Build a canopy

[granddad gnome]

Problems with all this sun has left me with considerable damage, caused by expansion. I did at the track laying stage leave what I considered the right amount of spacing between the lines but never the less this has proved in-sufficient.
As I have a 85’ stretch 3’ wide down one side of the layout that is in full sun all day I am thinking about putting up some sort of canopy to cover this part. ( it would also be beneficial when running in the rain) I am therefor looking for design ideas from any one who may have already done something of this nature themselves.

 

[QC Rwy.]

Lot's to consider before starting any "construction"...........Is your line ground level and literally "on the ground" (no baseboards?). If on baseboards are they expanding and contracting with the hot weather?........Is your track pinned to the base boards?......glued?..........can you "release" the pinned trackage in a few critical spots and allow it to "float" a bit and move slightly with the heat?
Give us an idea of what you are dealing with......I'm sure the folks here can give good advice given most of us have our trackage in the sun to some degree and I would probably think most of us haven't had to resort to the the cost of a large shade structure.......my thoughts.......tom

 

[stockers]

A mini Dippoldiswalder

 

[Madman]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Is the stretch of track running along a fence by chance ? If so you can make a sort of lean to shed using corrugated plastic or fiberglass panels. They come in colors and would provide shade while letting light in. Another method may be to use shade cloth. gardeners use it to cut down on the amount of sun for certain plants.

 

[dunnyrail]

85 foot is an awful lot of work, also depends on how little work you wish to do after. You can get a Metal Roffing Product that has pretty well zero maintenance once up, pic shows the it as I used it on one of my sheds using the offcuts being used on one of my small Timber Stores as shown. This also shows the joining and securing method.

You would need a Double Sided Frame front and back with 'Joists' to join up probably aroud every 10 feet or so (or possibly closer depending on the width of the Metal Roofing) and at each end. Make it slope towards your neighbors garden so that it is less obtrusive to them thus allowing you to have it around 7-8ft High on your side. Frame would probably not need to be much more than 3x1 inch Tanalised Timber supported on Wood Posts 2x2 knocked into Metposts for quickness of assembly. The other side could rest on your layout if there is space with shorter posts or on posts done the same way as at the front. Thinking that as you want it to protect in poor weather it may need to be 5-6ft Wide which would probably need beefier wood for the supports and joists. That is about as far as I can think of.

 

[granddad gnome]

Lot's to consider before starting any "construction"...........Is your line ground level and literally "on the ground" (no baseboards?). If on baseboards are they expanding and contracting with the hot weather?........Is your track pinned to the base boards?......glued?..........can you "release" the pinned trackage in a few critical spots and allow it to "float" a bit and move slightly with the heat?
Give us an idea of what you are dealing with......I'm sure the folks here can give good advice given most of us have our trackage in the sun to some degree and I would probably think most of us haven't had to resort to the the cost of a large shade structure.......my thoughts.......tom

My line is raised about 24" from ground and is made up of a frame work with decking boards on top and is between 24" wide up to 36" wide in different places. The area contains what was hopefully going to be the main station on the railway. There is 2 through roads each with a loop line with a return spur of each. The heat seams to have twisted some boards as well as expanded the track itse

Lot's to consider before starting any "construction"...........Is your line ground level and literally "on the ground" (no baseboards?). If on baseboards are they expanding and contracting with the hot weather?........Is your track pinned to the base boards?......glued?..........can you "release" the pinned trackage in a few critical spots and allow it to "float" a bit and move slightly with the heat?
Give us an idea of what you are dealing with......I'm sure the folks here can give good advice given most of us have our trackage in the sun to some degree and I would probably think most of us haven't had to resort to the the cost of a large shade structure.......my thoughts.......tom

My line is raised about 24" from ground and is made up of a frame work with decking boards on top and is between 24" wide up to 36" wide in different places. The area contains what was hopefully going to be the main station on the railway. There is 2 through roads each with a loop line with a return spur of each. The heat seems to have twisted some boards as well as expanded the track itself.

 

[granddad gnome]

Lot's to consider before starting any "construction"...........Is your line ground level and literally "on the ground" (no baseboards?). If on baseboards are they expanding and contracting with the hot weather?........Is your track pinned to the base boards?......glued?..........can you "release" the pinned trackage in a few critical spots and allow it to "float" a bit and move slightly with the heat?
Give us an idea of what you are dealing with......I'm sure the folks here can give good advice given most of us have our trackage in the sun to some degree and I would probably think most of us haven't had to resort to the the cost of a large shade structure.......my thoughts.......tom

My line is raised about 24" from ground and is made up of a frame work with decking boards on top and is between 24" wide up to 36" wide in different places. The area contains what was hopefully going to be the main station on the railway. There is 2 through roads each with a loop line with a return spur of each. The heat seams to have twisted some boards as well as expanded the track itse

 

[LGB-Sid]

I suppose I am lucky I have a 65 foot track run that follows my boundary fence, but it is free floating in / on gravel and is in full sun, and this week the brass track has been too hot too keep your hand on for long, today the thermometer read 42 deg in full sun at the train shed, no idea how much 65 foot expands but because it is free floating iv'e not had any problems, can you let your track float on it's support work. One consideration with a canopy is they can work two ways, keep heat out and also keep it in depending on what materials the canopy is made of, my carport roof defiantly falls in to the latter of the two.

 

[Slawman]

My line is raised about 24" from ground and is made up of a frame work with decking boards on top and is between 24" wide up to 36" wide in different places. The area contains what was hopefully going to be the main station on the railway. There is 2 through roads each with a loop line with a return spur of each. The heat seams to have twisted some boards as well as expanded the track itself

From looking at the pictures, I would rebuild the base to provide a flat and stable surface and re-lay the track first before thinking about a canopy. Some of those joins look like they will cause derailments?

 

[a98087]

You could stick some sort of bracket onto each concrete fence post and then build from that,

Assuming the fence is your property,

Dan

 

[dunnyrail]

My line is raised about 24" from ground and is made up of a frame work with decking boards on top and is between 24" wide up to 36" wide in different places. The area contains what was hopefully going to be the main station on the railway. There is 2 through roads each with a loop line with a return spur of each. The heat seams to have twisted some boards as well as expanded the track itse

I would agree with Slawman about rebuilding the boards. Consider ECo Sheet it is a recycled Plastic with Air Holes that does not expand so badly or so I am told. Will be helping a friend rebuild his line soon with ths stuff so will be able to report better then.

Ecosheet Recycled Plastic Boards | Birch Farm Plastics

 

[stockers]

Have to say - that timber does not look like Decking Boards - far too small. Decking should be prepared from 150 x 38mm boards - anything less is a cheap compromise. The grooves in the bottom help it resist twisting and curling. Still needs to be screwed down to a substantial base though.

 

[granddad gnome]

Thanks every one, It has been decided, the entire length will be ripped up and relaid. This whole area has been constructed for over 11 years so will I think, be well in need of replacement. That's the beauty of the G Scale Society, being a member has enabled me to have to good core of railway minded mates, who, I am pleased to say have got together to form a working party to undertake this project. As a wheelchair user it's great to be part of such an organisation. Many thanks to you all.