Abandoned Garden Railways of the West Midlands

Due to a fall resulting in pelvic and spinal injuries I haven't been able to do anything in the garden since October last year. The SVR is now looking like an abandoned railway. I'm hoping to be able to start work in the next couple of weeks with the aim to be able to run trains sometime in March. Meanwhile here's a few photos to show the task which faces me.

Looking down the garden towards Birdlip Junction.

Viaduct Station hiding behind elephant grass.

Birdlip Junction with a few leaves on the line.

The engine shed at Birdlip Junction.

The cutting below Birdlip Junction.

A blocked tunnel.

The bottom of the garden.

A siding at Viaduct Station.

Once Upon A Time I Had A Garratt

I purchased the Garratt from Martin of Martin's models several years ago. It was custom made from two Stainz starter set locos and it worked on the LGB MTS system. I really liked the loco and used it a lot but one sad day I broke it!

The Loco

The chassis (if that's what it's called) where the front pivot was attached broke. I glued it a couple of times and carried on using it but the the last time it fell apart I found a number of wires had got mixed up with the glue and they broke too. The loco has been languishing in a cupboard for the last 4/5 years.
I've now decided to dismantle the loco and see if I can repair it and also convert it too battery power and radio control.

The loco with cab and boiler removed showing the broken pivot