Three new sidings for the PLR

[ge_rik]

In a recent thread, I described my visits to narrow gauge railways in Devon and Dorset ( https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/narrow-gauge-in-devon-and-dorset.311930/#post-535529 ). One of my visits was to the Bursledon Brickworks, where I was impressed with the stream driven machinery and also by the simplicity of the brick making process. I decided that the PLR could have a brickworks. A bit of research revealed that there was indeed a brickworks in the area in which my railway is set - and also a Boneworks (turning out fertiliser and gelatine from not only bones but also elephant dung from Chester Zoo). I therefore decided it was time to add some more lineside industries to the PLR.

I've added a new siding to Beeston Castle station - and will now prpbably use the original shorter siding to serve a brewery

.
I've added another siding to Bulkeley station - which could serve either a Brickworks or Boneworks.
Before .....

...... and after

.
And I've added a siding at the foot of Gallantry Bank (just below Beeston Castle) which I originally thought could serve the Brickworks, but am now beginning to wonder if it could serve a sandstone quarry ....

.
Should keep me out of mischief over the winter ....

Rik

 

[Rhinochugger]

I've never visited Bursledon, but from recollection they'er a fairly specialist field, supplying bricks and specials for local and listed buildings.

But you're quite right - we builders are simple people, and have been doing things simply for years

Stock bricks, such as London stocks (the yellow ones) come generally from Kent, and are fired in a 'clamp', which is simply a dirty great pile of bricks with a fire in the middle - nowadays gas jets are used, but the simplicity remains the same

 

[PhilP]

but also elephant dung from Chester Zoo

Life...
Stranger than fiction! - Every-time!!

 

[Rhinochugger]

Life...
Stranger than fiction! - Every-time!!

An elephant has done a ton on the M1 ...........................


Please regard it as a roundabout



Two Ronnies ??

 

[PhilP]

Two Ronnies ??

Very probably..
Delivered by Mr Barker, no doubt?

 

[ge_rik]

Life...
Stranger than fiction! - Every-time!!

Extract from a local resident's oral history account

The stench from the Boneworks – don’t mention it – I can smell it now. It always smelled, our bungalow was right opposite – it was worse in the summer months. There was a big manure heap with elephant manure from the zoo. It used to come in off the railway and was brought by a horse and cart and was dumped right in front of our bungalow. The bones came in the same way and they were all piled up

Rik

 

[Rhinochugger]

Extract from a local resident's oral history account

The stench from the Boneworks – don’t mention it – I can smell it now. It always smelled, our bungalow was right opposite – it was worse in the summer months. There was a big manure heap with elephant manure from the zoo. It used to come in off the railway and was brought by a horse and cart and was dumped right in front of our bungalow. The bones came in the same way and they were all piled up

Rik

I've recently volunteered to drive the boat on the North Walsham and Dilham canal, and the mills there were grinding bone into bonemeal fertilizer - 'twas big business back in the day.

I have read accounts that approx 20% of a farm's arable output went into feeding the working horses, we forget how much animals were used back then.

 

[Perry]

A bigger business was freighting horse manure from London, for example, to the farms served by the Wooton Tramway. The line transported 3,200 tons (3,300 t) in 1872.

Quainton Road railway station - Wikipedia

Well, someone had to do it.

Crossing sweeper - Wikipedia

 

[korm kormsen]

A bigger business was freighting horse manure...
Well, someone had to do it.

well, today it's easier. all the bullsh... is transported electronically.

 

[JeffofSpace]

In a recent thread, I described my visits to narrow gauge railways in Devon and Dorset ( https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/narrow-gauge-in-devon-and-dorset.311930/#post-535529 ). One of my visits was to the Bursledon Brickworks, where I was impressed with the stream driven machinery and also by the simplicity of the brick making process. I decided that the PLR could have a brickworks. A bit of research revealed that there was indeed a brickworks in the area in which my railway is set - and also a Boneworks (turning out fertiliser and gelatine from not only bones but also elephant dung from Chester Zoo). I therefore decided it was time to add some more lineside industries to the PLR.

I've added a new siding to Beeston Castle station - and will now prpbably use the original shorter siding to serve a brewery

.
I've added another siding to Bulkeley station - which could serve either a Brickworks or Boneworks.
Before .....

...... and after

.
And I've added a siding at the foot of Gallantry Bank (just below Beeston Castle) which I originally thought could serve the Brickworks, but am now beginning to wonder if it could serve a sandstone quarry ....

.
Should keep me out of mischief over the winter ....

Rik

What are you using for ballast? Some looks to be concrete, some dirt, some crushed gravel.

Looks beautiful!

 

[ge_rik]

What are you using for ballast? Some looks to be concrete, some dirt, some crushed gravel.

Looks beautiful!

Thanks. After trying various combinations of sand, cement, soil, stone etc., I've found the horticultural sand which is produced by Meadow View to be just right.
https://www.meadowviewstone.co.uk/product-detail/horticultural-sand-0-4mm/

I mix it with cement (3 parts horticultural sand to one part cement) and then apply it dry (brushing into place with an old stiff paint brush) and then damp it down with the mister spray from my hose (or a fine rose on the watering can). After a couple of days it sets - but not so hard that you can't break it up if you need to modify the track. I'm steadily reballasting all my track with this mix.


Rik