Building My Continental Branch Line

nygma

nygma

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Hi All,

It took a while, but I moved into my house and winter finally gave away and I could start my railway... with a bit of help. I got some builders doing the hard work: 30 cm deep concrete foundation, 3 or 4 rows of concrete blocks. I have 1:32 mostly Marklin models. Idea is to build a big loop around my back yard in a raised track bed. The track bed is made from 20 cm wide concrete blocks. When all the work is done, it will be back filled with dirt and soil to form an embankment with grass and other flowers.

This is the site, foundation is already dug:
http://s910.photobucket.com/user/nygma2004/media/Garden Railway/2013-04-14173753.jpg.html < Link To
2013-04-14173753.jpg


This is the station area, roughly 9 meters long and 1.2 m wide. I only have 4 tracks, maybe some siding or engine shed. My longest train is probably a German Pacific with 4 pullman coaches. I did not do the math, but I think it will fit.
http://s910.photobucket.com/user/nygma2004/media/Garden Railway/2013-04-16154745.jpg.html < Link To
2013-04-16154745.jpg


This is the long straight opposite to the station. There will be a swing bridge roughly where the wood plank is to access the inside of the layout. Further up along the wall I hope to create hilly scene with rockery.
http://s910.photobucket.com/user/nygma2004/media/Garden Railway/2013-04-16154826.jpg.html < Link To
2013-04-16154826.jpg


These are the curves on the left. All radii are 3 meters (to accommodate Aster live steamers, not that I have any). The gap in the far curve is the place for the viaduct:
http://s910.photobucket.com/user/nygma2004/media/Garden Railway/2013-04-16154840.jpg.html < Link To
2013-04-16154840.jpg


This is where the viaduct will go. 6 long arches, 50 cm span.
http://s910.photobucket.com/user/nygma2004/media/Garden Railway/2013-04-16155509.jpg.html < Link To
2013-04-16155509.jpg


There was a long debate how the build the viaduct. I though to build a big mold on site for the whole viaduct. Than the builders recommended doing a mold for one arch and cast it off site, flat. Less hassle and less material to go into the mold. He offered me to bring some materials for the mold, so I go for that. Originally I was to use Styrofoam for the arches, but I was offered some nice plasticard strips from old billboards. Again less hassle and reusable.

This is almost the full height of the railway. A few cm of concrete to go on top and there will be about 10 cm of topsoil to go back (which is the big hill now in the middle).
http://s910.photobucket.com/user/nygma2004/media/Garden Railway/2013-04-17170720.jpg.html < Link To
2013-04-17170720.jpg


Work is going at brisk pace (since it is not me doing it). There is another post coming right after this showing the progress of the viaduct.
 
And this is the mold for one arch. I did all this today morning. I realized as long as the builders are here with concrete mixer, by job casting these are easier.


Btw, mold is 90 cm high, arch is 50 cm wide, 5 cm pillars on either side. There is a bit of taper in the mold in order to get it off easily. I shall see tomorrow if it really works.

Concrete poured. There is one 8 mm steel rod for added strength and to make sure it does not break when I lift it and move it into position.


Taking about moving, based on the bucket loads of concrete I used to fill the mold, I guess it is about 70-80 kg. It will not be an easy job. Still, this was the closest flat surface.

I also left a few concrete blocks from the track bed. Again I used the plastic strip to bend it into an arch in these voids. I will use them as small bridges, culvers, road bridges eventually. These are just randomly placed around the track.


This one if filled with concrete now:


On this latest picture you can see the final finish of the foundation. The top 1-2 cm concrete strip makes a relatively even surface for the track to go to.

I will break the first mold tomorrow (leaving the arch on the ground for another week) and cast the next. 6 needed altogether.
 
Impressive ! Looking forward to see the work progress. By the way, the concrete blocks are interesting. The ones we have here in the States, have two cores, three ribs. The type you are using lend themselves to being filled more readily than ours do.
 
Very impressive progress - doing the groundwork while the builders are in seems like an excellent plan.

Rik
 
Very impressive, Csonger - That's going to be a great railway.
 
Great to see a new line rise from the ground ,
 
Thanks for the kind comments. I am not planning any water features right now. That would have been too much planning. I hope to get the trackwork done and get the railway running. Water is for next year... If I can fit.
 
I got a few more photos to share. Progress has been slow as I am waiting the grass to grow and gain strength. It is hard to work on the railway when I can't really access it.

6 arches for the viaduct is waiting on the patio to be moved to place. The last is just a few days old, that is definitely staying for another week.


Next we moved the 5 arches their place:


Quite impressive:


I wait for the 6th before I progress any further. Then I will fill-up the gaps and thin layer of concrete on top.

Same section of the layout from further away:


Looking back from the left curve on the above image. The three gaps are: swing bridge a.k.a gate, and two steel bridges further up:


And looking left from the same spot (viaduct is right in front of me) the station area:
 
That's going to look wonderful when finished, and the viaduct castings are working very well! :thumbup:

Jon.
 
Very nice - impressive - and solid construction:thumbup:
 
It is superbly designed, thought out and built and will look terrific after a couple of years but I wonder what the neighbours thought when you started to build what looked like the base for a bunker? :bigsmile:
 
I did talk to my neighbours a few times and told them what my hobby is and what I am planning to do in my back yard. Looking the layout from the inside certainly looks nice as most of the concrete blocks are hidden behind grass, but that is not the case on the other side what the neighbours see. Will see if they have a problem with that.

Also one of my neighbour told me that they have a friend who is into train photography (guy in the 50s). They asked if he can come to see the layout when it is complete :)
 
After a "bit" of a delay I am working on my layout again. Also being on holiday and actually doing work also helps.
Rather than writing about the progress uploading picture, I made a video. Not sure if it was easier for me or more enjoyable for you, but this is what I have this time.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g1Q8Q5zWAY[/youtube]
 
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