GARDEN RAILWAYS

Plan of CLR

Useful trench building tools

Groundwork diagram

Shows drive bricks laid dry on top of concrete footings.  Upturned plant box shows where the girder bridge will be located.

GROUNDWORK                 

The track bed

          The decision to construct 'The Crowfoot Light Railway' with it's track-work at ground level was made early in the process.  This was because this is what Sheila and I considered would suit us and our garden best.  I also decided to make a fairly good job of trying to secure the track-bed with concrete footings.  After early delays and changes I was perhaps a little too keen to get started and rather than design and calculate volumes of soil for removal and amounts of hardcore and concrete needed, I just went for it.  3.5 tonnes of ballast, uncounted bags of cement and a good layer of hardcore later and we have some fairly substantial concrete footings for our track bed. 

         It is Jan 2010 and I now have taken delivery of more than enough driveway bricks to build up my track bed in the spring.  Instead of laying them end to end under the track I think I have enough to lay them sideways under the main running line to create a wider trackbed.  As they are hard bricks I will have to take my time setting them in mortar whilst keeping it all clear of rain. 

        As this railway is expected to have a life of up to 20 years (my estimate) I'm hoping that the substantial concrete footings will hold things in place till then.  After this 20 years, (I will be 78) if we're still living here or living at all, we will perhaps be looking for a railway on 'stilts' and will worry about what needs to be done then.  But please, no 'I told you so' in the meantime, if I've made the wrong decision.

Digging trenches and mixing concrete

          Worth noting for those thinking of building their first garden railway and setting it in concrete in the ground is just how much physical work and cost goes into building like this.
          I've learned a awful lot, much of it the hard way.  Advice to first timers is to:

• get an experienced helper if possible (someone you trust)
• don't try and listen to every source of advice, you will get confused and never start anything
• hire, borrow or buy a cement mixer
• invest in a draining spade or a fencing spade
• plan projects then multiply time required by 2
• enjoy it even when it hurts

          Most of the above points are straight forward but most people have a range of garden spades and similar and may consider the draining spade or fencing spade is an unnecessary investment.  These spades are very heavy and have narrow blades.  You won't want to load the barrow with them but to dig narrow trenches into hard ground they are well worth having.  See the picture 'Useful trench building tools' in the right hand column of this page.   You will find them in B+Q stores though I got mine from Wicks.

          Every design of garden railway will require a different approach to groundwork and this will be further complicated by the type of ground and recent and pending weather situation.  With these points in mind I think just a picture of our design for our groundwork and some relevant photographs should serve to complete this page.

Good luck

Andy