Tumble Down Falls
- Thread starter JimmyB
- Start date
Chris Vernell
Tortoise
But Grandpa, where's the water? We want to splash in it.
Hutch
G Gauge, Raising Peaches, Apricots
Global warming is coming sooner rather than later - even to the "Great White North". Might as well get ready early!I have dreams of a flowing water feature, but it would spend half the year as an ice block.
JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
The water feature is in and working, though some finishing touches are needed. The important thing for me is lessons learnt:
Under the bridge - must determine what i want for a bridge
The pool at the top.
- I didn't fully appreciate water dynamics, and tried to imitate nature to much, the water course bed was to deep, and unless you have a really powerful flow from your pump water movement is quite slow, so shallower and a reasonable gradient to provide flow.
- I cut the excess liner at what I considered the right distance from the water level, the water wicks up the liner and leaks out, so the liner edge is not distance but height from the water's edge.
- Positive point, I did find reviewing YouTube videos landscaping expanding polyurethane foam that is good for ponds, and safe for fish (not that I have fish) and it seems to work.
Under the bridge - must determine what i want for a bridge
The pool at the top.
Noting those issues Jimmy.
1 Flow can be created by making a few Blockers that allow Water to flow faster between them. Much like Rapids do on the real thing. A couple of slightly deeper slower flowing areas followed by a short sharpe drop will create some drama small stones cemented in and G4 over the cement will help. Looks shiny at first but dulls down over a season.
2 Water will always find the way. Always best to cut the excess liner once you have proven the flow including those Blockers for Rapids and other scenic bits.
3 interesting about the foam, stored in the Brain Box for future use.
Still certainly looks the Wild West Water Flow.
AlanL
Registered
Excellent water feature Jimmy, the railway is looking great.
When I built my stream I built the sides using 6 inch tiles on edge. but the steam was too shallow and like yourself, discovered the magic of water disappearing up the sides of the liner. Fortunately because the tiles are not permanent, unlike cement, I was able to raise the edging tiles enough to prevent the water loss. On my stream I think it needs the edge to be about 20 mm above the water to stop the losses. Rainfall often triggers the pathway for water loss.
It adds an extra interest for your railway, and an excuse for a couple of bridges which themselves add extra to the railway.
Enjoying seeing your progress on the Tumble Down Falls Railway.
Alan
When I built my stream I built the sides using 6 inch tiles on edge. but the steam was too shallow and like yourself, discovered the magic of water disappearing up the sides of the liner. Fortunately because the tiles are not permanent, unlike cement, I was able to raise the edging tiles enough to prevent the water loss. On my stream I think it needs the edge to be about 20 mm above the water to stop the losses. Rainfall often triggers the pathway for water loss.
It adds an extra interest for your railway, and an excuse for a couple of bridges which themselves add extra to the railway.
Enjoying seeing your progress on the Tumble Down Falls Railway.
Alan
JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
Last year I read an article about using Bonsai trees on a model railway, just for those that do not know, Bonsai trees are not a special type of tree, but a method of cultivation, take any sapling, constrain the roots (and trim occasionally) and keep the top pruned, that is the basics of Bonsai.
Anyway, I have kept Bonsai for a number of years, including a number of native species, so last year I planted a Hawthorn (in a plant pot) in my railway, other than a "haircut" earlier this year no extra treatment including no watering, and it has thrived:
So this year I have prepared a number of trees, sycamore, birch, salix, hawthorn, prunus, and a couple of bought dwarf conifers, and planted them out:
and now I have my small "plantation"
Anyway, I have kept Bonsai for a number of years, including a number of native species, so last year I planted a Hawthorn (in a plant pot) in my railway, other than a "haircut" earlier this year no extra treatment including no watering, and it has thrived:
So this year I have prepared a number of trees, sycamore, birch, salix, hawthorn, prunus, and a couple of bought dwarf conifers, and planted them out:
and now I have my small "plantation"
Nice set of trees Jimmy, I keep getting seeds from a tree at the bottom of the Garden In the School playing field. They seed anywhere,
I have used a couple in my modest Bonsai collection but Taking your inspiration I must get some more native seedlings. Plenty to be found on my daily walk with Barney. Plus a few spaces where Conifers have given up the ghost. I learnt about the pot planting concept some time back in Garden Railways mag and it was succesful for a time, but I am poor ar remembering to water! Lost a lot of Bonsai to that and also my protracted trips to Somerset, now I put the Bonsai in a tray in a shaded area and fill with water before I go away, not lost any since I started doing that.
I have used a couple in my modest Bonsai collection but Taking your inspiration I must get some more native seedlings. Plenty to be found on my daily walk with Barney. Plus a few spaces where Conifers have given up the ghost. I learnt about the pot planting concept some time back in Garden Railways mag and it was succesful for a time, but I am poor ar remembering to water! Lost a lot of Bonsai to that and also my protracted trips to Somerset, now I put the Bonsai in a tray in a shaded area and fill with water before I go away, not lost any since I started doing that.
JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
Jon, very nice. I have kept my Bonsai in the shade for years now. Almost 30 years ago I worked at Marham and use to travel home to Stafford there was a nice little Bonsai place near Wisbech, on the A47, they had a super display, and all the accessories you could ask for
Yes been to that joint a couple of times, well overdue a visit as I am need of a few trays to match pots, original trays sadly got broken. I moved most of my Bonzai to this shelving a month or two back and it is mostly shaded except first thing for an hour or so. Only real place as everywhere else suitable has train boards! But it does miss the fierce midday sun.
JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
Over the last week I have been working on my water feature. Although I have a reasonable flow, I was never quite satisfied, my old pump had a flow of 1,100 l/h at 1 mtr head, whereas my new pump is 4250 l/h at 1 mtr head. Also I was loosing water, more than considered from evaporation etc, I eventually traced this to water seep/weep as the water entered the sump, so part of the work was to remove and refit the sump.
JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
For those of you who would like more info on the water feature, I have updated my blog with the details:
Water Feature – Tumble Down Falls
Water Feature – Tumble Down Falls
JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
Plans for my phase 2 extension are in hand, however they are slightly more fluid than phase 1 which had to fit in a defined space. A spur will head off down the garden, but once it has left the confines of phase 1 the exact route is still in "planning" but it will run through the plants past the arbour seat, and circle back (or at least initially) possible with a reversing loop. However this track will be for live steam and battery only.
Plan on the spur track in red:
Photo of the location:
Plan on the spur track in red:
Photo of the location:
Chris Vernell
Tortoise
It's usually a Land Grovel
