3Valve
Railways; Air cooled VW's; Soul Music
Well I've finally managed to find time to start on the new railway. Now if you didn't see the SHLR Mark I there's a link to the old SHLR here http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=45501&high=shlr
With the new railway comes a new name (same initials though), and a new method of construction.
The SHLR will now become the Shropshire Hills Light Railway. A narrow gauge line set in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty.
Because of the number of trees in the new garden, floating the track on loose ballast as per the old SHLR was out of the question, I need to be able to use the leaf blower in the autumn/winter months which would lift loose ballast as well as leaves. I didn't fancy the idea of cementing the trackwork in, so I've opted for a timber based trackbed.
The whole thing will be mounted on decking board timbers, placed smooth side up and covered with shed felt to simulate a ballasted trackbed.
Here's my first curve under construction.
and a test fit of the R2 curves
The timbers are mounted on lengths of 34mm UPVC waste pipe staked into the ground. Got mine from Wickes but other brands are available.
I used a 35mm Auger bit to cut a suitable sized hole in the timbers (this gives just enough wiggle room to make adjustments when the timber is fitted). The whole completed framework section is then screwed to the pipe lengths once they've been staked in and levelled (that was the theory anyhoo).
Heres the completed curve section now mounted and ready to take the track.
and finally the track in place (thought now secured yet until the timbers is felted). It was a lot of work to get one curve but that was mostly down to the need to crawl under the trees to get it all in place (I have the grazes and scars to prove it).
Just quick last shot showing the path of the trackwork along the fence as highlighted by my spirit level. Just got to negotiate another sodding tree first.
With the new railway comes a new name (same initials though), and a new method of construction.
The SHLR will now become the Shropshire Hills Light Railway. A narrow gauge line set in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty.
Because of the number of trees in the new garden, floating the track on loose ballast as per the old SHLR was out of the question, I need to be able to use the leaf blower in the autumn/winter months which would lift loose ballast as well as leaves. I didn't fancy the idea of cementing the trackwork in, so I've opted for a timber based trackbed.
The whole thing will be mounted on decking board timbers, placed smooth side up and covered with shed felt to simulate a ballasted trackbed.
Here's my first curve under construction.
and a test fit of the R2 curves
The timbers are mounted on lengths of 34mm UPVC waste pipe staked into the ground. Got mine from Wickes but other brands are available.
I used a 35mm Auger bit to cut a suitable sized hole in the timbers (this gives just enough wiggle room to make adjustments when the timber is fitted). The whole completed framework section is then screwed to the pipe lengths once they've been staked in and levelled (that was the theory anyhoo).
Heres the completed curve section now mounted and ready to take the track.
and finally the track in place (thought now secured yet until the timbers is felted). It was a lot of work to get one curve but that was mostly down to the need to crawl under the trees to get it all in place (I have the grazes and scars to prove it).
Just quick last shot showing the path of the trackwork along the fence as highlighted by my spirit level. Just got to negotiate another sodding tree first.
) 
