Track laying complete - ish!

Yesterday, Thursday, was a nice sunny day so an ideal opportunity to lay the first of the fixed track having demolished the earlier 'temporary' test loop that had been set up on the top patio. This track will now be integrated into the main scheme.

The original 'test' loop (October 2018)

Having completed the track bed on the Northern section of the BLL, all of which is raised on posts and has a dedicated incline built in, track laying was next on the project list. This section is about 13m long in total.

Now being a complete novice at this with only three months experience of garden railways everything is slightly daunting - and expensive, so where to commence laying took some time to determine so I could maximise the use of some of my fixed curves (that's track curves not mine personally)!

'Barney Halt' sits on the top bend and has a good straight so work commenced here - and extended out from both sides. The long 'Sheepham Straight',  heading North/South along the Barrack wall will eventually be about 14m in length, was straightforward.
Instead of using track pins and having taken advice I opted to screw my track down - just in case!

West out of 'Barney Halt'

'Sheepham Straight'

I used two of the 'Sheepham Railway' rolling stock to assess the curves and also carry the tools and by late afternoon had completed track laying on the Northern loop. I had only to cut 'out' about 16cm of track in an effort to make the necessary smooth curves. The 'Dremel' was an invaluable tool meaning I could quite easily cut off rails as necessary to ensure smooth connections with the  appropriate 'expansion gaps'.

Finally 'we' had to readdress our risk assessment in relation to 'overhanging' shrubbery and clearance spaces for protruding granite blocks but the FC gave her stamp of approval after some minor works using a temporary structure (which then collapsed across her ankle that was on the mend)!

'Ooops'!!!

A couple of temporary buffers have been fitted at the ends to ensure rolling stock does not take a nose dive into the primroses, these buffers will remain in place until the next phase is completed.

Unfortunately the weather has taken a turn for the worse so as yet no formal test runs have taken place with 'Phyllis' - we have that to look forward to.

'Phyllis'

Work on the Southern phase will be next but a little more planning and project adjustment may be required before that becomes reality.
Some of the track bed is already prepared in the engine shed (garage!) but as I say currently it is back to the project board and financial spreadsheet (there has to be a spreadsheet)!