A Light Railway for the Western Dales

[Lonsdaler]

That bridge looks superb, worth all the hassle I'd say.
Thanks for the blow by blow ( ) account of construction.

Re the foam board, a very useful tip I picked up from, I think, JOhn ( FBGR), is to use the adhesive sold to plumbers to solvent weld waste pipes. You have to get it from behind the checkout at B&Q, Wickes, etc but it works like a charm. It will also bond ABS, HIPS and ply to the foamboard as well.

Thanks for the positive comments Philip. I thought it would perhaps benefit others to learn from my mistakes I have since started to use pipe solvent, and it is great for joining foamboard, as you say

[Lonsdaler]

Loving the bridge - the pics at the end show the benefit of the open design - makes my plank bridge look a little spartan - how did you construct the fences along the bridge?

Thanks Mark,
I was 'inspired' by the old bridges on the WHR, near Snowdon Ranger, before the line re-opened. You used to be able to walk along the track bed, and the remains of the old bridges made for interesting river crossings
As I'm 'catching up' I forgot to mention the railings. I got some model boat stanchions from Cornwall Model Boats http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/. These come pre-drilled for the railings in an assortment of sizes and railing numbers - it was just a case of getting some the right size. The railings themselves are piano wire. I drilled holes in the supporting sleepers and epoxied each stanchion in place - and then realised my mistake (number 2 ), removed them, redrilled the holes nearer the end of the sleepers and re-glued the stanchions back in. Hope that helps - model boat suppliers are a great source of detail items for our scale of railway

[Lonsdaler]

Using an old fluorescent light body for the bridge, genius!

I wouldn't go that far but as I removed it when remodelling our kitchen, I recognised it's potential for 'something useful' on the railway. I think most of us have a pile of 'that'll come in handy' stuff, don't we?

[tom_tom_go]

I think most of us have a pile of 'that'll come in handy' stuff, don't we?

Yes! I have part of a stainless steel cooker extractor that is meant to exhaust fumes that will be a large building one day, one day...

[markoteal]

Loving the bridge - the pics at the end show the benefit of the open design - makes my plank bridge look a little spartan - how did you construct the fences along the bridge?

Thanks Mark,
I was 'inspired' by the old bridges on the WHR, near Snowdon Ranger, before the line re-opened. You used to be able to walk along the track bed, and the remains of the old bridges made for interesting river crossings
As I'm 'catching up' I forgot to mention the railings. I got some model boat stanchions from Cornwall Model Boats http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/. These come pre-drilled for the railings in an assortment of sizes and railing numbers - it was just a case of getting some the right size. The railings themselves are piano wire. I drilled holes in the supporting sleepers and epoxied each stanchion in place - and then realised my mistake (number 2 ), removed them, redrilled the holes nearer the end of the sleepers and re-glued the stanchions back in. Hope that helps - model boat suppliers are a great source of detail items for our scale of railway

Brilliant - I've been meaning to get some fences sorted for my bridge and other 'risky' areas of my line - that link will be really useful - thanks

[ge_rik]

Just wondered how the four legged audience reacts when the trains are running.

Rik

[philipy]

I got some model boat stanchions from Cornwall Model Boats http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/.

Thanks for the reminder of that s!ite. I have looked at them before but never used them for anything. However, I've just flicked through the fittings stuff again and come across something I've looked for many times without success. Readers of my 3D Printing thread will have seen the gutters and fittings, well the plain gutter itself is now redundant because Cornwal Model Boats sell 1/2 round styrene extrusions in a variety of sizes and 330 and 1000mm lengths, for a very reasonable price.

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/aca ... e1000.html

[jim@NAL]

this is wonderful great pictures and I do like your bridge and snow shots ???

[River Lin]

Hi Phil.
Love it. Love it.
D.

[IrishPeter]

Just wondered how the four legged audience reacts when the trains are running.

Rik

They are probably unmooved.

I'll get me hat...

Peter in VA

[ge_rik]

I took quick whizz through the photos and (apart from being in awe of your workmanship) thought the weather you were having in your part of the world is being very unseasonable until I read that the construction took place last summer...... Mind you, the weather is pretty awful for August!

Rik

[TonyW]

A bridge across a water feature always looks good, precluded for me by a sloping site and the presence of impenetrable Mother Wales only a few inches below the surface!

A word of warning though: A friend of mine used to keep Koi Carp. He decided that running his garden railway across the Carp's pond would be a good thing, so he built a bridge similar to yours. After running trains a couple of times all of his Carp died. The reason for this was oil floating on the surface of the water that had been dripped there by a steam loco. One oil drop is enough to cover many square yards of water surface. The oil acts as a barrier to oxygen and stops it being absorbed in to the water, resulting in suffocation of the fish. So, if you are planning on having anything living (fish, plants, frogs, etc.) in your pond then my friend's advice would be to install some kind of drip tray on your bridge to keep oil and water apart.

[Lonsdaler]

Just wondered how the four legged audience reacts when the trains are running.

Rik

It really depends on the herd (which is different each year - these bullocks come for fattening before hitting the markets!) Some years they show no interest at all, but most do. The coo's are remarkably like hoomans - curious
It tends to start with one or two showing an interest

Coo_view1.jpg (253.84 KiB) Viewed 7549 times

Before you know it, you've got a crowd

Coo_view2.jpg (293.29 KiB) Viewed 7549 times

I've even had interest when the PWay gang are at work, although one is clearly more interested in beer than work

Ballasting-Help.jpg (326.73 KiB) Viewed 7549 times

This year, they are different again - not only licking and sniffing, but they actually started biting the embankment As a result, I have had to resort to an electric fence for the first time. They'll be here for about another month, and then sheep will take their place until next spring - they show no interest at all

[Lonsdaler]

Just wondered how the four legged audience reacts when the trains are running.

Rik

They are probably unmooved.

I'll get me hat...

Peter in VA

I refer the 'onourable gentleman to the post above. And I'll fetch yer coat

[Lonsdaler]

I got some model boat stanchions from Cornwall Model Boats http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/.

Thanks for the reminder of that s!ite. I have looked at them before but never used them for anything. However, I've just flicked through the fittings stuff again and come across something I've looked for many times without success. Readers of my 3D Printing thread will have seen the gutters and fittings, well the plain gutter itself is now redundant because Cornwal Model Boats sell 1/2 round styrene extrusions in a variety of sizes and 330 and 1000mm lengths, for a very reasonable price.

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/aca ... e1000.html

Good spot Philip, I'd not noticed that. I too shall be placing an order...

[Lonsdaler]

A bridge across a water feature always looks good, precluded for me by a sloping site and the presence of impenetrable Mother Wales only a few inches below the surface!

A word of warning though: A friend of mine used to keep Koi Carp. He decided that running his garden railway across the Carp's pond would be a good thing, so he built a bridge similar to yours. After running trains a couple of times all of his Carp died. The reason for this was oil floating on the surface of the water that had been dripped there by a steam loco. One oil drop is enough to cover many square yards of water surface. The oil acts as a barrier to oxygen and stops it being absorbed in to the water, resulting in suffocation of the fish. So, if you are planning on having anything living (fish, plants, frogs, etc.) in your pond then my friend's advice would be to install some kind of drip tray on your bridge to keep oil and water apart.

Thanks Tony, Already an issue I've encountered! Fortunately, the pump and waterfall I've installed seems to break up the oil sufficiently to enable oxygen transfer to continue. No fatalities as yet!

[Lonsdaler]

With the Lune Crossing complete, serious work could continue with the lines extension to join the Housedown Pottery Loop (geographically, I have created a mobius strip, or Escher illusion - the line crosses a major river to get to the east bank, and then rejoins itself to the west of the 'river' ). The Controller accompanied our chief Engineer Trevor on an inspection of the work in progress on the 'triangle' junction,

Triangle1.JPG (174.44 KiB) Viewed 7415 times

which will allow for greater flexibility in running locos and trains round - meaning a train can reverse and return without much shunting.
The Controller engaged the PWay staff in polite conversation, in the interests of promoting working harmony

Triangle2.JPG (214.83 KiB) Viewed 7415 times

and getting some good publicity shots for the local rags photographer

Triangle3.JPG (188.5 KiB) Viewed 7415 times

and then the same evening the photographer hitched a lift in Mr Bigearls' bi plane to view the completed engineering for the triangle

Triangle4.JPG (231.65 KiB) Viewed 7415 times

and also the new embankment that runs down to the triangle from the river crossing.

Embankment.jpg (231.53 KiB) Viewed 7415 times

[philipy]

I love the view of this last shot. It will look fabulous once the planting matures.

[tom_tom_go]

Yep, I agree about the last shot - brilliant.

[markoteal]

Yes - there is something about sweeping curves!