UK - Garden railway

[John Ashworth]

Carlisle man's model train is seven year labour of love

By Steph Johnson
News & Star
Last updated 12:43, Tuesday, 14 July 2009

It might not be what you’d expect to see in a Carlisle garden but Ian Watson’s labour of love is right on track.

The retired chemical engineer has spent the past seven years perfecting his model railway – and he invited enthusiasts in to see it yesterday.

Around 20 members of the G Scale Society were treated to a demonstration of his six electric trains on his 50ft track.

He said: “You’re never really finished, you add a little bit here and a little bit there.”

So far, Ian’s digitally controlled track boasts a bridge, water mill, several houses and a station complete with commuters.

Sound effects include coal being shovelled, bells clanging and the clacking of wheels.

Meanwhile, the station announcements come over in German because the trains are based on classic European models.

The latest addition to Ian’s labour of love is computer software which allows him to programme the path of his trains for 45 minutes at a time – an innovation which is proving helpful when it comes to avoiding crashes and derailments.

Ian said: “There’s no way you can manually control six trains all at once and speak to people at the same time.

“At the open day visitors were asking questions. In the past if I’d tried to answer them and control the trains at the same time it wouldn’t have been long before I ran into trouble.”

As a hobby, model railways can be expensive.

Electric trains such as the ones Ian runs cost between £250 and £1,500 each and that’s not including the engine to pull them.

But Ian, who is on the board of directors for the Carlisle Arts Festival, believes it’s money well spent.

He said: “It’s very creative and technical. For me the most fun is in building and designing because it’s a combination of all sorts of skills.

“But it’s nice when the work is done and other people can come and watch.”