GRASS Garden Railway

logo Updated 1/5/08

We are an informal group in the southern part of Sydney, Australia, who meet irregularly to indulge in our addiction to 45mm gauge garden railways. Some of us have been addicted for years while others have only just been bitten by the bug.
We meet in members yards, not to cure each other but to pander to our addiction by discussing building methods, playing trains, eating, drinking, playing trains, etc etc.
So if you live in southern Sydney, (not just the Shire) why not join us? > email Greg.

MEET the ADDICTS
Come on a tour and see our trains........ Some members have web pages for their railways and these are linked below.
Those members without websites, have some pictures of their lines further down the page. Just click on the names below.

Greg Hunter - operates the Sandstone and Termite railway in Loftus.          S&TR website          email.
Mark Hobbs - is the owner of the Turrella Tramway at Kirrawee.              T T website             email
Keith Lindsay - runs the Bottle Creek Tramway at Heathcote.
Geof Coleman - Runs the Barron Tableland Railway at Oyster Bay.          BTR web site        email
Brian Coppock - operates the Wiregrass railway in Engadine.                                                email

Latest changes .....
May 1, 08..........Geof Coleman's new website added
Feb 9, 08...........A busy day on Keith's layout, and Geof's new B12 1/2 loco
Dec 8, 07.......Geof's opening of stage 2 of his line.
Sept 22, 07......Keith's classB climax and 3 climax triple header
Sept 07......Pics of run day at Bryan's new layout, and Keith's Climax #1.
August...... new pics of Keith's and Bryan's locos at the Sandstone & Termite.
August......Geof has completed his D16 tank loco
July 07.... Mark has updated his website with his new diesel loco and a 'clickable' map.

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Keith Lindsay's Bottle Creek Tramway

The layout is named for the creek at his back fence. Keith has no track power, so only battery locos and live steamers are welcome. The track is generally raised above ground at stations, for us oldies to reach easily. But the rear track along the fence has a superb garden setting with many ferns for the trains to meander through.
Bottle Creek station includes a reversing loop which goes under the patio, which provides a beautiful spot for socializing and train viewing. Trains from Bottle Creek head uphill through Pine Creek where a crossing loop is available, then through a fern covered cutting, around past Vale then through the ferns again past Maple station to finally arrived at the 'main' terminus of Vale. The line continues to Brunswick Jn where a triangle is available for turning locos or whole trains. The Climax loco factory is located here.
A continuous, almost level run is available through Vale and Maple to allow Keith’s live steamers to show their stuff more easily. The layout can be operated a two separate continuous runs or as a point–to-point.
Keith scratchbuilds many of his models based on the 2’ gauge Innisfail Tramway, and other QR rollingstock, from wood.
Keith has recently set out on a 'crusade' to model all types of Climax locos. He has a completed a model of the 1st 4-wheel climax and squeezed in batteries, R/C and sound. He has purchased a Bachmann B class and has added many features to turn it into a model of the Puffing Billy Climax, with RC and sound. He's now finished a class A type.

A busy Run day on Keith's layout. Mark's Thoroughbred diesel (red) and Bryan's RS3 cross at Pine Creek.

Keith's A class and the S&TR's similar model doublehead up an S&TR grade.

Brunswick Jn station

The Climax factory, made from corrugated plastic sheeting.

Climax #1 leads the S&TR A class and Keith's B class in a most unusual triple header

The B class Climax

The first Climax

Keith's PB15 visits Sandstone

Keith's Garratt

The PB15 coming through the cutting at the back of the line.

The live steam Fowler is 'lurking' through the undergrowth.

Fowler and train on Hebel viaduct

Live steam Fowler at Bottle Creek station, with Keith's scratchbuilt carriages.

A busy scene at the bridges

Keith's tiny diesel shunter is radio controlled!

A view of the garden, with the train at Maple station.

Three of Keith's scrathbuilt Innisfail carriages at Bottle Creek.

Bottle Creek station

Pine Creek station.

Keith's model of a Queensland PB15 (1924) Based on a Bachmann Big Hauler. Battery powered and remote controlled by Keith, with original Bachmann sound.

Another view of the PB15
click here to read how Keith made this model.

Plan of the Bottle Creek Tramway. click to enlarge.

Bryan Coppock's Wiregrass Railway

The railway is named for the grass which invades Bryan's tracks. It is mainly built above ground. Bryan likes big diesels, and has many battery powered locos with remote control using model plane controllers.
Brian never seems to stop working-there's always new track to be seen.
He's making his own operating colour-light signals at present. Switches are mounted in old deodorant screw caps to protect from rain. Ladders on signal gantries are N-gauge track!
He has just finished some track modifications to give an out-and-back run and it works beautifully.