Model Railway Forum

Hi, I used to run N Gauge, but with failing eyesight I have now moved to a bigger scale, 16mm/SM32.
It was during a heart attack, that i and my partner, plus the Doctors with their advice about getting out more and get some fresh air. (I know you can open windows) It just not the same is it. Since then although I have had a double bypass and still have some issues with my heart, I have really enjoyed building a line and running live steam. I have a Roundhouse Billy, which can be re-gauged from 32mm which I run to 45mm if I go to steam up that runs with 45mm track. Though 32mm is mainly run with Narrow gauge Locos and heritage lines. 45mm also run Narrow Gauge. For me there is nothing better than steaming up with live steam and seeing the steam bellowing from the chimney and exhausts. I also run battery locos, for which the Grandkids enjoy running. The cost of them are relative cheap, especially if you buy them in kit form. The live steamers can also run with battery power for those who don't want to spend about 10 minutes getting steam up. The real thing didn't just fire up and go did they...

Since I started with 16mm though we have moved once and in the process of moving again, so the line has needed to be pulled up. Which is a bit of a bind, but it also gives us more scope in some ways.

I will post some photos when I can find some for you. In the meantime, this is a photo of my Loco.

Excellent. Love your loco.

Not that far back I had the opportunity to see a garden railway which ran both 45mm and 32mm gauges. I noticed a 32mm tram which they said was not working. I managed to get it to run, Not quite how I would habe liked, but I was miles away from my proper modelling tools and my spares etc. But I got it to run. But then I saw that in several places it was jumping the rails. I eased the reack in a few places and had the tram running round without coming off the track. They were pleased as they said they had not been able to use the line for about two years? Basically the curves are sharp so the expansion and contraction had taken the joins out of a nice smooth alignment. Uhmmm. I dound both 45mm and 32mm track to be much tougher to bend, but the principles are the same as working in 7mm narrow gauge or 00 gauge. I am glad I had made my own 7mm narrow gauge track as it does help to have some experience in workingbout what is happening if things don't keep to the rails!
One thing I was really impressed with is how G scale locos are still able to pick up current on brown tarnished track. I was amazed. I did give their main running lines a clean before I left.

Thank you for your reply Mountain Goat. As it was when I modelled the smaller gauge, 16mm has taken over my life. It's a strange thing that some don't realise, especially some family and friends, who just think they are big toys and don't appreciate the amount of work that goes into them.