Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Railroad tie retaining wall and talus

4196 views
9 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,584 posts
Posted by rrebell on Monday, June 20, 2016 10:16 PM

Just to let you know, turned out great.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,584 posts
Posted by rrebell on Thursday, June 16, 2016 1:28 PM

wp8thsub

Note that all the wood in my walls is pre-stained.  It makes no difference in the color of the finished product if you get glue on the surface of the pre-stained wood.  If you're planning to stain afterwards, you're setting yourself up for a lot of extra work, as it's vitually impossible to keep glue off the surface.  Even if you wipe off or otherwise attempt to remove the excess glue, it can still affect how the wood absorbs stain.

 

Not so with white glue and alcohol based stain.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 2,455 posts
Posted by wp8thsub on Thursday, June 16, 2016 11:18 AM

Note that all the wood in my walls is pre-stained.  It makes no difference in the color of the finished product if you get glue on the surface of the pre-stained wood.  If you're planning to stain afterwards, you're setting yourself up for a lot of extra work, as it's vitually impossible to keep glue off the surface.  Even if you wipe off or otherwise attempt to remove the excess glue, it can still affect how the wood absorbs stain.

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,584 posts
Posted by rrebell on Thursday, June 16, 2016 8:47 AM

Yellow glue leaves spots when stained later if glue is wrong place, white glue if wiped off dose not..

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Thursday, June 16, 2016 12:13 AM

The yellow wood glue version of white glue. Has a water proof formula.   Yoou could always assemble the retaining wall with that.

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,584 posts
Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 7:09 PM

This is not going to be deep but about 1 3/4" high.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 2,455 posts
Posted by wp8thsub on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 3:33 PM

rrebell
...should have used ACC instead of white glue...

Not a problem.  Mine are assembled with white glue or water-soluble wood glue as well.  Leave them alone while the dirt is drying and you shouldn't have a problem.

...I was thinking of layers to reduce the amount of wet water needed to go to the bottom...

That's a good option.  I've done that at times, especially when I have a deep area to glue.

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,584 posts
Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 8:52 AM

Thanks for the heads up on the glue, should have used ACC instead of white glue which is what I always used to do but find I have better results with staining if I intend to do a glueup first and then stain. To avoid the problem, I was thinking of layers to reduce the amount of wet water needed to go to the bottom, what you think?

 

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 2,455 posts
Posted by wp8thsub on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 4:21 PM

What you're describing is similar to what I do.

I fill behind the cribbing or other wood material with sand and small rocks, then carefully soak with wetting agent and apply diluted white glue.

The wood retaining walls around this bridge were finished the same way.

Be aware that the scenery wetting/gluing process can introduce enough water to soften the glue joints.  Use care to avoid bumping the structure until everything's dry.

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,584 posts
Railroad tie retaining wall and talus
Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 10:42 AM

I have built a railroad tie retaining wall for the end of my dirt berm before it goes on a trestle and need to backfill it. I found I have some decomposed granit that is the right size and was thinking of filling up the space with whatever except for about 1/2" just before the wood and then pour in the stones and secure with matt medium. Now is there anything I missed, better ideas etc.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!