During the hot hot summer of 2007 the old oval of track was taken up and all the plantings transferred to temporary sites.  Work began on a new raised railway.  First the plans were transferred to the garden with trails of sand and stakes.  Next footings were laid and a retaining wall built.  Ohh, very hot work in the 36+ degrees sun.  Two small truck loads of earth were delivered and barrowed in to fill the middle.

A track plan was run on top of the earth and a trench dig and filled with gravel.  The track was laid and plantings added.  Of course there are still lots of empty spaces waiting for buildings to be made and more trees/shrubs bought and planted. 

As yet, no photos but I will be out on the weekend and make up a photographic journey around the railway with comments where useful.

Beginning at the proposed site for the main Takasaki Station we will preceed clockwise around the railway.

As a train leaves the station it follows the track over points (well, it will soon) and takes a left-hand curve where a distant signal warns of a home signal just around the bend.  This signal we see in the photo was scratch built using a 10mm square length of stripwood tapered to the top.  A Cambrian Models home signal kit was used as a template and distant signal cut from plastic card.  Rivet details are Cambrian rivets.  The other bits are out of my bits box.  A wire connects the arm to the lever at the bottom of the post.  As usual, a Daruma effigy adorns the top with toothpick finial exiting from the top.  Painted with acrylics it has had a further coat or two of exterior clear paint to protect it from the frost, rain and summer sun.

          Rounding the curve we find the small railcar stopped at the home signal.  Just visible in the background is the previous distance signal.  This home signal is the Cambrian Models signal kit used to get the scratch-built one.  The ladder doesn't quite reach the platform so I will have to lower the height of the signal and repaint the lower black part to come up a little further on the post.  The ladder, by the way, is actually part of a bathroom cage type holder that I cut down with a hacksaw.  Fence is some bamboo, again painted with exterior clear paint.  The sign behind the signal is for the imaginary onsen (hot spa) which will one day be situated here.  The green miniature trees are most probably Chamaecyparis (lawsoniana) or false cypress that I found for 50p each.  The brown tree regains its green colour in the summer and contrasts well to the others.

Passing the single dwelling, which will be replaced with the onsen and halt, we see 'Vincent' pulling a small train of beer for the Kabuto Brewery.  The tree is the other of a pair (just mentioned) and is rather brown.  Not to fear, this shot was taken in the cold yet sunny winter that we enjoy in Japan.  You can see part of the retaining wall.  This was laid by yours truely and raises the railway by about 30cm.  Telegraph poles follow the track all the way around, though the phone wires are imagined.  Knowing me, I'd probably be constantly catching either my feet or arms in them so they are not present.

Now we move to Spring (April 21st, 5:30pm) and can see that tree regaining some green.  Also the pink flowers at the front are growing well.  Thyme does well as it doesn't mind drying out during the hot humid summer.  Just next to the thyme is a small bush od Sedum.  The other side of the track are a few more sedum, possibly Sedum acre majus, though when I bought this one all it said was sedum.  There are so many varieties I will have to wait until it flowers or doesn't before I can pin it down.  This site is great for photos of sedum.  I have transplanted tiny pockets of sedum all over the railway and it has multiplied really well.  We will have to wait and see how much I need.  Other varieties for different sections of the railway might be a good idea.  So, down to the end of the 4 metre sttraight and hang another right. 

The next photo is missing at the moment.  This one shows the back straight as it heads towards the shed and yet another right-hand curve. 

The late afternoon sun makes it difficult to follow the track so here is another, this time from the opposite direction looking back up the line.

Nothing much to see yet on this section, though one day there will be a brewery and all the other sheds and huts that go with it.  Perhaps a siding and whimsical barrel signalbox will materialize...

The curve near the shed is lined with upright conifers on the left side and more spreading junipers on the right side.  Moss growth was found in my local neighbourhood and carefully removed with a flat knife.  It hasn't grown much yet but it is early days.  Does that tree look dead?  I will have to find a suitably sized replacement for it this summer.  As you can see there are plenty of spaces to fill with buildings and other plantings.  The track needs a generous Rowlands mix aded to the ballast to sink the tracks into the ground more.  This is a job for the spring/summer weekends.  Golden Week is just around the corner so I souldn't have any excuse not to get it done.  Who let that weed get into the camera shot?  I see the permanent way boys have a job this weekend.

This is looking back up the line after the curve near the shed.  That dead conifer is just on the right now and there is also some dead growth on the bottom of that juniper that wants trimming off.  The bamboo fencing begins here and follows the track as it reappears from the trees and curves right round.  Soon we will see the thatched cottage which is the first thing people see when they enter the garden from the drive.  See more of that sedum?  This area gets afternoon sun until summer when it gets sun all day long.  In Japan, the sun arcs from east to west quite low in the sky during the winter months.  Come summer it is directly above one's head at noon.

          The early morning spring sun sends shafts over the top of the thatched cottage. Just to the left of the cottage is the outdoor toilet complete with rustic hole in the ground.  The pole to the right of the cottage is for washing.  Out here, way back then things were simple.  Trains don't stop here unless the old couple living here flag them down.  I like this cottage so much I will make another one this year, though of a totally different shape and style.  How much did it cost to make?  All told around 2000yen, which is about 10 pounds (GBP).

Here is the cottage again, this time enjoying the last few rays of a late afternoon sun.  By the way, the white walls are actually cement and the wood walls are plywood coated with my usual mixture of steel wool and vinegar.

The barrel was bought at the 16mm association show at Stoneleigh in 2007.  I think it was just over a pound, so I bought lots of them.

Further on round the curve and we get a glimpse of the old castle tower, now a signalbox.

Another Cambrian Models signal shows appraching trains that the station is clear.  We are almost back to where we began this journey now.

The last view show us a view back up the line to the station (soon to be) and the signalbox.  All this arrea will be redone with sidings, a turntable, engine sheds and other railway details.

So there we have it, a mediun paced train will take a minute and a half to do a full circuit.  Not a big railway by any means but it fits well into the garden leaving space for my family and I to have a patio, flower beds and a vegetable plot.  After the summer I will take some more photos and you will be able to see the progress.  Perhaps I will add a video on-board a train so you can traverse the track on your own.