Hi there John, Chris,

I'm currently building some track in my garden, and after a couple of
false starts I have found something that works.

For a start I ought to point out that I was after raised track for
passsenger carrying - so if you are thinking ground level, then my
thoughts probably aren't relevant.

I found that you can get concrete supports (squared figure of 8) from
Ridgeons for about 1.50 pounds each - they are 215*215*480mm - with the
lower half burried underground they give a concrete arach effect.

These are sited four foot appart, on a rubble and sand base.

(Note bags of this kind of stuff are cheap from B and Q).

On top of this, I have twin 4"*2" horizontal members (bought from B and Q,
as it is about the same price as the local 'cheap' woodyard).

These are attached to the posts via a little steel plate welded bracket,
which is quick and easy to make (made four in an hour last night).

Sleepers are from the Miniature railway supply company and are hardwood at
50 pence each - this is not cheap, but I have seen several outfits where
softwood was used, only to suffer from rotting and guage widening
problems.

http://www.miniaturerailwaysupply.com/

The sleepers are nailed to the horizontals with galvanised decking nails.

Rail was from Chris Heapy's web page, now replaced by www.homeworkshop.org
I paid 60 pounds for 240 foot of rail.

The rail if spiked to the sleepers using SQUARE spikes from the miniature
railway supply company - note some rail spikes are round and prone to
turning in the sleeper. If they rotate 90 degrees then they release the
rail! Square spikes in hardwood sleepers is more secure.

Whole lot is finished off with some modern creasote substitute!

I'm currently laying about 60 foot of this stuff - and the first 30 foot
is down and seems okay.

If you want more details, let me know.

One thing I'd say though - the rail is not the more expensive or
troublesome itme to get hold off, I'd say the sleepers are.

Also, make sure that you have a construction system that you are going to
be happy to use for making the entire track. My first attempt was a
cheaper system of construction, but it would have taken about ten times
longer to make the track with. Fortunately I realies this on my 'test
sample'; and switched to the above method.

Yours,


Rich.


On Wed, 14 Jun 2006, John Baguley wrote:

> Hi Chris,
>
> Cromar White and PNP Railways both sell aluminium rails and plastic
> sleepers suitable for a passenger carrying track if that is what you
> are interested in:
>
> http://www.cromarwhite.co.uk/
> http://www.pnp-railways.co.uk.
>
> The smallest rail section they do is 16mm high which is a bit big for
> 2-1/2" gauge really and is meant more for 3-1/2" and 5" gauge. It
> doesn't work out cheap if you want a lot. A much cheaper alternative would
> be to get some steel bar, say 1/2" x 1/4", and either weld it to steel
> sleepers or set it in grooves in wooden ones. If you look in the photo
> section at the photos of the Rugby 2005 get to together you can see
> how their track is put together. There's also a photo of the welded
> steel track at Butterley park which is quite an interesting construction.
>
> I'm hoping to build a multi-gauge test track in the back garden which
> will be about 120' long so I will be looking at cheap ways of building it!
>
> John
>
>
>
> --- In halfinchlivesteamforum@..., "chris"
> <c_reynolds2571@y...> wrote:
>>
>> I just got my copy from the guy this morning. It's a nice looking
> engine.
>>
>> are there companies that sell 2 1/2" gauage track? or do most folks
>> build their own?
>>
>> chris
>
>
>
>
>
>
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