Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
In a number of ways Mother Nature has been conspiring against my railway for several years and I'd even got to the point of seriously considering junking the whole lot.
There are a number of problems, but biggest one is trees, and specifically Ash trees, of which there are three big ones along the bottom of our garden. They weren't planted, they just grew from seeds and we have a constant battle in pulling up seedlings all over the garden, however I digress. The RH one of the three is the youngest and when I built the line it was clear of the raised trackbed. After a few years it had increased in girth to the point where it was pushing the trackbed out of alignment, so I altered things to clear it again. A couple of years later and the same thing had happened again and by the beginning of this year the trackbed was tilted by getting on for 45 degrees! So I took that section out whilst I made up my mind about the future. The middle tree of the three isn't causing any problems but the LH one is a major headache. By pure chance it sits right in the corner of the garden, against the fence on 2 sides. For a number of years one of our neighbours has been moaning about it shading his garden ( with some justification I have to admit!), then last year I noticed that it was pushing the fences out of vertical, and also there is an upwards bulge in the adjacent public footpath which is getting potentially dangerous.
Last week I called in a tree surgeon for some advice and whilst he was here and looking at them he dropped the bombshell that he thinks all of them are showing the first signs of Ash Dieback disease, which he said is fairly rampant in this area! His estimate is that all 3 will have to come down in about 5 years time.
Sooo... he said he could prune back the big one now to reduce its height and remove overhanging branches but in his view it wouldn't be worth it, given that he will have to take it down completely in a few years time. So we reluctantly decided to get him to take it down completely now. However, to do that, I will have to take out a fairly long section of the railway to allow them working access to the tree, which will mean I then have TWO 3metre gaps in the line.
So I said to SWMBO that I didn't know what to do and might rip it all up. To my surprise she said, "No don't do that, can't you just cut it short? What about taking down the old shed that you've always talked about doing?" . Just cutting it short doesn't really work, I'd just be left with a 10metre long siding! However there is a large Forsythia bush in just the right place to put a loop round - the straight track runs behind it at present and adding a 4ft radius loop goes round it nicely.
So thats what I've been doing for the last couple of weeks: Shed taken down and disposed of, a lot of vegetation trimmed back, the guttering on the end of the garage altered, holes dug for track supports, decking boards cut up and screwed together and roofing felt fixed to the top. So now I'm about ready to start tracklaying!
That is of course why I was asking about sprung points in my other recent post.
This might make my ramblings a bit clearer! Still a lot of tidying up to be done of course.
This is Phase 1, because of course I no longer have a continuous run - although in practice I haven't had one for several years because the track distortion made it impossible. However, Phase 2 involves some major civil engineering at the other end of the line and the plan is to raise Lower Bench station to the same level as the rest of the line and join it back on, to create a loop at that end as well. Watch this space, but not too closely!
There are a number of problems, but biggest one is trees, and specifically Ash trees, of which there are three big ones along the bottom of our garden. They weren't planted, they just grew from seeds and we have a constant battle in pulling up seedlings all over the garden, however I digress. The RH one of the three is the youngest and when I built the line it was clear of the raised trackbed. After a few years it had increased in girth to the point where it was pushing the trackbed out of alignment, so I altered things to clear it again. A couple of years later and the same thing had happened again and by the beginning of this year the trackbed was tilted by getting on for 45 degrees! So I took that section out whilst I made up my mind about the future. The middle tree of the three isn't causing any problems but the LH one is a major headache. By pure chance it sits right in the corner of the garden, against the fence on 2 sides. For a number of years one of our neighbours has been moaning about it shading his garden ( with some justification I have to admit!), then last year I noticed that it was pushing the fences out of vertical, and also there is an upwards bulge in the adjacent public footpath which is getting potentially dangerous.
Last week I called in a tree surgeon for some advice and whilst he was here and looking at them he dropped the bombshell that he thinks all of them are showing the first signs of Ash Dieback disease, which he said is fairly rampant in this area! His estimate is that all 3 will have to come down in about 5 years time.
Sooo... he said he could prune back the big one now to reduce its height and remove overhanging branches but in his view it wouldn't be worth it, given that he will have to take it down completely in a few years time. So we reluctantly decided to get him to take it down completely now. However, to do that, I will have to take out a fairly long section of the railway to allow them working access to the tree, which will mean I then have TWO 3metre gaps in the line.
So I said to SWMBO that I didn't know what to do and might rip it all up. To my surprise she said, "No don't do that, can't you just cut it short? What about taking down the old shed that you've always talked about doing?" . Just cutting it short doesn't really work, I'd just be left with a 10metre long siding! However there is a large Forsythia bush in just the right place to put a loop round - the straight track runs behind it at present and adding a 4ft radius loop goes round it nicely.
So thats what I've been doing for the last couple of weeks: Shed taken down and disposed of, a lot of vegetation trimmed back, the guttering on the end of the garage altered, holes dug for track supports, decking boards cut up and screwed together and roofing felt fixed to the top. So now I'm about ready to start tracklaying!
That is of course why I was asking about sprung points in my other recent post.
This might make my ramblings a bit clearer! Still a lot of tidying up to be done of course.
This is Phase 1, because of course I no longer have a continuous run - although in practice I haven't had one for several years because the track distortion made it impossible. However, Phase 2 involves some major civil engineering at the other end of the line and the plan is to raise Lower Bench station to the same level as the rest of the line and join it back on, to create a loop at that end as well. Watch this space, but not too closely!
Philip
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
That's a blow, Philip, though it might also prove to be a blessing in the long run.
Is the stream on the closed section or the retained section?
Be interested to see how it develops.
Rik
Is the stream on the closed section or the retained section?
Be interested to see how it develops.
Rik
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
No it's OK, the stream is on the retained section!
I think it will be a blessing in the long run, it's always been a 'mare trying to keep it leaf and debris free because it is/was so long and under trees and bushes virtually all the way round. This should reduce that burden significantly.
Philip
- Peter Butler
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Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Great idea Philip, trees are lovely to have in your garden, but not worth the risk of harm or damage to people or property. You will soon get used to the new space, and light, created and enjoy your hobby again.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
It's always sad to lose trees, but I like your plan to run around the bush. I'm glad you've been able to work out a plan to restore the line to operation!
We have been losing ash trees left and right lately due to the emerald ash borer which is rampant in our area. We had to take down a big one a few years ago that had provided excellent shade in our patio area, and at the time our arborist mentioned that our neighbor's big ash was also on its way out-- now it's totally dead.
We have been losing ash trees left and right lately due to the emerald ash borer which is rampant in our area. We had to take down a big one a few years ago that had provided excellent shade in our patio area, and at the time our arborist mentioned that our neighbor's big ash was also on its way out-- now it's totally dead.
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Hadn't heard of the emerald ash borer before, but I just looked it up and see that it is fairly recent arrival here. Yet another far-eastern import!
Philip
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
It came into our area about 15 years ago, possibly on transported firewood... the effects have been devastating to the ash population. Dead trees all over town, in the farm fields, everywhere. It's been sad to spot the trees gradually balding year by year until they're completely gone.
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Sorry about your trees, but very pleased to hear the railway's making a comeback.
I look forward to progress reports!
I look forward to progress reports!
- Old Man Aaron
- Trainee Driver
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- Location: Sunshine Coast QLD, Australia
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works
Aaron - Scum Class Works
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Ok, the deafening clamour demanding progress reports cannot be ignored!
You may have seen my other thread regarding sprung points ( https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 83#p174283 ) so I won't go into that again here, except to say that I have now used fixed point blades and all trains will be going round the loop one way.
...and showing the track going round the loop.
You may have seen my other thread regarding sprung points ( https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 83#p174283 ) so I won't go into that again here, except to say that I have now used fixed point blades and all trains will be going round the loop one way.
...and showing the track going round the loop.
Philip
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Yes it is a neat solution
Rik
Rik
Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Just to prove that the fixed point actually works and because I know you lot like to see trains....
The two units have been fitted with twin magnet, magnetic couplings, which are clearly enough to hold these two together.
The two units have been fitted with twin magnet, magnetic couplings, which are clearly enough to hold these two together.
Philip
- Old Man Aaron
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Re: Major revamp of the Elderbury & District
Can't go wrong with simplicity. As an aside, those railmotors seem to run exceptionally smooth.
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works
Aaron - Scum Class Works
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