Rebuilding my Railway

As well Radius 2 curves.. Everyone goes on about saying get Radius 3! Do locos perform well on R2's? I've already bought them so it's a bit late to ask this question :D If I had the space I probably would use R3's but I can't!
 
As well Radius 2 curves.. Everyone goes on about saying get Radius 3! Do locos perform well on R2's? I've already bought them so it's a bit late to ask this question :D If I had the space I probably would use R3's but I can't!
Things pretty well run fine on R2. I had to use them in my Shed between 2 Stations and even the Harz 2-10-2's run fine. They do even run on R1's but certainly look a bit silly doing so.
JonD
 
As well Radius 2 curves.. Everyone goes on about saying get Radius 3! Do locos perform well on R2's? I've already bought them so it's a bit late to ask this question :D If I had the space I probably would use R3's but I can't!
I think the general consensus is use the largest that fit. If R2s fit they will be fine. Its only some of the big USA stuff that won't do R1s. and even fewer that wont do R2s
But don't fall into the trap of thinking R3s are expensive - they are nearly twice as long. - same with pointwork.
 
Well I'm starting to get somewhere now! I've used a breathable ground sheet for anyone wondering, with pea gravel on top for where the track is going then sharp sand on top of that to make a level surface for the bricks to go on to!
IMG_2408[1].JPG
Making sure the track fits in okay!
IMG_2409[1].JPG
The first few bricks go down, all level!
 
If you use Rowlands Mix for Ballast the top of the Bricks is sorted, planting and Earth will loose the sides. However you will find that the Earth conpacts some, just put in Black Barrier (Wicks) and Alpine Grit (Garden Centre). You can Top this up nicely.
JonD
 
Got a lot more done today, just in time before I have to go to work! Isn't Rowlands Mix more for 16mm? I've put some soil up against the side of the bricks, but I can see ballast running away with it being like that so I'll try mixing the ballest with quick drying cement as I saw it on Mark Founds documentary.
IMG_2411[1].JPG

IMG_2412[1].JPG
 
I'm not sure what the best order it is to do everything.. I'm just going to use some potting grit or something alike for ballast, I prefer the quick way of doing things.. One of the issues I can see is that the ballast goes missing down the side of the embankments. What is this Black Barrier you was on about as well Jon? I have 3 days off work starting tomorrow so I plan on getting a lot done and a few trips to B&Q..
 
Black Barrier is probably a weed membrane....
 
I used Alpine grit for my Ballast found it my local Garden center, a lot cheaper than B&Q ;)
bank.jpg

I put the Weed barrier under my rails the red line and then made a trough shape with it so the ballast stayed around the rails, then I hide the weed barrier with pea gravel yellow dots. Crude sketch and probably done wrong but the ballast has stayed put so far only been down 4 months. the white bit is your bricks
 
Last edited:
Who'd of thought it would be so hard to find horticulture grit! I've been B&Q and The Range and neither have anything!
 
Brought mine on line from a firm in Doncaster.

Twenty 25KG bags for £70 delivered free to Cambridge.

I Googled Horticultural Grit....
 
Garden center - 3 bags a tenner.
 
Back
Top Bottom