Garden Railroad around a pond

[Anonymous]

Hi All
I have a unique situation at my place. I have a 100 foot pond in front of the house and a 30 foot Koi pond in back. I was thinking of putting a rail around the koi pond but have very soft soil. is it ok to put it on the grass or should I build a ballast like base? I want to be able to run this train any time of the fall spring any Suggestions are welcome.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Yeah Mate I don't have any experience about ponds but I do about running your railway around a swimming pool, very similar i would suggest.

I was not serious about what i did as far as landscaping was concerned as i did not have much room but some thoughts you may consider. If you have any water buffalo around or crocodiles in your pond don't do it. You will not get them they will get you !

However if you do not have these or similar problems and even if you are in the tropics you have the most wonderful of all opportunities, as nothing is more satisfying than the reflection of your teains in still water; this is doubly so if it is of a night time and you, like me run passenger trians.

You would need to ballast the track most carefully as well I would conmsider using cribbing, particularly if they are likely to flood.

Ian; Kawana Island Tropical Railway.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like a rigid track base made from some sort of weather proof material would keep your track in good running order.

OLD DAD

[Anonymous]

Hi,
A ballast base sounds like it would be best here. You could have to consider raising the track level by laying stones either side and infilling with gravel to get way above any water problems. Lots of rain?, water level rises and falls? if not is there an entry/exit water courses to bridge? Lots of questions and everybody's answer will differ, but you sure will have fun!
Cheers,
Kim

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kimbrit

Hi,
A ballast base sounds like it would be best here. You could have to consider raising the track level by laying stones either side and infilling with gravel to get way above any water problems. Lots of rain?, water level rises and falls? if not is there an entry/exit water courses to bridge? Lots of questions and everybody's answer will differ, but you sure will have fun!
Cheers,
Kim

I keep seeing images of the power pack falling into the pool and really causing an international news story.

That is my only concern, I no longer have the knowledge of electrical formulas but imagine, in accordance with Ohm’s law, a wet foot across two electrified rails might cause and…undesired result.

Just raising a safety issue.

However, a line around a pond might look really nice and have potential. Just keep in mind the issue of changing water levels.

[grandpopswalt]

Anyone operating an outdoor railroad using track power MUST use a GFCI (ground fault current interrupter) outlet. Your powerpack then can fall into the pool/pond or get flooded or rained on but it will be protected from dangerous levels of ground current flowing from the rails, power leads, or any any other part of the power supply. Also, a person who comes in contact with the rails will be protected from injury by the GFCI. The power supplies are designed with isolation stepdown transformers that also protect you from harm. But the GFCI is the 'suspenders' in the 'belt and suspenders' safety combo of isolated power supply and GFCI source protection.

Walt

[Anonymous]

Hi
I would build up a track bed say 9" above 0 (ground level) putting in culverts so any rain that causes overflow of the pond has somewhere too go rather than causing wash aways.
As for the controler falling in the pond thats why the controler should be put on the outside of the loop in it own little pannel with a lid.
What no bridge over the pond?
regards John

[Anonymous]

I HAVE A SMALL POND AND OVER 160 FT. OF TRACK I HAVE A BRIDGE OVER THE ONE END OF THE POND, I USED A HALF INCH BALLAST ,ABOUT 7 INCHES DEEP ,IN THE SPRING I MUST FILL AFTER THE BALLAST.

[Anonymous]

Just make sure you have a under track spill way for you pond to over flow in the event of a 3" rain fall even to a 5" rain fall.
Keep them Koi a kicking, there kick but fish! [:D]

[Anonymous]

Bluebonnet
I DO HAVE A OVER FLOW ,WHICH IS ALSO A BRIDGE .
BEN-----OF PENNA.

[Anonymous]

Rod andmel

Send me your email address and I will send you a photograph that will blow you away and you will understand why you just have to do it. The photo is called Train Heaven.

Rgs Ian; Kawana Island tropical railway.

[Anonymous]

Hey, I also decided to do the same thing myself, but in the reverse order (I made my Koi pond for the primary sake of having a river and pond to run my trains around!) I found that, in my personal opinion and method, so as not to excite the entire roadbed/balast/everything discussions (I think that covered it), for me I dug a 1" deep trench along the track path, but anchored my track at every joint. By joint, I mean where ever I had track joiners. I anchored by using a pressure-treated 8" 4x4 cemented into the ground, and it has provided me with hassle free maintenance. For me, the track is both in front and back as i use it as a turning point, but it is not in an accessible location or meant to be in one. After I balasted te track, it is very solid and has had no adverse effects on my fish or pond and I walk on it all the time. If you do use a method with cement or pressure-treated posts, make SURE that it will have no chance to run into your pond and leach hazardous chemicals that will kill your fish. I have had no problems myself and everything works fine.

P.S. send me your email and i can send you some pictures of what mine looks like.

[Anonymous]

Check out the "splin roadbed" link on the FYI thread for a solid free flowing roadbed system that will over come most of the concerns of running on soft ground near a water feature.

Also, if you will be having large plants around your pond this roadbed can be raised so your trains will not disappear into the "jungle".

Just thinking you might want to consider an alternative to the gravel in a ditch method.....it can't hurt to take a look.

OLD DAD