Sand quarry extension
- Thread starter ge_rik
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As you can see, the new extension is actually also a reverse loop - so I will now have two reverse loops. I think this will make life a bit more interesting when visitors come.
When running the railway as an end to end during operating sessions, the new extension will provide a couple of new opportunities.
1. The sand quarry can be operated independently - no need to run round trains at Bickerton Station
2. The new link to the quarry will supposedly be a link to Peckforton Castle - so the quarry will have a double identity. I might disguise this scenically somehow with some sort of castle gateway on the new link and maybe add a siding for the castle.
Progress so far.
Here's the quarry siding as was .....
Here's where the new retaining wall for the widened raised bed will go
Here's where I'm up to in constructing the new retaining wall.
I'm waiting a few days for the cement to fully harden before filling the raised-bed with soil and using the concrete breeze blocks as trackbed.
At the moment - rain has stopped play anyway ......
Rik
When running the railway as an end to end during operating sessions, the new extension will provide a couple of new opportunities.
1. The sand quarry can be operated independently - no need to run round trains at Bickerton Station
2. The new link to the quarry will supposedly be a link to Peckforton Castle - so the quarry will have a double identity. I might disguise this scenically somehow with some sort of castle gateway on the new link and maybe add a siding for the castle.
Progress so far.
Here's the quarry siding as was .....
Here's where the new retaining wall for the widened raised bed will go
Here's where I'm up to in constructing the new retaining wall.
I'm waiting a few days for the cement to fully harden before filling the raised-bed with soil and using the concrete breeze blocks as trackbed.
At the moment - rain has stopped play anyway ......
Rik
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Sadly, I have no one to do it for meAh! Working in the garden..
I can watch someone doing it for hours..
PhilP
Happily, that makes it a refuge for me
Not, I hasten to add, that I'm a real gardener.
A bit more progress. The weather in this part of the world hasn't been conducive to working outside recently, but at least it gave the concrete a chance to set.
The trackbed went down at the end of last week ......
And tracklaying started yesterday. I've been trying to use up the spare track I've had in store but am beginning to realise that a left hand R3 would be far better than one of three right-hand R3s I have available - even though that will shorten the loop. So, a small hiatus while I await its delivery.
Fortunately, I have plenty of other work to occupy my time.
Rik
The trackbed went down at the end of last week ......
And tracklaying started yesterday. I've been trying to use up the spare track I've had in store but am beginning to realise that a left hand R3 would be far better than one of three right-hand R3s I have available - even though that will shorten the loop. So, a small hiatus while I await its delivery.
Fortunately, I have plenty of other work to occupy my time.
Rik
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James could have helped out with one of the R3 points that I procured from
casey jones snr
, sure we could have come to a better price than buying a new one.
Is that offer still available? Two left hand points would be even better than one for what I have in mind.James could have helped out with one of the R3 points that I procured from
Rik
Looks fantastic, Rik. Really enjoy watching the evolution of your railway!
ge_rik
, can you explain this a little more? Do you mean there will there will be direct access to the station by the castle? From the track plan (and my memory) it looks like it connects to the 'lower' line.
The castle gateway, regardless, sounds like an great idea. Scenic feature the train runs through or off to the side?
ge_rik
, can you explain this a little more? Do you mean there will there will be direct access to the station by the castle? From the track plan (and my memory) it looks like it connects to the 'lower' line.The castle gateway, regardless, sounds like an great idea. Scenic feature the train runs through or off to the side?
All part of Rik's fiendish plan!
It depends how many times you have been round, which direction you are coming from, and where you look..
PhilP
It depends how many times you have been round, which direction you are coming from, and where you look..
PhilP
Phil has more or less hit the nail on the head. When coming into the extension from the Bickerton end trains are going into the sand quarry ( as before), but when accessing the extension from the Peckforton end, trains will be going to Peckforton Castle. The gateway will be on the Peckforton end to signify entering the castle grounds.Looks fantastic, Rik. Really enjoy watching the evolution of your railway!
The castle gateway, regardless, sounds like an great idea. Scenic feature the train runs through or off to the side?
When running the railway as PLR ( ie from Beeston Market to Bickerton and vice versa, the fact the two ends of the extension are linked will be ignored. I'll only use it as a through line when I get visitors or when I just fancy running trains round and round.
Hope that makes sense.
Rik
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Now done a bit more work on the gatehouse. I went to my local builders' merchant and bought two more Thermalite blocks. Give him his due, the chap behind the counter didn't bat an eyelid and even loaded them into the boot of my car.
I've now smoothed down the outer surfaces (a couple of hours' work with a rasp) and made a start on some of the detailing. It will take a while yet but it's beginning to take shape.
Such a contrast to normal model making where we start with nothing and gradually build it up. Working with Thermalite blocks is the opposite - start with a big chunk of something and whittle away at it. A bit messy but very satisfying.
Rik
I've now smoothed down the outer surfaces (a couple of hours' work with a rasp) and made a start on some of the detailing. It will take a while yet but it's beginning to take shape.
Such a contrast to normal model making where we start with nothing and gradually build it up. Working with Thermalite blocks is the opposite - start with a big chunk of something and whittle away at it. A bit messy but very satisfying.
Rik
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