.

Then we had the pleasure of meeting Mark Found himself at the York Railfest. I mentioned the 'project' to him . He wished me luck as well as pointing me in the right direction as to a few suppliers/publications etc.

As I live nowhere near a supplied of 'G' gauge track. It was all mail order from Signalbox down in Kent. I decided to go the live-steam route. So, Roundhouse supplied the locomotive. Again I've got the wagons off signalbox. I decided to pick up the loco from Roundhouse as I only live 70 minutes away. They are excellent. showing me all the pro's and con's with live steam. Nothing was too much trouble for them.

So, it was on with the project. Tracklaying took about a month on and off. I averaged a yard an hour. Centrepiece is a 10 foot bridge over the garden pond. Originally it was going to be 14 foot. But, I shortened it as I was in a state of panic should the loco fail/derail in the middle! Unfortunately, this created a sharper curve on both approaches. To this day 'Bertie' had never stalled on the bridge. Always managing to stagger to the other end. The bridge is 100% straight and level. so, this helps! You always 'know' when he's about to run out of steam...but I still have a 5 foot stick with a hook on it, just in case!

Running it was a struggle at first. As you have to get used to the priming/hydraulicking from the loco. But, this gets better once a few runs have been completed. Gradients are shallow. But there are some tight curves. I used Peco standard curved on the quick return loop (mostly out of sight beyond the rockery). The most important thing as I've learnt is not to set the regulator too far 'open' when he sets off. As a derailment WILL occur!

I did have great problems at first. With of all things cats. I'd seen too many pictures of the real thing. So, when I was track I made the ballast 'shoulder' to big. Mistake. The cats loved this. As a ready made toilet. I lowered the shoulder to rectify this. And the cats had to find somewhere else to go. Only problem I get now are from birds. And in the summer hedgehogs. But a quick run over the track with a four inch brush removes any stray ballast. Bertie will easily de-rail on this ballast. Takes all of 5 minutes. Ideal when firing up.

That's about it, so far. I have 90-95 foot of track. Plus a weed strewn siding I hardly ever use now. I never have to clean the track for electrical continuity. So, to look at it now. It has weathered beautifully.

One thing I haven't mentioned. 'G' scale mad. Fantastic forum. As I know nobody with a garden railway. Honest. It has been a mine of information. Thanks you very much...now lets me get onto convincing the missus an extension is needed...!

I know it was a bit long winded. But, that's the full ,story so far...

Originally it was my late dad who got me into trains. He worked on the fish docks in Hull. Everybody in those days had an allotment. His adjoined the entrance to Hull Priory Yard. At the time the biggest marshalling in the country. He used to stick me on a ladder watching the trains all day. While he was busy. From the age of 5 I was hooked. I bought my first '00' set-up with my first weeks wages. Incidentally working on the railway at the time. He died last year. Left me a little money...and the rest just followed naturally!

All the best,


Brian/Fazerboy.