The Experience:

For over two decades, I have been building outdoor railways for myself and others.. My railway knowledge and experience, first gained on the Western Region of British Railways, in the Chief Civil Engineer’s Department, spanned the demise of steam in the 1960’s.
Now a retired owner of Nursing Homes with gardens of an acre or more, garden design and horticulture are my second enthusiasm!

In the past few years I designed and built the four railways chronicled in my regular ‘Railway Gardener’s Diary’ in Garden Rail magazine, another (in three weeks) for a 15 part television series, a Hospital display railway, another on a London rooftop deck, a rack railway near Nice, a public display at Calbourne, and planned the design of Europe’s biggest G-Scale layout - to be built at Snetterton Model World.

Published Works:

As well as a regular contributor to Garden Rail magazine, I also edited and then rewrote the major revision of the definitive book on garden railways – Railways in Your Garden published by Atlantic Press. Now the television series, previously aired on the Discovery Channel, is available as a two DVD set from Video125.

The Scope:

Founded on my knowledge of the building and operation of full-sized railways, modelling skills, and qualifications in technical/industrial photography, I can offer a truly professional service to private or commercial clients – design and build, supervision, or consultancy. From a small patio or conservatory to gardens of an acre or more, this knowledge is backed by practical experience, in display or ride-on. I also have major manufacturers and suppliers in support who have become friends over the years.

The Cost:

Recent new models from Hornby in 'OO' gauge include locos at nearly a hundred pounds. 'Starter' train sets in G-Scale for outdoors -train, track, controller - are available at the same price. A circle of track round a rockery? There are steam, diesel, freight or passenger, and even a three coach, three meter long Eurostar. They can even come complete with digital steam sound! So, armed with my book on Garden Railways (published by Atlantic Press) or my fifteen part television series, available on tape (Positive Productions), both of which I can supply, building a railway becomes possible for anyone.

The Consultation:

Although I have commercial clients who require a design and build service, I also have many private individuals who simply want an expert at their elbow while they plan and build their railway.

About half of my clients are like this, seeking only to clarify their ideas before embarking on their own construction. They need access to experience. After receiving outline ideas, plans, sketches, photographs, I am happy to simply assist with design and suggest construction methods until I am no longer needed. A nominal fee of one hundred pounds buys all this and I am at the end of a telephone till the railway is operational.

Design and Build Service:

For the more ambitious enthusiast, or for those with a larger area of 'real estate' and for commercial clients, I suggest the Design and Build service. This includes advice on related matters such as planning applications (though a qualified planning person is still needed) land drainage and soil mechanics. The actual build, using local labour, can be supervised by a small number of visits and a daily rate of one hundred pounds plus travel is charge for this. Maintenance and refurbishment of existing railways is also undertaken and charged at this rate.
Telephone or email for my brochure.

David Pratt ABIPP ARPS

The Scales:

Most outdoor railways are built in these scales with a growing number of Gauge 3 railways - standard gauge models in G-Scale size. All of these are available off the shelf.

The Buildings:

And with such a large range of quality outdoor buildings available to enhance the landscape, there has never been such a great time to go outdoors.

The Sheds:

I can also supply garden sheds in the form of signal boxes, waiting rooms. Also as clerestory carriages, even diesel loco cabs. These can be used to control the railway, or for ride-on, for real!

The Book:

There are general topics among the 15 sections which will carry the beginner along a logical path, answering many FAQ’s. Old hands too will be inspired, with such items as the model of the Forth bridge in one garden, and Brunel’s Saltash masterpiece in miniature across a stream.
GARDEN RAILWAYS FROM THE GROUND UP. ISBN 0-9552598-0-0
Price: £18.99
Available from the Author/publisher at 01983 875202
Garden Railway Specialists 01844 345158

Big Scale Dioramas:

Usually only the province of museums, where interactive and activity displays are now the norm, dioramas provide the ideal setting for model railway fans to capture their fragment of fairyland when their trains are not running.

Garden railways are usually operated at weekends, some evenings, and not often in the Winter.

What do you do with the Gauge-1 Aster ‘Flying Scotsman’ or Gresley A4 when they are not running, or not in steam? Most owners of these £4000 locomotives keep them in their ‘train shed’ or on a dusty shelf in the ‘workshop’ (back room). I have seen more than one £10,000 Bockholt Gauge-1 at the back of a shelf in a ‘study’ office.

So, I build display dioramas to order.
Not only for these clients to display their pride and joy, but the humble narrow-gauge loco, tram, LGB ‘Sumpter Valley’, or SNCF Pacific. Most of these can ‘reside’ on say, a 750Wx 500Dx (300H back) baseboard with buildings or country background, highly detailed and very realistic. A clear cover can be supplied – to keep the dust off and curious hands away.

There can be lighting, movement, sounds, if needed. Have you heard the LGB tram sounds when it is stationary? There are even street traffic noises. The Mallett loco waiting, shovelling coal sounds are played back - from the real thing!

This method of display allows owners to continue to enjoy their investment and take pleasure from seeing their best loco close up in the best possible way, possibly second only to running.

Previous Projects

Here are some of the projects previously undertaken and a garden railway recently completed:

Plan 1 - Loxwood

Plan 2 - Gypsy Lakes

In progress early 2006 - Pinoso, Alicante, Spain.

In recent times, David has built public display railways at the rate of one a year, in Cornwall, North Wales, the Isle of Wight, France and Spain. The most recent work being at Pinoso, near Alicante, Spain which opened at Easter 2006.