Ground Level Track or on Posts

PhilP said:
Obviously 'switched off' in the photo..
;) :D

Unfortunately switched of for ever now I'm afraid we lost Puffy a year or so ago. But he lives on in his pictures and dirty deed's to the railway!!
 
Great topic, just waiting to move to Derby where the new place is a wild kingdom to be converted. In my head it was ground but have had the idea of raised up. Maybe a bit of both, but if I can ensure the fence panels do not move the cats do not climb and jump and air bags to ensure no damage I will have a winner.
The air bags is a joke, well security chains, catch rails and enough of a lip?
Cats well the electric fence will solve that issue. Concrete post bases means we have a chance, roll on August. Got to try it it seems a great idea. 8)
 
Here's another pic of a garden railway on posts with hedging beneath - sorry, I'm beginning to sound like a scratched record
D191471-Model-Railway.jpg


Rik
PS - No, that isn't me in the photo
 
My line is about two feet above ground at its highest and I have disguised the posts by using a variety of hebe. This has small leaves and pink flower spikes which are very attractive to bees. The plants grow quickly, and are very easily propagated, but they are quite easy to manage-garden shears or electric hedge trimmers and a satisfying amount of savagery! ;) If you happen to live by the sea there is a purple-flowered variety which is salt-tolerant.
 
Rik, I think that's an excellent compromise between the convenience of raised track and the attractiveness of ground-level. :)

Jon.
 
[quote author=fridge link=topic=299271.msg321806#msg321806 date=1405856405]
My line is about two feet above ground at its highest and I have disguised the posts by using a variety of hebe. This has small leaves and pink flower spikes which are very attractive to bees. The plants grow quickly, and are very easily propagated, but they are quite easy to manage-garden shears or electric hedge trimmers and a satisfying amount of savagery! ;) If you happen to live by the sea there is a purple-flowered variety which is salt-tolerant.
[/quote]
I agree, hebes are great. I use them to represent deciduous trees - like this one beside the station
1-uvs140511-006.jpg

1-uvs140505-007.BMP.jpg

Rik
PS - you can just see some taller lonicera `trees` in the background of the first photo
 
I really wanted to build at ground level but an aging father who wants to come play trains and living in a semi-commercial property prevented this. we took the option to build boards outside (boards because if we had to move the business we could move the boards too)

A year on and we`re getting on very well with our Landlord (his son loves driving our trains) so we possibly could have built at ground level. I actually think raised boards are more expensive than raised brick/stone because you still need to find a way of making the boards look pretty - whether you clad them or buy plants.

All that said Dad isn`t getting younger and after spending 4 months in hospital last year with Pancreatitis my wounds mean I have problems lifting and reaching so the raised level helps.

When the boards get beyond regular maintaince/repairs I`d love to build in some nice raised stone walled areas.

We built the boards wide to help save any derailments and because my father is insistent this be a 7/8ths railway.... but I keep buying LGB!!

IMG_4194.JPG
IMG_4195.JPG
(Broken lawnmower explains the long grass  ::) )

The hedge in the photo with the temporary station was already part of the garden. In other places i`m trying to grow hardy perennials that spread well. But in places I am going to have to build fences... which is not cheap so if anyone has any suggestions!
 
Gavin Sowry said:
:) If you value your rolling stock, stay (very) close to the ground. Been there, done that, paid the bill.

I have my line all at 3 to 4 ft from the Ground. Andy Rush had a fairly long run at around this too. With sensible safe low speed (Typical Narrow Gauge) running we never had a train take a nose dive. I have not yet. However all my DCC locomotives have been modified to Scale 40kph. Issue may be Live Steam, however again as I tend to like Slowish Running, thus far no problems. BUT where there is a nosedive of 4ft to Paving Flags I have made a Fence out of Mecanno. All my other Boards are circa 8in wide with the Track pretty well in the middle.
JonD
 
minimans said:
Unfortunately switched of for ever now I'm afraid we lost Puffy a year or so ago. But he lives on in his pictures and dirty deed's to the railway!!
I'm very sorry to read that.
 
Seeing so many opt for above ground and the many ways of hiding the posts, I will be doing it this way albeit relatively low knee height so my young granddaughters can easily see it.

Rik, I have certainly have not dismissed the idea of hedging. I am no gardener so when I find my new home, I will be discussing various options with some local gardener who I will find. I will however do some maintenance to keep the growth tidy. :)

Thanks to all for your help.
 
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