Garden Railway Forum

For the first time in ten years, the Misbourne Valley Railway is currently undergoing some major civil engineering work!

Unfortunately, we have learned the hard way that conventional concrete blocks can be vulnerable to erosion from frost. The blocks used in the Rutton station area have crumbled away over the last few years, to the point where they now need replacement. By contrast, the thermalite blocks used elsewhere on the line have not suffered any visible damage so far.

We have adopted a different method of construction for the repairs, demolishing the old blockwork and building a timber deck above the old concrete foundations. This might seem like a retrograde step, but bear in mind that the MVR is probably not going to last another ten years - I'm hoping to have got a place of my own where I can build a new railway by then, so my parents can have their garden back! Timber may not have the longevity of concrete but it is easier to install, and will be easier to remove when the time comes.

For more details and pictures of the work see the new MVR website at http://misbournevalleyrailway.weebly.com/blog.html

MuzTrem:99922 wrote:For the first time in ten years, the Misbourne Valley Railway is currently undergoing some major civil engineering work!

Unfortunately, we have learned the hard way that conventional concrete blocks can be vulnerable to erosion from frost. The blocks used in the Rutton station area have crumbled away over the last few years, to the point where they now need replacement. By contrast, the thermalite blocks used elsewhere on the line have not suffered any visible damage so far.

We have adopted a different method of construction for the repairs, demolishing the old blockwork and building a timber deck above the old concrete foundations. This might seem like a retrograde step, but bear in mind that the MVR is probably not going to last another ten years - I'm hoping to have got a place of my own where I can build a new railway by then, so my parents can have their garden back! Timber may not have the longevity of concrete but it is easier to install, and will be easier to remove when the time comes.

For more details and pictures of the work see the new MVR website at http://misbournevalleyrailway.weebly.com/blog.html

Looking good! I´ll be interested to see how the track develops and how permanent everything really gets

I like the new website, looking forward to updates.

Coincidentally I'm also in the process of building a new website with Weebly (having got fed up with Webs) and am discovering the delights of decking board for the first time...

Cheers,

Andrew.

Nice to see that the MVR does continue to develop, and also that there are plans for a new line when you get a place of your own. Are there any railways nearby you could visit from your current abode?

Well I'm currently in the process of moving to Herefordshire which, sadly, isn't exactly a hotbed of railway activity! I don't think either the 16mm or G scale societies have area groups there. The SVR should be within striking distance though, so perhaps you'll soon be seeing pictures of Russell at Hampton Loade!

Pleased to announce that the reconstruction work is now complete

A full report is, naturally, on the website - along with some with 16mm action in Shropshire, for that matter!

http://misbournevalleyrailway.weebly.com/blog