Elevated Track

[Valleycrest RR]

Has anyone built their RR with elevated track? I live in the Northeast and hope there is another way other than burying all the supports 4' deep.

Tom

 

[grandpopswalt]

Valleycrest RR

Has anyone built their RR with elevated track? I live in the Northeast and hope there is another way other than burying all the supports 4' deep.

Tom

 

Tom,

I've  experimented with a series of "tables" connected together to form a roadbed.  Each leg of the tables was resting on a patio block which was laid directly on the ground.  I found that the tables did move with the frost heaves but the whole table moved so the track didn't really "kink" too much.

Another thought - I've seen cottages supported on piers which were floating on beds of gravel less than 2' deep and they seemed to remain level for many freeze/thaw cycles.

Walt

 

 

[grandpopswalt]

Valleycrest RR

Has anyone built their RR with elevated track? I live in the Northeast and hope there is another way other than burying all the supports 4' deep.

Tom

 

Tom,

I've  experimented with a series of "tables" connected together to form a roadbed.  Each leg of the tables was resting on a patio block which was laid directly on the ground.  I found that the tables did move with the frost heaves but the whole table moved so the track didn't really "kink" too much.

Another thought - I've seen cottages supported on piers which were floating on beds of gravel less than 2' deep and they seemed to remain level for many freeze/thaw cycles.

Walt

 

 

[captain perry]

Tom--

One of the fellow live steamers here in Maine has a raised layout and it has given good service for many years even though it is "portable"

He lives in East Boothbay Maine so winters are cold and summers wet.

I posted a photo of it on the "gallery section" http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/media/p/2097094.aspx

It was fairly simple and cheap to build. it has stood up to most of the weather except high winds.  Because it is "portable" it does not have any buried posts.  it should have some stakes holding it in place or some such to keep it in place.  if it were heavier that would help with the wind too. Dons place does see its share of wind, perhaps your location is not so windy...but perhaps not.

this light weight layout shows that you can build a layout that does not have its feet buried below the frost line.  if, as sugested, you sit the "legs" on blocks or a bed of crushed stone and accept a little movement with the seasons it will work fine.  just make it possible to adjust heights in case you need to.

 

--Eric Schade

[grandpopswalt]

Tom,

My "tables" were actually 4' X 8' platforms standing on 3 1/2' legs. The top was open with hardware cloth (wire mesh) holding a bed of crusher fines that the track was laid on.  The rest of the top was covered with fine mulch.  The whole affair was pretty heavy so wind was never a factor.

Again, this was an experiment. I built three such tables that I left out in the back yard for a couple years but I believe that it should probably work O.K. as a long term solution.

Good luck,

Walt

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Tom,

Take a look at what I have done.....Go to YouTube and write in Empire 2 Line....Watch the video.

I first built that line in 2006 it has been running since than with no problems what so ever.

I do plan to do the expansion within the next year or so, am presently reworking two of the ponds.

Byron