Peaslake & Grayswood Light Railway Construction Diary
As you have undoubtedly noticed, I have changed the name of the railway (again). Amberside didn't have a very nice ring to it in my opinion, however I feel the new one is much nicer 
I have just been out into the garden to grab some pics so you can get a better idea of size and where the line is going to be. These are currently uploading to Photobucket, watch this space!
I have just been out into the garden to grab some pics so you can get a better idea of size and where the line is going to be. These are currently uploading to Photobucket, watch this space!
Firstly, I apologise for all the rubbish in the garden. For example, the tubs with rather dead plants in them...
Secondly, I should have waited until there wasn't anything on the washing line
The strip of soil between the ridged concrete strip and the fence will be the main station for the branch line.
The pile of concrete slabs will become a tunnel.
The line will curve to the right from the tunnel to go around the washing line (which will be removed during running sessions, of course ). As this part of the garden is on a hill I plan to use boards on stilts for a little while then replace it with a concrete viaduct ala S&KLR, this will be for the curve around the washing line.
The line will then go into a long straight from the washing line to border the path alongside the house.
I am not sure whether to set the track in the patio or remove the patio where it juts out from the path (the strip of slabs which the tubs are on). I'll have to seek permission from the powers that be...
In the foreground will be the triangle junction. The circuit will run round the edge of this part of the garden. Again, I may remove the patio in this area to give more room for the curves.
The station on the circuit will be to the right, where the red flowers are on the extreme right hand side of the picture. I was thinking of an island platform for the station...
The line runs down this part of the garden as part of the circuit, before swinging to the right in front of the conifer tree.
Again, the site of the circuit station. The line curves to run alongside the lawn edge from the station at either end.
This overgrown area will become either an open steaming bay or a storage shed. There is a greenhouse in there somewhere!!!
The line will curve just in front of the conifer.
The triangle junction will be just in front of the patio.
I hope this has helped you visualise the garden line.
I plan to start from the branch line station and work my way from there
Secondly, I should have waited until there wasn't anything on the washing line
The strip of soil between the ridged concrete strip and the fence will be the main station for the branch line.
The pile of concrete slabs will become a tunnel.
The line will curve to the right from the tunnel to go around the washing line (which will be removed during running sessions, of course
). As this part of the garden is on a hill I plan to use boards on stilts for a little while then replace it with a concrete viaduct ala S&KLR, this will be for the curve around the washing line.The line will then go into a long straight from the washing line to border the path alongside the house.
I am not sure whether to set the track in the patio or remove the patio where it juts out from the path (the strip of slabs which the tubs are on). I'll have to seek permission from the powers that be...
In the foreground will be the triangle junction. The circuit will run round the edge of this part of the garden. Again, I may remove the patio in this area to give more room for the curves.
The station on the circuit will be to the right, where the red flowers are on the extreme right hand side of the picture. I was thinking of an island platform for the station...
The line runs down this part of the garden as part of the circuit, before swinging to the right in front of the conifer tree.
Again, the site of the circuit station. The line curves to run alongside the lawn edge from the station at either end.
This overgrown area will become either an open steaming bay or a storage shed. There is a greenhouse in there somewhere!!!
The line will curve just in front of the conifer.
The triangle junction will be just in front of the patio.
I hope this has helped you visualise the garden line.
I plan to start from the branch line station and work my way from there
-
made-in-england
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 826
- Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 4:22 pm
Looks like a great plan! With garden railways it's always good to keep things simple to begin with, sort out the problems with the track, and get the gradients as small as possible. You can always add to the railway when time and funds allow too.
Keep the radiuses as large as possible, with a long heavy train, they'll still start to tighten up a bit on 3ft 6 radius's. Try to go for the flexitrack and use wide natural bends as often as possible, trains look much better sweeping around the curves rather than jerking around set track bends.
Keep the radiuses as large as possible, with a long heavy train, they'll still start to tighten up a bit on 3ft 6 radius's. Try to go for the flexitrack and use wide natural bends as often as possible, trains look much better sweeping around the curves rather than jerking around set track bends.
For Custom CNC Engraved Nameplates and Worksplates
http://www.loco-plates.co.uk
http://www.loco-plates.co.uk
The greenhouse has been weathered very nicely! I think I will take it down, as we don't use it...mhlr wrote:Cool, good luck with it, sure will be a great line...
By the way, that greenhouse is excellent, I'm sure the plants can photosynthesise nicely... :lol: :lol:
Right, first questions folks. What is the ideal base for the track?
As I stated earlier, I'm starting here:
and am I right in saying that first off I have to de-weed it (obviously), dig it out then lay weedkiller, hardcore, teram/polythene sheet, ballast then the track?
-
made-in-england
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 826
- Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 4:22 pm
-
SillyBilly
- Retired Director
- Posts: 3536
- Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:00 pm
http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/ftopic378-0.php
Check out Bungle's article here, there's a lot to learn from it.
Check out Bungle's article here, there's a lot to learn from it.
-
made-in-england
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 826
- Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 4:22 pm
The P&GLR is now live on the internet, with the launch of a new website:
http://www.freewebs.com/pandglr/
I just love the new Freewebs site builder, much better than what it was previously.
Only three pages are live at the moment, as the site is a work in progress.
If you would like to see a link to your railway/business etc., send me a link to your website in a PM. All I ask in return is a link back to my website on yours.
http://www.freewebs.com/pandglr/
I just love the new Freewebs site builder, much better than what it was previously.
Only three pages are live at the moment, as the site is a work in progress.
If you would like to see a link to your railway/business etc., send me a link to your website in a PM. All I ask in return is a link back to my website on yours.
I am going to start construction soon as I am swapping some of my OO stock with my local model shop for some Peco points, fishplates and maybe some more flexi.
I have also updated my site, with news of a recent order with Lineside Delights.
http://www.freewebs.com/pandglr/index.htm
It looks like that, for the track base, I will be digging a trench and using blocks on edge for alignment and track fixing.
I have also updated my site, with news of a recent order with Lineside Delights.
http://www.freewebs.com/pandglr/index.htm
It looks like that, for the track base, I will be digging a trench and using blocks on edge for alignment and track fixing.
I have been mulling things over a lot about the garden line recently, and I have settled on this as the final plan:
The chalk quarry will be done after the main circuit is finished.
At the bottom, I am basing the main station Peaslake on Pilton Yard of the L&BR given my desire to have a large yard complex to house long freight trains and some shunting to take place.
Obviously given the mass of points and sheds, the passing loop will be laid first at Pilton/Peaslake and the yard actually constructed at a later date.
I have also changed the way I will be building the line. As Pilton/Peaslake will be such a large expanse of area, I will be laying a concrete bed for it and for the main line breezeblocks. I think this will be cheaper than digging out a trench and filling it with large aggregate.
I intend to start work in late June
The chalk quarry will be done after the main circuit is finished.
At the bottom, I am basing the main station Peaslake on Pilton Yard of the L&BR given my desire to have a large yard complex to house long freight trains and some shunting to take place.
Obviously given the mass of points and sheds, the passing loop will be laid first at Pilton/Peaslake and the yard actually constructed at a later date.
I have also changed the way I will be building the line. As Pilton/Peaslake will be such a large expanse of area, I will be laying a concrete bed for it and for the main line breezeblocks. I think this will be cheaper than digging out a trench and filling it with large aggregate.
I intend to start work in late June
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests