I am arm chair planning the rebirth of my garden railway into a more UK themed peat hauling line, set in Tolkien's Middle earth. Hauling peat from the Rushock bog to Hobbiton for the Hobbits to use on thier farms and gardens. The line also serves a brewery to move the local brew to the pubs in town. Motive power is all live steam, a Merlin Mayflower and for the moment a Roundhouse Argyll. Argyll is pending sold providing a Merlin Major is deemed fit and within budget from a dealer in the UK. Argyll is a bit large and binds in the tight curves just above the town of Hobbiton. Both engines have complete RC control of throttle and direction and are butane gas fired. As I sell down my other G scale trains, replacements from LGB's line of field railway are replacing them. I am going to use thier green side door cars for hauling peat, the cars with the fuel barrels to become beer keg cars and some of the personal cars to take the Hobbits to the bog to harvest peat. Merlin the magican himself will be at the throttle of the Mayflower(to be named Lady of Oxford). I will also pick up a couple cars to haul the products from the local farms to market. Untill spring thaw and warmth its all armchair planning. I am searching for Hobbit like bird houses/resin buildings to replace some of the more Austrian looking buildings on my layout. I will retain the 45mm gauge LGB track for its durablity and ease of purchase second hand where I live. Would love to go to 32mm gauge with Peco track, but cost and a total rework of the roadbed make it a "no go" for now. Here is a couple pics from last season. I did move the covered platform from one side of the depot to the other and add a siding as can be seen from pic 1 to 2. Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I have found some wood "bird houses" that have some of the styling I am looking for over on ebay. I will look around at the local stores and see what I can find as well. Mike
Here are the R&H's motive power. The main engine is from the Merlin Locomotive Works in the UK, a 0-6-0 Major. Named Hendey, he is a gas fired live steam locomotive with RC including control of the working whistle. Back up power is proved by an Accucraft Baguley Drewery diesel converted to onboard battery power and named "Lady of Oxford" Mike
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