O9 Work on the Works - 2

Work on the Works - 2 

"Drake" is seen passing the works yard.  The buildings and water tower are all now fixed down, a yard gate has also been made, and also a diesel pump for fuel which was added to the old Hornby tank wagon.

We use the tall 5 - 7" Woodland Scenics Tree Armatures for small moorland trees, however for O gauge they really do not have enough branches.  I thought about extending each branch if I could.  I used some green garden twine cut into short lengths and untwisted the very end of each section to five me 3 or 4 extra branches.   They were glued to each and every branch of the armature with UHU.  When dry, I stiffened them with p.v.a. with a little acrylic black paint added, which also helps to tone them down.  Then I added the foliage.  

The result is a much fuller looking tree.

The only place to install a platform was the outside of the 

right-hand end.  A curved 6mm high platform made of ply-wood was cut to the same profile as the track curve and some "stone" card glued around the edge.  A short length of rustic fencing was added (made by Renedra No. RN14, grey) and a simple shelter.  The shelter has a shell of 5mm foamboard with Slaters large stone courses added and a roof using Wills Corrugated Asbestos.  A wooden bench was also made with plasticard for luxurious seating.

A small station nameboard needs to be added.

I will have to find what small details I have in stock to place around the layout as the yard especially needs some railway junk.   

Books on the Minimum Gauge

Is it me? Or are there fewer books on the narrow gauge being published in recent years?  I much prefer to sit down with a good book than to sit there on the computer or laptop trying to read detailed information.

I thought that I had very few books on the 15" (or 18"), but a look through my bookcase has un-earthed quite a few, some now a few years old, so I took photos of them in an attempt to summarise them for this blog:- 

The first selection shows a wonderful book on the Fairbourne Miniature Railway: 

"Rails through the Sand", W.J.Milner, H/B, 270 pages, with b/w photographs, a full history on the 15" gauge era. 1996

"The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway" Railway World Special, P/B, 48 pages, b/w, short pictorial history. 1985

"A History of the Bure Valley Railway", A Vaughan, P/B, approx. 110 pages, colour and b/w photographs. 2000

"Rails to Jaywick Sands", I Banks, P/B, 40 pages, b/w, a lovely little history of this unique 18" gauge seaside line. 1988

"Sian and Katie" - The Twining Sisters" S Buck, P/B, 32 pages, b/w and colour. 1995. 

 

Selection two includes the definitive history on Sir Arthur Heywood.

"Sir Arthur Heywood and the Fifteen Inch Gauge Railway", 

M Smithers, H/B, 178 pages, b/w, detailed history, 1995.

"The Ratty Album - Volume 1", S Jenkins & D Jenner, P/B, 74 pages, historical b/w pictures of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", 2002.

"The Ratty Album - Volume 2 - The Ferreira Years", D Jenner & A Smith, P/B, 74 pages, historical b/w pictures of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", 2003.

"The Fairbourne Railway", P/B, 28 pages, b/w, short history, no date, but 1960's.

"One Man's Railway", J B Snell, H/B, 128 pages, b/w, the story of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway and one of my favourite books, 1993.

"Romneyrail", V Mitchell & K Smith, H/B, 96 pages, b/w, pictorial. 1999.

"Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway - in colour", D Smith, H/B, 64 pages, pictorial, good colour photographs. 1993.

"Ratty", W. McGowan Gradon, P/B, 50 pages, b/w, a nice history of the line. 1997. 

"Britain's 15-inch gauge Railways - Duffield Bank to Perrygrove", 

D R Jones, P/B, 192 pages, colour, a comprehensive survey of 15" gauge in Britain, history, descriptions, locos and stock. 2013.

"The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway", W.J.K. Davies, H/B, 216 pages, b/w, complete history. 1988 edition.

This selection features two volumes containing old picture postcards, with some of my favourite images.  I think simply because they are photographed by many non-railway enthusiasts.  With generally good quality cameras for the time, they feature unique and sometimes run-down railways, many in a scenic, or even quaint, setting.

"A Survey of Seaside Miniature Railways", D.J.Croft, P/B, 136 pages, b/w, another comprehensive survey book of all small gauges, maps, historic photos and history's. 1992.

"British Miniature Railways", N.R. Knight, H/B, 176 pages, photos with short history and descriptions of the lines.  The first chapter is on the 15". 1999.

"Narrow Gauge and Miniature Railways from old picture postcards". A Neale, P/B, 60 pages, b/w, pictorial with descriptions. 1986.

"Steam on Britain's Miniature Railways", R. Butterell, H/B, 96 pages, b/w, pictorial - good images. 1976.

"The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway - A journey through historic postcards", D Jenner, A Smith, P van Zeller, P/B, 88 pages, b/w, pictorial postcards with descriptions. 1991.

"Ratty's 100", D. Ferreira, P/B, 72 pages, b/w, historic pictorial. 1976.

"The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", W.J.K. Davies, H/B, 205 pages, b/w, full history. 1981 edition.

"Romney Remembered", L Jacques, J Emmins, RH&DR Assoc., P/B, 118 pages, b/w and colour. 75th anniversary compilation.

"Narrow Gauge Railways - England and the Fifteen Inch", 

H Household, H/B, 176 pages, b/w, general histories of lines. 1989.

"18 Inch Gauge Steam Railways", M Smithers, H/B, 176 pages, b/w, detailed, well illustrated history. 1993.

"Fifteen Inch Gauge Railways", D Mosley & P van Zeller, H/B, 96 pages, b/w, Illustrated History, locos, stock and equipment. 1986.

"A Single to the Seashore", L Little, NGRS, P/B, 50 pages, b/w, a history of this unique 18" line. No date.

"Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway", W.J.K. Davies, P/B, 160 pages, b/w, full history, a re-issue of the book in the previous selection. 2000.