WGLR, the 2010 re-build.

themole said:
No, pull up all the track, put in rows of seats, and convert the shed into a PUNCH & JUDY stall. Then charge all who come to see the show, a couple of quid (it's more than I make at the back of Rackhams (local Birmingham joke)) With the money add a large tramway system!!!:rolf::rolf::rolf: Alyn
P.S. its looking good.
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Cheers Alyn. It's quite some times since I've been round the back of Rackhams ............ we must catch up again ;) :rolf::rolf::rolf:.
 
Good to see the rapid progress, Mel (and a bit dispiriting, too...:( )


That viaduct is really nice - looks like it will be a great spot to photograph trains.
 
The "extension" looks positively huge Mel, compared to what was there before!

The viaduct is stunning, worth every penny methinks.

Sorry, no complaints.
 
brianthesnail96 said:
The "extension" looks positively huge Mel, compared to what was there before!
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You're not wrong there Matt. Very tempting to fill every last inch with track, but I'm determined to give it that rural narrow gauge feel. At least I can fit in some bigger curves, in fact the temporary loop that I've put in includes an R2 - a first for the WGLR!!!

Thanks for all the encouraging words chaps.
 
Stainzmeister said:
Yes, the viaduct looks exactly right.....next installment please:bigsmile:
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OK Paul, the new bed with the walling complete and all filled in. Flaming hard work in this weather, but getting very close to track laying now.

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3Valve said:
Slow down buddy, you'll be melting away.
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Don't fret Gareth - there's plenty of Mel.... :rolf:
 
Better, bigger, wetter, gooier? :thinking:
 
Much track laying today .............. until I ran out of ballast :@.

The method used was to dig a shallow trench, line it with weed membrane, fill said trench with my version of Rowlands Mixture (equal parts sand, cement and ballast - I didn't bother putting any peat in) and lay the track nice and flat (no real inclines on this railway). Next job was to dampen the lot with water from a garden atomizer, the fact that it them rained gently didn't hurt either.

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Laying membrane is no guarantee that you won't get any weeds. Our front garden is almost totally gravel on top of membrane, but it still needs the occasional weeding as certain plants actually grow on top of the membrane, usually when their seeds are airborne or have been dropped by birds. However, one of the problems I had with the old Gooey station was with worm casts. In fact, the station had only been used for storing stock for months before it's demise due to this problem. The membrane should at least prevent it.

The track isn't attached to anything, it is just held (lightly) in place by the ballast. Of course this is quite realistic, but the main reason I've used this method because I know from experience that the made up ground in the new bed WILL definitely sink after a while. The made up ground under Wetton is still sinking (very slowly now) nearly 4 years after I built it. At least using this method I'll just have to take out the odd piece of track, shove in a new layer of ballast and put the track back over any areas that do sink.

Next job will be (when I've bought another couple of bags of ballast) to join the last couple of pieces of track together and trim the membrane back. Then it will all need testing :thumbup:.
 
Nemo said:
Looking good Mel, keep up the hard work
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Cheers Steve, I have :bigsmile:.

I was up early this morning cutting track and doing a bit of wiring before going to see my mate who supplies me with ballast. The result was that by mid-morning the first rains could run on the new WGLR, one day short of a month since the old version was torn up :thumbup:.

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These (R2) reverse curves are inspired by the Welsh Highland as it runs down into Beddgelert. There will be a slate cutting to hold up the mound of earth in the background.

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This section remains without ballast as it will have to be taken up again next week when the final two pieces for the viaduct arrive. It is also where the buildings that make up "the Narrows" will be.

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There is one curve of R1's on the new section. This has ended up being on a nice little embankment which will be a good place to photograph trains (especially when I've hidden the membrane).

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The R1 curve goes around the stumps of the old apple tree and transitions nicely onto the new Piko R5/R3 point which will eventually lead to the storage sidings.

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The ballasting crew has been working overtime lately. The Corpet returns the empty hoppers to the depot.

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