H&DLR acquired a buffet car for the Zillertal train. Seems it was an immediate "hit" with the passengers... but then again, it seems to have a well stocked bar!

A welcome visitor on the H&DLR

The H&DLR was pleased to welcome a visiting Cambrai from the Stychevale Gardens Light Railway. Cambrai is seen with the H&DLR's Zillertal rolling stock...

And here at the main station passing a freight train...

And finally double headed super power...

It's all in the details

The post van now has... some post...

The railbus now has important supplies loaded into the panniers. Milk, post... and beer.

New arrival

Latest arrival on the H&DLR is another "U" Class locomotive, this time the NÖLB U1/no. 5, later Steyrtalbahn 298.51. Running in green primer livery, as recreated in preservation on the mountain section of the Ybbstalbahn, it is seen here undergoing acceptance trials and in the company of sister locomotives 298.56 and Zillertalbahn no. 2.

An update

The weather hasn't really been good this summer, but that hasn't prevented some running at least. Here's U Class 298.56 coming off the bridge with a Zillertal rake in tow. Some embellishments in the form of beer crates have arrived... well, we can't have thirsty passengers in our buffet cars, now can we!

New transfers applied

New waterslide transfers have now been applied to the H&DLR's former Heeresfeldbahn HF 110 C locomotive to transform it into Steyrtalbahn no. 798.03. At the same time, Lazy Grange Bay also took delivery of one of these locos, also minus any decals, so the H&DLR workshop has been busy. The Lazy Grange Bay locomotive is detailed as Deutsche Reichsbahn 994652. Both were tested extensively prior to being returned to service...

Newly lettered rolling stock

Just been re-decalling a couple of pieces of stock. First up was a box van, purchased second hand at G Rail last month. It's been repainted into ÖBB brown and then lettered in ÖBB style. Next up is a Heeresfeldbahn HF 110 C, from which the original lettering had been removed by the previous owner. This too has emerged in ÖBB livery, as no. 798.03. The original locomotive was allocated to the Steyrtalbahn after the Second World War but was scrapped in 1956. On the H&DLR, which draws much of its inspiration and rolling stock from the now preserved Steyrtalbahn, 798.03 runs again. I'm doing the same for a friend's loco, but as Deutsche Reichsbahn 994652 - photos to follow. The waterslide transfers are from Herr Tröger in Germany.

G Rail

At G Rail, the annual exhibition and AGM of the G Scale Society, the H&DLR's maintenance train (see below) was awarded 2nd prize! But we haven't been resting on our laurels. The church now boasts internal and external lighting, and the village fountain has a flood light (couldn't resist that). Trains have been running in the recent good weather as well...

Running afternoon

Despite the damp weather, trains were run thanks to everyone who turned up last Sunday. Here we see a new (second hand) loco (will soon be 798.03!) on acceptance tests hauling the famous Black Pudding train.

Out on our travels

The H&DLR has been on tour again, to the Lazy Grange Bay Mk 2 in Bolton. Much testing needed - of blue Mallets, grey Corpet Louvets and black U Class locomotives... We proved that Gillian's blue Mallet draws fewer amps than Mike's, and is well within "normal" motor draw tolerances. It runs relatively slowly, but then again so does Mike's. The "lightweight" Corpet, missing most of its lead weight but with on board batteries, managed Mike's inclines. The U Class with the suspect chip read out on Mike's MTS test track. Only those auxiliary sockets that supply rear lighting are blown, it would appear.

Tested some of Mike and Simon's locomotives as well for good measure!

ÖBB flat car modification

The ÖBB have quite a few bogie flat wagons, to a 1940's design. Some of these have been modified over the years with the removal of the brakeman's cabin, and, in some cases, a wider deck. The H&DLR decided to take a standard LGB wagon, and replace the brakeman's cabin with the open style more commonly seen today.

First, remove the brakeman's cabin. Fairly straightforward - unscrew the cabin from the end wall, and unscrew the deck from the chassis. Then build a new end rail/stanchion assembly, together with some in fill decking to cover the area where the cabin stood.

Spray the whole lot a suitable brown, and varnish to match the LGB colours... Humbrol 160, if you're interested.

Fix to the wagon in place of the original, and you have a variation on the standard LGB theme for a few hours work.

Summer time...

Now that the clocks have gone forward... time for some summer running!

A little light maintenance, followed by some passenger trains...

Traction update

Power and traction changes are now complete. The Helmsman controller is in place to operate the main line, a shuttle unit can control the rack railway and various changes to locomotive wiring are complete. All we need now is some summer weather! Last locomotive through the workshop was 298.56, now restored to running on track power with the option of an external battery pack. This allows more prototypical Austrian (Steyrtalbahn) consists to run, which keeps the General Manager amused.

Maintenance

A new hopper wagon (well, a very old second hand hopper wagon really) has joined the maintenance fleet.

2095.11 has received new motors (ouch, that wasn't cheap) and is now back in service in fine fettle.

Oh, and I've been fiddling around with the electrics, but that's boring. It should just mean that the railway is more fun to operate in the summer!

Locomotive maintenance

Well, I suppose winter is the traditional (garden) railway time for carrying out maintenance. We seem to have a few locomotives needing attention. First off, the on board batteries in Corpet Louvet (no. 5) weren't holding a charge. Reluctantly I had to take it apart, where we found extensive corrosion. The battery pack has been recycled, therefore. Tags Model Shop in Doncaster let us down badly over a replacement pack - I rang them and e-mailed them a number of times before finally, some 5 weeks later, they admitted they couldn't make the requested pack. So I installed the battery pack once intended for the U Class 298.56, which will now run off track power with the option of a battery van.

The motors in 2095.11, suspected of being less than perfect (well, it must be well over 20 years old and still had original motors, pickups (what was left of them!) and wheels), have finally croaked. Both will be replaced in the very near future.

U Class 298.56 will, if I can get at the wiring neat enough, be converted to allow operation via a battery pack or track power - like the Brunig rack loco - giving us versatility going forwards.

From Winter to Spring

From snow to glorious sunshine...

And we've sorted out the electrics as well...

Winter has arrived...

And with it, some snow. Seen here, 2091.03 on snow plough duties. Once the snow had been cleared - by the plough, no manual intervention required - normal operations could begin.

A bit breezy

It's a bit breezy out there... had a whole train blow over (though fortunately nowhere near the pond!). Track power now runs off the new Helmsman controller, with the rack line fed from the 1A controller.

Helmsman controller

Well, the controller has arrived, which has triggered a general tidy up of the wiring in the shed. I now have to sort out the wiring outside with a serious view to getting track power properly operational. I haven't fully "committed" to track power so far, preferring to hedge my bets between track power and on board battery power. We'll certainly keep those locos already equipped with on board batteries for use when the track is dirty, or for use as "go anywhere" locos that can be radio controlled. But track power will allow trains to run and run. We'll see... more reports will follow, with pictures! Here's a gratuitous shot of work in progress on a recent project, rebuilding a Hartland works caboose into something a little more European...

Snow, power supplies and other diversions

Power and control are being sorted out in advance of the Spring and Summer running seasons. That's not to say that trains haven't been running through the winter, they most certainly have! But we did need to get the plough out first.

However, a new controller is on its way from Helmsman controls in Blackpool, and an additional power feed has been installed to the track to improve operational resilience (i.e. to make it work). At the same time, the battery pack on No.5, our much loved Corpet Louvet, seems to be dying. Stripping out the old pack revealed evidence of corrosion, and so a new pack has been ordered.

New coach

An LGB model of the Zillertalbahn's Swarowski Crystal Coach has joined the H&DLR. Bought to mark our crystal (15th) wedding anniversary, photos would have appeared sooner (see below). Seen here in the autumn sunshine...

Tidying up for winter

Shelves up, tracks tidy(ish)... Not much action outside in the garden, as it has been far too wet and generally unpleasant. But we've finally got round to putting up some shelves which makes access to the tracks easier.

The Railbus is here

Evening services for autumn and winter are now in the capable hands of a Wismar Hannover railbus. Handsome is as handsome does, and it runs very smoothly indeed.

Bridge testing

A little bit of testing took place over the weekend, thanks to friends who came over on Saturday...

Various trains ran, including Ian's live steam Lady Anne....

Black Pudding tankers a mile long...

Dave's car (and bike) transporters...

Pullmans, with Paul's Saxon Meyer in charge...

New arrivals

It's been a while since we posted, but in the meantime there have been a few developments. First off, a very enjoyable visit to the Scampington and Chipside Garden Railway (SCGR). There has been lots of testing of the newly completed circuit in some glorious autumn weather. We also took delivery of a Zillertal Crystal coach, not unrelated to our 15th (crystal) wedding anniversary. Finally, the railbus has arrived from America. Photos to follow as Blogger doesn't want to play this morning!

Trains now run all the way round

Extensive testing took place this afternoon, now that the bridge is in place. Long trains ran, short trains ran, the Orient Express (connecting service) made an appearance...

Bridge installed, circuit complete.

A major milestone was achieved today when the new bridge was installed, and track connected. We now have a full circuit at last. Trains have been running to prove the point... happiness is a full circuit again. More pictures will undoubtedly follow, as soon as time and weather permit.

The bridge is here!

The new bridge has been collected! This will complete the circuit, and has been long awaited - not that the supplier has been slow, it just took a while to determine the precise dimensions required. Given some half decent weather tomorrow, installation may start. The bridge is in fact 3 of the standard 120cm units from "Bridge That Gap", with a couple of "A" frame supports. More to follow!

Late summer services

Wood End station is now lit, with lights on the platform and within the station building. Restoration of the class 2095 has gone as far as I intend at this stage (it could do with a new motor or two, but that'll have to wait). The track coming out of the shed towards the bridge is now as complete as it can be, having been ballasted and with a base for the station installed, short of installing the bridge... which is due next weekend!

A little bit of track fettling means that trains run more smoothly through the main station, without lurching violently (towards the pond!) as they head across the long viaduct. The Corpet Louvet No. 5 is seen here on a short works train.

Restoration!

The class 2095 loco has now been restored to a serviceable condition. Both motor blocks have been stripped, cleaned, repaired and re-assembled. One motor could do with being replaced as it is worn, but we'll save the money for now and see how it goes.

Damaged bodywork has been touched in, and the side windows replaced. New body side ÖBB plates and number plates have been made up from plasticard and Slater's lettering, painted to match the originals.

The crew seem happy with the new addition to the roster!

Another new (old) engine

Acquired second hand, the H&DLR recently took delivery of a class 2095 locomotive. This example has had a hard life, and is almost certainly over 20 years old. On inspection, various wires were broken, most of the pickups had worn out to the extent that some were completely missing, and all wheels are down to the brass under the plating. The two motor bogies have been stripped down and thoroughly cleaned, and new pickups have been fitted. Damaged wiring has been repaired, and a couple of pickup contacts have been reamed out so that they once again allow the brushes to make contact with the motor. It now seems to run well, although further tests are needed to confirm that the motors themselves are still serviceable. However, preliminary tests suggest that the current draw appears to be ok on the simplistic basis that it didn't trip out a 1 amp controller on the Lazy Grange Bay, and the motors do not appear to be running warm.

The body work also requires repairs. I've fought shy of completely stripping the old paint work, as I have some red paint that is very close in shade to the original LGB colour. The plan is to touch in where necessary and then spray over with a satin varnish. Hopefully this will leave everything looking equally glossy or otherwise. The vendor managed to locate the windows that he had removed, and these will be restored to their proper location in due course.

Future passenger services assured...

With an eye to running more services in the future, the management of the H&DLR have authorised the procurement of a new railbus. This will allow off peak services to be operated on a more economic basis, obviating the need to provide a steam locomotive and crew. A suitable railbus has been located, and delivery is expected in late October.

New station

Now that the track is (mostly) down, we're turning our attention to scenic items and rediscovering all the things that were packed away 18 months ago when the old H&DLR closed. First off, we've now installed Wood End station, where else, but in the woods. Seen approaching is Dave's rack train on a recent visit to the H&DLR.

Track laying nearly complete

Aside from the minor inconvenience of a 12' gap across the bottom of the garden, track laying is now almost complete (until I decide to change it all around again, obviously). A new siding has been laid at the bottom of the garden by the shed. This will handle timber traffic for the railway in due course. Trackwork in the shed has been tidied up, and the electricity reconnected to the track. Slightly to my surprise, track power seems to work remarkably well, and so we'll probably try to sustain this for the foreseeable future. Here's an evening photo of Zillertal at the (current) outward limit.

The final gap

All the framework and track bases have now been built down the left hand side of the garden. Track is being laid on the new boards.

The remaining gap across the bottom wall will be bridged with a 3.6m long truss bridge. Then we'll be able to run all the way round!

Child labour in the garden

Richard and Emma helped unload all the rolling stock that had been in storage for the last 18 months. The engine shed now looks more like it should - full of trains! Of course, they had to make sure that it all worked properly as well.

But plenty of work was done too, with a new path paid and a little wall across the end of the shed (thanks, Emma!). The railway is coming along now, that's for sure.

Through running

Or at least the ability to run into the shed! The shed is now sufficiently complete that trains can be operated right into, but not yet through, the shed. The construction work is done, electricity should arrive soon, and a wooden bench at the right height for the track has been installed the length of the shed. Although today's trains operated over temporary track, as soon as the electricity has been re-connected it will be possible to lay the permanent track. Another milestone has been reached!

New battery van

Here's a photo of the newly equipped battery van, powering the rack loco out on the main line. The loco has itself been modified to allow it to draw power from a van via a socket at the rear or from the track in the conventional manner. The new van means that there are two vans available for four locomotives, along with the three locos that have their own batteries on board.

Into the shed...

We're now able to start setting up the shed, the interior of which is seen here. A baseboard is being installed along one side and the farthest end. Track will pass right through the shed, with a main running line as well as storage sidings. Doesn't look much just yet, as the work is still very much in progress, but we're heading in the right direction! Power should be reconnected next week, tunnel mouths finished off and then we'll be able to lay track.

Slow progress... but progress, nonetheless

The construction work on the shed is all but complete now. The exterior is finished, and on the inside we should soon have a new fuse board and then the electricity can be reconnected. The next stage is to built a bench/deck to support the track through the shed, and the materials for this are on site. I just have to work up the enthusiasm for the woodwork required! On the motive power front, radio control has been removed from 298.56 as repeated attempts to have a defective battery repaired by the supplier were unsuccessful. The equipment, with a new battery pack from a different supplier, has been installed in a van, which can power any one of four locos. Finally, for now, the rack locomotive is capable of running off track power or battery power, as I've fitted it with a DPDT switch to allow power to be supplied from either source without feeding back to where it shouldn't. All adds to the eventual operational flexibility when we've got a circuit - though that appears to still be a few months off.

Shrubbery!

The shed is nearly complete, and I've been busily planting up the side of the garden (thanks to Dave for a Landrover full - literally - of plants!).

Orient Express

The Orient Express set has been out on a test run... fortunately all the clearances were satisfactory!

Railway Returns

After nearly 18 months in store (thanks for looking after it for all that time!), the rolling stock, buildings and artefacts of the H&DLR have now returned to their new home. This means that the Mallet has had its shiny new gold rings fitted to the lamps, and we've been able (briefly!) to test the Orient Express coaches on the new line. Soon the shed that will be their permanent home will be complete, and we can start to set out some storage sidings.

Visitors to the H&DLR

The H&DLR played host to the G Scale Society Journal Co-ordinators quarterly Journal planning meeting yesterday. Ian brought a visiting rack train, seen here coming into the lower station. Now, should I extend track power to permit more visitors to run... it was certainly nice to be able to host a visiting train. Thanks, Ian!

Scenic work

We probably won't be able to extend the track much further until the shed is finished, a small wall has been built and the accumulated timber at the bottom of the garden has been shifted. But until then, there's plenty to be doing! We've been busy trying to improve the look of the timber decking, as shown here where the side edge has now been clad to look more like a girder viaduct. Pretty much all the track has now been ballasted, which improves the look of it as well.

Moving down the garden

The railway is now extending its reach down the left hand side of the garden. This side of the garden is as much as 2 feet lower than the line on the right hand side of the garden. On the right hand side of the garden, it was possible to cut the track bed into the bank side, as you'll see from some of the more scenic pictures posted previously. This allowed us to integrate it to some extent with the garden; not so on the left hand side. The slightly harsh appearance of the boards will be softened by growing shrubs against the edges and hiding the posts in due course.

The first picture shows the line curving round a birch tree as it comes off the steps that lead down into the garden. The next shot shows the route coming round the back of the flower bed/eventual shrub garden.

Finally, the photo below shows the extent of the main station area which has three tracks through it. At the far end of the station, the track heads out towards the bottom of the garden. Extension down here will have to wait until work on the shed is completed (we're very nearly there!) and we've decided how to run along the bottom of the garden - again, we've nearly worked that one out, but there's a load of old timber and a felled ash tree in the way, which will have to be sorted out first.

Although we're still quite some distance from getting all the way round, we're a good half way there now and with ideas of how we want to fill in the other half.

Track base under construction

Work has started building the railway along the other side of the garden. In reality, this is (currently at least) more like a giant model railway baseboard than a true garden railway. The topography (the hill the garden is on!) has really forced this. The alternative would be severe gradients that would drastically limit train operations. Some serious landscaping and planting will follow. But perhaps the main thing is that track laying has re-started, and work on the garden shed (eventually to be the Engine Shed and the railway's HQ) is now well under way.

Meanwhile, the H&DLR has been out and about - thanks once again to the Lazy Grange Bay for running rights. Apparently this loco needs more testing... allegedly...

Spring services on the H&DLR

A train service of sorts has been running to inspire the building work. No. 2 Zillertal heads a train of ÖBB (ex Steyrtalbahn) stock including the barrel car now running on the Zillertalbahn.

Building work commences!

Work has re-commenced on the H&DLR. New boards have been installed, and will soon (when I buy some more materials!) all join up. At the same time, serious work has started on rebuilding and extending the shed. Can you see what it is yet?!

Trains run on the H&DLR

A late afternoon passenger working on the H&DLR. No.5, the Corpet Louvet, heads a short train past the site of a rebuilt retaining wall. Yes, finally been able to do some railway works, albeit rebuilding something I did less successfully last year, rather than digging out yet more ivy. Never mind, only a week or so until work begins on reconstructing the shed that will become the operating headquarters of the H&DLR.

H&DLR on tour

The little ÖBB class 2092 on tour (thanks, Dave and Jay) with a short train of 4 wheelers... in the rain...

Sheds galore

Having gone from a garden with three stone sheds (if you count the coal shed!) plus a wooden shed to a garden with just one run down shed with a leaky roof,sorting out the shed has been an important goal. We're not there yet, but we do now have planning permission for the renovation and extension of the old stone shed (see photo - yes, that is a window on the right, instead of a door, and I've got the bruises on my head to prove how low it is). We also have a new wooden shed, so the next job is to empty the contents of the stone shed into the wooden shed, so that the stone shed can be renovated. This will be harder than it appears... remember those four sheds in the old garden... the contents of which were all stuffed into the one shed in the new garden... still, it will be good to clear out the rubbish, I'm sure. All things being equal, renovations will start in about three or four weeks time. The H&DLR may have a home of its own by the summer!

New fence... and some snow!

Not only have the leylandii disappeared, but the ivy has gone and a nice new fence has been installed. So there's almost no excuse for not making progress with the railway, until... down came the snow. Looks nice, though!

Chainsaw massacre... of leylandii

Progress in the garden lately has been more structural than railway. The long leylandii hedge down one side has been removed - after much consideration, I concluded that a "scorched earth" policy was really the only way forward. Fence should go up next week, and then we can start thinking about a track bed along this side of the garden. Now that will be progress! The top photo shows the aftermath, while the photo below shows the hedge and a rather artificial leylandii arch over the back of the pond... all now swept away in the name of progress.

Ballasting operations on the "mound"

The "hill" that the rack railway climbs is known as the "mound". The track running up the mound is currently the major part of the H&DLR, as construction elsewhere in the garden awaits the attention of a chainsaw. The rack railway track has therefore been the focus of most activity since the autumn, and a mild January morning saw some more ballasting operations. Here, 2092.02 is in charge.

New Year, new camera

Not a particularly impressive photo, but it does give an impression of the "finished" rack train - two coaches, each with interior lights. The ÖBB coach appears very bright, I think because the interior is painted white, whereas the Zillertal beer car has a more homely glow; the bulb is partially inside a yellow sleeve and the interior is a more subdued colour. Whether I do something about the mismatch between lighting levels is another matter; it seems reasonable that the service coach should be more brightly lit than the beer car anyway!

Shunting super power

I'm sure you shouldn't run a new loco in by doing this... We took the new ÖBB diesel shunter to the North West Area Group meeting of the G Scale Society yesterday. On the test track it managed to pull 19 BP (Black Pudding...) tankers. Slipped a bit to start, but once it was under way, the little shunter pulled them at a sedate pace. Picture courtesy of the legendary photographic skills of the Lazy Grange Bay!

Latest updates...

LGB's new style (read: feeble) 1 amp controller has been returned to the Withy Grove Junction. The Withy Grove Junction kindly loaned the H&DLR a replacement, and now the Greenwood Valley Railway has come up trumps with a spare old style LGB controller, which although nominally only a 1 amp beastie, packs enough punch to drive a Brunig rack loco. It has yet to be tested outdoors (always keep mains power inside, boys and girls!) but, extension cables permitting, should be tested when we get some sunny or at least dry weather.

On a different note, but also related to an earlier post, the Zillertal beer coach now boasts lighting in the bar area, and the bar has been equipped with a crate of beer. Not really enough beer for a long journey, but it's a start! More detailing work to follow.

In the short term, boring stuff like work, weather and hibernating hedgehogs have all intervened to reduce the already snail's pace of progress to an almost complete halt.

Shunting power

Just arrived on the H&DLR! Further information to follow as acceptance testing progresses.

Hibernation halts work!

Work commenced over this weekend to change how the rack line links into the main line - we want to be able to operate the main line without the rack line crossing it in any way, so we've relaid the pointwork. All a bit of a fiddle, and involved extending the decking area further into the garden, which I hadn't originally wanted to do. As ever, it wasn't straightforward, but I've finally got the track more or less as I wanted it. I then decided to tidy the garden up a bit and clear the dead leaves off the plants. There did seem to be rather a lot of leaves and loose earth around the timber of the railway trackbed, and I rather feared that I'd have yet more cat mess to remove. But a little clearance revealed... a sleepy hedgehog. I have of course restored his hibernation nest as best I can, and will leave him to his (or her) slumbers till the Spring. Work is suspended until March, therefore...

Train formation

Been working out what coaches we should use for the rack train. Given that we don't have the funds to buy any more rolling stock (spending it all on locomotives instead!), we need to build the train up from coaches already in use on the H&DLR. We've proved that the bogie DR coach will get up the incline, very much to my surprise but also pleasure, so that extends the suitable rolling stock. However, we think that the "normal" service train will be formed of the green ÖBB 4 wheeler (seen here), together with the Zillertal beer car seen in earlier posts. Work has started on detailing these coaches; both will receive passengers and interior lighting. We intend the railway to operate year round, and certainly into the evening, so lighting will add to the ambience.

Racking up experience...

Now that we're able to run trains, courtesy of the Withy Grove Junction's spare 1 amp controller, we have been able to work out how the rack line might operate in the future. Heavy loads are out of the question - a little bit of re-measuring suggests that the gradient reaches 1 in 5 for a distance, rather steeper than the 1 in 6 that I'd previously estimated. However, two coach trains certainly seem practical, and so the Zillertal beer car and a suitable matching 4 wheel coach have been equipped with "rack style" couplings - ones that don't catch on the central rack section! Consideration now turns to longer term power supplies as the present controller is on loan. There are, of course, various options to be explored...

Forward progress at last!

Further tests have been carried out, courtesy of the Withy Grove Junction Railway (see links). Ian has a similar locomotive to the H&DLR's Brunig rack loco, and he also has several different transformer/controllers. So we were able to prove that my Brunig loco works fine, but the small LGB controller is nowhere near sufficiently powerful to drive a rack loco, even light engine and on the flat. Ian has kindly loaned the H&DLR a slightly more powerful controller, and further tests this afternoon proved that this controller delivers enough power for the rack loco to operate properly. In other news, as they say, we also established that the bogie DR coach, newly equiped with an improved lighting system, negotiates the rack line with ease. Didn't expect this - it is quite a long vehicle with a substantial overhang at the ends. I thought that the bogie or coupling, possibly both, would foul. However, it runs up and down the line with no problems... and looks nice with the Brunig loco. The photo is of the DR coach in service at Forsythia Junction on the old line... more photos of the new line will follow, daylight etc permitting!

Coach lighting

Decided to leave the problems with locomotives alone for a while and get on with something else. This DR coach is a real favourite of mine, and on the old line probably got more use than almost anything else. I just like to see it trundling around as part of a short train. Seems very evocative of minor narrow gauge lines in their declining years, running a passenger service for the benefit of local people going about their daily routine. Anyway, as it's one of my favourite vehicles and gets used a lot, it seemed a good idea to equip it with lights for evening running. It also runs in a very short train, which means that I didn't need to equip a whole rake of coaches with on board lighting! The coach acquired a string of 3v lamps some time ago, which were pleasingly effective. However, the wiring left something to be desired as I hadn't really worked out the best way of hiding everything without cutting holes into the coach. I finally plucked up the courage to tidy it all up, concealing the batteries (2 x AA cells) inside the toilet compartment with a small on/off switch protruding just below the solebar. If you didn't know it was a switch, you'd think it was just part of the moulding. I also took the oportunity to add some passengers. Overall, quite a satisfying project which (for once!) seems to have worked out pretty much as planned.

New power control

Well, tests with the new power controller can only be described as a complete failure. Although the track was clean, and the connections all appeared to be fine, the Brunig rack loco would barely move. Moreover, even when it did move, it was very slow and presumably couldn't draw sufficient power from the controller. While the new (well, second hand) controller is only a 1 amp power pack, this loco has only one motor and was being tested on level track with no load. Bench tests indoors suggested that the controller was adequate, but outdoors on the track, nothing doing. What a complete disappointment. I don't know whether to abandon track power or continue with the experiment - but a higher power controller comes in at a much higher price... we'll have to see.

More testing!

As the H&DLR hasn't got a full circuit yet, and the new rack locomotive needed "running in" before entering service, it had a day out at the Lazy Grange Bay railway in Bolton (see links). Trial runs were successful, so the loco will be able to enter routine service on the H&DLR... just as soon as I get a suitable power controller for it... which should happen tomorrow. I can see more testing being necessary!

Testing, testing...

Well, we didn't get too much test running done this weekend. I did manage to get the cog rail laid up the main incline, and early tests show that the new rack loco can climb this with ease. A new and more suitable controller should be with the line in early November. In the meantime, the battery powered engines can (just!) get up the incline, but do tend to foul at the start of the incline. Longer term only "proper" rack locos will be allowed on this section. The rack train will probably consist of three vehicles, including the beer car... well, you need refreshments...

New loco for the H&DLR!

Having built a rack line, we've now taken delivery of a suitable locomotive to run services. It's a model of the Brunig line 0-6-0 rack engine, by LGB. More extensive testing this weekend, with any luck!

Track bonding continues

Although most locomotives have an on board battery pack, we're going to experiment with track power on the new line. So this weekend was spent bonding the rail joints to give good electrical continuity. It's tedious work, soldering a small loop of copper wire across each rail joint, so I hope it will be worthwhile in the end. The planned rack line is almost complete (in track laying terms, at any rate), running from the "datum" level under the trees to the top of an area known as "The Mound". The area has also been planted with hardy cyclamen - hederifolium and coum, so with a bit of luck it should look good in both Spring and Autumn.