The Railway in the Valley of the Mill

[Jbs]

Trevor,
You might get away with a low wall between the line and the bank, not back filled. Lay weed control fabric between the wall and up to and around the apple trees at the top of the bank over the grass. Pierce the fabric at intervals for planting a low growing shrub. I have used lonicera nitida Baggesons Gold (not sure of spelling)which is a low growing variety and I trim mine twice a year with a long hedge trimmer. As the lonicera grows, it soon covers the spacing required between plants and is cheapest buying as rooted cuttings around this time of the year. Lonicera also makes a good embankment on raised track when appropriately trimmed.
Might be a solution for you and is a bit less work than digging up all the grass. I have covered grass with the fabric and laid gravel over the top with good results. The grass just dies under the covering.
Regards
John

[Trevor Thompson]

Oh!

I never thought I would get away with that!

That sounds like it might be worth a try.

and thanks for the tip on the rooted cuttings.

Trevor

[philipy]

lonicera nitida Baggesons Gold (not sure of spelling)which is a low growing variety and I trim mine twice a year with a long hedge trimmer. As the lonicera grows, it soon covers the spacing required between plants and is cheapest buying as rooted cuttings around this time of the year.

Good idea John. Only thing is that Baggesons Gold isn't really low growing and needs to be trimmed at least a couple of times a year, as you said. I have some that has got mixed in with honeysuckle in the fence at the back of my line and where it doesn't get trimmed, it is now over 6ft tall!
Even cheaper than buying bare root cuttings is rooting your own! Simply take 6-8" prunings and stick them in some compost. Keep them watered and in a few months, depending on the time of year, they will root and can be transplanted to wherever. I've actually gota number of self-rooted bushes that have grown by themselves from bits that didn't get picked when I trimmed the bushes. I think they will also multiply by 'layering' although I've never tried that.

[Trevor Thompson]

I know I have got you all thinking about plants!

However I took these photos this morning after removing all the clamps and I had to share them!

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Its finished apart from the track, which will incorporate the walkway and handrail. Of course it needs treating with wood preservative, and the landscaping needs sorting out - but its raining hard.

Trevor

[Peter Butler]

That is so impressive Trevor, particularly the view looking up at the structure. You have wasted no time in completing it either, despite the weather!

[philipy]

That is simply amazing. Very very well done.
Really looking forward to seeing a train going round that!

[ge_rik]

That is simply amazing. Very very well done.
Really looking forward to seeing a train going round that!

My thoughts exactly. Especially if the video is taken from the angle of that final photo.

Rik
PS - I can just visualise a mountain stream tumbling down over rocks inside that big loop

[Trevor Thompson]

That is simply amazing. Very very well done.
Really looking forward to seeing a train going round that!

My thoughts exactly. Especially if the video is taken from the angle of that final photo.

Rik
PS - I can just visualise a mountain stream tumbling down over rocks inside that big loop

Yes I see what you mean! that gap in the middle is just made for a steam to go through it.

Trevor

[Lonsdaler]

The trestle is looking very good Some suitably dramatic landscaping of the slope will really set it off.
Going back to your embankment, what about trying various plantings in small sections to see which works best/fastest/cheapest before committing to one option? Another plant to try may be a ground covering Sedum, and/or a ground cover Thyme. Both are doing well in areas of my garden, which is NW facing.

[Trevor Thompson]

Many thanks for all the encouraging comments on the viaduct.

Sedums certainly work on our green roofs, over my workshop for example, but they took a while to get going. Dinah, my other half, likes herbs so the thyme is certainly possible. Of course the area involved is large and there is scope for different plants in different areas - or at different heights.

She has been using wild strawberries to cover a bank in work and is keen to try the same here.

We have also planted a few Cotton Easter plants, one of which is doing really well, and 2 of which got lost in the grass - and of course I ended up striming them, much to her annoyance! I think the real issue it to cover the bank with membrane and plant enough plants to allow them to cover it in a sensible period of time - I mean before the grass gets back.

I am also going to try raising Cotton Easter from seed.

A number of comments mentioned water - and I have promised a pond - and I always intended to put it in the centre of the loop - so it could well go where the pile of rubble is at the moment, and feed a "stream" down through that central arch.

Trevor

[Jimmyb]

I assume you are talking about "cotoneaster". If you know somebody that has the variety you want, their garden will be full of seedlings. I have to pull and throw hundreds away every year, it is a very prolific plant.

[ge_rik]

I'd be wary of wild strawberry, personally. It grows as a weed in my garden and I spend a fair bit of time trying to get rid of it. It is, shall we say, "prolific" .... but I tend to use another word each time I find its tendrils have infiltrated yet another bed.

Rik

[Trevor Thompson]

Yes it was cotoneaster I meant - I just remembered it was spelt the way I wrote it, and forgot it was one word. Yes that is exactly what my wife said - or at least that she had taken the seeds of the one good plant do do just that with!

I suppose if wild strawberries spread like that they might have a chance against the grass. I don't really favour them anyway - we have some against the track by the terminus and when the strawberries encroach onto the track I get into trouble for cutting them back.

Onwards - the track approaches the viaduct. Next length will have check rails on the inside, and the longer sleepers to take the handrails:

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Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

Testing the track on the viaduct:

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That is 2 yards laid and four more to go before we get back onto concrete trackbed.

Trevor

[ge_rik]

Brave man ..... doing it without a safety net!

Rik

[Lonsdaler]

I can't see how you've fitted the check rail - is it a double shoe or have you sliced part off the checkrail shoes? Either way it looks great. Looking forward to seeing it progressing.

[Trevor Thompson]

I don't think there is much risk of it falling off, what with the check rail and the fairly level track with gentle curves. However I did try a battery loco first - and at various speeds.

The check rail is secured with special check rail chairs which have slots for both rails and at the correct distance apart. They are from Cliff Barker, as are all of the chairs, and I suppose are really intended for making points.

Trevor

[Old Man Aaron]

Been away from the forum for a few days and wow, what a sight to come back to!
A pond feeding a stream down the middle would be perfect.

[Andrew]

I'd be inclined to give Box a miss - I've had my 6 or so Box bushes for over 15 years, but this year they were all ravaged by the evil Box Moth, as was every other bush n Bristol it seems. It can only be a matter of time before it flutters to West Wales...

[Trevor Thompson]

I'd be inclined to give Box a miss - I've had my 6 or so Box bushes for over 15 years, but this year they were all ravaged by the evil Box Moth, as was every other bush n Bristol it seems. It can only be a matter of time before it flutters to West Wales...

Yes I thought box might not be a good idea.

Trevor