Garden Railway Forum

philipy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:59 pm Warning - this is going to be an almost totally useless post!

I've just remembered that I have what I think may be the answer to your problem. The only thing is that I can't remember what it is called!

I bought 2 plants in 4" pots from a local nursery about 2 years ago and those two plants currently cover an area approx 5ft x 2ft and I have trimmed them occasionally. Really I planted them too close together and if I hadn't they would cover an even greater area. They are part in total shade and part in sun, on clay, and are thriving. They grow as a mat about 2" deep and are currently sprawing up through a couple of heathers that have got in the way. They don't flower and are just small green leaves approx 8x5mm max, with a pale centre line on stiff prostrate stems.

DSC_0002.JPG

If they are potentially of interest, let me know and I'll pop up there and ask what they are!

BertieB wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:16 pm I’ve found Sweet Woodruff really useful for ground cover, filling holes and hiding scabby bits. It’s easy and quick to cut it back (with scissors) every now and again as necessary. Here’s a healthy plantation of it (permanently in shade) in the picture below, to the left of the loco.

I’ve also planted loads of slow-growing, small-leafed Euonymus Japonicus ‘Green Spire’ (not the quick growing, potentially very much larger variants) to replace all the Box that was killed off by the beastly caterpillars. It looks very similar. The local garden centre displays it in neatly trimmed, dense, low hedges — say 25cm high — as edging to paths and so on, which I’d like to emulate. Might be useful to you?


sweet_woodruff_1.jpg
Sorry, it's not the sharpest picture you've ever seen


Euyonmus Japonicus.jpg
Euonymus Japonicus ‘Green Spire’ (with spelling corrected)

Trevor Thompson wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:33 pm

We would certainly like to know what they are called! They seem to be thriving - and that is a good starting point.

gilfachphil wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:29 pm At the Welsh Botanic Garden today in the Japanese garden I spotted Leptinella Squalida which is a low growing mat forming plant which might be suitable for the bank.

Trevor Thompson wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:23 am

gilfachphil wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:29 pm At the Welsh Botanic Garden today in the Japanese garden I spotted Leptinella Squalida which is a low growing mat forming plant which might be suitable for the bank.

I will have to look for that - its about time we visited again

Trevor

philipy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 11:25 am

Trevor Thompson wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:23 am

gilfachphil wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:29 pm At the Welsh Botanic Garden today in the Japanese garden I spotted Leptinella Squalida which is a low growing mat forming plant which might be suitable for the bank.

I will have to look for that - its about time we visited again

Trevor

It's fairly widely available. I got two at different times, but neither have survived, don't know why. It comes in two different colours, a greenish one and a dark brownish purple colour.

philipy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 1:50 pm Interesting picture Jimmy, which may explain why mine died. I planted it on open borders between lawn and track, whereas yours seems to be happy in the gaps between the rocks. If thats correct then I fear it won't like Trevor's big open bank.

Lonsdaler wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 6:21 pm 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 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:32 pm ....... the gap between running rail and check rail is 3mm rather than the 2.5mm which seems correct for 32mm narrow gauge.

ge_rik wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:10 pm

Trevor Thompson wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:32 pm ....... the gap between running rail and check rail is 3mm rather than the 2.5mm which seems correct for 32mm narrow gauge.

Better that way round than vice versa ........

Rik

Phil.P wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:44 pm On the point:
Could fit a thin brass shim, folded to slip over the check rail?

Something similar is often done on G scale track..

Phil.P

Trevor Thompson wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:32 pm

Lonsdaler wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 6:21 pm 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.

I have realised that I have actually made an error here. The check rail chairs that I have used are actually designed for G1. And for Course scale G1 at that. So the end result is that the gap between running rail and check rail is 3mm rather than the 2.5mm which seems correct for 32mm narrow gauge. Bit of a pity really all that effort and extra expense and it isn't correct. Too late now! However I have tried a few different vehicles on the viaduct and the check rail isn't far off touching the back of the flanges - particularly on 4 wheel stock. Perhaps since it is on a curve that brings the flanges closer to the rail - so perhaps it isn't an issue. If you look closely at the photo you should be able to see that the flange on this wagon is near enough touching the check rail:

IMG_1847.jpg

On the other hand it is an issue on the point. The wheels on test wagons just climb the frog - and its that 3mm gap which is the issue. So I am going to modify the point. I will cut through the middle of the check rail chairs (only 3 each side) and prize up the check rail. If I cut through with a cutting wheel in a dremel that should allow me to close the cut, and pin them down again at the correct spacing using a track gauge to make sure they go down in the correct position. I have noticed that if I cut off the bolt heads with a knife I can usually get a 0.9mm hole in the correct place and then use brass pins - the sort used for making model boats.