LNERW1

It’s all marine ply so I doubt I’ll have to worry about that- plus there’ll be cork and scenics in between the glue, water, clay, Modroc etc. and the baseboard most of the time anyway. I’ll look at cutting bracing- two more , spaced about 16” apart, per board?I will still glue the sides to the top as the waving around really does piss me off.

Do you have photos of the layout as it is now?

Couldn’t agree more. Brilliantly evocative.

Well it took a while, and working literally until sunset, but I finally have all 5 baseboards for Ardree Quay. At the moment they’re structurally ok but the sides are only fixed at the corners, so I’d like to add some glue to stop the long sides from flopping around. I had the maths done a while ago, but only cut up the boards yesterday and screwed it all together today. I’m really happy with this as it means I can finally get a good idea of what I’m working with and where to go next- Peco would be a good idea as I don’t have a lot of track. This feels really good to have gotten such an important part of the layout done. Thanks for all the support getting me through my needless self-pity. Be prepared for a lot more of the same for the next while, at least until the track is all down and working. LNERW1.

I. CAN. EXPLAIN. in school, I always have a half day on Wednesday, so I get home at 3 instead of 5, UNLESS I have a match, in which case I leave school at 11, travel to Dublin or Limerick or Tipp or somewhere to play and get home far later. I didn’t think I’d be picked for the match as I didn’t go to training yesterday, plus it was an A team only game and I usually play in the B’s. However I was, and in fact I did play well and enjoy it, but instead of getting home at 3 and having some daylight to work in, I got back at 8 and so it was far too dark outside to be using power tools. I have training again this evening, so, unfortunately, I’ll have to cut the boards a week late. At least we won.

Great piece lads. Jim did a great job explaining everything and really conveyed how impressive the project was. Best of luck to all of ye now, and let’s hope Santa trains aren’t too far out of reach- id definitely travel all the way from Laois for it.

Anyone know what’s happened to @Sheldrake9er? Last time he visited was September 19th, the day most of this thread was posted. I do hope he’s alright.

The GeoHive Map Viewer has some satellite coverage of the works from the 90s, though it’s not very clear. Below is from 1995: While below again is from, I would guess, the mid-late 90s: Regrettably the coverage isn’t too clear. Quite good for nearly 30 years ago, though, considering how much technology it’s taken to get where we are now, that is, definitely not the best we could be at in terms of Google earth etc.

OK, so I can't cut the wood- don't have anywhere I can do it outside and I've missed the sun. Sorry, ye'll have to wit till wednesday.

Maths done, off to mark and cut some wood.

Wow! Let me find an excuse to run these on my 60s branch line layout based on Connemara. For your layout or for Maam Cross?

Bit pricey- one of the problems with G and SM32!

My problem is that I'm not super confident about painting the wheels and motion. or rather stripping paint off the motion (?). I'll see about it and I might buy it at the weekend. Need a bit of time to think first! 100 quid might not be so much to some of ye but it's still a fair bit for me! This isn't really a hobby for anyone under 25 is it? (/s)

The MSC green is far closer to CIÉ. I’ll probably still buy the offered one!

I’d have to think about that. It’d be a more complicated project than the alternative but it could work. I’ll get back to you. And either way thanks for the offer.

As the sub forum is called For Sale Or Wanted I thought I would probably be ok to put up a wanted ad. If anyone has a Hornby Peckett (either type) in black or MSC green then I could be up for buying it. Please keep in mind that I may not have any money to be buying trains with at the time you do message me- right now I probably couldn’t do more than €100 and even then it’s a little (but only little) bit of a stretch. If you don’t want to sell to me that’s absolutely fine. Also if I’m out of line anywhere here feel free to check me. I’ve had few experiences of this part of the forum and what I have had has been sometimes less than fun and clumsy (on my part) to say the best so again feel free to check me. Thanks.

I would have to agree. Back in a minute, off to read all 22 pages.

I can’t promise anything (as usual), but be prepared for a large(ish) update this weekend. It should effectively eliminate the main roadblocks I’ve struggled with recently- space and motivation. Some maths still to be done though.

I’ve noticed something that you may be able to do. Keep in mind I am very inexperienced and in fact you seem to have done loads with your layout that I have yet to do, but I think maybe the roads are a bit dark and glossy for tarmac. Maybe try a lighter grey paint, with a matt varnish over it? Again keep in mind you are probably more experienced than me but I think it could help the layout look better as the glossy roads stand out a little from the otherwise more realistic scenery around them. All the best, LNERW1.

So, my garden railway is still in the planning stages. Although ideas have been floating around for over a year here, and track has been laid a few times, it’s gone nowhere-yet. As DJ said, failure is an excellent teacher. I’m more confident now in what I want to do, and I have a better idea now of what I can do in the space and with what I have. I now have a good few statements about the railway I’m comfortable putting out there as I am more confident in being able to follow through with them. 1: The railway will be laid at just above ground level, running around the edges of the garden. This was always the plan but I thought I should reiterate it so I can hold myself to it. 2: The railway will run on radio control. Track control is just too temperamental, especially as most of the track I own is 20-35 years old, damaged and corroded, and cannot effectively carry power. 3: The railway will have realistic mechanical point and signal operation using the wire-in-tube method, controlled from 3 signal cabins. 4: The railway, although still set on the island of Sheehaun, as roughly set out in the first post of this topic, will be flexible and will operate as a preserved railway, and so will mainly stick to “accurate” stock, but will still have scope to run anything 45mm gauge if when I feel like it. 5: The construction of the trackbed will be more heavy duty than I have attempted before; I have a basic idea in mind but I’d like to refine it before I decide on it. 6:There will hopefully be a model town in an area at the rear of the garden. 7: I would like to have water featured a lot on the railway. 8: There will hopefully be scope to add some industry in the style of Bord na Móna; I would like to add an industrial feature in the town, incorporated into the potato patch, and at the house. At the moment I’m kept busy or tired by school stuff from dawn till dusk on weekdays, and occupied by an indoor project on weekends. I don’t want to post about it at the moment but if it’s still going by Christmas then I may start a thread for it. It has also been keeping my attention away from Ardree as well so it has a bit to answer for lol. Until spring and the start of longer days, Sheehaun will be in the planning stages, but I hope to emerge from winter ready to build a railway. All the best, LNERW1

I did, thanks @jhb171achill!

Love a good Wagonmaster! Which BnM line did you get it from? Will be sure to watch. Hopefully heritage railways get featured more on Irish TV, I would say it’d be really helpful and get your name out there. I’d have to ask the lads at Stradbally whether getting on Nationwide helped, but again I’d say it’d help a bit. Best of luck lads.

Im already inspired- just not skilled enough lol.

Saw the grass down on The 21mm thread- it looks lovely, far better than I could do of course, but a man can dream... You work very fast!

I love the elevation differences between all the buildings- I find I’m often more immersed in layouts with different levels. Not that I’d ever take my own advice lol. Edit: love the profile pic too.