crossing PATH HELP

[Anonymous]

hi im currently in the process of planning a garden railway, i plan to run an oval across my front garden with a sideline through a ravine created using rocks, my only concern is i have a concrete path running through the middle to my front door , whats the best way to cross the path , bearing in mind its our only entrance so has to remain usable to get to the house
any help greatly appreciated
regards Neil

[dwbeckett]

sounds like work to me, first off it will need not to be a tripping hazzard. next it needs to be secured and well marked. If a step is near you could extend it and sink the track in it, with the rails level with the top. Then fill in-between the rails with strip wood This wood look like a grade crossing. Then you could add some crossbucks and maybe some gates, all as time and $$$ permit. another way would be to cut a grove in the path and complete the process as above. I have done the step thing twice in wood at two different locations both were temporay .(Rentals)

[dwbeckett]

P.S. a concret saw blade cost about $14-20 at Home Depot/Lowes. I have used mine alot to cut concret blocks .

[FJ and G]

Is it a rental where you can't cut up the sidewalk? Then get some exterior rubber mats that'll clear the rails and lay those on the sidewalk. I have thick rubber weighlifting matts at my house but you'll have to research which material is best for outdoors.

Exterior thick tiles might also do the trick; you could run a brass or other metal that won't rust strips across the sidewalk and bend the rods to anchor the rods into the ground. That would keep the tiles from slipping around and in 2 seconds you could remove everything.

[ttrigg]

Take the time and look back through the postings here and you will find your solution with photographs on how to do it. Another member has put his track through the concrete patio.

[Anonymous]

I put mine thru the patio see the link below, I used a outdoor mat turned upsidedown and cut to fit to fill the voids, attached with silicone. Note I found a special cutting wheel at Lowes (I'm sure the others have it too) to make the cut more even, didnt use it as I am done cutting now.

[Anonymous]

hey eric i like your idea, cant see from the pics what you did with the matting you got any more pics sorry if i seem a bit stupid but im a complete novice to all this ,
regards neil

[rpc7271]

Split Jaw Products has a new product out for crossing tracks over sidewalks, ect. Says it is so tuff you can drive over it!. I haven't actually seen any of it yet though. http://www.railclamp.com/displayCategory.jsp?categoryId=39&vId=23088

[Anonymous]

wow they look great ....would you just lay them on top of the side walk or cut out a little bed for them to sit in ..... im thinking take out a few mm to support them so they arnt kicked in the dark or anything , what do you think
regards neil

[Greg Elmassian]

I saw and handled them at the QM show... I'd glue them down on top of the concrete, they are tough enough to drive a car over. Can get in any rail...

I am getting them in Aristo SS where the track is just outside the patio door.

Regards, Greg

[Anonymous]

Sorry I havent responded, I will get my site updated by thursday evening, I was going to do it tonight, but unfortunately I cant find the memory card with the photos, will have to retake pics on thursday. As far as the split jaw product, I bought 2 for a couple areas elsewhere on my layout, definately sturdy (&heavy), but I cant give an install and performace review as the layout isnt to that point yet.

[Kiwi Down Under]

Why not use a much easier way. I gather its across a concrete path. Lay flat brass or alloy ( around 25mm x 4mm ) across the path and secure the same distance apart (45mm) if its G scale ) . Have the rails either side match up with the metal strips, wire into rails if your using track power and away you go.
People can walk, jump on it, in fact its the best method for going accross driveways.

Tony

[Anonymous]

My website has been updated to show what I did (updated later than I planned). any questions with how I did it, etc. email me. I have found the entire process easy (& fun to me), although it took time. Tony may have an idea, it is up for someone else to test. One final note, the split jaw product would not work in the situation I have posted on my site as it will only work for a short strait section, it would probably take 3 to cross a sidewalk.