New Project For 2016 - Time To Sort Out The Junk Corner.

5H17

5H17

Railways and Diesel preservation, American cars
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Probably time for a new thread, since the old railway never really made it past the 'fledgling' stage. After a few years away from the hobby (and with the old railway lifted prior to a proposed house move that never happened), I finally decided to rebuild it last year. There's been much debate as to where it should go, but I've now decided to use up the 'junk' space at the side of the existing shed. It is the only part of the garden that never got tidied up a few years ago, and was originally intended for a patio and BBQ area. Might as well crack on and get started with clearing it.

The new railway will be built on raised boards, after much internal debate and soul searching. I may only be 43 but I have a lot of back problems, so I'm trying to futureproof it a bit while I can. There is a slight fall on the garden anyway (which is about 80 feet long, with a fall of around 18-20" I reckon), and the land by the shed was already dug out ready for the patio to a depth of about 6 inches anyway. I reckon if I have the boards sitting at about 24-30" above ground, any future extension towards the house will be at ground level if everything is flat. I want to keep the 'flat and level' option, because I would like to buy a live steamer when funds allow.

Having said that, I've done a track plan that is on two levels. Basically two separate large loops with a gradient joining them. Ignore the location of the shed on the drawing. It won't fit that way around, so the whole plan will have to rotate through 90 degrees clockwise, which is a plus in one way as it will give me more length to keep the grade shallow.

Now... I'm planning to get stuck into this over the coming months. What can life throw at me to get in the way this time? :D:banghead:IMG_4998.JPG IMG_5003.JPG IMG_4997.JPG
 
Actually.. I have a question. Since the intent is to have the bulk of 'phase 1' on boards in this area, has anyone built a canopy over their railway (or a part of it?). Just curious.. These things cross my mind regularly :wasntme:
 
At least one person on the Forum has a section under a 'lean-to' type of construction..

You could build a pergola, but put a roof on it, perhaps?

I know of a layout where a large portion of it is in an open-sided barn.. The sort of thing that farm machinery was kept under cover in, in the past.. The buildings, and 'scenic' bit is in there, with the line then going out into the garden. - Just the odd building, bridge, and halt out there..
 
Thanks PhilP. Something along the lines of a Pergola with a perspex roof was what I had in mind. The only reason I was thinking about it now is that it will be much easier to install before I do anything else, than after the event.
 
Yes, get started before someone changes your mind.....:rofl:
 
Good advice to build the pergola first if you are going to have one, and it seems like a good idea to me. Is the track plan going to fit into the "junk" space in your first picture? There seems like an awful lot of track there in a smallish space. Or is that the plan for the whole garden? Potentially some quite tight curves there, but depends on what your layout theme is; main line, narrow gauge, etc
 
idlemarvel said:
Good advice to build the pergola first if you are going to have one, and it seems like a good idea to me. Is the track plan going to fit into the "junk" space in your first picture? There seems like an awful lot of track there in a smallish space. Or is that the plan for the whole garden? Potentially some quite tight curves there, but depends on what your layout theme is; main line, narrow gauge, etc
Click to expand...
I rather thought that too. At roughly 14 feet from the Shed, 2 x half Curves of LGB R1 = roughly 8 feet. Then two points for the Passing loop roughly another 2 feet and two R1's to make the Straight and the space is gone.

Unfortunately freehand track plans can be problamatical. In such a circumstance I would roughly lay out what is to be done by just putting track down without joining it up. Helps to visualise what can be done. Another tip is to remember that most fence pannels are 6ft which is how I roughly scaled the plot. I am a terror in Gardens, I size up the plot this way then have a plan in my head before they can ask do you take Sugar in your Tea!
JonD
 
5H17 said:
Probably time for a new thread, since the old railway never really made it past the 'fledgling' stage. After a few years away from the hobby (and with the old railway lifted prior to a proposed house move that never happened), I finally decided to rebuild it last year. There's been much debate as to where it should go, but I've now decided to use up the 'junk' space at the side of the existing shed. It is the only part of the garden that never got tidied up a few years ago, and was originally intended for a patio and BBQ area. Might as well crack on and get started with clearing it.

The new railway will be built on raised boards, after much internal debate and soul searching. I may only be 43 but I have a lot of back problems, so I'm trying to futureproof it a bit while I can. There is a slight fall on the garden anyway (which is about 80 feet long, with a fall of around 18-20" I reckon), and the land by the shed was already dug out ready for the patio to a depth of about 6 inches anyway. I reckon if I have the boards sitting at about 24-30" above ground, any future extension towards the house will be at ground level if everything is flat. I want to keep the 'flat and level' option, because I would like to buy a live steamer when funds allow.

Having said that, I've done a track plan that is on two levels. Basically two separate large loops with a gradient joining them. Ignore the location of the shed on the drawing. It won't fit that way around, so the whole plan will have to rotate through 90 degrees clockwise, which is a plus in one way as it will give me more length to keep the grade shallow.

Now... I'm planning to get stuck into this over the coming months. What can life throw at me to get in the way this time? :D:banghead:View attachment 207497 View attachment 207498 View attachment 207499
Click to expand...

From a person who is planning a elevated new railway with future proofing in mind (getting old and have an artificial hip) to make it "garden Railway" I am planning on planting a garden with tall shrubs that can grow up above the line underneath mine.

To give an even greener feel to it I am planning on making garden beds out of PVC guttering with small miniature shrubs planted in them, this will I hope take away the unnatural look from the railway. Hydroponics for the guttering is a serious consideration and maybe it can be a herb garden for SWMBO's cooking herbs, Parsley, Sage Rosemary and Thyme perhaps?.

If you have not looked at track planning software might I suggest SCARM which can give you a fairly accurate look at what you can fit in the space, especially the 3D view.
Its my weapon of choice for the new layout.
 
GAP said:
From a person who is planning a elevated new railway with future proofing in mind (getting old and have an artificial hip) to make it "garden Railway" I am planning on planting a garden with tall shrubs that can grow up above the line underneath mine.
Click to expand...
Good idea, though my line is not raised (i may regret that in years to come) i had the same idea with my Fire Watch Tower. I have stood it on a tall aerated block to give it even more height, and hopefully the shrubs will grow this summer, hiding the block, but giving the illusion of a high up watch tower.
 
5H17 said:
Actually.. I have a question. Since the intent is to have the bulk of 'phase 1' on boards in this area, has anyone built a canopy over their railway (or a part of it?). Just curious.. These things cross my mind regularly :wasntme:
Click to expand...
I have seen it done. I once bought some stuff of a member from here a few years ago now, near Halifax, lovely little line, i just cant remember who it was.........
 
idlemarvel said:
Good advice to build the pergola first if you are going to have one, and it seems like a good idea to me. Is the track plan going to fit into the "junk" space in your first picture? There seems like an awful lot of track there in a smallish space. Or is that the plan for the whole garden? Potentially some quite tight curves there, but depends on what your layout theme is; main line, narrow gauge, etc
Click to expand...

I think I'm definitely going to go with some form of pergola / hand built roof contraption, at least over a part of it.

You're dead right about the track plan. Having had a proper measure up and a bit of a tinker with SCARM, it won't fit as planned. It will fit if I rotate it through 90 degrees clockwise though, so that's probably what I will do. The width of that plan is pretty flexible (in that direction I have about 80 feet of garden to play with) so that makes more sense from the outset.
 
Part of my railway runs through my covered BBQ area, that is where I have a siding to set up my trains (behind SWMBO's duck collection), its where I sit in my fat controllers chair next to the control stand (4 transmitters fit on that, all have been modified to control 2 trains so theoretically I can run 8 trains at a time.) to control my trains out of the sun and the plus its close to the beer fridge in the garage.

The main reason for it going through there is that I can get the height to cross back over the line where you can see the bridge in the background. Out on a girder onto a trestle then across to a through bridge (lift out) finally onto to a suspension bridge. The lift out section of the bridge can be seen sitting on the floor in front of the yard.

P1040216.JPG
P1040215.JPG
 
That looks a highly civilised way of doing things.. gives me a few ideas for when I build here..
 
These are the bridges that let me get to the yard in the BBQ area pics taken this afternoon at 5.30pm


P1040217.JPG

Made from hardwood garden stakes


P1040218.JPG



P1040219.JPG

Trestle from Garden stakes, girder from cut down plastic drainage channel

P1040220.JPG

Through lift out made from a side rail from a kids bunk bed and the side frame from a pet bed filled with the bottom of an old bread crate and the sides from same crates.

Suspension bridge railings from more bread crate.

All from the recycle yard
 
GAP said:
the side frame from a pet bed filled with the bottom of an old bread crate and the sides from same crates.

Suspension bridge railings from more bread crate.
Click to expand...


That's what you call 'using your loaf'

David
 
Have to say those Bridges and the Sides using an old Bread Tray are a perfect example of looking at something and seeing a use for it. Plastic Bread Trays just got an endangered lifespan!
JonD
 
True recycling. :)
 
stockers said:
True recycling. :)
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I even have the side of an old above pool made from corrugated iron (before they banned them for safety reasons) which has a very small corrugation profile.
I have 2 railmotor stops made from it and if you do not look real close it is passable.
 
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