How To Large Scale Layouts Photos from a late 1930s themed garden railway

Photos from a late 1930s themed garden railway

By John Morrison | March 18, 2024

The Dunckley Northern features mining, a downtown, and modified engines

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The railroad at a glance

Railway name: Dunckley Northern Railway (DNR)

Size of railroad: Covering an odd shaped garden approximately 70′ x 70′

Scale: 1:24

Gauge: 45mm for 3’6″ gauge and 64mm for standard gauge

Era: Late 1930s

Theme: The DNR is a colonial railway in an undisclosed country. The Consolidated Concentrates Conglomerate (CCC) branch is owned by a US mining company and connects the DNR to its standard-gauge parent, The Mason Alameda & Dunckley Railroad Navigation & Drayage Company (MA&DR).

Motive power: Scratchbuilt and kitbashed steam, diesels, and railcars

Length of mainline: Approximately 900′

Maximum gradient: 4%

Type of track: Llagas Creek code 250 for the 3’6″ gauge; handlaid dual gauge.

Minimum radius: 6′

Structures: Scratchbuilt, kitbashed, and kit-built

Control system: RCS radio control of battery-powered locomotives

 

Read the original feature story of the DNR.

Read an article about elevating the track on the DNR.

nighttime shot on garden railway

It’s nighttime at the Wombat engine terminal on John Morrison’s pre-1940 Dunckley Northern Railway in Redmond, Wash. The DNR’s scratchbuilt 2-8-2+2-8-2 Beyer Garratt is being serviced. John Morrison photo

nighttime shot on garden railway
scene with locomotive on garden railway

The lower track goes to the dual gauge yard at Newton. The middle track and the track on the back fence are part of the mainline loop. The “table” to the right on the middle track, is the base for Blue Spruce town and coal mine. All the track is painted and only the track on the tables is ballasted. The train is hauled by DNR No. 13, an Aristo-Craft 2-8-0 chassis under an LGB Mogul body and DNR No. 6, is a lightly modified LGB Mogul. John Morrison photo

scene with locomotive on garden railway
Locomotive next to fence on garden railway

The dual gauge yard at Newton, with CCC No. 104, a 2-8-2 built on a Barry’s Big Train motor block, and CCC No. 110, a 2-6-6-0 built on a complete LGB European 0-6-6-0 chassis.  They are moving a freight train under the Maitah Mine hopper for loading.  The mine building is built from styrene with Grandt Line windows. There are five custom dual gauge switches from Llagas Creek in the yard and a dual gauge turntable. John Morrison photo

Locomotive next to fence on garden railway
red model engine running through trees

DNR No. 9 is a “colonial” 2-8-0 built on a lengthened, LBG Mogul chassis. It’s on the main loop line, 3 feet off the ground, and is running through a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). John Morrison photo

red model engine running through trees
depot scene on garden railway

CCC No. 104 is in the Wombat engine depot. The Vanderbilt tender was built from styrene. The water tank and coal loader are built of styrene. All the “weeds” are natural moss (this is Seattle after all!). The Morris Minor with railway wheels is the boss’s inspection car! John Morrison photo

depot scene on garden railway
passenger train on elevated track

DNR No. 108, a 4-6-0 built on a Barry’s Big Train motor block, hauls CCC varnish. The dining car in the middle of the train is a lengthened Bachman car. The other four passenger cars are lengthened LGB vehicles, and the baggage car is standard length LGB. The curve is 9 feet radius. John Morrison photo

passenger train on elevated track
scene with station on garden railway

Wombat station loading dock, with the Weedan Feed Store to the right. John Morrison photo

scene with station on garden railway
city scene with lights on garden railway

All the light bulbs on the railway are 16-volt grain of wheat on a 12-volt power supply. Being a lower voltage and incandescent, they give off a natural yellowish light. This is downtown Wombat and the headquarters of the DNR. The building fronts are from Colorado Model Structures and are attached to simple styrene boxes. John Morrison photo

city scene with lights on garden railway

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