A New Begining.

Last time I rebuilt my railway I was determined it was for the last time. Layouts begin to get like a pair of old slippers,  sometimes  they are a bit tatty  but you get used to them but they feel really comfortable. That’s how  I felt about the old Dorchester Line which had evolved over  a number of years from just an oval round the pond . Its last major change involving a 180 degree turn and  a viaduct addition.

But the chief planning officer has decreed another 180 degree turn to allow for house extension . Which seems to bring me back where I started from. Of course I moved several tonnes of earth (more like clay and rock) during the first move now it remains to move it back again. No good complaining to higher authorities. The usual reply “well you’re the one who wants to play trains” is like an arrow through the heart. So out comes the trusty spade and digging commences. There usually follows a period of heavy rain just to turn the garden into  a quagmire that slowly sucks you in and makes each spade full twice as heavy and sticky

But what of a plan ?  That is something I leave to those who  understand  scales and angles etc. I feel a bit like Brunel when he was deciding how to build the Great Western Railway. He looked at the area decided on the line of least resistance and built his railway. He did come a bit unstuck at Box Tunnel but nobody’s perfect.

I decided to build my own Box tunnel to hide the pond filter box a bit. Then I thought  an up and over would be nice. You need a station and a passing loop. The layout nearly designs itself. I did forget to mention that my garden slopes away quite dramatically so that pile of earth will come in handy along the way. I was just beginning to picture the new line and by throwing a bit of track down here and there the scheme was coming together.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten  a space for my washing line”  Of course not came the cheery reply and after a quick shuffle of the track  a satisfied “There you are dear”  was quickly followed by “ I hope your not expecting me to walk across all this mud to get to it. I need a path.” Another  shuffle of the pieces. And bingo  space for a path. A few slabs dropped into place and a  with a satisfied  grin the boss was brought out for an inspection. “ Blimey I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz on the wiggly yellow brick road” But bless her it was passed  with an enthusiastic “I suppose it’ll do”

By this time the original ideas were completely forgotten  and lost in my brain somewhere and I was left standing in my clay  bog slowly sinking in to my knees wondering how on earth I was going to make a railway with what I had left and somehow use the pile of rocks  and slates that came from the old layout.

Not to mention the buildings etc.

After regular injections of tea the track was shuffled again, thrown up into the  air and where it landed joined together quickly.

So the new Dorchester Line is coming to life and hopefully one day soon a train will actually run on it again. “By the way we need a bit of a lawn for the grandchildren to play on.”  “Yes Dear it’s in the plan.” Did Brunel have grandchildren  I muttered pulling up the track.

Rambling Roger March 2007.