Still working on the ramp to the loading dock. I ran out of the small styrene rod to make railings with. That and the styrene rod was really brittle and kept breaking. Not sure of that is because it has been in storage for awhile or what. THE WIFE and I came up with and alternate solution. I cut out a bunch of bristle out of the middle of the kitchen broom ! They are .026 diameter...plastic...'safety yellow' and they dont break ! You can actually tie them in a knot they are so flexible. . I have one side done. They are large when viewed close up. From a NORMAL 'viewing distance' they look just fine. I am not sure what to do at this point. Put railing on the back side and call it done...OR...'file 13' the whole project and just put some steps in. THE WIFE says I should finish the project and then decide. She also said if I am not happy with the 'poles' going all the way down on the outside...I can paint the bottoms below the ramp gray and see how that looks. With my dexterity fading and my patience with it...I have put the project aside for now. Maybe when it warms up outside again. We are supposed to get a snow storm Wednesday. Decisions...decisions... .
That was a good idea on the bristle from the broom and it does look good. the post look okay going all the way down the side but painting them to match the ramp might be even better. Since the other side of the ramp isn't against the building, I'd vote for rails there too if you patients can handle it. Then add the stairs next to the ramp. Here's an example
Rails on the outside of the ramp are proof that the ramp has been there since before safety railings were required! I had a repair done on a ramp rail at a Fed Ex depot here a few years ago, and it looked purty much like yours, yellow and extended verticals. Looks right to me!
Well...we got our snow...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !! It is suppose to warm up and be sunny by next week, Will probably go out to THERR RV then and work on the ramp some more.
I'm reasonably sure this point is debatable........ As for the ramp, the more I look at the picture, the more I like the post going all the way down and in yellow. Still think some stairs would be a nice addition next to the ramp.
At my former employer, a staircase was a pedestrian safety requirement to avoid anyone being hit by motorized equipment (lift truck) on a ramp. Employees were required to always walk the stairs, never the ramp. I had a large safety warning of this painted on the pavement for all to see. Prior to a safety meeting, I took a photo of it all and edited it, adding an arrow pointing toward an adjacent dumpster with an advisory that Violators Will Be Deposited Here.
Some of us have difficulty with stairs. Even though they are my arch enemy, I still think a set would look great next to George's ramp.
Welllllllllllllllll...got the walk-up ramp to the dock done.... What a pita !!! All that small railing and hands that dont want to work anymore. . .
I am just glad I started this layout in 2012 while i still could ! I am at a point where I can just go out there...turn on the power to everything and just watch trains run. I can switch the yard..in a yard that looks great to me. I can run 3 trains and just sit...drink ice tea or coffee...have a smoke...and relax..listening to my albums on Spotify. Occasionally checking to see if the 2 trains on the same track arent catching up to each other..and adjust the throttles accordingly if the are. Sometimes I find some small projects...like the ramp...that I can mess with at the workbench. But I can set those little projects aside and run trains thru scenery that took forever to make acceptable...to me ! I ran trains today. I cleaned up the workbench. I listened to music. THE Wife texted me it was time to come in and start the BBQ. I took a stroll down the aisle taking it all in...I flipped the main power breaker off...and I smiled. .
That ramp looks GREAT with the rails on both sides George! I know it was a PITA but worth it! This comment right here really got me sir. Like Alan said, that is what it's all about.
