First ever garden railway project

[Monk_1987]

(I started this topic on another thread but realised it was on the wrong thread but I didn`t know how to move it, so thought I would start it again and put it here).

Hello.....

We have been having some nice weather here in Wales over the past couple of months so I decided to start my first ever garden railway project. The interest started when I was a young teenager watching Garden railway with Mark Found, and once I bought my own house a few years ago I really wanted to give it a go. I started through the winter with a couple of modelling projects which can be found in the links below. Once I started these it really got the bug going. So I thought I would create a new topic for people to watch my progress and for anyone to give me advice would be greatly appreciated....

Model 1

https://www.gscalecentral.net/index.php?topic=300791.0

Model 2

https://www.gscalecentral.net/index.php?topic=301057.0

As I don`t know exactly what I doing I decided to build a station down one side of my garden so that I could experiment with what works and doesn`t etc. So that I can learn and apply what I have learnt to the rest of the garden. So I started out by digging a small trench down the side of the garden.


I then filled it in with concrete and started working out the measurements for the siding.



I then started building a mold for the siding using the measurements I had taken earlier. I screwed spiked posts into the mold in order to secure it into the ground.


I then bought some flexible wood and worked out the correct curve from my measurements and clamped them in before I screwed it permanently.


Siding mold sits in place.


Siding mold filled in.


Siding mold filled in and removed


I then put in the garden border to hide the side of the concrete. Pretty pleased with how it`s come out so far.

 

[stockers]

A grand start. Is the loop going to e long enough?

 

[3Valve]

A grand start. Is the loop going to e long enough?

No, they're never long enough, cos we keep buying more stuff

 

[Gizzy]

I found the answer to short passing loops was?







Double track....

 

[Monk_1987]

A grand start. Is the loop going to e long enough?

Probably not.... However, my garden is not the biggest so I am working with what I have. It will be easy enough to expand though if need be!!

 

[PhilP]

I found the answer to short passing loops was?







Double track....

Double????

But....













How do you get round the slow goods?? ??? : :

 

[Monk_1987]

Update 2....

I saw a topic on here a while ago from a guy called Steve. The railway looked awesome and I wanted to `borrow` a few ideas. I especially liked the concrete middle section between the tracks, so I decided to do it. Here is the mold below, and it being filled in.



I put some ridges in to add some detail to it.


The molds have been taken off. The 2 holes (explained in the next couple of pictures) will be for some lights that I am planning on making while it`s raining (which is looking likely according to the forecast).


I had some spare elbow joints from a job I done a while ago putting a radiator in for my Nan so I thought I would put them to good use. So I buried them into the concrete with a small pipe sticking out in order to feed the cables that will go in there. I thought the copper pipes were ideal as I can easily slot a 15mm pipe in the hole left by the elbow joint.

 

[David1226]

I had some spare elbow joints from a job I done a while ago putting a radiator in for my Nan so I thought I would put them to good use. So I buried them into the concrete with a small pipe sticking out in order to feed the cables that will go in there. I thought the copper pipes were ideal as I can easily slot a 15mm pipe in the hole left by the elbow joint.

Just as I thought.....you're round the bend......

David

 

[Chris Vernell]

Just as I thought.....you're round the bend......
David

Aren't we all? Me, I've just about made it full circle ???
Meanwhile, I think that small station looks fine. You cuts your trains to fit your loop , just like the real thing

 

[Madman]

That's great. Nothing like concrete for long life. Great idea on the copper conduit.

 

[beavercreek]

Great construction, that will be there for a good time into the future.

 

[Gizzy]

Double????

But....

How do you get round the slow goods?? ??? : :

Quadruple track....

 

[PhilP]

Quadruple track....

Oh yus!!

 

[Monk_1987]

Thanks for all the positive feedback Very flattering 8)

Another update on the first platform I have done.

I found some cheap tiles in a sale and saw that someone had built a platform wall using these before so I thought I would give it a go.


I bought some adhesive tile filler stuff to build the wall first which didn`t go as well as I had hoped, however, I thought I would persevere with it the best I can. (I have never been great at tiling)


I put clamps on them to make sure it set well and strongly.


After giving it a wipe down I think it looks OK.


I built the mold for the 1st platform. The little bit of the side is for the bridge to the other platform (which I still need to make).


I again insert the copper pipe so that I can run cables through it for the electrics.


Then I push the inch square tiles into the top of the concrete to create paving slabs (this will be painted).

 

[Monk_1987]

After the (limited) success I thought I would scrap the idea of using the tiles with adhesive and just bind then using concrete. Unfortunately I did not take photos of the progress but I will try and explain it.

I put the tiles on a bed of wet mortar and laid it inside a curved mold I made to get the shape (I had to cut in to the tile backing in order to curve it). I then in filled with concrete just slightly higher than the first bed of tiles. Then I pushed the next level of tiles into the mortar and so on (making sure they were off set to create the brick effect).

If anyone is thinking of making a wall with tiles I would highly recommend going down the concrete route as I found it so much easier (and cheaper).

Anyway here is a few pictures showing the results. Here is the platform finished in the mold.


Platform out of the mold.


Here is a closer picture of the brick work. Need to tidy up the edges mind you.


Tiles been painted same colour


Platforms painted

 

[simon@mgr]

Loking good

 

[PhilP]

Does the station base lift out???

I see a problem with the proximity of the two trees.. The trunks will fill-out and 'blow' the station apart. Sorry!

 

[David1226]

Now is the time to start wiring and trimming those trees into bonzai before they get too much over scale.

David

 

[beavercreek]

Yes, trimming the trees is essential, but even then, they will `bulk out` their trunks....trust me, I have had various sorts of `dwarf`/miniature conifers and although they are nice and to scale after 9 years, some of the trunks are nice and thick too!

 

[Monk_1987]

Yes, trimming the trees is essential, but even then, they will 'bulk out' their trunks....trust me, I have had various sorts of 'dwarf'/miniature conifers and although they are nice and to scale after 9 years, some of the trunks are nice and thick too!

[attachment=0][/attachment]

They look awesome fair play.