I started this project this spring and worked all summer on it. Now after 4000 lbs of brick,60000 lbs of dirt, and 8000lbs of gravel i have a raised railroad. it took a lot of trial and error but it has come a long way. if anyone has anything to add im sure i could use your input.
Jonathan It's called ladder roadbed. Works extremely well if the ground in your yard is not stony. The basic: drive pieces of PVC pipe at approx. 2 ft intervals into the ground. Attach strips of TREX to the pipe. Level the strips lengthwise as you go for proper grade, level them crosswise i.e. add the super-elevation for the curves. Add spacer pieces to keep the strips parallel between the pipes. Once level fill to the bottom of the TREX strips, mount the flextrack on top of the strips, test run. To check out for more details go to http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/html/ground_level_2.html You may find a few other tips on my hobby website. BTW I have to thank the guys on the Large Scale Central Forum to wise me to the Ladder-Method, I did just a bit of fine-tuning to make it easier for myself. Since you're in Idaho I'd think it should work really well, your climate is similar to ours here in the Okanagan Valley BC Canada The ballast you're looking for is called crusher fines, it is fine but not really to scale. The stuff I use is chicken grit, which goes on top of the crusher fines. Strictly cosmetic. PS on the amount of materials; so far approx 28 metric tons in total (56'000lbs). Rock, stone, dirt. That is not counting what was dug up in the yard and moved to "a better place".
This is the part presently under construction It is a point to point railway and there is still lots to be done.
Here is the last video of the year stupid snow. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OhVGZopnASw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> http://youtu.be/OhVGZopnASw
track on gravel question Had a garden RR years ago in gravel covered flower bed. I laid my track on treated 1X?,s. Could do this and then pour smaller gravel/grit over the planks to hide them..... [video=youtube;SqzF6-_U5Wk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqzF6-_U5Wk&feature=plcp[/video]
Johnathan, Are you in No Idaho? I'd like to visit your layout next spring after the snow is gone .. I live in the Sandpoint area. Great job on the layout so far . I always like motive power moves !!! I model N but was thinking of a G for the garden on our other lot ...sumpthin to chase the deer off with ... some redi mix plants or ashpalt plants may have small enuf stuff . pea gravel would be close but is usuall is round and very little fractured. coarse sand might work as well , the kind in sand traps that golf courses use ..
I would like that. Drop me a line this spring and come on over, its hard to find other G scale guys in Idaho. I am a ways away from sandpoint though i live in Pocatello.
Young pup, right? The 60,000 pounds of dirt moved was one clue, the low level another. When we built ours 20 years ago this February, we built UP as none of us has a back that's worth a poop.
