laying track

[Anonymous]

This is my first garden railroad and I saw in your magazine a few months back, about roadbed. I like what I read about using crusher fines. The way I read it sounds like you can put some crusher fines down and then your track and then some more crusher fines on the track and it gets hard and that keeps the track in place. I like this way. Please let me know if I can do it this way.

Thank You
Jerral Buss

[John Busby]

hi santafe 15
Broadly speaking yes you can do that..
There are a number of thing's to do before you get to that stage.
You must prepare the ground so it is level both ways have drainage to take water away from the track sorted out.
Your track base must be firmly packed to prevent subsidence.
then and only then can you spread a thin layer of ballast lay your track
and then add the final ballast to your track.
If you can have a slightly coarser ballast underneath the track to further aid drainage thats what the prototype does
Also you will have to top up the ballast from time to time and keep a periodic check on levels.
Another point is DO NOT do what most publications say and run your wiring under the track.
Instead lay 2" plumbing pipes in a trench beside the line using 6" pipe and end caps for cable pits.
You can soften the pits with plants hiding the hard edges.
But more important the wiring is protected easy to get at for repairs and additions.
ONLY LOW VOLT traction and acssesory cables go in the pipe work.
domestic electricity and your transformer stay in the house or garage out of harms way.
That is how my line is done and I have had no real problems with it.and my line was started in August 2000
regards John

[Anonymous]

Thank you Jonh, I will most likely use this way.

Thank you
Jerral