The Echills Wood Railway Observer
Reporting Every Monday
16mm S.M.G.R. REPORT
SUN 29th MARCH 2009
Since the last report, a bit more work has been done to the SMGR, with the new Steaming Bay baseboard now in place and the footbridge entrance from Harvesters Station, now having a gate. Also, some work has been done to extend the baseboard, to allow a longer passing loop to the line to the left of the footbridge tunnel. Other work in hand, is the fitting of remote control point rodding to various points around the circuit. Watch this space for further reports, as and when work progresses.
The new baseboard which runs alongside the fence, up to the water butt, which was also felted earlier this week.
The footbridge between the SMGR & Harvesters Station, has now been completed and sports a brand new gate to deter > see next photo!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!! This still applies in 2009 and beyond!
Temporary track laid on the new steaming bay area. After Easter, this will have a turntable fitted, with several more tracks laid for steaming up locos.
Next & Last Photo, by Jeff Cogan
Message for Jeff Stevens! Just to keep you informed, that the 16mm crew are hard at work, under the watchfull eye of their 16mm Sergant Major. Yes Jeff, the EWR can cope without you, but there will be plenty for you to catch up with when you return. From all of us here, have a nice holiday in New Zealand!
16mm SMGR REPORT!
SUNDAY 15th MARCH 2009
The 16mm Station Master's Garden Railway, has for the past number of months, has been taken over by a new team of workers, comprising of Jeff Cogan, Ken Bull, Andy Spencer, Jim Steptoe, Dave & Sue Demain, Dave Bell, Matthew Gee, Ian Willets and one or two others that I may have missed out. Anyway, they are all doing a great job and I have decided to do more reports on this page as work progresses. Here are a few photos that have been taken since the last 16mm Report.
Happy as a sand boy, Jeff Cogan, does his impression of a Rembrant!
Ken is also taking up painting as his latest hobby. This is the new fencing, that was put up last week, between Harvester's Station and the Garden Railway.
Ken Smith & Ken Bull, fitting the hand rails to the new footbridge, from Harvester's Station, into the Garden Railway Site.
The following six photos were sent in by Matt Spencer, and cover some of the action for todays running.
Work is now concentrating on making a covered canopy for the Steaming Bay & Carriage Sidings.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE PROGRESS ON THIS EXCELLENT GARDEN RAILWAY!
WEEKLY REPORT!
Sunday 22nd February 2009
More progress to the ground works took place today, with the path extensions as well as the regular members running a few trains. Latest loco to appear on the SMGR, is Jim Steptoes Diesel loco.
Sue & Dave have been extending the paths inside the SMGR compound.
Latest loco to ride the rails is this nice looking diesel loco, owned by Jim Steptoe.
Another diesel, pulling a rake of goods wagons.
A close uo of the same loco, on goods traffic.
By lunchtime, Sue & Dave had finished the new path, which leads from the entrance of the garden to the main operating area.
Another shot of Jim's Diesel. The soil which has been dug from the path excavations, will eventually be made into a rockery.
Finally, Sue & Dave set in these paving slabs, from the footbridge, to the operating area.
SUNDAY 15th February 2009
The new carriage sidings, which are still under construction. This will shortly have a canopy built over it, to provide shelter for the operators. Photo taken by Editor.
Photo sent in by Rod Herdsman
Photo sent in by Matt Spencer
Photo sent in by Matt Spencer.
Latest 16mm Loco to visit the
Station Masters Garden Railway!
16mm Ffestiniog Loco Taleisin of the NCRly brought to the SMGR for a photographic session. It is a Roundhouse Model and will be returning shortly for its steam trials & running in session. ( Jeff Cogan & Ken Bull)
UPDATED 25th January 2009
All photos taken by the Editor, unless otherwise
stated.
Friday 23rd January 2009
Coal Fired Sandy River No24 with a train of quarry wagons.
A close up of this beautiful coal fired loco.
Coming through the tunnel.
Roundhouse "Lady Anne." coming through the tunnel.
"Lady Anne" again, at the tunnel
Sandy River No24 with American stock, crosses the central bridge.
My final shot of this loco. More to come from Ken Bull.
The following photos were taken by Ken Bull,
again on Friday 23rd January 2009
A Diesel Shunter from IP Engineering, painted in green, named "Valliant" & modified by "Chuffed2Bits"
A John Shaw SR&LR (Sandy River & Lakeside Railway) No 24. The first 16mm Coal Fired Loco to visit the Station masters Garden Railway.
A nice shot coming over the bridge.
A head on shot of No 24. This loco is a 16mm scale version of James Rodger's 7,1/4 gauge "Douglas" which is quite familiar on the EWR.
A Roundhouse "Lady Anne" with a rake of lovely green coaches.
"Lady Anne" crosses the bridge.
No24 with a load of American stock.
Diesel Railcar, on test for The Norton Canes Railway.
A lovely shot of the railcar on the bridge. A couple of full size railcars, similar to this model, are believed to be preserved in Ireland.
Plenty of clagg in this shot
No24 passes "Katie", another Roundhouse loco.
Another shot of the Roundhouse "Katie" with a brake and three passenger coaches.
A side on view of No24.
The next two photos were taken by Matt Spencer
on Sunday 25th January 2009.
Roundhouse Bertie loco with a rake of LGB coaches, converted from 45mm to 32mm track gauge.
Roundhouse "Lady Anne", with a coach & brake.
And finally, the latest update for the work in progress!
The baseboard for the carriage sidings, has now been felted over!
Sunday 25th January 2009.
Here are the latest photos from
November 2008 to
4th January 2009.
4th January 2009
4th January 2009
4th January 2009
4th January 2009
28th December 2008
28th December 2008
28th December 2008
28th December 2008
30th November 2008
November 9th 2008
November 9th 2008
Sunday 3rd August 2008
Here are the latest photos of the 16mm Garden Railway. All these photos were sent in by Dave Bell.
Acces Bridge for Camera/Lamp Pole
Junction to Steaming Bay (not yet built)
Another view of the curved lift up bridge to allow access to the lamp post.
Centre Lift Up Bridge.
New access foot bridge under construction, to allow entry from Harvester's Station.
The new loop which forms part of the dog bone layout.
The loop already felted and ready for the edging strips to be added.
Closer view of new loop, with passing loop on the left.
Temporary bridge to allow use of both loops. A double track three arch girder bridge will eventually replace this single track bridge.
The centre hinged or lift up bridge.
Overall view taken from steaming bay area.
The junction board for the steaming bay. This will also become a foot bridge, to allow access into the steaming bay area.
5th August 2007
APRIL 2007
The area fencing posts and side path being formed with the Minnie Digger.
The fence cross members ready for being put in place.
The lakeside cross members, almost completed.
The trench which has been dug, to lay the electric supply to the lamp post & security cameras.
Electric supply in place and trench filled in and leveled.
The start of adding the fence pailings.
MAY 2007
The lamp post and security cameras, which cover the whole of Harvester's Station site.
The area where the steaming bay will be placed.
The area in the foreground is where the Station will be built.
Most of the fence pailings have now been added and Pat Murfin can be seen, wiring up the lamp post.
Edging boards to the bottom of the fence, have also been added.
Pat ready to do some wire knitting.
All the fence pailings now fitted.
This centre post was used for determing the radious of the track.
Dale and myself, putting wood treatment on the fence.
Why do I always get the painting jobs!
The last section and just enough in the can, to finish off.
Marker sticks, for the route of the track work.
The crosses, are where the main support posts will be placed in the ground.
JUNE 2007
The main support posts, starting to be inserted. These will be cut to the correct height later.
The posts were cemented into the ground after being hammered in with the post knocker.
Getting the posts cut to the correct height.
Since Ken & Jeff joined the project, work is progressing much faster.
Disaster strikes!
This was the state of the site on 15th June 2007.
By the following week, the flood had abated and work got back to normal.
Marking out the station area.
Overall view of the site.
Work continuing at a steady pace.
The support posts for the station, with cross bracing being added.
The area beneath, being covered with ballast.
To stop any weeds, this plastic sheet was laid first.
JULY 2007
The station area, begining to take shape.
Note how the grass has grown, which will form a nice lawn, when the job is finished.
The station will be built as a storage area as well.
The latest picture. Shows the station area boarding in place and felted, with the track boards, temporarly laid out around the loo