Sandstone & Termite track closure for repairs
- Thread starter gregh
- Start date
gregh
electronics, computers and scratchbuilding
I’ve finally finished replacing the old aluminium bar / slotted sleeper track on the rock trestle and through the cave. As this pic shows some of the sleepers were really ready for it.
This is the area I’m replacing 20m of it with brass rail on timber sleepers (except for a 4’ section where it is always wet, where I used plastic.)
The 20 year old steel arch and timber truss bridges were in good shape, so a quick paint job was all that was needed.
But I found the timber trestle needed a lot of repairs. The footings on the rock were just treated pine, so I replace it with plastic and used elec conduit to make the ‘footing’ which I filled with epoxy. All the splits and holes in the timber have been filled with Builders Bog, and the whole lot clear varnished.
It was very difficult working under the rock overhang – my body is 20 years older than when I last did it!
Maintaining clearance through the tight rock cuttings, once I’d moved the track proved a nightmare and I had to resort to the hammer and chisel.
All that’s left to do is the ballasting on the rock sections and the safety hand rails to stop trains plunging to their doom. I’ve started on these:
This time I`m using 3/16" threaded rod and fishing line.
This is the area I’m replacing 20m of it with brass rail on timber sleepers (except for a 4’ section where it is always wet, where I used plastic.)
The 20 year old steel arch and timber truss bridges were in good shape, so a quick paint job was all that was needed.
But I found the timber trestle needed a lot of repairs. The footings on the rock were just treated pine, so I replace it with plastic and used elec conduit to make the ‘footing’ which I filled with epoxy. All the splits and holes in the timber have been filled with Builders Bog, and the whole lot clear varnished.
It was very difficult working under the rock overhang – my body is 20 years older than when I last did it!
Maintaining clearance through the tight rock cuttings, once I’d moved the track proved a nightmare and I had to resort to the hammer and chisel.
All that’s left to do is the ballasting on the rock sections and the safety hand rails to stop trains plunging to their doom. I’ve started on these:
This time I`m using 3/16" threaded rod and fishing line.
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
Greg
Brilliant idea for the bridge footings. Just about to construct a very modest trestle for my new mill siding extension and was wondering how to anchor it to the sandstone - given that the footings will be in the stream and, even when the stream isn't running, that part of the garden rarely dries out as it is North facing and in the shadow of the house.
New trackwork looks great btw
Rik
Brilliant idea for the bridge footings. Just about to construct a very modest trestle for my new mill siding extension and was wondering how to anchor it to the sandstone - given that the footings will be in the stream and, even when the stream isn't running, that part of the garden rarely dries out as it is North facing and in the shadow of the house.
New trackwork looks great btw
Rik
tramcar trev
all manner of mechanical apparatus...
Impressive work as always Greg! I was going to suggest getting a prominent person to perform a reopening ceremony but by the time ICAC is finished there wont be any available...
gregh
electronics, computers and scratchbuilding
Everything is complete! I’ve ballasted the track where necessary, after testing for clearances with my mate’s biggest wagons and locos.
I’ve added safety posts to the trestle, using 3/16” threaded rod. The spacings of the trestle piers is only around 12” so using 2 posts in each span means they are only around 6” apart. So I reckon I don’t even need fishing line between to catch derailed trains. I made them 25mm above rail on the inside of the curve and 20mm on the outside.
I recoloured all the ‘Sandstone’ bridge piers and bridges where necessary, using cement oxides.
Note in this pic you can see that I use about 1m of plastic sleepers where the track is on rock that is always wet.
This wall is made of polystyrene, protected from the weather by the ‘cave’ it has lasted 20 years.
Now to play trains!!!
I’ve added safety posts to the trestle, using 3/16” threaded rod. The spacings of the trestle piers is only around 12” so using 2 posts in each span means they are only around 6” apart. So I reckon I don’t even need fishing line between to catch derailed trains. I made them 25mm above rail on the inside of the curve and 20mm on the outside.
I recoloured all the ‘Sandstone’ bridge piers and bridges where necessary, using cement oxides.
Note in this pic you can see that I use about 1m of plastic sleepers where the track is on rock that is always wet.
This wall is made of polystyrene, protected from the weather by the ‘cave’ it has lasted 20 years.
Now to play trains!!!