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Jun 21, 2010 21:18:36 GMT
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Here we have a 1'9" narrow gauge railway. It was originally built by my dad to help move logs around for the sawmill. However, it quickly expanded and a locomotive was built, and it ended up more as a hobby than an industrial thing. It was last used over five years ago and has since become very overgrown, and a recent inspection revealed that many sleepers had become rotten. On the plus side, the locomotive is in sound condition, and apart from a bit of work needed on the water tank, should raise steam. The plan is to initially to just get enough track clear to run the locomotive. There are also plans to build a diesel locomotive so it can be used more often with less work. Anyway, pics The engine shed:  The sawmill:  The locomotive:    The bridge:  Track:  The wagon shed:  |
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Jun 21, 2010 21:32:37 GMT
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great stuff
how long since the loco has been used on the tracks?
is this the 1'9" gauge track you posted about a while back?
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Jun 21, 2010 21:44:41 GMT
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Yep, I think I mentioned it previously. The loco was last used about five years ago, although I have used the pump-wagon more recently. Around christmas I partially cleared some of the track and took the pump-wagon out, but because of the uneven track caused by rotten sleepers, it derailed just before the bridge and very nearly went into the stream! The problem with trying to clear it now is that it is at its most overgrown, so really it would be easier to wait to January.
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Jun 21, 2010 23:57:41 GMT
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Just load up the strimmer with heavy duty spool and cable tie the trigger and away you go.  Could probably clear out the rails too of dirt and rubbish. :-) |
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I think a strimmer will certainly be the first thing I attack it with, I suppose I could tie a couple to the front of a wagon and just push it along! I was thinking of just throwing lots of weed killer over the tracks, but as it runs alongside a stream I am not sure that I will be able to do this.
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Jun 22, 2010 10:13:46 GMT
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I dreamed of having this sort of thing in the backyard as a kid! Fantastic!
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Jun 22, 2010 19:53:56 GMT
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Love it.
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Peace,Max signature height = 80px
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Jun 22, 2010 21:19:59 GMT
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Awesome!! Dito above. there used to be narrow gauge up the road from me as a kid, but when I was old enough to go on it they closed it down. this needs to be rebuilt.
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Jun 22, 2010 22:05:34 GMT
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That is a beautiful thing, you are a lucky man, and your father a clever one. Good luck, hope you get this going well again.
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Jun 23, 2010 11:10:13 GMT
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I was thinking of just throwing lots of weed killer over the tracks, but as it runs alongside a stream I am not sure that I will be able to do this. If you use a systemic glyphosate weed killer you should be OK. It kills from the leaves back and becomes inert on contact with the ground and has extremely low toxicity anyway. |
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That is cool, how long is your total run of track roughly? I'm another one who always wanted their own railway as a kid, Tomy and then Hornby could never compare to this.
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There is no such thing as a curse word car just overstretched expectations................. Herald 10/10 Gasser 10/10 Total score 20/10 |
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ewokracing
Part of things
Snuffling for food in a river
Posts: 502
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Jun 25, 2010 11:28:37 GMT
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awesome! my father and I belonged to a society here in Melbourne that ran scale replicas of steam engines. Loads of clever engineering, but to have something like that in your own backyard, wow.
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Jun 26, 2010 22:27:41 GMT
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There is probably about 500 yards of track, although the locomotive only plods along at 10mph max, so not much track is needed. Work may not be able to start for a bit as I am busy preparing for the Mongol Rally, and then I will be on the rally for some time.
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Well let us know when there are any updates - watching this one beadily  |
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Just out of interest, what does the locomotive run on? I'm assuming that the big tank on the back is for water, but there doesn't seem to be enough room for the driver to stoke a fire with solid fuel, so does it burn diesel or some sort of oil?
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It runs on coal, there isn't much space to stoke it, but because it is only a small boiler you are not continuously piling coal in but just keeping it topped up.
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Ax GTi Turbo
