Garden Rail September 2025

 

From Word Search to Garden Railway: A competition win sparked Adam Jovanovic’s passion for garden railways. Today, his outdoor layout is rebuilt annually - each time expanding in complexity and creativity.

In the rest of the magazine:

• Discover the story behind the Cheddar Samson steam locomotive.
• Step-by-step guides to building a D&HR open wagon and a track-cleaning tanker.
• Explore the latest offerings from Woodleigh Engineering.
• We complete our electric steam railmotor build - though not without a few surprises!
• Use JigStones to craft stunning model buildings.
• Add automatic lighting to your layout for realistic night-time scenes.

Special Feature: Rail200 Celebration - We join the Gauge 3 Society for a spectacular procession of locomotives through the ages, marking 200 years of railway innovation.

Plus, stay up to date with all the latest model railway product news.

Garden Rail is available from all good newsagents, model shops, and our online store: www.world-of-railways.co.uk 

Riding the weird trains

I took the chance to ride as many weird trains as I could. Well, a trip like this is about making memories, and you don't forget a trip behind Ailsa, possibly the ugliest loco every built, and therefore a firm favourite of mine!

We met early at Douglas station, and piled into the single coach. The ex-Channel Tunnel motive power trundled us along the line, and then back again. A "proper" enthusiast in my compartment worked out we'd travelled about quarter of a mile each way. It was still well worth three quid though. 

For the record, Ailsa has a seven-foot wheelbase. Just in case you fancy building a model. If you do, could you lend me a plan? I fancy building it in the earlier white and red oxide livery. 

Over in the Laxey car shed, it was time for a trip on the most modern piece of rolling stock on the island, MEC4. 

This is an electrically powered man-mover, capable of travelling the length of the line to Ramsey. It's a clever bit of kit, splitting in two so it can be lugged off the track by two people. 

On the move, it nips along at a fair old pace. Should the weather be inclement, there is a "greenhouse" structure to fit on top, but inside is a bit of a squeeze if all the passengers have fuller figures.  

If anyone is interested, took a lot of photos for detail work. It would be a bit different on the track!

Being at Laxey car shed, I needed to get to the station, and the obvious way to do this, is via a Wickham trolley. 

It's noisy, but surprisingly comfortable. Sadly, I missed out booking on to the Snaefell railcar you can see in the background, but they did line them all up for photos. 

 

Shed visits

Another highlight for the week is the chance to visit the sheds around the island. Areas usually off-limits to visitors. 

I started at Laxey, with the Manx Electric Railway shed at Laxey. While the main running shed is at Derby Castle in Douglas, there's a lot of interesting stock here. The PW team operates out of Laxey, and some of the really oddball cars live here. 

Next up, was the Snaefell railway shed. It's much smaller than the MER operation, but still interesting. To be honest, I've been there before, and not much changes, except for the length of 5" gauge track. 

This was for a 1/8th scale tramcar to operate. I've met the builder in the past at a Crich tramway museum event. When he retired and decided to have a go at a model engineering project, his first thought was a MER car. A friend recommended a Snaefell car instead, as the design is a lot simpler - and this turned out to be the case. Mind you, he's nearly finished MER No.1 now. 

Of course, there has to be a trip to the steam shed. 

Again, little has changed in two years. Things have moved around a bit, but the railcars look the same as ever. Green diesel 21 is still in bits - the body on blocks in the bus depot car park, and the bogies in the shed. 

The biggest change is the arrival of a couple of Bord na Móna diesels. These are perfect second-hand purchases. Still operational, and the right gauge. All the railway people need to do, is fit suitable Manx couplings, a job in hand right now. 

The final benefit of the tour, is the chance to take photos of locos preparing to take a train out, from the signal box steps. That coal is not the best!

The Colby shuttle

The Enthusiast's week includes a number of special events that train nerds, like me, can book onto. Quite a lot involved running on the MER for photography, which doesn't interest me as much, so I tend to stick to the steam railway stuff. Not that I don't like the MER, it's just that there is usually so much on, I have to be selective!

One of the first was a shuttle service between Port Erin and Colby. Not that exciting, you might think, but the rolling stock was the prize. The train would be hauled by Dubs 0-6-0 Caledonia, and consist of the Foxdale coach, and a 6-wheeler. 

I like the Foxdale, and have a couple of kits to build this unique vehicle.  It worked the Foxdale branch, which I plan to model one day. I've chosen it because the station has an interesting track plan, and most importantly, only needs a single coach. I don't like making coaches. 

I'd have been quite happy with this, but having never ridden in a 6-wheel coach, I jumped at the chance. It was easier than expected, as despite the tickets all being sold out, most people were taking photos on the first run, rather than having a ride. 

It was a very smooth trip - and it's a lovely coach that has been beautifully restored. 

We were also treated to a lineup of three engines with appropriate headboards, commemorating past drivers, including my friend Mike. 

While I was out on the train, I missed members of the Buttell family seeing this, which was an emotional time.

There was also Mona posing on a goods service when we arrived. This isn't really a Manx thing - they tended to run mixed trains, but it looked nice. 

No cake this time, and the queue for the local chippy was moving too slowly to bag a portion. Pity, as they smelled really good!

The shop also took the opportunity to clear out some cupboards, and sell off loads of old tat to willing enthusiasts more than happy to part with a bit of cash. I have a couple of Manx Transport mini buckets from there! 

 

Groudle Glen Gala Day 2025

A couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed a holiday on the Isle of Man, taking in the enthusiast's week. This means I will be bombarding you with Manx-based photos this week. And it's my blog, so there's nothing you can do about it. 

We'll start with the Groudle. The line put on three special events while I was there, and I made it to two of them. The gala saw every working locomotive out and about on the line - and for a tiny little railway, there is quite a collection!

 First, we have the original locomotive on the lines, Sea Lion: 

The other original loco, is Polar Bear, currently living at the Amberley Chalk Pits museum. She has been over, but is currently in pieces. No worries, the Groudle people hung Polar Bear's chimney from the engine shed roof, and built Brown Bear underneath it. 

Brown Bear actually comes from North Bay Engineering. At the time she was under construction, another loco was also being built. The order for this was cancelled, and the GGR were offered a bargain. Since it's Bagnall-based, Otter, known as "the blue one", joined the fleet. 

When the original steam engines were wearing out, they were replaced with a couple of battery electric locos. These were not a success, one ending up at the bottom of a bank, and the other being rebuilt with pony trucks, and then a tender for the batteries. As it was, the owners of the line were forced to rebuild the steam locos instead. Only a single wheel and builders plate exists of the old BEVs, but this replica was built, and has proved to be very useful.   

More recently, Malty joined the fleet. A Baguley product, it's best known for appearing in the end credits of the TV show Hi-De-Hi. Well, the Groudle is a pleasure line, so why not have a pleasure locomotive? 

Finally, we have Dolphin. Along with her sister Walrus, she arrived from the Doddington Park railway. That line provided much of the equipment and materials used to restore the GGR in the 1980s. I remember both of these Hunslet machines in operation when I first visited in the 1990s. The good news is that Walrus is away for a rebuild, both machines being seen as a very important part of the line's story, as well as very useful in their own rights. 

For a fiver, we were taken out on the train to the headland, where efforts were made to line them up so we could take photos. Not easy, as the cliff edge isn't that far from the track, which is already inland of the original location by a few feet. 

After this, the locos ran a busy service, and there was the chance to enjoy each one for haulage. I've completed the set, I think, with both Maltby and Walrus hauled trains. 

You're probably wondering about the cake. Well, on the previous Wednesday, Chris, the guard for the evening, spotted me and suggested some marble cake from the Sealion Rocks cafe. Sadly, this wasn't available, so I settled for some round battenburg. On the Sunday though, it was, and I enjoyed it.

Which would have been fine, but he'd spotted me again and pointed me at the Victoria Sponge. So, after my second trip, I had to eat that too!

Now, I'm easily pleased with a trip to the Groudle, but the volunteers put on a good show. Hopefully, next time, we'll have Walrus and Annie back too!

Visit the Groudle Glen Railway website.  

Saturday Film Club: Shunting at Its Simplest: The Simplex Locomotive

My mate Ant has been out with his camera again. This time to look at a Simplex shunter.

Taking photos of artists

It was Leamington's annual "Art in the Park" festival last weekend. I always buy something relatively small, and not too expensive, because I like owning things that a real person has produced. There is a connection between artist and work that really speaks to me. 

This year, the addition to my collection is a small, ceramic cat. 

For the last few years, when I buy a piece, I like to grab a photo of it with the artist. To me, it helps cement the connection between the person who has made the item, and the piece itself. 

A couple of years ago, the pick was this drawing of a Lemur.  

On a recent trip to the Isle of Man, some flowers made from giant pipecleaners. 

And in Lisbon, this drawing of a tram. 

 

I know most of the subjects look a little bemused, but they are talented people, who are quite modest about their skills. I think it's important to fill the internet with these photos, rather than talentless idiots, as it is at the moment. 

I'll keep doing this. OK, I'm not a big art collector. Neither money or space allows me to be that, but my little collection is enhanced by the photos I feel. 

How about everyone else? Do you enjoy the connection between creative and their creation? And yes, I do mean model railways, as well as art. 

Crane build in September's BRM

 

On the face of it, this is a thin month for me in BRM. I built a relatively simple rail-mounted crane as the introduction to the practical section. 

Then I've photographed the NG7 layout, "Wheal Ponder". 

And on the DVD (yes, a real DVD this month, I'm taking a look at Dynadrive. 

But, behind the scenes, I've carried out several other tasks, including removing the background, to be replaced by skies, on the stunning layout "Janes Creek". Covered with well-modelled boats, there is an awful lot of rigging to cut out around...

Warehouse Wednesday: Bakewell warehouse

 Between the G1 show and the town of Bakewell is this interesting-looking building. I can't find out much about it, but the building next door is Millstream Mews, so I'm guessing that there was a mill, and possibly this was a grain store. 

Nice simple building for modelling, with square-top windows and doors, so na faffing around with archways. Some Wills sheet would seem a good bet, but you might prefer to scribe the lot in tile cement or similar.  

B4's first run

 

 

Summer evenings are great. I can go to railway club, and have a sail beforehand. Or, if have a new loco to try on the outside track, I can do that instead. You won't be surprised that I was keen to try the B4 out!

A nice extra with the model, is this little carrying cradle. Simple, but it makes moving the loco around really easy, especially when it's hot.

I'll admit, I didn't read the instructions, but most steam engines work the same way. Once I've turned the gas valve off, I managed to fill the tank, then oil around, fill the lubricator and then add water. 

Lighting was tricky as there was a bit of a breeze, and it took half-a-dozen goes to get the flame at the back of the loco and not in the smokebox. Once I managed this, the safety valve didn't take long to start blowing, and I eased the model forward. There was a bit of priming, and some muck chucked out of the chimney, but we were soon off. 

And that was it. With the regulator only cracked open, a nice speed was achieved. Hanging a train on the back will help keep things under control even more. 

A few lessons/jobs:

• The pressure gauge is broken, showing 110psi when the loco is cold. Hopefully, this is a spanners job to fix. 
• The gas must be opened a very tiny amount, and it's not easy to control. I'm told melting bits on the front of the loco is a possibility if you leave it turned up to high. 
• Long term, I will look at a sleeve on the burner, which would be a better solution. 
• The reverser is a fiddle, you need pliers to move it. That's the prototype's fault, not the model. I'm intrigued how RC can be fitted though. 
• I need a vacuum pipe for the front.  

Overall though, I'm very happy with my new toy. Like every steam engine, this is a learning curve, but I've had it running, so my growing steam experience has helped.  

Gauge 1 North haul

 

Well, this wasn't part of the plan. 

 

At last year's show, there was a kit for a B4 tank engine, complete with its chassis and wheels turned to G1 standards. I've always wondered if this should have been added to my pile. However, I've since seen one of the kits made up, and there was something odd about the proportions that made me feel happier about my decision not to buy. 

 

The kit was still on sale at this year's show. But next to it was an Accucraft live steam B4. 

 

Now, I saw one of these running at Swindon last year. It trundled along at the proper speed for a shunting engine, and talking to the owner, he was very pleased with it. There had been a couple of modifications, adding radio control, and sleeving the poker burner which is a bit large (I'm told) for a small loco. But it looked great, and is very much my sort of locomotive. 

 

Anyway, there was a slightly tatty example sitting there for £500. To be honest, I was surprised it was still on the table, but chatting to a couple of people, other locos from the same stand had already been snapped up. I asked for some advice from my friend Bob, who was perusing a kit on the next stand, and he said it was a lot of loco for the money. I was assured the loco was a runner, and it could be seen in action on YouTube. 

 

A (very) little pondering later, I negotiated fifty quid off the price, and handed over my credit card. A pleasant surprise was that the model was then boxed up for me with the original packing, including a boiler certificate. 

 

OK, it's not perfect. Some of the paint is tatty, and a sandbox is mostly missing. A few fittings need to be screwed back in place properly, but nothing that I can't do. An interesting modification is the regulator that had gained an arm rather than the T-bar that it had as supplied. 

 

To be honest, I have wanted a Gauge 1 loco for a long while. There is a Barratt kit in the stash, but when I'll get around to building that I have no idea. This means I can steam at the club with the other G1 guys, using a loco that is much more me than anything large, and expensive. 

 

A couple more bargains were also snaffled up. Part of Ken West's retirement sale, a laser-cut wood wagon body that cost a couple of quid, and I think will become a grounded body project. 

 

More usefully, a massive etch for a class 02 diesel from wagon and carriage works. £25 has solved another problem. Our club plans an indoor G1 shunting layout, with diesels. Since I have a suitable motor and gearbox, all I need is wheels and castings. The later might be tricky to find, but there's not much in an 02 that I can't modify or scratchbuild. After all, I've built several in 4mm scale and one in 7mm!

 

Gauge 1 North 2025

 

Time for the tweed, and a trip up north for the annual G1 extravaganza. This year, I had a good reason to go, other than just "networking" with the 10mm/1:32nd scale folk. The society layout "Ridings" was the main feature, and as it will be at the NEC in November for the National Festival of Railway Modelling, I felt it would be useful to gather some photos of the model. 

Photographing G1 layouts like this isn't easy. There's a lot of background clutter, and not that much model. In real life, you just focus on the trains, and ignore the rest. Photos don't work like that, sadly. 

Anyway, I set my DSLR to sport mode, and took a lot of pictures, hoping to find enough when back at the big screen, to be useful. 

I also enjoyed a lot of chat with pretty much all the trade present. For a minority scale, there is a lot available, including some very tasty RTR diesels and a very interesting Manning Wardle kit from Slaters. I'll do my best to get all these into a future issue of Garden Rail. 

One benefit of the show being held in an agricultural hall, is that the catering is impressive. I opted for a sausage batch for lunch, but wished I'd chosen one of the bigger meals, which looked fantastic. 

Still, Bakewell was but a five-minute stroll away, so I did manage a snack before heading home...

Saturday Film Club: Doctor Who: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Daleks

I love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*, and I love Dr Who, so this fan-produced mashup is right up my street. 

Talking of which, it was seriously considered that the Daleks could have appeared in Blake's 7. Same writer of both... 

*Not the film. That was terrible. But the Radio, books and 1980s TV series.  

Palethorpes 6 Wheel sausage van

 

As a kid, I once tried to acquire a Hornby Palethorpes van, R670 or R733, depending on the year of production, by swapping a GWR parcels coach with my best friend. He was having none of it, so this vehicle has only just joined my fleet. 

This isn't because of lack of availability. Pat Hammond tells us that 64,000 of the things were produced between 1976 and 1982. There are loads out there. In my case, I happened to be buying a few bits at a preserved railway, and wanted to up the spend a little. There was a van, and I added it to the pile. About 45 years after I first looked at one!

Now, I like unusual vehicles. I also like sausages. This ought to be perfect for me, and indeed, I'm very happy with my buy. 

The underframe, with a sliding centre axle, is pretty clever. Hornby doesn't get the kudos they deserve for this sort of thing. This is a remarkably unusual wagon, and making it work on first-radius curves, in a way that could be assembled in a factory, must have taxed the designers. 

The model looks, to modern eyes, pretty basic, but I bet a train of them would be fantastic on a layout. Mind you, only 12 were built, so it won't be a very long train!

There's a good thread on RMweb covering kit building an impressive model. Yes, I'd like to build the kit, but no, I don't have time. 

There's also the ever useful Hornby Railways Collectors Club website. 

The mystery Lehmann boat is back!

 

If you wait long enough, I believe that most things you want will turn up at some point. So it is with this Lehmann (LGB) ship. I acquired an example a couple of years ago and decided to start a watch on eBay for any more. 

Finally, I had a result, buying this boxed example for less than a very modest round of drinks. As you can see, it's pretty complete, apart from the clip-on motor unit. 

Unlike my original, this hasn't been painted, and looks all the better, in a toy-like way, for it. 

It's even got fish in the hold, and a compass on the bridge roof. 

All of which means the first example is very ripe for detailing one day. However, the range still fascinates me. Maybe one of the tug boats will join the collection one day? There is no rush... 

Truthful door hanger

 

Picked up at Smallspace - this double-sided door hanger made me chuckle. 

Well worth a donation to Models for Heroes, who do such amazing work using modelmaking as a treatment.  

Ugly chassis

 

The Hudsell Clarke chassis is easy enough to build. The modeller has to knock out a couple of tiny blanking plates in the floor to allow the frames to fit at the correct gauge, and it all slots together. 

Before doing this, plastic bearings are forced (I put them in a vice) into holes. They don't need any glue, as they are a nice, tight fit. 

Bufferbeams glue onto the ends, motor supports are fitted because I'm building this to 45mm gauge, and we are ready for a bit of paint and then mechanical bits.  

An ugly locomotive, just how I like 'em

 

I love an ugly loco, and so when I saw Phil Sharple's kit for this Hudswell Clarke, at the 16mm show last year, I wanted to buy it on the spot. The only problem was that lots of other people felt the same, and he'd sold out!

This year, I managed to bag one, and looking for a simple project, it's landed on my workbench. 

For £45, you get a proper multimedia kit. Most of the body is laser-cut MDF, but there are 3D printed details, plastic wheels, metal axles, a motor, battery box, gears and a switch. And some self-adhesive rivets. That's pretty good value as far as I'm concerned. If this thing goes together well, it could be an ideal kit to get people modelling.