Winter weed slashing train

It's well and truly winter now and the line has become overtaken by weeds. This train of specialist maintenance equipment greatly reduces the amount of effort needed to keep the line clear for the infrequent operations.

[@melbournesparks3828]

So there's been a few people asking why not a blower as well? Short answer is that it isn't really needed, and doesn't actually help much. There's a lot of plants, structures and rocks close to the track along most of the line, so there isn't really anywhere to blow the debris to. Also no herbicide here, because again it doesn't actually help much on the main type of weed and has a high risk of causing off target damage on the native vegetation.

[@Secretlyanothername]

How do you clear the rails and sleepers?

[@Jeepy842000]

Probably also a good idea to avoid blower since clover parts can reroot wherever they land.

[@drewlinz8688]

Then how about a brush car to just sweep bigger debris to the side to prevent derailments

[@kakd1870]

how about a catch bin like riding mower?

[@americancitizen405]

Vacuum cleaner car ?

[@aaronleverton4221]

Day 43. We continue to hack our way across the garden... Trees many, many times the height of our locomotive impose themselves over the tracks, one wonders how many decades, or even centuries they took to reach such immense proportions. No river at home can compare to the mighty spans we have crossed. The work is arduous. If this is one season's growth, I cannot imagine the toll of man and beast that must have been taken to clear the route and lay the tracks.

[@blagmate5516]

Me stinks, Sir, that you have read a train engineer's, ship captain's or explorer's log afore.

[@FuukPronouns]

Ready for chapter 2.

[@FarmerDrew]

Lilliputian Chronicles

[@stephenrice4554]

Lovely

[@williamgrissom1995]

😎👍

[@ColinRichardson]

So... Apparently I WILL sit and watch an almost 9 minute video of a toy train cutting some weeds

[@ChefGeo-kh5gy]

I watched a reading of a scifi novel yesterday. The randomness of content gets me.

[@3r1414]

me, too

[@BuckingHorse-Bull]

all praise the youtube algorithm for bringing us here

[@hYd420]

@@ColinRichardson likewise lol who knew ?

[@daigriffiths399]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Me too.

[@gehteuchnixan69]

I love stumbling upon these kind of videos. Glimpses into other people's lives and hobbies

[@deludedwendi]

Agreed. I can’t help but marvel at it all. It’s a wow, just wow moment for me. Still confused as to why it was in my recommended feed tho, but I too love to explore the weird and wonderful that are people’s dedicated passions..

[@ianking-jv4hg]

No interest in trains, large or small. Don't even care to prune my garden regularly (Grows quite well without my interference.) Still and all, calmly entertaining now the green ginger is below its plimsoll line.

[@hYd420]

Yeah I agree I don’t have an interest in trains but I love models I love model kits I love watching peoples set ups regardless of what it is it’s pretty cool this is pretty cool this is gonna be one of the best set up so I’ve seen

[@jessealeshire3091]

Right

[@mattywho8485]

Yeah, me too ! But at the same time it pisses me off that I don't have the time to do something like that. (Build a huge model railroad in my back yard)

[@geoffgunn9673]

I like the detail when you see through the loco’s open door and see a porcelain throne

[@lklmmedia4715]

I was literally just about to comment about that - at 7m20s

[@jamesalles139]

@@lklmmedia4715 that is 8:11 (clickable link)

[@RustyZipper]

7:20

[@shaunonlyplaysyt9879]

You can also see it 5:12

[@clangerbasher]

Having real PW trains on garden lines make them real railways to me.

[@blauer2551]

One of the most realistic setups I’ve seen down to the dirt on the engine

[@rolux4853]

What does PW mean?

[@clangerbasher]

@@rolux4853 permanent way

[@bigmart932]

@@rolux4853permanent way, basically it just means railway infrastructure so a PW train would be a railway infrastructure repair train

[@daniellewis1789]

​@@rolux4853what the US calls Right Of Way or ROW. This train would be called MOW or Maintenance Of Way equipment.

[@blacksmeim8791]

Incredible custom built cars, railroad, anything! The track layout looks natural, no plactic building awkwardly standing around, just a functional, wonderful railroad. Respect my dude!

[@BuckingHorse-Bull]

all praise the youtube algorithm for bringing us here

[@thomasdickson3622]

Well, you got me. I thought that was a full-size railway until you picked up the train.

[@MrLuigge]

agree, I was like: what? isn't it real?

[@BuckingHorse-Bull]

all praise the youtube algorithm for bringing us here

[@FATMAN828456]

I don't know why this showed up in my feed, but that was extremely satisfying to watch. Well done

[@claudevieaul1465]

I don't think I've ever seen any model train with a bigger "Hold my beer" attitude... 🤘

[@Thefreakyfreek]

Hell yea

[@nomusicrc]

I gave this video three thumbs up because there's no added music just the raw audio

[@user-dl1cf4xr6t]

you cannot give three thumbs up...

[@nomusicrc]

@@user-dl1cf4xr6t you can try it you're welcome

[@gaspumprepairservice7009]

@@user-dl1cf4xr6tbut hacan gives finger. 😏

[@chuckd5819]

​@@user-dl1cf4xr6twhachu mean? I gave 4

[@cwillpiko1994]

One can if the one stuck up the ass is removed!

[@samael335]

That's probably the most dangerous toy train car on rails. I love it.

[@mikerider8540]

A full size one would certainly encourage people to stand well back from the platform!

[@firstglastg1882]

@@mikerider8540 Uh oh - now I'm imagining a couple ketchup filled people trying to cross the tracks. Or that ketchup truck that just HAS TO make it around the crossing before the train.

[@mikerider8540]

@@firstglastg1882 😅 my bad!

[@257796]

I've seen a lot of indoor trains but this has a different feel because of live vegetation. Definitely the coolest train I've seen in my 46 years

[@damnyiffers]

No I cannot get into trains too. I already brew mead, paint warhammer, play video games, hunt, fish, own boats, tune engines, drive nitro RC and enjoy camping. PLEASE DONT GET ME INTO MODEL TRAINS TOO! 😂😂😂

[@JamesPetts]

Too late...

[@josephcook2314]

Same here! Lol

[@johnjordan4155]

Too late....

[@mechticulous8202]

Right!?😅 I went for Z-scale (6mm wide track) because it will fit in a suitcase. I am adding lights to my trolley because it never came with any and the 0402 smd LEDs are pennies. T-Scale is even smaller (3mm)but the wheels are magnetized so they can be put on ridiculous things like a wearable hat.😅

[@azurefog]

Check out synthesizers and DIY electronics....

[@HROM1908]

Good to see you back ! Great way to deal with the intrusion of undergrowth. Can't wait for more.

[@tracynation2820]

Super. I bet the weed whacker and the brush cutter also make a great show when they are being used as a snowplow. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

[@melbournesparks3828]

Luckily no snow here! More rain than Colorado though.

[@tracynation2820]

Ironic. You probably have the second or third best powered "plow" that I have ever seen in a KZbin video, and you don't have any snow. 🙂 I use a push plow in front of three or four locomotives, sometimes for snow, sometimes for leaves and sticks, but my railroad doesn't have the lovely greenery like yours. I have seen everything from a beautiful, fully functional, digital miniature Rotary Snow Plow and Flanger car combo, to a flailing chain connected to a motor strapped to a flatcar with a battery. I can't wait to see your idea used as a "snowplow" down the road, especially when the snow is deeper. 💙 T.E.N.

[@melbournesparks3828]

@@tracynation2820 It doesn't snow at all here, so I'm probably not going to have the chance to test that. I've seen some cool snow clearing equipment from other countries though!

[@ivveG]

Wonderful little railway! Thank you for sharing this remarkably satisfying maintenance video!

[@KPMACHINE1]

This is like the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! I have all my Lionel stuff in the basement from when I was a kid. This got me so excited to get it back out and set it up some time.

[@trueaussie9230]

This is "LIKE the coolest thing" you've ever seen. So, what is the actual "coolest thing" you've ever seen?! 🤔 (It must be EXTREMELY 'COOL'.)

[@santiagobenites]

If there was a KZbin award for amateur filmmaking, I'd certainly nominate you. That was fantastic! Thank you for sharing.

[@thejll]

Very satisfactory tunnel through the greenery!

[@derrickmiles5240]

You know, this hit me with a spark of inspiration. There's this guy who strings together like 6 pushmowers in a diagonal configuration to mow his lawn in one big sweep. I'm imagining a rail kinda like this, guiding them along the edge of a lawn. The rig could be housed in a purpose built shed that the track leads from and returns to at the end. The idea of a self mowing lawn is just so appealing to me. And not just because mowing is a pain. Its the principle of the matter. We should have these kind of things, it's supposed to be the future, goddammit.

[@codyharney2997]

Just watched that guy with the daisy chain mowers. Beautiful work and that man can whip em

[@mattywho8485]

There's another guy on here with like 13 lawnmowers together... Brilliant !

[@Phil-oj5nr]

our local ride-on 2ft gauge railway in Blenheim, New Zealand has a lawn mower device. They mow the tracks about two or three times a month. Works very well. If you are in NZ on holiday and you have come over on the ferry from Wellington to Picton with your car, drive 27km south and you are in Blenheim. It is only another 3 plus km to Bradshaw Park where they operate. Track is just under 5km and the round trip takes about 1 hour.

[@melbournesparks3828]

I've seen some pictures, definitely looks worth a visit!

[@rc4lifebnsf]

That’s amazing. I love your layout and how it’s hidden in the overgrowth of greenery

[@jefcoes1]

such a cool setup! the back yard train system is the cats meow! Your track clearing machine is really cool! Good job!

[@sldkjh]

This is one of the most interesting weed slashing train videos of the first half of 2024.

[@djowen5192]

Possibly the most epic train on KZbin at the moment. Well done.

[@VinceBucy]

I’m not sure how I ended up here, but this was extremely cool to watch. I could watch this all day.!

[@lklmmedia4715]

As someone who grew up in Eltham from '75 to '93, and being a Regular of the Eltham Lower Model Railway...I can appreciate this a lot!

[@trueaussie9230]

Ah. Eltham in the 70s - BEFORE it was 'yuppy-fied'. I remember it well - and miss it very much.

[@brightsky3339]

That was a joy to watch great maintenance Alexander Evan derailments & break downs it makes it all real.

[@LunarTikOfficial]

*To have a dedicated work engine that accomplishes this task really brings this to reality even more. That is awesome.*

[@psynriter]

I don't know why it's taken this long for the KZbin algorithms to put forward your channel as a suggestion. Instant subscription here. Fantastic backyard railway action. With the overhead you could buy very cheaply little beads to make insulators

[@bobe.3719]

Your new vertical cutter is a great add-on and does a complete job. I just wonder if that should be placed behind the older "track clearer" car as that may lessen the chances of a derailment. Anyway, it's great to see another video from you!

[@FishKepr]

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

[@melbournesparks3828]

I found this is the configuration that works the best, since the vertical cutter often removes large fern fronds and the like that need further chopping when they fall on the track.

[@willb.383]

@@melbournesparks3828so, we are really discovering you need a a second horizontal cutter to lead the way 😂

[@TehButterflyEffect]

​@@melbournesparks3828 why two cars though? This could easily be done on a single car. It would make it heavier, which would help with track clearing.

[@dennisk5818]

Awesome, you had me tricked. I thought that this was a drone video of an actual railroad trimming some dense vegetation in a third world country! You've an fantastic layout. This must take a long time to cultivate the vegetation. It beats the fake grass by a large margin. Great job.

[@statelyelms]

Your track is so nice! Having it so natural, diverse vertical elevations and having it cleared *by train* makes it feel so authentic, small-scale-oriented and cosy. Bravo. I hope I can make anything remotely like this if I ever got into RC trains.

[@boing7679]

I was so confused when I saw "It is well and truly winter now" and then I saw your channel was named Melbournesparks. Great video! You are lucky that the blade thing didn't hit you at 6:20.

[@melbournesparks3828]

Winter in Victoria is the wet and weedy season! I definitely wear PPE when operating this, it can throw all sorts of things a good distance including parts of itself.

[@andrewwillard5625]

I feel like I’m in Jurassic park cleaning up the tracks but just absolutely blown away by your layout just so gorgeous❤❤❤ and only one more thing you need a caboose blower car to blow the tracks off but still amazing work.

[@vettebecker1]

Awesome, you can go back in and trim up if needed but it’s not anything like having to do the entire layout by hand. Love it ❤

[@MonkeyGun77]

Nothing works better than some good ol model trains and ingenuity to put a smile on ones face. Thank you 😃

[@R3dp055um]

Bravo, well done! I have never seen a model railway outdoors before. I did have a friend many years ago who lived right by the the bay, and the amount of salt in the air caused his rails in his garage setup to corrode very quickly. He had a cleaner car he would push around ahead of the locomotive, with steelwool moistened with alcohol underneath, to clean the corrosion off the rails. But that is the closest thing I have ever seen to this truly ingenious maintenance setup of yours. What a truly enchanting video. Liked and subbed!

[@rolux4853]

Those plants look so tropical! I live in Germany and everything that grows here looks so much different.

[@RRED2]

Absolutely loved the journey, I was fascinated with how well the train cut the foliage so nicely. Thank You. 😊😊😊

[@USNVA11]

I’m sure the engineers on that train enjoy their work. Just keep the foliage clear and back at the pub by five ! 😁🍻

[@_RNX_]

I'm so glad to have a glimpse at your wonderful layout again! I'm wondering if you ar planning to add a track expansion....

[@jacksonm.3291]

This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing your tiny brush clearing train.

[@Surkai25]

I have never seen a natural outdoor model railway before. That is so cool!!!

[@20truck]

I'm amazed how well your weed cutters work.

[@paladinkhan]

Really awesome end result, looks beautiful. Would be cool to see the mowing vehicles even more stylized like some kind of railroad equipment, i really like the style youve chosen looks lovely and fits the environment well

[@melbournesparks3828]

They definitely need some refinement, the front one is still kind of a prototype

[@cwillpiko1994]

Seconded. Not too fragile but industrial. Then patent it. Sell it. Make a million. Your name will be etched into garden rocks everywhere. Good show!

[@the_lost_navigator]

Watching Right-of-Way clearing has never been more enjoyable. Envious of your layout, Sir.

[@bikeforever2016]

That sir, is genius. Brought to you by Tom Scott, very glad to make your acquaintance.

[@4TheMotorist]

"Tim the tool man Taylor" would be proud 😀

[@deludedwendi]

Brilliant!! Iv never watched a model train video before, but I couldn’t stop watching this!

[@keithjenkinson7825]

Brilliant stuff; and you really got me with the Dunny in the Diesel

[@TotallyNotSamm]

Loved it! Tom scott's newsletter brought me here

[@Tom-Lahaye]

This is more fun than swinging the weedwhacker around by hand, it did cut a nice tunnel trough the clover field. If I choose to build a 5" line in my garden I could put my Stihl petrol weed whacker on it, but sadly it's going to be O gauge, so the electric variant you have is the only option. Nice addition for your track is a rotating horizontal brush to remove leaves and mos from the tracks, or a leaf/dust blower, you can buy these handy little ones .

[@melbournesparks3828]

It certainly saves a lot of manual work! The mower wagon does a pretty good job mulching and blowing away the leaves and clippings on its own

[@SuperScumble]

Arrived here by random, was not disappointed. Strangely cathartic to watch 👍

[@psulion31]

You win the KZbin award today

[@drumarr221]

I cannot get rid of the smile this brings to my face. I need this in my permaculture garden. Excellent!

[@svennilsson8459]

Yes Sir!!! 👏 I see we went to the same school, "if the lawn gotten full of tree branches & mould heaps, go over it wirh the mower" 😱The blades, what blades ? 🤔 All the best from the very south of Sweden. 👍

[@jamesfitch6431]

That is so awesome. Fantastic engineering and application. What a great way to clean up the garden railway. ❤

[@johnandwegs]

Might be the best video yet!!! Well done👍👍👍

[@frank2398]

Okay. I’ve always wondered about the overgrowth with outdoor trains. That’s freaking brilliant!!!

[@jackphoton]

Makita batteries rule! I use them in all sorts of home and hobby uses. Too useful for stuff exactly like this train!

[@knightsj]

I enjoy watching people's garden layouts and how they deal with nature. Not seen vegetation cutters before, but I think it's great, I usually only see snow blowers. Both good fun to watch

[@UPnDOWN]

The most wholesome thing I'll see on YT for a while!

[@simonbertioli4696]

Bridge over the river kwai. That comes to mind... What a great invention. 👍👍👍

[@rclass707]

I might look at something like this for my 5 inch gauge railway. What a great idea.

[@DankyDankerson69]

This is my childhood dream. I would put a beer on the end and have it transport it to me down the line lol

[@peter2uat]

but it has to be a canned beer, a krugel would end up as a root or weed beer 😊🍺🍺🍺

[@stephenmoeller2408]

Nicely done. Loved the machines and camera work!

[@tylersowa3858]

That's so cool how you made that ! Highly impressed

[@ttc5000]

I can't believe I just watched 8 minutes of garden train landscaping... and is that a bathroom?

[@melbournesparks3828]

It's actually fairly common for diesel locomotives to have a toilet!

[@Mankan569]

I love people who have a passion for their hobby and make it happen. Greetings from Sweden

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Nice work. Playing and doing maintenance is one. Great

[@Epic_FrameEdits]

Omg i love the moss between the tracks it looks so beautiful

[@borealwood]

Here from Tom Scott!!

[@odaikorob]

It's Onion Weed. You've got to pull them out by the roots and remove the bulbs underneath otherwise they grow back real quick.

[@melbournesparks3828]

It's a type of oxalis, which luckily is much easier to slash than onion weed! It has similar tubers though that make it very difficult to exterminate.

[@odaikorob]

@@melbournesparks3828 ah yes...oxalis. Sorry got the naming wrong there. Its in my garden here in Auckland NZ and I find that when I dig it out and remove the bulbs at the bottom of the roots, it doesnt come back for quite a while.

[@aquacactuscheeseburger]

bloody oxalis, As a local I can't escape the stuff! It does make for very nice scenery at this scale though. Love the railway, Cheers

[@dragchute1]

Some videos are just addictive. My apologies, and to my wife's shagrin, I watched your video twice instead of cutting the grass. Cheers and thank you for the entertainment.

[@randomviewer3494]

HI from Tom Scott

[@mikecostello5669]

This so takes me back to watching Malcolm and his setups around his house 😊

[@melbournesparks3828]

Unlike Malcolm I have only a very normal amount of trams in my house

[@khyron6]

So green its hard for me to believe, I have lived in the desert my hole life. It's like a green snow plow. Cool Video thanks.

[@Mojojosie86]

This was so satisfying to watch, love it!

[@castcrus]

I like watching lawn mowing videos, also miniature trains. Now I've found the ultimate combination of the two.

[@athab8256]

Fantastic and hypnotic as usual!!

[@UntitledUnlimitedCreations]

I’m a makita man and I just love the fact that your bush wacker engine is powered by the platform 😂 SUBSCRIBED!

[@harrisondrumz]

The satisfaction button 👇🏼

[@wanderschlurf]

Best gardening ever. Clever, minimalistic and efficient with a little bit of fun. Cheers

[@crakkbone]

6:18 pretty sure that blade flies right at you.

[@YouTool]

was looking for this comment, that thins is deadly

[@justahillbilly7777]

Sometimes Melbournesparks' genius is almost frightening. On a more serious note, for real man, this is an ingenious way of keeping your model railway's ROW clear of debris. It's downright beautiful even.

[@erichough7080]

A touch of Mad Max.

[@ericcleland817]

First time watching something like this, and it was entertaining for sure.

[@rismul]

The toilet in the loco… 😀😀

[@Porschedude8]

Great! 👍👍

[@harveyanimations8974]

Watching this little locomotive and it’s weed whacker carve a neat path across your garden is oddly delightful

[@michaeldugger6964]

IMPRESSIVE! MINI GODZILLA OF WEED CUTTERS!!!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Nobahdee]

I love this so much, thank you for sharing.

[@TheGreatSteve]

Weed piercer.

[@beyondfubar]

Didn't know you could have these outside, and at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, this is the best thing I ever saw.

[@redskinperes3508]

WOW. Mister, you have an amazing hobby. Hands down for that commitment.

[@majorbrighton]

Thank you, delightful track, garden and hobby. I laughed so much seeing the "John" with the door wide open, what a way to... go! Brilliant, you are a man and also a kindred spirit, thank you. Will subscribe to your outlook for a while and will watch many more 🙏

[@knobsdialsandbuttons]

Excellent video 👍

[@RobertLee-um3mr]

This model train gets this dad's seal of approval. The kids will have to buy their own.