Ian's Area 3

[Anonymous]

My area 3 is now pretty well operational, with about 65 m track; all in 7 m X 3 m area. It includes a complete circuit and a reversing loop. it connects up to area 2 and the two parts connect to each other. it has all R3 curves except two R 2 curves and 4 % gradients. It all works terrific i can run 3 trains at once, two in area 2 and the third through all areas.

2 bridges, a tunnel with concrete (cement) portals, 5 m (16') viaduct and much decorative pebble work and plants.

I will get Troy to post some photographs as soon as I get them taken, i only hope a few people are interested in such a factual subjetc.


Rgds ian

[Anonymous]

Looking forward to them!

[Rastun]

Ian,

I look forward to the pictures of all the sections if it would be possible to gove a narritive on what joins where that would be great. A total over view shot would be even better if you have the opportunity.

Thanks,
Jack

[Tom The Brat]

Can't wait!

[bman36]

Hey Ian,
Can't wait to see those pics. I have to laugh when you say "concrete (cement)". Here in Canada we call it cement when the mixer arrives to do the pour. After it hardens we call it concrete. Go figure. Being down under do you say it backwards??? Just teasin' mate. Rgds eh...Brian.

[Tom The Brat]

QUOTE: Being down under do you say it backwards???

It's really hard to keep it up in the form till it sets[;)]

[Anonymous]

Gentlemn and Rene.

I have been really slack but I have a problem with my computer and cannot recall any email addresses, however I think Doreen can.

Jack, this is the best i can do on a narrative and i thank you for your interest; all of you.

As an afterthought Area 3 has its own built in watering system to keep the plants that are all quite young regualrly watered. We are having an opening day this Wednesday i wish you could be here, my mates off the forum that is. Not the airy fairy types that only want to discuss theories etc.

As explained; this house is a very new swish architect designed residence but it does not have a back yard. As part of a new trend in housing the push is toward having a side yard, which we do have and it includes an entertainment area, an 8 metre swimming pool and area 2 of my layout. This was the first and original layout. The railway includes two areas which have a distinctly oriental theme based on a Thailand Bhuddist culture.

The track is just a 40 m roughly (very roughly) circular track around the extremes of the area. It has two switches (clockwise access)one at the eastern end or front of the house and this leads to area 1. The other switch is at the western end or rear of the house (anticlockwise access) and leads behind the pumphouse to area 3. This area is known as Siam Junction.

Area 3 has an American double dogbone configuration track and a reversingg loop in conjunction with each other, the dogbone is connected to the reversing loop by a crossover section. even thiugh I designed and built it, I have trouble following just where th train is going to go next. But i can easily run two trains at once on it and they don't run into each other unless I am taliking too much ar having a few too many drinks, which i do often.

If you go from the central section which includes the two switches of the crossover plus one other, the tracks both curves around to the right. The reversing loop which is the inner track curves around on itslef with a negative gradient until it meets up with itself at the 3 rd switch and that completes the reversing loop (anticlockwise). However the outer track also curves arount to the right with a positive gradient up to the viaduct. It then s runs along it onto and off "the bridge that never was" (but now is a major attraction). A Switch is located on the bridge and straight through will take it back along behind the pumphouse into the top level of a doubled decker tunnel.( more about this later).

The track curves away to the right and down a negative gradient a set of R2 esses under the main double track mentioned earlier, curving around to the left around behind the palm tree and through Vampires tunnel and curving under the descending ramp and up to the main section and the crossover again.
Whew.

This will be as clear as mud when you see the photographs, both Doreen and I are very pleased with the way it has come out and I must repeat this is a positive thing and not something hairy fairy, something has been planned and excuted and many small dificulties have been overcome with decent planning and an inventive approach


Rgds ian

PS I hope you all think the same.

We only have a small amount of lawn and it is area 1 the track from the switch skirts lawn and leads into the clockwise reversing loop. This area is knoiwn as "Orient Loop" and is a pebbled area on the Japanese theme with a Shinto pagoda (this houses the electronics for the reversing loop) many small palms and tropical ferns. An area of mysrtery and ongoing minor problems. (sorry but this section is out of order with the rest and I don't know how it happened)

PPS

The section straight aheadfrom the bridge is for a planned future expansion it will be elevated above the existing track and run right through area 2 along side the fence and the pool, under a planned water feature right htrough past the lawn in area 1 and connect up into the middle of the reversing loop in area 1.

[Chompers]

ian the picture on the bottom of your post's, what area is that?

[SandyR]

Ian, one thing about your railway that I like very much, is the use of pebble mulch in different colors. How on earth do you keep them separate?
SandyR

[Anonymous]

That is in area 3 and is just after it comes out of Vampires tunnel and just before it curves around to the left under the descending ramp; which wasn't there when that photo was taken. This is the nothern end of area 3, just near the pumphouse.

The pebble work is 100 % the work of my wife Doreen, she is in charge of everything to do with trackside stuff.

We use a variety of stock, The reddy coloured stuff is a local peddle from the Tweed River which is the border between NSW (New South Wales) and Queensland. It is also know a Coolangata Gold after the famous Iron Man race off the same name. We also use Queensland cream pebbles, granite, but our favourite is 10 mm quarts.

We also bought a small quantity of what they call Pepper and salt which we thought was a rip off and you will see it between the tracks on the double track climbimg ramp.Troy has 6 photos now for posting i hope it hasn't clogged up his telephone exchange, which i understand is just a box in a field of sheep,

Regards

ian

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Nice one Ian, a lot of hard work in that lot, you deserve a beer or three in August!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Tom The Brat]

Lovely, Ian. Thanks for the tour.

[Rastun]

Great work Ian, that's a very nice piece of handy work you have there.

Jack

[majnnj]

Nice layout in sucn a small area, Look great
Mike

[Anonymous]

Thank you gentlemen,

It took 10 months however 5 of those we couldn't do anything becuase of high temperatures wouldn' allow us to produce concrete mouldings.

I actually drew it all up on graphh paper beforehand.

Will wait for a while and get Troy to post several pictures we tookj along the way.

Of interest was the first initial curves for the climbimgh ramp with a double track, very hard to get right, changed it several times and in the long run made the curve out of a 12' piece of club track and from that produced a template in cardboard, Doreen transferred it to a large piece of marine ply and I cut it out with my jig saw (saber saw).

This had to be 100 % right because verything else depeneded on it as was the placement of those 3 sets of points in the middle. shape, levelness and gradient absolutely crucial, in such a small space.

Any way i am pleased you all like it. I also have another photgraph showing the incorporated watering system working. This is also crucial in a dry country like Australia, to be sure of establishment of plants etc.


Rgds ian

[Anonymous]

BUT their is one thing , you are never done , you add this and you add that and it gets bigger and bigger, nice lay out iandor and thanks for the pictures . i'm not set up to post pic. ben

[Anonymous]

Ian, looks Great! Really enjoyed the overall shots, helps to get a better understanding of your areas.

[ghelman]

Ian,
looks great. It looks like you have changed your Goodwill bridge a little since an earlier post. You must spend a lot of time working on your RR. Is this your only hobby?

[Anonymous]

No mate being retired here on the Sunshine Coast I have many hobbies plus 11 grandchildren.Some are listed below.

Surfing
Travel
Dining out
Club outings
Girl watching
Walking
Anything I can think of.

The big thing on our agenda is to travel to Europe. We have done two house swaps, (inc car swaps) which are terrific things. I will be in Bremen in Germany via Tokyo for just about all of July, We are going to LGB, the Romantic Road, The Fairy tale road, Heidelberg, The Alps and also we are going up to Copenhagen in Denmark to see Crown Princess Mary who as you know is an Aussie.

Thence I will be in Chelmsford in Essex UK for all of August including viewing the Milatary Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle, Loch Lomand, Ilse of Skye, Wales, Kim's place, Lakes District, Stonehenge Buckingham Palace, etc.

The people in Essex have given us the use of their 300 year old farmhouse n Normandy where we will be for the 1 st half of September thence 3 nights in Paris and then; home will be away for 11 weeks. will visit all the Allied landing beaches in Normandy plus a hell of a lot more.

Just because you are retired from work it doesn't mean you are retired from Life.


Rgds Ian

[SandyR]

Omigosh, Ian, your railroad is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!
SandyR

[Anonymous]

Just because you are retired from work it doesn't mean you are retired from Life.


Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

Gelntlemen remeber "The Bridge that never was" well it is now fully operational, photos coming via Troy.

Please note new rolling stock a "Bort restaurant " ie and on board dining Car for my ICE Train.


Rgds ian

[Anonymous]

Ian.If you've sent me photos ,they have not arrived.Also we have super duper broadband now so you can send extras if needed.The village telephone exchange has been attached to a new breed of super fast sheep.