It's spring and the garden is awakening to the sounds of birds and trains

 I've now positioned all 17 retaining walls.

A train emerging from the 'tunnel'

When we moved into the bungalow we inherited loads of old paving slabs so I’ve been using them as the track bed. I’ve screwed the track down using 5mm rawlplugs and brass screws.

Looking down the garden. A train about to enter the 'tunnel'.

On the bungalow side of the 'tunnel' I've mortared between the paving slabs.

This is Stoke Works Station. The platforms are plywood templates made to check clearances.

Looking up the garden from Stoke Works Station

Another view of Stoke Works Station

The signal box (re-sited from the SVR) is positioned between Stoke Works Station and the Saltworks Sidings.

The line ends at the summerhouse which is scheduled for demolition next month.

Cutting Retaining Walls

After several days of dry weather the cutting has finally dried out so I've been able to lay double track through it.

Tracks have now been laid as far as the summerhouse. This will be the end of the line for now as the summerhouse will have to be demolished before it can be extended further.

The location of the tunnel is marked by the two plywood templates.

Today I've started adding the retaining walls. The wall sections were originally from Garden Railway Specialists and they were reclaimed from the Sandwell Valley Railway.

Looking down the cutting in the direction of Stoke Works Station.