Garden Rail March 2026

Is a garden railway ever truly finished? 

Probably not, but that’s half the fun! The Tinto Valley Light Railway is a perfect example. It’s still evolving, but looking fantastic, and its builder Richard Ashton has learnt a lot along the way.

If you’ve ever dreamed of running your models on a big railway, check out the line at Buckingham Railway Centre. They’re always looking for volunteers, and it’s an amazing place to let your engines really stretch their legs. 

On the Workbench This Time:

• Building twin open wagons in wood and plastic
• Improvising a military train • Smart steaming bay designs
• Assembling a WC kit
• Winter jobs for the garden
• Turning a toy Toyota truck into a weathered model masterpiece
• Two loco builds: a Go-Go diesel and a battery-powered steam engine 

Plus: All the latest news for large-scale modellers!

 Garden Rail is available from all good newsagents, or the online store. 

Warehouse Wednesday: Bourn Brook

I was in Bournville, so of course I took the route from show to station, through the Cadbury factory. And yes, I did go in the shop, and no, I didn't buy anything. 

What I did collect, was a lot of photos of the buildings. We start with this one, The Bourn Brook. 

If you click on the top image, it will be blown up so you can take a proper look. The picture shows the scene in the days of the railway, and the sign is at the real spot. I'll be honest, I can't relate the two images - possibly, I am standing on the bridge shown in the drawing. The buildings shown, now replaced with a car park.

I don't think that anyone is going to build the whole of the factory, but Bourn Brook could be turned into a 3D picture, with the trains running over the bridge between hidden fiddleyards. Maybe not the most exciting operation, but maybe it could be automated. I bet at shows, you'd enjoy a good-sized audience watching the trains go by. 

Volks Electric Railway - Car 2

 

Fate sometimes pushes projects your way. Wandering around Bournville show, I found a trader who was new to me - DoubleM Models. 

Most of the range is 3D printed narrow-gauge models. There are also some T gauge trains, which is what caught my eye. At three quid a go, I picked up a couple, and was about to pay, when I spotted in the boxes at the end of the stand, Volks Railway Tramcars 1 and 2 in 4mm scale. 

The VER was one of my Dad's favourite lines. He had travelled on it as a child, and many times since. That included the centenary day, which we arrived at by accident. 

So, what choice do I have, but to buy the kit? I'm sure if he'd been with me, we'd have been leaving with at least one - over the years, we'd discussed, and investigated ways to make a model of the line.  

The kit runs on a Kato 11-109 chassis, and they sell those too. The Kato unit is well known and respected, so a working model is guaranteed. I walked away from the stand with a ligher wallet, but all the bits for a model. 

This one's for you Dad.  

 

Dad update

Thanks very much to everyone who sent me tributes to my Dad when he passed away.

Both here, by email, and over on Facebook and Instagram, the kind comments flooded in. I've made sure that these have been shared with my Mum and sister, who appreciate every single one. 

Dad didn't want a funeral, he hated them, and all the fuss around the day. Instead, we plan to have a small commemoration at the L&WMRS clubrooms, at the end of May, or start of June. All welcome. It won't be a sombre affair; in fact, there will be minimal fuss, just as he would have wanted. You might get some rhubarb crumble if you are lucky, his favourite food!

I'm hoping to have one of his boats on the water, and the 16mm scale coaches he built circling the steam track. The main clubroom idea, is still work in progress. Dad was terrifically proud of the railway club, and all the members have achieved. 

We also hope to arrange for a bench at the boat club, in the spot where he would sit when we went down, ate a chip butty, sailed, and watched the swifts flying around, plucking flies from the air over the boating pool.  

One happy find, is the 3D scan taken of him by ModelU a few years ago.  I have a few figures, and after checking with Alan, expect a few in larger scales to be heading my way soon. All three of us will have a little Dad. It's something to consider if you see the team scanning at a show - this is a lovely record of your favourite people. I look forward to putting mini-Dad's on some models in the future. 

Thanks again for all the tributes and kind words. They really are appreciated. 

Bournville 2026

Last Saturday, I needed a day out. A day out by train. Handily, I promised Andy Christie some time ago, that I'd pay a visit to his show in Bournville. 

The event, as I understand it, is to raise funds to cosmetically restore a Cadbury locomotive, so we were in a church, in the shadow of the famous chocolate works.  

And a very enjoyable show it was too. There were several layouts on my photo list (past, present and future) plus others I just enjoyed. 

Smallwood from the Reditch club is grimy blue diesel territory. There's some nice modelling, especially this shopping centre, complete with nostalgic brands. I have a feeling this might be a future shoot. Lots of angles for a variety of pictures. 

I can't find the name of this layout, but it's French narrow gauge, so by rights, I shouldn't have liked it as much as I do. Some nice atmospheric modelling on show. Apparently it's been around a long while, but this is the first time I've spotted it. 

Todmorden is known to me, and still looks great. I wish the depth of field my phone offers could do justice to this shot. 

 

I've talked to the owner of the Barrel before, and it was originally to be an Andy shoot. Obviously, I'm going to get the chance to have a go in the future with a bit of luck, and I think it will be an interesting challenge. 

How about this? A 1:12 scale carriage, complete with scenery passing by the windows. This is the work of Esha Bijutkar, an incredibly talented young artist. Check her out on Instagram. 

Finally, there was a temporary G gauge railway, with live steam locos running. The church has great faith in the loco owners, as the line was laid directly on the parquet floor!

And cake, of course. 

Victoria sponge or tiny scone? I think both...

All this, plus plenty of good chats, including a couple with people who knew him, about my Dad. 

Best of all, there was a train ride, and a stroll through Bournville, which is fascinating. Just the day out I needed.