Elmdon Heath Light Railway (was EHLR: A small start)

[hussra]

That blue diesel (now with RC - very handy on a 4 yard railway!) has had a go on the structure:









Ditto Wilberforce:











Quite pleased with how the first section is looking now.

[Narrow Minded]

Looking very impressive! - and if the rest of the build is to the same high standard, it might take you a while to finish, but trackbed maintenance certainly won't be one of your worries!

[hussra]

Thanks! A supply of Cuprinol Clear has been acquired for the next stage. What was pleasing was that (a) there was not a hint of wobble, and (b) there was no discernable deflection of the bridge. Slow, steady (but sturdy) construction also suits my budget, which is not large.

As I mentioned before, this corner of the garden is the most awkward spot geometrically and I wanted to see if I could get it right before pressing on too far elsewhere. In the opposite direction, the next stage will be a level crossing of an existing block-paved path on a 4' radius, with the path being raised 4 inches or so to match rail level (and also to better retain the soil in the veg patch).

[Narrow Minded]

with the path being raised 4 inches or so to match rail level (and also to better retain the soil in the veg patch).

Don't forget to always reverse the priority when discussing that with the "Household Authorities" - you're intending to improve the veg patch soil retention, which coincidentally will match your rail level!

[hussra]

The bridge deck got Cuprinoled on Wednesday. And some more progress today. Various attempts at drawing the trestle bents had resulted in one final drawing:



This was then translated into a template:



and used to construct the first bent:



Just quickly trying it in place (with some minor adjustment - known about in advance - needed to ensure central location under the bridge):







Now working on how to attach the bent to the rest of the bridge. I probably ought to pin the bits together as well - just glued for now.

[hussra]

Sorted how to attach the bents to the bridge. Perhaps a bit over-engineered, but there was just the right amount of 5/8 x 5/8 x 1/8 angle left over and the smaller stuff I had to hand definitely wasn't up to the job.





Happy with the overall effect so far. (Sorry for the "floating in mid air" effect, just a convenient place to photograph it.)

[Jonnyb]

Some top quaily stuff there

[Hancockshire]

this bridge is for a 5" line?

if not you may have over-engineered it (unless you also have to walk on it)  

What if a super heavy loco visits? You need to be ready for all occasions

[bessytractor]

I reckon he's got an NG15 on order.........

[Pendo Pilot]

Looking great Richard, certainly coming on well. It's going to look grand when stained & aged a little with time.

[Marquis DeCarabas]

I reckon he's got an NG15 on order.........

Nah. I'll pop in with me NG16. I want photographs of your concreting after this evening's phone call RAH (I).

[hussra]

If I could afford an NG15, the line itself would also be further advanced by now!

I do hope the Marquis's NGG16 will be able to visit at some point. Whether it will fit, goodness only knows, but the curve on the bridge is only around 7ft radius. (Tightens somewhat once on terra firma.)

I am very much hoping - and have tried to plan to make sure - that an RH VoR loco will fit. Would be nice to be able to do something like this:


Crossing the Afon Rheidol (K A) / CC BY-SA 2.0

[hussra]

The four remaining trestle bents have now been made, and were tried out, propped loosely in place, in the remains of this evening's light. I reckon it looks OK.

Ignore the wonky angles - all will be OK once they are actually fixed in position.







The other (south) end bridge support is now in place, too, and awaits some embankment to join up with it in due course.

[LMS-Jools]

Nice

[hussra]

It's been a bit quiet here, mostly as I've been trying to sort out what happens at church once the Rector retires at the end of next month. But services for the rest of the year are largely sorted now, and the trackbed across the level crossing has been built. The line is now just over six, yes six, yards long. Work to reinstate the garden path is ongoing; the bit on the left in the first photo is done, that to the right still requires raising to match the trackbed, sorry, to retain the veg patch.

Took the opportunity this morning to be relieved of some money by that nice Mr Warrington, in exchange for which I left with some Cain Howley retaining walls. These are needed to hold up the fruit garden. Here the bits are just being tried roughly in place. The mound of earth behind is not going to end up so high as it appears here - this is what got dug out during trackbed construction, piled up awaiting redistribution once the retaining wall is in place.

[90733]

Looking good, the retaining wall works well

[Pendo Pilot]

Wow, that does look nice already, love the retaining wall. You were lucky to just leave Steves with the retaining wall, I always end up with tons of stuff.

[hussra]

You were lucky to just leave Steves with the retaining wall, I always end up with tons of stuff.

Oh, and a pair of numberplates for the blue diesel!

[Narrow Minded]

Nice progress and I must concur, the retaining wall looks great! - especially on the curve, really gives it some "presence".

Progress might not be at breakneck speed, but the line's certainly coming together nicely.

[hussra]

Got the path back together, and Beidreirin level crossing mortared in today.







Plus a bit of thinking ahead of how the next part of the line will go.







A little video has been shot but not yet edited - bed time.