We've broken ground - Croaker Diggs RailRoad

[Shu]

Hello everyone. I have been doing a lot of reading and paying attention to the posts here and I find the information very helpful and the people among the friendliest I've found. I am building our first G-scale layout and I started a web site to document the progress. I am beginning with a fairly small area but will expand as time goes on (and I pick the right 6 numbers!). The small area of 14 x 30 is creating quite a challenge, that plus the slope of the property. Check out the progress and PLEASE let me know what you think of our progress so far. I update the site every day. As I said earlier, I really value the information from all the friendly garden railroad folks. OH - don't forget to sign the guestbook at the site.  http://ironhorsereplicas.com/croaker_diggs.html  - Thanks, Charlie

 

ps - Heres a couple pics for those that can't look at our site. Apparently, my site isn't compatable with Mozilla. Thanks

 

Planned location before any work was done

 

 

Making progress

Mountains are going in

 

Mother nature wants us to slow down a bit...

Snow's gone - quick - back to work!

On goes the first of three final coats. Used concrete dye in the mix of white concrete and 60 mesh sand. Additional coats will be red and then brown..

[scottychaos]

Hi Shu,

nice looking railroad so far! :)

I checked out your webpage too..looks great!

Im planning to start my garden RR this spring, and I have been pondering different retaining wall ideas..here is the webpage of my planning so far:

http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychaos/stonehedge/

I was originally considering a block wall, but I think cost will kill that idea..the blocks would probaly cost $600, and I can build a wood wall for under $200! so I think wood will be the way to go, even though it wont last as long..

question about your wall..

Do you nail/screw the planks to the back of the 4x4 posts? or just let the weight of the dirt hold them in place? because I was thinking..if the boards start to rot and need replacing a few years down the line, if the planks are NOT screwed to the posts, it would be fairly simple to just lift out a few boards and slide new ones back in..yes, there would be some dirt that would have to be scooped out, but it wouldnt be anything major.. 

but if the boards are nailed/screwed to the posts, then its a bigger job..you would have to remove a LOT more dirt behind the wall to unscrew the planks to replace them...or am I overthinking this? ;) (wouldnt be the first time! ;)

some more details about your wall construction would be great!

thanks,

Scot

[Shu]

Scot - Thanks for the reply. I put in a couple nails to hold each board until I back-filled them. I used treated lumber 2x12 so they will last several years. The climate here is not too harsh, and the soil here in the forest drains pretty quick. I don't expect the wall to last forever, but long enough for me I guess. I already dismantled the wal once and the nails were pretty much a non-consideration actually. It came right apart with a tap once the dirt was removed. Thanks a lot! - Shu

[Shu]

Well, The mountains are pretty much complete, the water feature, drip system and electrical is in and yesterday we laid the DG (decomposed granite) and started laying the track. How sweet it is! Looking forward to our first run! - Shu

[ttrigg]

CAUTION: Somebody tell Casey that the bridge is out!!

OK: just putzing with you there. I see a great deal of progress in just the one photo, and ton's of fun to be had shortly. I also see a tremendous skill set in building mountains. I eagerly await further progress photos as I see a masterpiece in progress..

[Shu]

Thanks Ttrig - You are very kind. We just want to do a good job the first time as my wife probably let me do this over like most of my projects!! Seriously, things will appear to slow a bit from here out, I ordered the Hillman clamps lastnite and I have a lot of bents to make and I am about 50 ft short of track to complete the loop. I made a jig for the bents tonite  and bought some cedar at the depot. Never enough time, money or track.....Shu

[Rex in Pinetop]

"  ..Never enough time, money or track." 

Amen

Great job on  those mountains.

Rex

[adirondack tom]

Ya have barely gotten started and yoou have me drooling. You are a real craftsman with the cement. I cannot wait for the next issue to follow this progress. thanks for posting.