Passenger Carrying Garden Railways

[@Metalguy40]

Ah. Good old VHS quality. I’ll always love it. Much like I do with these engines

[@Glum1964]

That is so adorable at 27:00, that family that each went to different spots along the railway to simulate stops on the line. Just for the video! How sweet! I bet that railroad- and the kind of people who love them- have made that a healthy, fun family. Good on them.

[@legiontheatregroup]

Thank you so much for making this film. I purchased it on VHS in the mid 1990s and have watched it more times than I can remember. I’m in the USA so I would otherwise never have gotten to see these wonderful miniature railways. Really enjoy your camera work and narration.

[@DerekSmith1949]

Many thanks for your kind comment. Glad you enjoyed it, it all seems so long ago now :-)

[@stanthesteam]

Superb. I did have this (excellent) film on video until we moved house it was lost in transit. Many thanks for posting. Stan

[@schutendohkji548]

Love the switching actions on the 2ft gauge equipment.

[@justincowgill8875]

This is my motivation to become a millionaire.

[@devvydoesstuff]

lol same

[@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695]

You could just have a farm and use them for moving goods

[@hondaxl250k0]

Na not a millionaire. Just don’t have a wife or kids.. you will be set. Have your fun. For most working men you can have a family or toys. But we can’t afford both.

[@atombombproductions2118]

wow, I am such a procrastinator. I have always wanted my own railway, but never tried to get one. superb video.

[@patrickmcneilly4293]

I would say derpy but nah :P

[@CaptBubble]

Great video, thanks. We visited the lovely Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway recently.

[@begudmaximan953]

I particularly favour the 10+1/4" gauge as being ideal as a comfortably sized passenger rider without being over bulky nor too compilcated, each to their own preference I guess! Such a variety of miniature gauges being available to choose from is certainly impressive. A well put together video, top marks.😊

[@schutendohkji548]

I like that Samuel in the Wheatbread toaster the best! Thank you for the video.

[@joshneville8254]

Schuten Dohkji in this computer age he says as a thumper comes past 😂😂

[@robertrockwell7581]

man that 2 foot gauge would be fun.

[@allanegleston13]

in the states wed call this , live steam. some excellent railways :)

[@JoeyBatman888]

The garden raikway(the first one) is still in situ but looks like it’s hardly used now and a bit overgrown. Don’t know when it was last used.

[@stephencook1395]

Driving truck now complete, based on Ride on Railways chassis. Passenger truck underway. Now all on its way to the new location. Track laying starting later this year.

[@JoeyBatman888]

The garden raikway(the first one) is still in situ but looks like it’s hardly ever used. Looking a bit overgrown in places now.

[@EpicNotch]

in our computer age? you aint seen nothing yet!

[@angelsone-five7912]

Having done some market research I can confirm that no matter what the gauge this is still the preserve of the well to do.

[@DerekSmith1949]

Not so - of course if you want a big set up like this then you do need a lot of money, but there are smaller lines around ordinary domestic gardens that have cost less than £2k. The second hand market for smaller lines equipment is still quite bouyant. I started my own small railway when I lived on the Romney Marsh for about £800 - people spend that quite happily on a computer but that's nowhere near as much fun.

[@haroldpearson6025]

No, you can join a local model engineer club and use their track. Setting up to build a steam loco can be expensive or if you prefer shop around and purchase a loco. I built my first loco, a Tich, when I was 12/15 in the 1950s. I still have that engine.

[@theventuracountyrailfan]

This was my childhood

[@mitchmatthews6713]

This is just TOO COOL!

[@Basset86Trains09]

31:20 that’s how you perfect a coupling

[@stephencook1395]

Well my 5" gauge railway is underway, at least my first loco is built, based on a 5" chassis from Maxitrak, with 5 metres of track indoors at the moment, pending a move.

[@Apollo_Vanron]

How is working out for you now?

[@aboxashimov5615]

so cool i like these trains!!!!!

[@CrystallisedEntertainment]

Hey Derek, Do you happen to know what happened to Greenfields' Petrol-Electric locomotive after the railway closed?

[@DerekSmith1949]

Other than it was sold on I don't know where it went. I did ask David but he couldn't remember but thinks it was sold at least once more after he sold it. I'll ask him again next time I see him but don't hold out much hope.

[@stuartcompton1620]

Re the 7 1/4in Dholpur 2-8-4T at Greenfields, what was the origin of that particular loco? Was it based on the 5in gauge Kennions drawings?

[@_TheJp_]

I would vote for 7 1/4 My build would be: Covered loco + covered passenger wagon + open passenger wagon + flat empty wagon. Always light on and red back signal . :D

[@themainnerd0566]

30:52. I am building a 4-4-2 tender engine in this scale

[@themainnerd0566]

sorry, I am building a 4-6-2 Tender engine

[@wooltman]

Hi Derek.Excellent video,most of the railways I hadn't heard of how long ago was it taken?Cheers Chris.

[@DerekSmith1949]

I filmed it in 1989 - Since then the Stoneleigh House and Greenfields lines have closed, whilst Maxitrak, Bredgar and The Wayside have gone on to bigger and better things.

[@Alarmkid23]

@@DerekSmith1949 what happed to the lyminge line did it ever open to the public?? also the speed limit in the Wroxham directions approaching the crossings at belaugh green and sprats green is now just walking pace (2mph) due to blind visibility. in the alysham direction its still the 5MPH limit at both crossings

[@phill7651]

Nice little video.

[@haroldpearson6025]

There over 200 model engineering clubs in UK most will have tracks that accommodate 3.5/5 & 7.25in gauge locos. The problem is its a dieing hobby as youngsters not interested.

[@DerekSmith1949]

That problem has always been there. I can't remember a time when young people played a very active part. One of the problems is that it is still a compativly expensive hobby - even with a reasonaly priced 5" gauge diesel like the Maxitrak Ruston you would still have to find club membership fees, transport to and from the club track etc. That's an outlay of over £1,000. True you may be able to join a club as a junior member and take advantage of a club loco but I never see a club actively trying to promote junior membership to a wide audience.

[@matthewpeter]

that Dolphur is a beast isn't it

[@DerekSmith1949]

Yes it is - there was also a 5" gauge version floating around at some point. Last time I saw it the loco was at Bentley.

[@matthewpeter]

Derek Smith there's quite a number of 5" versions about, Reeves sell the castings. Really superb video Derek.

[@williamarmstrong5809]

narrator: building a rideable garden railway is within the reach of most people. average price of 5 inch steam loco: £7000

[@DerekSmith1949]

A battery diesel in 5" gauge is these days about £1300, which I think still makes it affordable.obviously if you want to go to steam it is more expensive, but for most starters the route is via battery.

[@jernejfunkl8300]

At 1:28 i saw white Yugo :) !! This is Yugoslavian build car in mid 80... LOL :)

[@DerekSmith1949]

yes it was mine. A local garage was selling them so we bought two - one for me and one for my wife.

[@jernejfunkl8300]

Very interesting.Ihope that you enjoy with him.I did not know that this car was also exists in the UK :)

[@DerekSmith1949]

It didn't last for long in the UK but it was a fun car to drive.

[@marcolorenzosupnet9321]

I'm not crying

[@SamSitar]

how do garden railway points (switches) work?

[@WorthlessNickores]

The sound of a steam train goes: Chew chew (horn) choke an ick or, choke an ick or (faster and faster)

[@nbc_uk]

Very nice and inspiring video. Are there any out and back 7.25 lines in the UK, or are they all circuits?

[@DerekSmith1949]

I can't really answer that with any certainty - I'm sure all the public ones I know are continuous circuits. I think there are some lines in private gardens that might, due to space contstraints be out and back, but that's about it.

[@riggstwenty2]

I want one !

[@DerekSmith1949]

Start saving now then :-)

[@megajeremiel]

Technically you can build a garden railway over a weekend if you want a small layout but if it is a big one then that's a different story

[@Dutcharmytent]

Great video

[@Richie92191]

Why did the signal man take a token from the driver?

[@rogo23]

Richard Hughes I think it's the token to use that bit of the line, so when the next train comes through, the token has to be given to that driver so he can use the track :)

[@bradenkilby]

Token work

[@davidbradt6202]

I could make one the only part that I can't do is the cylinders and axles why are they so expensive?

[@JoeyBatman888]

Where was the stoneleigh house railway?

[@DerekSmith1949]

It was in the garden of a house in Sutton Road, Langley, just south of Maidstone. Long gone I'm afraid and no trace remains.

[@stonesoup-bv6nn]

Derek Smith in saskatchewan

[@SidneyPratt]

Thanks.

[@ewaeesmachines693]

Im only 12 but I still aspire to build my own garden railway. Im just afraid that I may not have enough money when im older

[@DerekSmith1949]

Military Nerd. It needed be expensive - we all had to start somewhere and there's lots of 5"gauge ground level lines about. Don't give up hope.

[@ewaeesmachines693]

Derek Smith thanks mate

[@PanosSkarp]

I'm 18 and I want to make a 10.25-12 inch guage railway like seen but public and with about 10 miles of track on a tourist heavy island here in Greece. My 3 big concerns are the liscence the will that I'll have until then and the terrain. Not many flat areas in Greece I'm afraid. Very nice video though! I wish one day I can be in one too.

[@bertrumbumfishfuker2400]

thats numberwang

[@weerapatcep1839]

where i can get these

[@rparker069]

ah yes, steam rideable railways. Because who doesn't enjoy an afternoon of being blasted in the face with high temperature steam?

[@Waldbahner]

I love it :-D Don't forget the sparks and cinders... the coal black and oily hands... operating a steam locomotive, both in real size or rideable size, is real joy.

[@rparker069]

Don't get me wrong I love getting my hands dirty, I just don't really enjoy being steam blasted while trying to enjoy myself

[@rparker069]

yes but normally you get paid to do that

[@rparker069]

***** >not using diesel-electric master race with sanding >what is trains

[@johnkuzma7066]

that's the joy of it if it was clean it would be exactly like a push button start diesel.

[@Trainmaster1907]

2ft is not a model it is just a narrow gauge train

[@DerekSmith1949]

Never said it was a model. It's a two foot gauge line in someones garden that carries passengers - therefore it is a passenger carrying garden railway.

[@Trainmaster1907]

Derek Smith yah you never called it a model

[@owilliams1031]

Railways of this gauge have been installed in quarries, mines, factories, and on farms. So they actually straddle the distinction between models and reality.

[@sj9345]

neat!

[@BattleshipOrion]

Lol im going into 1/8 scale and this is basic im starting off with a EMD SD40-2 abd soon after il be hiring a company to make UP 4014 RESTORED gas fueled

[@bradenkilby]

csx68 midwest and western railroad cool

[@mheyqu22]

👍😎

[@SuperAWaC]

once only within reach of the wealthy, and now, once again, back only into the reach of the wealthy.

[@DerekSmith1949]

By not being too ambitious its possible to build a passenger carrying line in your garden for a reasonable amount. Ken Laverty's line at Lyminge is a case in point. There are lots of components available now to build your own battery loco and passenger coach if you can't run to a fully built system.

[@SuperAWaC]

@@DerekSmith1949 if you own property these days it makes you automatically wealthy- much of the younger generation will never be able to afford properties like the ones shown in this video at this rate.

[@haroldpearson6025]

@@SuperAWaC Join a local club

[@SuperAWaC]

@@haroldpearson6025 i already volunteer at some minature, grand and full scale railroads