I hadn't noticed the weather forecast for today and so found myself trying to avoid the rain showers in an attempt to get something done - but I even managed to complete one job that I was going to put off until tomorrow. I have tried to show todays progress in stages so that my actual construction methods are clear. I know that there will be a number of people who are keen to see how a garden railway can be constructed but my methods might appear to be more than what is actually required. However, I'm happy and confident that constructed in this way my garden railway will give me good service.
I began the day where I left off on Thursday by laying the remaining breeze blocks round the large curve but got caught out by the rain as soon as I had started and had to shelter beneath the tree at the bottom of the garden while I continued laying the blocks, covering them with empty sand/ballast bags to protect them from the wet as I progressed. I had just mixed a whole batch of cement and wasn't sure how long the rain would last so I decided to stick at it. Fortunately, by the time I had completed laying the final block the rain had stopped and the sun was shining once again.
I then turned my attention to the extension next to the viaduct. The breeze block base had been laid on Thursday and I was satisfied that they were now sufficiently solid enough to withstand a hammering and so I began adding the decking board base, securing it with rawlplugs (hence the hammering).
The photo above shows a cross-section of the track base which extends from the viaduct, this being my preferred method of construction. On top of the blocks I place a layer of roofing felt to act as a damp proof membrane and the decking board is affixed to the block by drilling directly through the board and into the blocks before inserting a rawlplug which is hammered in flush with the board. A final turn with a screwdriver competes the job. I then edge the board with 2x1 pressure treated battens before coating the whole lot liberally with bitumen. Once that's dry, I give it all another coat of bitumen, coat a piece of roofing felt also with bitumen, and when tacky, lay the felt onto the board, pressing down and securing at the edges with small clout nails. The first photo below shows the decking boards coated with bitumen and awaiting the addition of roofing felt. The second photo, taken from the opposite side, shows the boards covered with roofing felt and the remainder of the trackbase awaiting completion. The little dog is always close by and ready to lend a hand.
I then turned my attention to the large curve. The blocks that I had laid on Thursday were sufficiently dry and secure to allow the wooden tops to be added. Previously I had constructed a curve out of blocks and with a double skin plywood top but this time I decided to stick with the decking boards. This meant a trip to the DIY store and was the reason I was contemplating leaving this task until Sunday but when I returned I thought why not... and work began.
The decking boards required cutting at an angle to match the curve and I wasn't too sure of my ability to make a decent job of it but after the first section was laid it seemed to go okay.
You can see in the photo above how each section of decking board is cut at an angle so that they follow the curve and match with the next section. Each section of board is secured with 2 rawlplugs. Once I had completed as far as I could go for today I began adding the edging battens, securing these to the boards with galvanised screws. Eventually all the battens were added and then the whole lot was coated in bitumen (as can be seen in the following 2 photos), just as the rain began falling again.
