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Raised roadbed construction suggestions?

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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole I'm doing exactly that right now, and am using a version of the spline roadbed idea. My layout is on a hillside with a 15 inch drop from back to front. The back part is on the ground, and the front part is being elevated 15 inches. I'm using cedar fence pickets that are 6 feet long, 5/8 inch thick, and 4 inches wide. I cut them lengthwise into 1.5 inch wide strips. Two strips are turned up on edge and ladder rung style cross bracing cut out of the same material, 2-3/8 inches long, is glued between them every 12 inches, using Gorilla Glue. The wood is then given a good coat of polyurethane to seal it. I'm using a 7 foot long piece of 4-inch diameter ABS water pipe to soak pickets that need to be formed into a curve. The pickets are soaked in ammonia for a few days, and are then held in place at the desired degree of curvature until the ammonia evaporates. Once dry, the pickets will retain their curvature, and can then be fabricated into roadbed. I'm using cedar only because it's very plentiful here in Arizona as fencing material. After being sealed with the polyurethane spar varnish, they should last beyond my lifetime. [/quote] I'm interested in the ammonia thing, never heard of it before. I built a steamer for bending wood out of PVC and an old galvinized gas can on top of a propane burner, it works fair, although you have to bend it quickly and attach it. It has the tendency to diplace the moisture quickly and lose its flexibilty.
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