maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
Decided it was time to get rid of the eyesore that are my concrete paths. While I was about it I thought this s an opportunity to "correct" some of the limitations of the West Well that have existed the past 10 years. Principally a gradient that in places amounted to 1 in 10.
See that bridge in the right corner. It's affectionately known as the "roller coaster". It's a 1 in 10 downhill run. Testing with a non-geared live steamer. The track after the X then climbs at about 1 in 20 round to the windmill in the background. It works but it isn't ideal. Sooo.........
Well, the concrete has come up and the slope leveled and some nice 20 mm green granite has gone down and a nice row of sleepers, supported by some 3" x 3" posts sunk 2 ft into concrete, have been erected to hold back the lawn/track bed. The two bridges at the top have been elevated about 6" - 8" to remove the gradient as much as possible. The grey "interfuse" blocks you see have been roughly positioned and will act as stable platforms for the points and X'ing. Yet to go in is about 3/4 ton of topsoil. Those blocks will define the track bed width and when the earth goes in some metal lawn edging will go in to border the track bed along with some tough permeable weed inhibitor and granite chippings as ballast..
A view from the other end. Those conifers on the right have grown a bit in the past 4 years.
Just to make the point here is the old patio area. Before the excavations it would have been about 4" below the track level. It has now sunk to............24 ". The same level a the floor in the house. hopefully this will get rid of a little damp problem that is ages old. Great fun these 300 year old grade 2 listed buildings. It's been a right old history dig around here.
More to follow. Just a little matter of "cutting in" the turning Y. I feel a trestle coming on in that corner. Depends on how brave I feel. Max.
See that bridge in the right corner. It's affectionately known as the "roller coaster". It's a 1 in 10 downhill run. Testing with a non-geared live steamer. The track after the X then climbs at about 1 in 20 round to the windmill in the background. It works but it isn't ideal. Sooo.........
Well, the concrete has come up and the slope leveled and some nice 20 mm green granite has gone down and a nice row of sleepers, supported by some 3" x 3" posts sunk 2 ft into concrete, have been erected to hold back the lawn/track bed. The two bridges at the top have been elevated about 6" - 8" to remove the gradient as much as possible. The grey "interfuse" blocks you see have been roughly positioned and will act as stable platforms for the points and X'ing. Yet to go in is about 3/4 ton of topsoil. Those blocks will define the track bed width and when the earth goes in some metal lawn edging will go in to border the track bed along with some tough permeable weed inhibitor and granite chippings as ballast..
A view from the other end. Those conifers on the right have grown a bit in the past 4 years.
Just to make the point here is the old patio area. Before the excavations it would have been about 4" below the track level. It has now sunk to............24 ". The same level a the floor in the house. hopefully this will get rid of a little damp problem that is ages old. Great fun these 300 year old grade 2 listed buildings. It's been a right old history dig around here.
More to follow. Just a little matter of "cutting in" the turning Y. I feel a trestle coming on in that corner. Depends on how brave I feel. Max.
Last edited:
Max
