Raised Track Support

[DafyddElvy]

Garden slabs are nearly finished thank goodness, even with all the recycling of old garden material I still need one more large bag of sand and then that will finally be that job done.

Thoughts are now turning to elevated track bed supports, I have a few ideas but wondered what the the great folk here might have stored in their grey cells. I havent started any form of foundations yet to support the elevated part of the line, cast in situ anchor bolts are the idea I'm thinking of at the moment.

Plan is to recycle the perfectly sound old decking boards for the track bed. I'd like the supports for the elevated section to have a pleasing appearance as well as being functional.

Coming off the raised flower bed/return loop I was thinking about a concrete bridge something akin to Nan Pan Jiang or similar, for no other reason than I thought a concrete bridge would look nice next to the brick face of the raised bed.
Then some trestle type supports, in between the trestles planters are planned, but I want something that looks like it should be supporting a tramway, simple trestles would be fine but I want something more, I am just not sure what.

What other ideas for something interesting and functional do folk have stored away in their heads, or have tried for their own lines, any ideas at all, thanks.

 

[dunnyrail]

Garden slabs are nearly finished thank goodness, even with all the recycling of old garden material I still need one more large bag of sand and then that will finally be that job done.

Thoughts are now turning to elevated track bed supports, I have a few ideas but wondered what the the great folk here might have stored in their grey cells. I havent started any form of foundations yet to support the elevated part of the line, cast in situ anchor bolts are the idea I'm thinking of at the moment.

Plan is to recycle the perfectly sound old decking boards for the track bed. I'd like the supports for the elevated section to have a pleasing appearance as well as being functional.

Coming off the raised flower bed/return loop I was thinking about a concrete bridge something akin to Nan Pan Jiang or similar, for no other reason than I thought a concrete bridge would look nice next to the brick face of the raised bed.
Then some trestle type supports, in between the trestles planters are planned, but I want something that looks like it should be supporting a tramway, simple trestles would be fine but I want something more, I am just not sure what.

What other ideas for something interesting and functional do folk have stored away in their heads, or have tried for their own lines, any ideas at all, thanks.

Couple of options for research.

My new railway build thread linked below has plenty of raised line.

Mike line with a concrete viaduct, however never underestimate the work involved and strength required in the formers required when building a concrete viaduct.

Some work on Mountains and a Concrete Viaduct plus other projects but not Boston Lodge

I have a very good friend that lives in Somerset and have helped him over the years with his varying Garden Railways, not least in demolishing 2 or them. Hopefully this latest one will get completed as it is in his retirement home and a super start has already been made by both he and his lady...

www.gscalecentral.net

 

[Rhinochugger]

There was an article on a garden railway in Railway Modeller many, many years ago (possibly 40 years) that introduced the concept of impressionism in garden railwaying.

This always stayed with me, so where I have any railway infrastructure around the garden, I've followed that concept as a way to make the break from the 1:20 model to the 1:1 garden.

I have a short section of raised track bed that is meant to be reminiscent of the Carson & Colorado across the dried up Owens Valley - but of course, just when you want to find a particular image on t'internet, you can't find it.

But here's the garden track

 

[DafyddElvy]

This is the first bridge off the raised bed I was thinking about basing my bridge on, mine would be a lot less complicated in construction with a solid arch and solid piers off the arch.

It's all at the thinking stage just now.

 

[JimmyB]

Though recycling wood is good, especially for the environment, it will need constant maintenance, as rot will set in, however if you are content then that is a good way to go, however like Rhinochugger I would go for recycled plastic which will give reasonable maintenance free time.

 

[dunnyrail]

This is the first bridge off the raised bed I was thinking about basing my bridge on, mine would be a lot less complicated in construction with a solid arch and solid piers off the arch.

It's all at the thinking stage just now.

If you go for something like that rebar will be required to maintain concrete strength. Suggest something like Ally Flat, round or even brass to stop rusting when steel used. The concrete members will be quite thin.

 

[Paul M]

Something like this? Obviously it's the Paris Metro, Line 6, but it is very tramlike

 

[GAP]

I use steel U channel and cable tray.

"Cane Line" Construction Logs

The construction of the railway Cane Line and Mill Precinct began in April 2021. I have divided the construction into 2 separate stages. ...

ringbalin-light-railway.blogspot.com

 

[Andrew Foster]

If a wood structure is designed to shed water, well drained, and treated with a wood preservative, it can last many years outdoors. I made test specimens of red cedar decks for the GME bridges and left them outside for up to 8 years. I'd have left the oldest one even longer, but someone wanted to buy it with his bridge! It was beautifully weathered by then, but perfectly sound. I'd be cautious about using recycled plastic for bridges. It is a great material in the right application, but when exposed to direct sunlight a horizontal beam will usually creep and develop a sag.