Garden Railway Forum

The viaduct is a superb piece of engineering and you have every reason to be proud of it, congratulations. As others have said, the scaffold is also inspiring and I am about to continue to build my ruined castle which I started years ago and then became sidetracked. The scaffold will enable me to show collapsed walls undergoing some consolidation. I can have site offices for the builders, and supplies of materials on site to complete the picture. You have inspired me, although it will be several months until the weather improves enough for anything to take shape..... thanks Greg!

Another great installment, Greg. Your viaduct is truly impressive. I especially like the way you have capitalised on cracks in the structure with the scaffolding. Nice touch.

Rik

I can only agree with all the comments made. Superb stuff Greg. Absolutely superb.

MANY thanks to everyone for their nice comments. I really appreciate them.

philipy wrote: ↑Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:31 am Greg, Just thinking, shouldn't you have some speed restriction notices around that crack & hump?

Absolutely there should be speed restrictions! I'll see to it!
I have had ideas for a long time now that the site should have a track work gang with an animated figure who moves off the track and waves a flag, detonator sounds as a train approaches etc. But that will need infrared train detectors etc.

Anyone else have ideas to take up my time?

gregh wrote: ↑Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:17 am MANY thanks to everyone for their nice comments. I really appreciate them.


I have had ideas for a long time now that the site should have a track work gang with an animated figure who moves off the track and waves a flag, detonator sounds as a train approaches etc. But that will need infrared train detectors etc.

Anyone else have ideas to take up my time?

Not just at the moment Greg…..Let me think… s…

gregh wrote: ↑Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:17 am Anyone else have ideas to take up my time?

A hoist or crane for materials, a cement mixer, a smith welding steel bracing....?

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know....

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:37 am If I think of anything else, I'll let you know....
Rik

Gee, thanks Rik.

Wandering off topic, the suggestion for a speed restriction got me thinking about warning boards. My line is supposed to be in the 1950s and I wonder what kind of signs they used then and were they lit at all? Would they have used kerosene lamps like this? White or red lens?

In the UK in the 1950s, a yellow (green prior to 1949) arrow sign <==< sign about the size of a distant arm with two yellow oil lights placed at braking distance, then a 'C' lollipop board at the Commencement of the restriction, and an 'T' lollipop board at its Terminus. The only help on speed in those days was a number under the arrow sign saying something like '15' giving the speed through the PW restriction which I think was an LMR refinement inherited from the old LNWR. This was replace by the ubiquitous illuminated blue sign c.1970 with a speed limit when reliable battery lamps became available, though the warning at braking distance remains the yellow arrow sign, these days with two white lamps.

Interestingly, although things have moved on in the UK, the Isle of Man Railway - which is what I know best - still uses the old C and T convention with all PW slacks being regarded at 10 mph.

Peter in Va

gregh wrote: ↑Sat Nov 17, 2018 3:46 am

ge_rik wrote: ↑Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:37 am If I think of anything else, I'll let you know....
Rik

Gee, thanks Rik.

Wandering off topic, the suggestion for a speed restriction got me thinking about warning boards. My line is supposed to be in the 1950s and I wonder what kind of signs they used then and were they lit at all? Would they have used kerosene lamps like this? White or red lens?
old road warning lamp.jpg

That picture looks like a British "road menders lamp", i.e the kind they used as warnings around holes in the road back in the 40's, 50's and 60's before the advent of battery powered lamps. No reason why a NG line shouldn't have acquired them, off the shelf, for a similar purpose, of course.

philipy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 17, 2018 6:05 am That picture looks like a British "road menders lamp", i.e the kind they used as warnings around holes in the road back in the 40's, 50's and 60's before the advent of battery powered lamps. No reason why a NG line shouldn't have acquired them, off the shelf, for a similar purpose, of course.

That's what I remember them from - roads. And your 'rationalisation' for their use sounds good to me.
Thanks Irish Peter for the idea of yellow lamp - I guess red would really mean Stop. This is the sign I'll use.
Not sure where to put the lamp yet.

What is the ordinary line speed limit on the Sandstone and Termite? If it is something like 25mph (40km/h) then I think the Inspectorate would let you get away with a warning board and one or two road type warning lamps at the commence of the restriction. Over 25mph, then some sort of advanced warning would be required - probably something sophisticated like a yellow flag jammed in the ground next to the track with a yellow lamp by it for night running.

I really like your bridge work! I would never have though about tomato sticks as a source of wood for trestlework!

Peter in Va

IrishPeter wrote: ↑Sat Nov 17, 2018 1:56 pm What is the ordinary line speed limit on the Sandstone and Termite? If it is something like 25mph (40km/h) then I think the Inspectorate would let you get away with a warning board and one or two road type warning lamps at the commence of the restriction. Over 25mph, then some sort of advanced warning would be required - probably something sophisticated like a yellow flag jammed in the ground next to the track with a yellow lamp by it for night running.

I've never thought about whether the SaTR has a speed limit. But when I'm choosing battery voltages I usually choose the number of cells to give around 30mph max - except for my one 'express' loco which can do 50mph! But I do like your idea of a sophisticated yellow flag.

Now to do some thinking about how to make a scale cement mixer and some of those red warning lamps.

gregh wrote: ↑Sat Nov 17, 2018 10:45 pm

Now to do some thinking about how to make a scale cement mixer and some of those red warning lamps.

Not sure about the cement mixer, perhaps a kids toy?, but Rik's signal post lamps with out the chimney top would be a pretty good start for the lamp - see his blogs.