Expansion - Stage 2.

Back in those heady days the Emu bay Railway was doing a roaring trade, carrying local freight and passengers, but the Railway wanted a bigger slice of the pie, so the only solution was to expand. Enough capital was raised to start stage two of the venture. This was a nicely curved run down the back yard, around another fish pond, back along the neighbours fence, under the especially designed hollow back steps and back into the basement. A passing loop was put in around some old station buildings that were moved there from the other old railway ( see the attached photos.) A set of points were laid near the man hole under the house, which took the train around the new extension. At last there was another station to go to the Railway had a purpose, so the trains ran for many years from the basement station to the station along the back fence in a much bigger loop, to every ones delight. More on this in the Next Chapter.

I have tried to keep the Garden Railway track as level as possible, less wear and tear on the locomotives, so I have not followed the  slope of the land. This creates some interesting effects and some engineering problems for the Emu Bay Railway Coy. Ltd.  Down around the pond,   I built up the track to make it level.  I made a dry stone wall,  with old railway sleepers on top to support the track. Chicken wire and shade cloth were used to create a cutting or mountain side effect, which I thought looked good after it was rendered with a coloured morter.

In the above photo you can see the neighbour enjoying the trains, through our gate in the side fence.

A live steam tram wanders through the garden on the tressel. ->>>

A Bit More History.

Before I go much further, I would like to say that this is my second attempt at a Garden Railway. I have learned a lot over the years, but I still seem to find the hardest way to do things.
The Emu Bay Garden Railway at our old house went right around the house, under the eaves for most of the way and through the corner of the sun room. There was a lift out section over the path to the house, which was a bit of a nuisance, but with a small back yard it was the only way to go. It was good fun running trains, even though we had a few problems with clearances. Well there is a bit of History for you, now on with the latest Emu Bay Garden Railway, exciting stuff isn't it !!! Now the E. B. R. has evolved into the Emu Bay Railway Preservation Society, this means I can run anything as it is a preserved Railway, just like Puffing Billy, my favorite narrow gauge Railway.

Bridges.

 As soon as the train leaves the basement, it starts its run across the pond, via the aluminum bridge !

The bridge you can see in the fore ground is two metres long and made of aluminum pop riveted together. Most of it came from a disused mini hot house, so my motto is, don't throw anything away, it may come in useful. You can see the track coming out of the basement window and curving around and going back under the house. This was stage one, which allowed me the pleasure to run some trains. Can't wait for the next instalment? I can understand that!!!

The First Circuit.

Here is a picture of my first oval of track, which was completed 7th. Dec. 2000 which enabled me to run trains on the E. B. R.  Stage 1, which was a short loop out of the basement window, over the pond and through the man hole under the house back into the basement.

How it all Started!

Just over 10 years ago my Wife & I designed our eco friendly dream home, on a normal suburban house block. We positioned the house as far to the front of the block as allowable to give us a fair sized back yard, as my wife likes gardening and I wanted to build a Garden Railway. The house design incorporated a basement and an attic. The basement is a workshop which allows the Garden Railway "right of way" via the hollow back step and out through the basement window, while the attic is a train room for the narrow gauge On 30 layout, now the Narrow Gauge has met the Broad gauge, with a very large oval of O Gauge track, with a passing loop, many sidings and a turn table. I am not modelling anything in particular, but it is definitely the Emu Bay Railway somewhere in Australia. I will ad photos as I tell my story, so please follow my Blog!

Labour of Love!

I work in two scales Narrow Gauge G and On 30, I would not recommend this practice to anyone as you will never get it all finished and it becomes a mammoth task, but it is fun doing it and who really cares if you don't finish it. Two thing to remember, you are doing it for yourself and don't take any notice of the critics, just have fun. Follow my Blog and see how I went about it!

Welcome to my blog!!!

This is my first blog.  I hope you will follow my train journey as I introduce you to my Garden Railway and all the places I visit and photograph. 

I frequently go to train shows, am a member of my local train club and have an interest in narrow gauge steam engines, particularly Puffing Billy.  I have travelled around Australia photographing every train thing that moves (and is Stationery)!!!

I have created this blog to share my obsession with You, Enjoy !