The SRS Road

[Anonymous]

Naturally i disagree with everyone; i would have no real interest in details at this stage. The firstthing i would do is to grid the area out; it may look flat but it may well not be.

I can give this to you metrically but if you wish to convert to imperial please feel free to do so.

1) Accurately scribe out the area to be used.

2) do a cross grid and place a marker stake at evry metre in both directions, scribe lines right across in bot directions. you will now hve lines intersecting every metre and drive stakes in here as well.

3) Draw up the same grid on a piece of metric graph paper.

4) get a water level and record the height at every marker on said graph paper in centimetres. Don't forget your variations inheight on your water level will only be half of the true level variation. 

5) If you can try to get a base datum line  at every point; ie decide on a common height and transfer that height onto the stakes with either a line with a marker pen or drive the atakes in until they are of equla height and eqqual to your base datum line. (It is good to use this term :base datum" as it makes you soumd professional)

6) Draw out your complete intended layout on the graph paper; make the esteblishment of your points (switches) of prime concern and then work the rest of your layout from that, even thoug you are not going to put them in just yet.

7) At this time also depict any established landmarks that will remain; such as a garden shed, rose bush, graves of previous wives and stuff like that.    

8) When you have your layout reasonably clear (change it as little as posible as you may chage your mind) transfer the plan onpaper to a clearly scribed plan on the ground in question.

9) Now have another good look at where you are going to place your points.

When you have done all this let me know and i will send you a beer inthe mail.

I would also get copy of Kalmbachs "Garden Railroading; getting started in the hobby" this is my bible.

rgds ian

[Anonymous]

Thanks to both of you.  The plant stand is the white object you see in the background and to the right of the Cyprus tree.  At one time there was a small pond just in front of it and after being filled in over time it sunk in a little, hence the depression.

Good idea about removing all plants from the area.  I think that's what I'll do.  That would certaintly give me a clearer picture of the space and perhaps bring some different layouts into view.  Everything can go but the Cypruss tree of course.   Too big to dig up and too pretty to chop down.

Weather here right now is real nice.  Highs in the mid to upper 50's.  Great time to start moving plants.  Most of it is just monkey grass anyway and I won't even brother trying to save it.

I will try and post some more pictures of the space once I have it all cleared.

Best regards to you both and thanks for taking time to comment.

 

[tangerine-jack]

 

That is an interesting space.  My personal opinion is to:

1.  Clear the space completely, start with a blank canvas.  This will allow you to see fully what the space can do for you without distraction.  Plants you think you want to save now may not fit in with the final theme.  Put them in pots if you want to save them, but otherwise remove them from the site. 

2.  Lay out some track on the bare ground and start running a train.   This will keep you motivated and give you some concept of railroad potential without any real work.  You can change the track very easily when new ideas or problems arise.

3.  Put on a pot of coffee, crank up some Punk Rock on the CD and start scratching out some track plans.  I'm thinking folded dog-bone, but it's hard to see from the photo if that is practical.  You might want to go with an "out and back" plan as well.  It depends on your research in step 2 what would work. Two ovals initialy seems like a good idea, but a plan that allows more operations will serve you better in the long run as well as looking better visualy.

4.  Once you decide on a plan that works on paper and the ground, then begin actual construction.

Just my

 

[Greg Elmassian]

I got the bird bath and the bench, but failed on the plant stand.

Why not post an overhead plan, with dimensions, and location of items that cannot move.

Otherwise, it's really hard to give any opinion other than move out the plants and lay some track on the ground.

Regards, Greg

[Anonymous]

Here begins the saga of my attempt at garden railroading.  The pictures show the garden area as it now appears and where the first stage of construction will begin.  I'm calling it the SRS Road in honor of my father, who devoted 30 years of his life to the Southern Railway.

The picture shows most of the area to be involved in phase one.  It will be a simple oval running just outside the bench but inside of the bird bath, then passing inside of the white plant stand.  From here the balance of the loop is blocked from view by the big tree in the foreground.  It won't be a perfect oval but very near it.  Total distance around is 40'. 

 

 As you can see it is all level however, there is a depression in front of the plant stand.  I plan to make it even deeper, fill it with small stones to similate a "rocky gorge" and put a bridge of some sort accross it.

Construction will begin as soon as I can remove the plants that have to go to new locations.  In this area that will be late March or early April.  Both bird bath and bench will also be moved somewhere else. 

Any comments about the space and any ideas on how best to utilize it would be greatly appreicated.  Right now I'm thinking of trenching out the loop and "floating" my track in crusher fines and then filling over that with chicken grit.  I will lay sectional track, brass, not sure yet about rail fasterners yet but realize some form of fastners will have to be used. 

I will also need to place at least two switches somewhere in the loop as in phase two, much later, I want to connect it to a larger outer loop.  The outer loop will follow the picket fence which encloses the entire garden area.

Thanks for any comments.................