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SCAN FOR MORE INFO! ESTD RAILS 1970 OF SHEFFIELD FAMILY BUSINESS FRIENDLY SERVICE PRE-OWNED & SECOND HAND WANTED CASH OR EXCHANGE BUY SELL . EXCHANGE . ANY GAUGE . ANY AGE LOCOS COACHES WAGONS TRACK-WORK CONTROLLERS ACCESSORIES ----DIE-CAST LORRIES BUSES PLANES SOLDIERS RAILWAYANA AND MORE ------ DECEASED ESTATES EX SHOP STOCK A SPECIALITY FAST SERVICE WITH COMPLETE DISCRETION ASSURED WE VALUE YOUR COLLECTION VERY HIGHLY! secondhand@railsofsheffield.com or visit our website and click on the £ Stuff to Sell? link PROUD STOCKISTS OF ROUNDHOUSE VISIT OUR WEBSITE HARLECH CASTLE KATIE 00 HERCULES LARGE STOCK AND GUARANTEED BEST PRICES High precision model engineering, live steam locomotives for use on G SCALE, SM32 and SM45 railway layouts. DON'T DELAY GET IN TOUCH TODAY! - +44 (0)114 255 1436 info@railsofsheffield.com www.railsofsheffield.com Ref: GARDENRAIL25 HORNBY Awards MODEL RAILWAY 2023 RETAILER OF THE YEAR! HORNBY MODEL RAILWAY AWards 2024 RETAILER OF THE YEAR!
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View from the end of the Platform MISTAKES DON'T MATTER "Y ou see, if you're going to break the world land speed record, or if you are going to design the best cabinet, or you're going to come up with the ultimate model train layout, you actually need mistakes. Mistakes are the most amazing things. If you make the same mistake, you're not learning. But if you make different mistakes, it's called education, it's called lessons in life." Henry Cole from The Life Changing Magic of Sheds. There is a trend on social media for people to post photos of models they have made and ask the assembled throng if they are acceptable. This annoys me, because the correct answer is that if you are happy with it, then it is perfectly acceptable, whatever anyone else thinks. Especially people sitting online who have never built anything of their own. We are engaged in a hobby, so the only person whose standards you have to worry about is your own. Now, if you are a brain surgeon, then results matter. I love model railways, but am happy to admit that they aren't in the same league. In this issue, we have one of the best models I have ever seen Chuck Doan's Tractor locomotive. It is a stunning piece of work, which I hope you will enjoy seeing and taking a bit of inspiration from. This isn't a competition, though. I see a lot of models, and every one is a triumph for its builder. Each one would also inspire other modellers, which is why I am always keen for people to write up their experiences for these pages. We'll always aim to bring you a spread of abilities, and no one will ever judge your efforts. So, get writing! Phil Parker, Editor Publisher: Steve Cole E: stevec@warnersgroup.co.uk Editor: Phil Parker E: phil.parker@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 07879 383 GARDEN Rail Advertising: Sarah Jarman E: sarah.jarman@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 01778 392055 Advertising Designer: Amie Carter E: amiec@warnersgroup.co.uk Designer: Dan Jarman E: danjarmandesign@gmail.com Production Executive: Allison Mould E: allison.mould@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 01778 395002 Contributors: Tony Bird, Ben and Amy Bucki, Louise Christie, Chuck Doan, Graham Duncan-Smith, Wayne Herivel, David Pinniger, Mark Thatcher Printed by: Warners Midlands plc Distribution News Trade Warners Distribution T: 01778 392417 - Model Trade Warners Trade Sales T: 01778 392404 - Overseas Agents Japan Erei Co, Ltd 1-1-12 Toyotama-kita, Nerma-ku, Tokyo 176 Subscriptions T: 01778 392465 F: 01778 421706 (UK & Overseas) T: 01778 395002 E: subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk UK: £57.00 12 issues (1 year) UK DD: 3 issues for £5 then £12.49 per quarter Rest of Europe: £71.00 12 issues (1 year) Rest of World: £83.00 12 issues (1 year) You can now manage your subscription online at: www.world-of-railways.co.uk www.warners.gr/gardenrailrenewals Back Issues T: 01778 391180 E: subsaccexecteam@warnersgroup.co.uk www.world-of-railways.co.uk/Store/Back-Isues West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH www.warnersgroup.co.uk ©Warners Group Publications plc 2026 All rights reserved. Material is only accepted on the understanding that there are no copyright restrictions. Although every care will be taken, all materials submitted are at the owner's risk and Warners Group Publications cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. Copyright on all materials in this magazine remains vested in the Authors and Warners Group Publications. Reproduction of the whole or any part is forbidden without relevant permissions. Warners Group Publications and the Editor cannot be held responsible for any error that might occur in text or advertisements. Reliance placed upon the contents of the magazine is entirely at the reader's own risk. CONTENTS 6 The Grand Central Railroad by Wayne Herivel 14 Yvette by Dave Pinniger 17 Building a tractor locomotive by Chuck Doan 23 Diary dates 24 A Churchwater Slate Railways carriage by Tony Bird 28 A silly idea? 30 A Cape Locomotive by Graham Duncan-Smith 32 Looking forward on the living layout by Louise Christie. 36 Postcards from Kathleen's Light Railway 40 Luggage Barrows by Amy and Ben Bucki 46 The Toy Toyota by Mark Thatcher 52 The National Garden Railway Show preview 56 Product News 60 Mailbox 62 Seen at the Great British Model Railway show Glistening in the sun, a fine collection of locomotives lined up in St Francis Church, Bournville, for a show organised by Garden Rail regular contributor, Andy Christie, and featuring a few more modellers you would recognise from our pages. The temporary line ran all day, much to the delight of visitors to the show, who don't often see live steam indoors. News, Reviews, Events and more at: world-of-railways.co.uk APRIL 2026 GARDEN RAIL ISSUE 380 3

View from the end of the Platform

MISTAKES DON'T MATTER

"Y ou see, if you're going to break the world land speed record, or if you are going to design the best cabinet, or you're going to come up with the ultimate model train layout, you actually need mistakes. Mistakes are the most amazing things. If you make the same mistake, you're not learning. But if you make different mistakes, it's called education, it's called lessons in life." - Henry Cole from The Life Changing Magic of Sheds.

There is a trend on social media for people to post photos of models they have made and ask the assembled throng if they are acceptable. This annoys me, because the correct answer is that if you are happy with it, then it is perfectly acceptable, whatever anyone else thinks. Especially people sitting online who have never built anything of their own.

We are engaged in a hobby, so the only person whose standards you have to worry about is your own. Now, if you are a brain surgeon, then results matter. I love model railways, but am happy to admit that they aren't in the same league.

In this issue, we have one of the best models I have ever seen - Chuck Doan's Tractor locomotive. It is a stunning piece of work, which I hope you will enjoy seeing and taking a bit of inspiration from.

This isn't a competition, though. I see a lot of models, and every one is a triumph for its builder. Each one would also inspire other modellers, which is why I am always keen for people to write up their experiences for these pages. We'll always aim to bring you a spread of abilities, and no one will ever judge your efforts. So, get writing! Phil Parker, Editor

Publisher: Steve Cole E: stevec@warnersgroup.co.uk Editor: Phil Parker E: phil.parker@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 07879 383

GARDEN Rail

Advertising: Sarah Jarman E: sarah.jarman@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 01778 392055

Advertising Designer: Amie Carter E: amiec@warnersgroup.co.uk

Designer: Dan Jarman

E: danjarmandesign@gmail.com

Production Executive: Allison Mould

E: allison.mould@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 01778 395002

Contributors: Tony Bird, Ben and Amy Bucki, Louise Christie, Chuck Doan, Graham Duncan-Smith, Wayne Herivel, David Pinniger, Mark Thatcher

Printed by: Warners Midlands plc

Distribution

News Trade - Warners Distribution T: 01778 392417

Model Trade - Warners Trade Sales T: 01778 392404

Overseas Agents - Japan Erei Co, Ltd 1-1-12 Toyotama-kita, Nerma-ku, Tokyo 176

Subscriptions T: 01778 392465 F: 01778 421706 (UK & Overseas) T: 01778 395002 E: subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk UK: £57.00 12 issues (1 year) UK DD: 3 issues for £5 then £12.49 per quarter Rest of Europe: £71.00 12 issues (1 year) Rest of World: £83.00 12 issues (1 year) You can now manage your subscription online at: www.world-of-railways.co.uk www.warners.gr/gardenrailrenewals

Back Issues T: 01778 391180 E: subsaccexecteam@warnersgroup.co.uk www.world-of-railways.co.uk/Store/Back-Isues West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH

www.warnersgroup.co.uk

©Warners Group Publications plc 2026

All rights reserved. Material is only accepted on the understanding that there are no copyright restrictions. Although every care will be taken, all materials submitted are at the owner's risk and Warners Group Publications cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. Copyright on all materials in this magazine remains vested in the Authors and Warners Group Publications. Reproduction of the whole or any part is forbidden without relevant permissions. Warners Group Publications and the Editor cannot be held responsible for any error that might occur in text or advertisements. Reliance placed upon the contents of the magazine is entirely at the reader's own risk.

CONTENTS

6 The Grand Central Railroad by Wayne Herivel

14 Yvette by Dave Pinniger

17 Building a tractor locomotive by Chuck Doan

23 Diary dates

24 A Churchwater Slate Railways carriage by Tony Bird

28 A silly idea?

30 A Cape Locomotive by Graham Duncan-Smith

32 Looking forward on the living layout by Louise Christie.

36 Postcards from Kathleen's Light Railway

40 Luggage Barrows by Amy and Ben Bucki

46 The Toy Toyota by Mark Thatcher

52 The National Garden Railway Show preview

56 Product News

60 Mailbox

62 Seen at the Great British Model Railway show

Glistening in the sun, a fine collection of locomotives lined up in St Francis Church, Bournville, for a show organised by Garden Rail regular contributor, Andy Christie, and featuring a few more modellers you would recognise from our pages. The temporary line ran all day, much to the delight of visitors to the show, who don't often see live steam indoors.

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