Joe is a keen and valued Butterley member, who takes a plethora of the photos used on our website. Recently, he built a new garden railway and documented his progress with an interesting collection of photos and videos.
His newly built house provided a blank canvas for Joe's plans and over four months he managed to complete project that turned a rough patch of turf into a brilliant garden with a railway around its edge..
Here is the story from conception to opening day told by the photos and videos of the multi-talented, Joe.
Joe and Bethany moved into their brand new house and straight away started to make it into their ideal home.
They had a brilliant idea to get a display cabinet for the things that interested them. For Bethany, it was her rabbits and for Joe, it was his trains.
Joe told us about the cabinet and we couldn't believe that he would manage to get his beloved engines on display in their living room.
But here is the evidence ... New Home cards not yet taken down and locos in the cabinet. Even the rabbits had to share one of the shelves.
Joe then told us that he planned to build a garden railway around the garden but couldn't start until the house was done. (We took that to mean NEVER but we were wrong.)
Joe told us that he was going to construct a substantial shed along the side of the house.
This was going to be a store for their bits and make a work-space. He also said that on completion of the shed, work would start on the railway.
He updated us on his progress and we were impressed. He worked so hard to get it done that when we saw him he looked exhausted. But would the railway get started?
Simple is often best and Joe's design was beautifully simple. Joe told us that he wanted to make a set of YouTube videos explaining how he did it.
Judging by Joe's skill with videos and his obvious determination we waited to see what happened.
Joe had tried to explain his construction method but we really had to see it in action to understand it. The video below does that perfectly.
Basically this is a decking top, smothered with old engine oil, supported by plastic down pipes and joined using a half round timber screwed into the plastic pipe.
All securely screwed together with stainless steel screws and covered with a layer of roofing felt, held in place by galvanised smack nails.
The first part of Joe's railway construction video (8.19 mins).
The photos of Joe's progress looked interesting but we were wondering what it would all look like when completed. The site is on a slight slope and we thought the plastic pipes would be a little unsightly.
We shouldn't have worried, because Joe had thought of everything. This was when the rocks began to appear.
Joe had mentioned that a lot of his materials had been "acquired" or bought cheaply on social media. But as the photos began to reveal, this was going to be an amazing garden Railway.
A hard days work deserves some chill time so Joe spent an evening in the garden with an impressive fire.
Joe said that he had difficulty sitting still and we all commented that his progress was impressive. Glenis pointed out that he was going to have to start thinking about plants but Joe had already got his planting ideas in hand.
Glenis' question was soon answered as Joe barrowed in more materials and planting began. We viewed the pictures open mouthed and Joe promised us an open day when it was all done.
But completion was still a way off as the circuit wasn't yet complete.
The last bit to complete the circuit was the station. Construction involved some different materials and also marked a significant point in the building of the whole track.
Built from one starting point and kept level throughout. The worry in Joe's mind was ... would it join level ... end to end?
Joe's plan was about a long life as well as a quick build. His rapid progress showed that his tequnique was well thought out but a long life was very important.
Joe had used tanalised decking planks and these had been liberally coated with old engine oil. The next step was to cover with roofing felt in order to provide a good looking, weather-proof surface for the track.
Not content to leave the felt exposed, Joe decided to ballast most of the track while he completed the planting edges. All held in place with old tiles and recycled slabs.
The railway was rapidly becoming a proper garden railway and even though the planting was fresh, is was starting to look stunning.
Joe used recycled 32mm Tenmille track and Peco points. The curves are tight but have caused no problems so far. Joe says that he's not planning to buy a Garratt at the moment but would love a cheap Lady Anne.
The first train to Run (1.45 mins)
Joe says that this was all planned from the start but he was focusing on getting finished. A useful addition and essential if you're going to have an open day, are some sidings.
All done to a high standard and ready for landscaping.
Garden Railways are about fun and Joe needed some fun before doing the second hardest part of every project ... finishing it! (The first hardest part is starting it!)
Everything was nearly done but on inspection, there was a gap for another small siding.
Quick as a flash, Joe got on with it.
Joe loves his photos and videos and the garden had to be a beautiful garden.
Now Joe got planting, tidying and finishing with a keen eye for detail.
Last job to do was the platform. Here fitted with wooden battons ready for infilling with a thin layer of concrete.
The Open Day was planned and a date set. BGRA Members were invited and Bethany planned her baking.
On the day, the weather held out fine and members arrived. A great day was had by all who attended.
Joe's Open Day (8.02 mins)
Joe has done a great job and impressed everyone. Most of all, he's made a gorgeous garden with a superb railway in it.
If you have more photos to add to this or other galleries then please send them to bgrawebsite@gmail.com.
