Gradually the list of items that I need for my Standard Gauge Lionel layout is getting smaller. Most recently I was able to buy a turntable, courtesy of eBay. There have been a few available at various times, but not available to Downunder, perhaps because they are large items. This completes the 'track' required for the layout, but there are still quite a few accessories required, or desired! The turntable ideally should have what Lionel called 'Roundhouse Sections' around it. Perhaps four or five. These things are huge!! It might be cheaper (and definitely more fun) for me to fly across to the U.S. and bring one or two back, rather than pay postage for them!
Here's a picture which I've shown before on this blog- but it's a favourite- taken on a layout which I have found very inspiring, of a turntable with five Roundhouse Sections around it. This is a similar scene to what I plan to have on my layout. The trains aren't bad, either!!
Some idea of size is necessary here. Standard Gauge trains are Big!! The turntable, in the middle is 17 inches diameter, although it seems to be dwarfed by the magnificent Roundhouse Sections which are 24 inches from front to back. So the width of this scene is approximately 6 feet! Hence the need to provide a relatively large building to properly display this, and the other, layouts.
Yesterday, November 2nd 2011, marked the official completion of our cottage, with the satisfactory Council Inspection taking place. It is incredibly satisfying that it is now 'home', and indeed a very attractive and comfortable one. Of course there are many, many things that now need doing, such as putting up curtain rods, shelves etc, but I enjoy doing that sort of thing, so no problems there. And then there's the garden....................
We officially started construction of February 23rd 2011, with the breaking of the first sod.
So it's taken just over eight months to build, which while longer than expected, isn't too bad, I suppose. Certainly it is built to a very high standard, which I am very grateful for.
We were officially handed the keys on November 4th 2011.
Pretty much the first thing that I want to do outside is to provide a driveway area from the front of the cottage, gradually working down towards the Trainbarn and front gate. I'll do this in deco (decomposed granite). The existing track is fine while it's dry, but gets terribly slippery and boggy when it rains, and we're expecting good rain again this coming wet season. Forming the tracks in deco, with appropriate drainage, makes the place look so much more tidy and 'finished'. It also reduces the area that needs mowing, and the tracks are often fairly time consuming to keep mown. The main aim of Whistlestop, apart from being our home, is to display and run trains, so anything I can do to make maintenance quicker and easier is a good thing! Another hope for Whistlestop is that it will become a venue for occasional events such as Vintage Car Rallies, and a good track system is essential for this.
The cottage is up to the left of this photo, and the track will run from left to right, swinging around behind these beautiful big trees (Tumbledown Gums), where we have a picnic area, and then off to the right for about another 500 metres, through the bush.
I love building tracks, it provides a solid 'structure' to the place. The plans for Whistlestop overall divide the whole property loosely into themed areas, and it is the deco vehicle tracks and the eventual miniature railway line that will connect these themed areas together.
I had hoped to have the Trainbarn building completed to lock-up before the end of this year, but unfortunately that will not now be feasible. Excellent progress has been made on the preparation of the site, so now with the cottage complete I would hope to be able to recommence work on the Trainbarn in the early New Year. Realistically it will probably be next year's main project. Which is a very exciting prospect!!
All in all, building our cottage- which is the first home we've ever built- has been incredibly satisfying despite the various ups and downs, and I am extremely grateful for having such a beautiful place to call home.
