Hi everyone. Well, after a fabulous day yesterday on the Jinty at Shackerstone, I decided to take it easier today. In the morning, as the warm sun rose higher in the sky, I washed a couple of our cars. Later on in the morning, I decided to start running some trains on the garden railway. Though today was a little cooler than yesterday, it was very warm in the sun and so, not just myself, but the family also spent the day in the garden. Many trains ran up and down the line during the day, with a brief appearance from the Wilesco D405 traction engine as well; can't beat a little bit of real steam afterall. The garden is now beginning to flourish, the tree's for example are turning green again after a very brown-ish winter. I must admit, this "train-set" has given me many, many hours of enjoyment in the past, as it did today and hopefully will continue to do so in the future. I have included a few pictures of today's running for your interest. Any comments welcome. Below, we see a third of the railway. The line leaves the shed and climbs behind the Rockery before descending towards the house on a long straight, returning to the shed behind the Flowerbeds. The D405 can be seen below, as can my Tail-Lamp...
We ran various loco's today, hauling 3 different sets of coaches and 3 different freight trains (we have 5 coach sets in total, and countless rakes of freight wagons too). Though I am generally not too attracted to Rolling Stock, my favourite coach has to be my Hornby model of the "Devon Belle" Saloon. Internally illuminated, the "Devon Belle" is an attractive but heavy coach which I generally use as either part of the Dining Train or as part of the GWR Rake; today she ran as part of the latter. The coach is spotted at Sutherland between turns...
Half way down the line, Ashford Junction offers a lengthy siding in which alot of rolling stock can be stored. This siding also leads to the electrically-operated turntable. Below, the 1:30pm service from Sutherland, behind "Derwent Grange", passes the Junction whilst Pannier Tank No5775 awaits departure northbound...
Up at Sutherland, any trains stopping in the platform tend to end up with their locomotive outside the nearby "Dew Drop Inn" pub. This position allows easy access to both the main line to Chilvers and the dock road into the loco shed. "Derwent Grange" waits at Sutherland for departure...
After leaving Sutherland, trains call at Grantham and Ashford 'on request' before arriving at the final station; Chilvers Coton. Leaving Chilvers, trains pass through the tunnel, over an access path and then back into the shed again. In the image below, Small Prairie Tank No4560 has just arrived at Chilvers, from the shed, with a Sutherland-bound train. She is hauling the 4-coach LMS Rake. The empty Passing Loop can be seen on the right...
Later in the afternoon, "Derwent Grange" rattles along the straight section towards Ashford whilst the D405 ticks-over with her Living Van...
As the tea and cake continued to flow, more loco's found their way out of storage and onto the line. My restored Tri-Ang model of the famous Gresley A3 Pacific "Flying Scotsman" is seen below approaching Sutherland. The loco is just about to top the bank and descend into the platform. When I say 'restored', this model had a new motor, new front bogie, replacement valve gear, extra wiring and a full repaint to boot, with traditional LNER transfers applied to the tender and new red-back nameplates. I love this engine; she has alot of character and the paint job is fantastic (thanks to an old friend)...
As you can see, it isn't just new models that find their way out onto the line. Below, a rare sight at Sutherland as my LMS Streamlined Duchess No6221 "Queen Elizabeth" awaits departure with our 4-coach LMS Rake. She is a very rare sight on the line; another beautiful Tri-Ang relic...
Trains eventually ended up running from 11am until 5:30pm. The final train of the day consisted of ECS behind No4560 from Ashford Jnc to the Shed, via Chilvers. The black Prairie is spotted arriving in the southern portal of the shed with the LNER rake...
Below, see a quick video clip of "Derwent Grange" in action on the line; just to give you an idea!...After a very successful day in the garden I returned home happy. What a nice afternoon. Evening All...
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