New garden layout

Aye lad,

 

We're still trying to sell our house. We've given the realtor a 3 month window to sell our property. Supposedly, the markets in a bit of a slump... Whatever. We'll probably hold onto our home, if our price is not met.

 

I hate the idea of living in a multiple unit complex(townhouse/condo).

 

I was running my Atlas O units today. All CP. A C630, GP9, SD40 and a MP15DC. All brilliant!

 

I'd like to be able to bring those boys with me, and the rest of my O roster. We'll see.

 

Sounds like you've had a wet summer this year. Must make having an outdoors operation a wee bit less enjoyable. You're a seasoned outdoors operator, so ya must take it in stride.

 

BTW, have you ever seen that American show "Duck Dynasty"  featuring the Robertson family. Those lads must be rooted to Scotland. The thing I like about the show... THE BEARDS. I like that look!

 

Take care me son... (I'm still looking for your, kilt clad, grand opening)

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

Hi Rick, hope you manage to keep your house.Nah,I don't fancy living in a block of flats either. Where I am is right on the edge of town, jump the back fence and its countryside all the way.

Don't know that TV show you are refering to I'm afraid.

 I've been collecting more European and British outline O gauge stuff.  French and German diesels,one german steamer, and two Italian electric locos so far. I'm thinking to put in overhead catenary down the right hand side of the garden ...anyway we'll see. As for the weather we had great weather in March, lousy weather in April, fantastic weather in May early June then July and August have been terrible.However not in the North West of Scotland where they've had a fantastic summer this year. So the weather is all over the place. No rain here as yet today but its cool and grey like a friggin winter's day.Oh well, not much to be done about that eh ?. catch you later  DAVY I've attached a couple of pics some euro-continental stuff 1) french beer wagon,2)german beer wagon 3)French passenger car A 4)French passenger car B

Hi Davy,

 

We purchased our current house/property a little over 20 years ago. It's been paid off for quite some time. We made an attempt to sell/move last fall, but didn't like the ways of our realtor.

 

We've needed a bigger house for a long time. Our property is a good size, but our house is way too small; and it only has one bathroom. The good thing is... our property has increased in value, quite nicely, over the years. It's best suited for redevelopment. There's been ongoing new construction on our street. Smaller older homes making way for bigger higher-end houses.

 

The problem is... where do we move to? We live in one of the most expensive areas in Canada. Buying a bigger home in our current location would necessitate taking out another mortgage. Not something we want to do, again. We'd prefer to get the best- bang-for-the-buck, using the money we make from selling our current property.

 

That's the tricky part.

 

There are many regions that would be less expensive/more affordable, but that usually means a significant relocation. For example, in Canada's maritime provinces - the homes and cost of living is often considerably cheaper than it is here(in southwestern B.C.) and in B.C., usually, the further out you go... the more affordable things become.

 

My family wants to live in a specific area, and our money won't go as far -  due to the high cost of living.

 

If we don't want to take out a new mortgage, then town houses and condos fall within our price range. There is some detached housing, in the same price range, but it's usually harder to come by. Age and structural quality issues often come into play...

 

BTW, I've seen a lot of water/moisture related problems with leaky condos, especially stucco sided units, in our region. A few blocks down the road, the residents in one building(condominium complex) all had to kick in at least $70,000.00 for major structural repairs, caused by water damage. Now, the building beside that complex is going through the same type of major structural repairs.

 

I've even though about renting a 2 bedroom/bathroom apartment for a year or two, and holding on to our current property, until we get the price we're looking to sell for. That way we could utilize our existing property and the extra space in an apartment. My wife's job isn't secure(she could get bumped by someone with more seniority, which happened in the recent past).

 

Our young adult is still attending university, with a few more years to go. That's why we are trying to stay in a specific area. Once university has been completed, and if my wife's employment situation changes, then it's possible a new location would be required/preferred.

 

In the meantime,  hopefully our current desirable property will continue to increase in value.

 

Re: my trains - I've been boxing up my locs, lately. In case we move. Still have about 10 enjoying their freedom(so I have something to run).

 

I have 3 North American electrics(an EP-2, an EP-3 and a P5a). Having operating overhead cantenary would be tres cool.

 

You're building up a nice European collection.

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

Hi Davy , What makes are those passenger cars Roco?

Hi George,

          No,they are models made by Lima back in the 70s and early 80s. No longer in production but can still be found fairly regularly on Ebay UK and Ebay Germany,France etc. As far as I know they only actually ever produced five locomotives , A british 0-6-0 tender loco and a British diesel. They produced an authentic French mainline diesel loco and an authentic Italian Electric loco. Plus a small 0-4-0 switcher which may be based on a real prototype or freelance I don't know.It was produced in various colours and national railways insignia. See here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdZJDwyXkYc  and here....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRDwD9CAZ0YThere is also another earlier catalogue online but Lima never produced every locomotive that was slated for production. Only the ones I've mentioned as fas as I know. However Rivarrossi also did an authentic O gauge German diesel and an authentic German BR80 0-6-0 steam loco. I have both.They did some items of euro rolling stock too but I'm not exactly sure about what all Rivarrossi produced and am still trying to find out. Lima produced those 4 wheel vans in many different beer and other companies' logos. Likewise they did 8 axle oil tankers and some other freight items.     DAVY

Davy... Lad,

 

Do you still live in Scotland; and do ya still have a garden... with trains lying about; and do you don a splendid kilt... when the mood strikes; and do ya still entertain; and what's HAPPENING/HAPPENED to your...

 

It still can't be raining... can it?

 

 

Rick

Hi Rick,

         Weather really has been awfull, and unfotunately most days its been good I've been doin other things that need doin. Things with the railway have progressed a bit but hardly worth showing, I am just back from a  4 day holiday break to Paris,France today. So between one thing and another the railway has had to take a back seat the last wee while. The way things are goin it'll probably be next spring before it gets all the way round the garden,but it just depends on weather etc,but theres a real nip in the air now and the leaves on the trees are gettin ready to fall. But,hopefully I'll get a bit more done yet. catch you later Rick   DAVY

 

Hi lad,

 

Hope Paris was a good time. I've never set foot on the continent; wouldn't mind, though.

 

Too bad, about your weather. You were on a roll, for a while, and got a lot done.

 

My area is having a great long, late, summer; with only a wee bit of rain... one day. The sun has been with us for over a month, now; nice comfortable temperatures, too.

 

Maybe, the break did ya some good, helping to keep burnout... at bay.

 

Myself, I'm looking forward to getting a couple of 2007 locomotives; they're brand new. I was looking for something different, and they are... I'm not saying what they are... until, I've got them in my mitts. No point in getting ahead of myself. I asked my regular dealer to make the purchases, for me. That's me, playing it safe. I don't like giving cc info to unknown dealers.

 

Our house is still on the market, but weren't not pressing for a quick sale, by dropping our price.

 

Aye, ya mentioned signs of fall... A great season!

 

Seems like the Guinness trestle... was a long time, ago.

 

Well I'll be off, me son.

 

Cheers,

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Guys, Rick, Paris..... one word,...fantastic. yes it has its downsides ,for sure it has its not so nice areas but the Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower, central paris in general, the architecture ,views along the Seine etc, as cities go 2nd to none in my humble opinion.  Anyway, not much doing on the garden railway construction but I'm still gathering European O gauge by Lima. So thought I'd post my latest freight aquisitions which just arrived from Italy this morning. All by Lima of Italy.    DAVY

Greetings me son,

 

Glad to hear Paris hit the spot...

 

Re: your new Lima gear... is it all scale? If so, Europeans seem to favor smaller proportions, for their rolling stock. Over here, big often rules. Is Lima, from Italy, a big outfit? Never heard of them before. Just Lima, the old North American steam builder.

 

I bought myself a few experiments, today. a 330ml bottle of Duvel, Belgian Specialty Strong Beer; Maredsous, Abbaye-Abdij(in a 330ml bottle) and Fraoch Heather Ale(500ml's worth) Apparently, it's Scotland's native ale. Froach is Gaelic for heather.

 

The back of the bottle says -  the Picts were known to brew the legendary heather ale. This stuff( the brew I bought) is supposed to be brewed from a 16th century Scots-Gaelic recipe.

 

Sounds like the old Pict, Richardo, is going to have himself a wee bit of a tasting adventure... this afternoon.

 

I'll drink the Pict brew in your honor, lad. Wish me luck!

 

Cheers,

 

Rick

Taste test report:

 

The Pict beverage had a fruit(peach or apricot) flavor... it wasn't what I was expecting... something dark and complex! I'm with the Belgian number, as we speak, and that is nothing to brag about. So far, besides the short history lesson... these brews don't compare to my usual, my Guinness. 

 

These both seemed more like pop, re: their flavor. I guess I've lost my taste for fizzy brews. To me, the rich brown and the dull, flat texture of Guinness... wins out, so far.

 

Don't get me wrong, there is a buzz with these two; just not as rustically tasteful.

 

Still have the Maredsous, to try...

 

Rick

The Maredsous has a richer colour, but it's fruity taste... not my thing.

Combined, that was a wee bit more than 2 pints. Results: a decent buzz, but not the adventure I had expected; especially, when the word Picts was involved.

I'll take the full-bodied FLAT THUD of Guinness... any day!


Rick

Hi Rick, European loading gauge is a good bit bigger than UK but not as big as the states. They use some seriously powerfull electric locomotives though. Lima was an Italian railway model outfit,they went bust a few years back,They made models in N,OO/HO,and O gauge. Thier O gauge stuff was built to 1/45 scale. British O gauge is built to 1/43 and US O built to 1/48. All these Lima O gauge models I'm buying were produced in the 70s and 80s as far as I'm aware. The British firm Hornby took over the Italian Lima and Rivarrossi brands and also the French brand Jouef,and recently also took control of the Spanish brand Electrotren. These companies come under  "Hornby International" thse days. Hornby has been releasing certain models from these old ranges but re-motored and re-tooled. So you can still buy certain Lima,Jouef,Rivarrossi and Electrotren, but only in HO so far as far as I'm aware.

 The old Lima O gauge is the cheapest way into the European O gauge market. Lenz,Kiss and other current makes are mega expensive. 

 As for your drink-tasting, I'm no really a great drinker Rick,but I don't like Guinness,tried it once....not for me. I've tried the Fraoch before.Liked it.   DAVY 

I do remeber when Lima, Roco and Rivarossi were huge here in the states back in the 1970's especially with N scale and abit with HO scale.  I do not see much of the European models advertized here at all, I guess I would have to get a magazine such as "Continental Modeler". So its great to see your posts of these models.

Hi George , today  the sun is shining so gettin a wee bit work done for a change. Just took these pics . The loco is Rivarrossi. The wagons all Lima. Rivarrossi made a few O gauge locos and a couple of wagons too. 

By the way George, if you want to get some of these models your best bet is ebay.

1) Ebay.de (germany), Ebay.fr (France), Ebay.it(Italy),Ebay.co.uk (Britain),Ebay.at (austria).

 In France you are looking for "echelle O" (scale O) , Germany and Austria ,check out "Spur O", in Italy Lima 1/45, or Rivarrosi 1/45,or "escala O". In UK searches look for Lima O or Rivarrossi O. In the UK searches you tend to get more of the British outline Lima O gauge but you also get some of the continental stuff showing up. I found it impossible to bid on the continental sites,however what I do now is log in using my ebay name and password then click their version of "follow this item". I then bid from my UK page.

 In Germany you want guys who sell "Weltweit" (Worldwide).  France "tout le monde",and in Italy "tutto il mondo".  Hope this helps   DAVY

 

Aye, so yer a manly milk man are ya, lad. Just as well, I guess? More money for your trains... JUST HAVING SOME FUN... AT YOUR EXPENSE, me old son.

 

BTW, yesterday, I was having my own private little celebration. A family member did me proud...

 

I wonder if that's a good thing or a bad thing, with Hornby acquiring all the...

 

 

Rick

 

 

Our new garden railway got rained on!

Hi Ricardo,

          Thanks for that. I will keep that in mind. I have a mind to modernise an E444 turtle one of these days.....       Ciao, Molto Grazzi  Davy

Davy looks like nice progress on the layout.Hope your weather holds up for you to make more good progress.

Hi Guys, postman just delivered these two Swiss coaches I got on ebay . Was really pleased to get these because they very rarely come up on auction. Sun still shinin today so hopin to push things on a bit in the garden today.  Cheers  DAVY 

Hi Guys, just took delivery of these euro coaches .1st picture left to right shows all DB Deutsche Bundesbahn (German) 1st class cream and red coach, 2nd class blue /white coach and 1st class blue white coach. 2nd picture left to right, grey FS(ferrovie Dello Stato) Italian 1st clas coach and a French restauant car in red.

Thanks for the advice Davy, I might just take a look at the EBay sites. Not that I need more trains, my wife laughs when the delivery truck arrives at the house dropping off trains. Any updates on your outdoor 2 rail layout. I  live in New England and the weather is  turning colder I'm sure it's the same in Scotland.

Hi George,

          no,absolutely nothing been done on the layout for a few weeks now. It will definately be the spring now before much more gets done. I've had too many other things on my plate ,work/making a living etc.,etc., bad weather, might get the odd few days at it but it's goin to be next year I think before I get all the way round now.Still,I'm quite happy with what I got done. I'm still gathering european continental O gauge and now have  most of the rolling stock I want.

  I also joined a miniature railway group in the nearby small town of Strathaven a few months back and have been working on that and driving trains on the railway some weekends. They have petrol and battery powered locos and steam. I'm now qualified to drive the petrol machine and the electric loco,but the steam is far more complex,though I have had a couple of turns at it. I spent a fair wee bit of time refurbishing the turntable. It used to be turned by push-of-foot but it wasn't very satisfactory so I got handles made for it.I've attached a short video of my grandaughters Rebecca and Caitlin trying out the new handles. The turntable doesn't get used much normally but it does at the annual open weekend when many steam enthusiasts from other areas bring their locos to run on the railway,so the off roads round the table are used a lot then . Its this weekend coming. I'll hopefully get some photos and post them.  Cheers  DAVY 

Is that you lad, off to the left of the turntable? Been wondering what you've been up to? Seems like you've found yourself a new scale to play with. I was starting to think having an outdoors layout with your climate...

 

We've had a great run of nice sunny weather this summer and into fall. You mentioned you've been busy earning a living; is it a grind or are you enjoying yourself?

 

Nice seeing ya here, again.

 

Take care,

 

 

Rick

 

 

Hi Rick,

          Aye thats yours truly to the left. The turntable was half fitted with new walkboards when the video was taken the other side has now been done.As for making a living, no its no a grind Rick just a bit time consuming lately. As for the weather , been beautifull the last few days but cold frosty mornins and the leaves are coming off the trees big-time now.

   I'm lookin forward to this weekend at the miniature railway ,two days of mucho steam activity.Dual track 7 inch and 5 inch gauge. Its not a huge railway but its popular with families. Run trains every starurday and sunday from springtime till September. This weekend coming is just for rail-nuts then closed till the spring. However the club has an excellent engineering workshop where locos and rolling stock are built and maintained and thats on the go all year round. Anyway I'll try and get some video and/or pics posted after the weekend. Catch you later Rick.  DAVY    

Greetings me son,

 

I walked through a few leaves meself, during my early morning walk with my critter; first bit of mist/fog lying about, too. Still fairly dark out, at the time. Soon it will be time to break out my captains coat(P jacket). The days are definitely getting shorter, too. Yesterday, was thanksgiving. We had our thanksgiving feast the night before. Had baroque music playing in the background; that type of music really adds to the celebration.

 

So you've been riding the rails a wee bit, and operating, too. Sounds like fun.

 

When you mentioned the workshop - I pictured an old, warn(in a good way) brick building with a little chimney smoking away, poking out of it's roof; with older style industrial lighting and wood framed windows. I also envisioned a beat up kettle steaming away, ready to make the next round of tea.

 

Inside, I picture all kinds of wonderful tools from another era, deliberately placed with a purpose in mind; machines, gears... an ironsmith's paradise.

 

I definitely would like to see some pictures of the workshop... inside and out.

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

Rick

Hi Rick,you aren't far out in your estimation of the wee engineering shop. Lathes ,drills,milling machines, all sorts of metal working things. Unfortunately the guys that have the skills to work them are a dying breed due to the decline in heavy industry in these parts. Anyway fingers crossed that the wee railway will manage to keep goin. I will certainly get you some pictures and post them.Oh well,off to gig in Edinburgh tonight. Need to scoot. Cheers  DAVY 

Lad,

 

Re: the knowledge and talent dying off... are you going to try to pick up some of that knowledge, and some of those skills? I've got the feeling I know where your going to be... over the fall and winter months.

 

BTW, I can't remember if we already discussed this, on this thread... is there a lot of old Victorian era architecture, in the Glasgow area?

 

Have a good one, in Edinburgh.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Rick

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&...mPWFOn2w&cad=rja

 

 

Davy, I stayed at this Leicester City hotel, back in 1972. I was a young lad, then... 18 years old. I never gave much thought to the hotels architecture, back then, it was just a modest older joint, to me and my Canadian buddy.

 

Recently, that same Canadian friend, who was visiting Leicester(a few weeks ago) sent me a picture he'd taken, outside the Park hotel. I was struck by how ornate and interesting looking... my former digs is. A nice little Victorian era building.

 

I won't comment on the present quality of the hotel; from what I read(comments posted by previous hotel guests) it's...

 

Besides that... I love the look of the old joint. That's why I asked you... if there are many/any Victorian buildings in your patch of the world.

 

 

Rick

Hi Rick,

         aye for sure I will be trying to pick up some engineering knowledge from the older guys. Most of them are well into their 70s now but there are a few younger ones with some good know how, I'll learn what I can.  

 As for Glasgow architecture,well, apparently Glasgow is quite well known for its architecture ,and aye much of it is Victorian methinks. Don't know if you've heard of Charles Rennie MacIntosh ?, think he harks back to the 1920s. His stuff is big in Glasgow architecture and art etc., however I'm no expert.

  Apart from other things I've also been putting together a web-page on my favourite American 4-6-2 pacific class locos the B&O P7s. I'm intending to do info and pictures on every member of the class for the benefit of fellow modellers like myself.I'm about halfway. See what you think...

http://davieloco.wordpress.com/       Cheers  DAVY (ps Edinburgh gig was fine,just home)

I tips me hat to ya, lad; brilliant! You've done well for yerself, me son; with your Pacific presentation... Very, very nicely done!

 

Re: Chuck(Charles) never heard of the lad; but, I have now!

 

Re: The Park Hotel - that building is a treasure. BTW, apparently, Leicester City is one of the oldest cities in England; and, the Romans hung out there, for a wee bit...

 

My ancestral home patch, Edinburgh; apparently, packs a decent punch... when it comes to architecture; and, I'm glad to hear yours(Glasgow), does too.

 

Re: The Wee Iron shop, THE IRON HOUSE - for me, one of the coolest things we've discussed, on this thread. It sounds so tactile... I can feel it from, here!

 

Tis nice to be visiting with ya, again, me brother.

 

Me best,

 

 

Rick

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e542qVvGY8I

 

I found this this morning; while looking for Iron Works sites/pictures... in Scotland.

 

Rick

Hi Rick, I remember that place when it was in NCB (National Coal Board) ownership.

There were 0-6-0 and 0-4-0 steam switchers. Ayrshire had abundant coal mines as had Lanarkshire (where I live). Steam dissapeared from the national mainlines in the late 60s but worked on till the early 80s in industrial operations,mainly on NCB property. All completely gone now. If you look on you tube there are a few old colour movies "industrial steam in Scotland 1974". Look for Bedlay Colliery,Polkemmet Colliery,Francis Colliery,Barony Colliery etc.,etc.,          DAVY  

Bonjour Mr. Mac,

 

Nice little vid, that one. Some good closeups, too... lots of details... for that era/type of modeler; and, I liked the soundtrack.

 

There appears to be a number of abandoned places videos, filmed in Scotland; made by the same outfit that made the video... I identified.

 

BTW Lad, if ya know of any sites that showcase old Scottish/British steam shovels... I wouldn't mind you putting them up, here. I likes me steam shovels.

 

Cheers to ya lad,

 

 

Rick

 

Yes, nice movies.  It is amazing how ancient the film looks from 1974.  Wasn't that just yesterday?

Hi Guys,well was up at the miniature railway today and there was steam a plenty ,plus some other outline. Heres some pics I took. Rick if you're reading this I took  some pics of  a "Britannia" class pacific named "Capercailie" and numbered 70055. There never was a number 70055 ,the class in real life stopped at 70054,so this was done tongue in cheek. However I thought of you because the loco was carrying the headboard "Heart of Midlothian",which was a real train which I think ran between Edinburgh and Glasgow at one time. Enjoy.... DAVY 

Looks like everyone's enjoying themselves.

 

Nice engine... the Heart of Midlothian.

 

So some of these, are real steam engines?

 

 

BTW, why is the track raised... is it easier to keep clean?

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Rick, these following pictures will clarify things. "7.25 and 5" dual gauge track is at ground level except the stone built servicing bays outside the shed which are accessed by means of a siding up a ramp onto a traversing table. There is a seperate circuit of track which the guys call the "race track" for 5" and 3" gauge ,this is raised on posts. As for being real steam engines check the first picture I'm attaching here ,the fire is getting raked,you can see the hot clinker falling between the driving wheels. In the second picture is Kenny Elder, that loco he's sittin on he built from scratch,his father was  steam loco driver at Carstairs Junction Locomotive shed back in the days of steam.Kenny has built 9 engines, that one in the pic  is named after his mam. He's a very clever engineer. He's currently building another 4-6-0 "Black Five".

 He built the "black five" in the third picture.He's 4 years younger than me so he'd be about 10 years old when steam finished on the national railway system ,but his dad being a loco driver on the railway took him on the footplate as far back as he can remember and he spent much of his childhood in and around the steam engines in Carstairs loco depot,so he has steam in his veins. He still lives in Carstairs village to this day. The last two pictures show the raised "race track", that black engine is a model of a South African railways 15D type,and the last picture shows the raised servicing bays and the traverser for the ground level tracks.     DAVY

Coal fueled, not bad.

 

So, am I correct in assuming you fit in rather well, with these lads?

 

Seems like a great place, to enjoy your passion...

 

I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE THE IRON WORKS!

 

Cheers,

 

 

Rick