Thank you Neil,
I am still of the opinion though that it is going to need substantial work to make the railway part of the garden. That will be next year's task. This year's is to get the infrastructure complete so we can see where we are, and make plans for the earthworks accordingly. I have had to bribe my wife with a reasonably substantial water feature so at least one big hole is involved.
We were fortunate on Wednesday to get a pretty full day in, despite lowering skies. It was a bit windy and drizzly in places but our enthusiasm was undimmed (wasn't it?)
We managed to get through ash tree corner with the same pole and jack process, so that means that there will be no concrete substructure at any point, and the layout will be height adjustable all way round.
And we fitted another couple of top boards, having worked out how to speed up the process.
I'm standing just to the right of the planned steaming up area in the last photo.
Richard