Cat Demolishes Bridge on the FBGR
Cat Demolishes Bridge on the FBGR
Last week a neighbour’s cat broke a bridge on the FBGR.
The Cat had been observed for some time using the bridge deck as a jumping-off-point to climb over the back fence, but no damage had been noticed previously.
The Bridge girders were made of Plasticard which were mounted on abutments constructed of small pieces of slate cemented together to form the walls. The track is a dead-end at this point, and I was hoping to be able one day to either paint or clad the fence in order to give the impression that the line went off into a wooded valley.
The Bridge has been in position for about four years without any maintenance, and I was using it as a bit of an experiment to see how well the painted Plasticard would last – rain, snow, frost and sunlight were the perils that I thought would be it’s demise – but not a local moggie.
The damage does not look repairable, and anyway a simple like-for-like replacement is unlikely to be ‘cat-proof’.
JOhn
The Cat had been observed for some time using the bridge deck as a jumping-off-point to climb over the back fence, but no damage had been noticed previously.
The Bridge girders were made of Plasticard which were mounted on abutments constructed of small pieces of slate cemented together to form the walls. The track is a dead-end at this point, and I was hoping to be able one day to either paint or clad the fence in order to give the impression that the line went off into a wooded valley.
The Bridge has been in position for about four years without any maintenance, and I was using it as a bit of an experiment to see how well the painted Plasticard would last – rain, snow, frost and sunlight were the perils that I thought would be it’s demise – but not a local moggie.
The damage does not look repairable, and anyway a simple like-for-like replacement is unlikely to be ‘cat-proof’.
JOhn
Last edited by FBGR on Sat Jul 01, 2017 7:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Cat Demolishes Bridge on the FBGR
We have seen a cat (not sure if it is the same one) sleeping on the roof of the Engine Shed - one of the little green vent pipes has been broken off but no other damage noticed yet - but we are a little conserned.
My wife Erika suggest that the answer to cats is mothballs, but first you have to catch the cat in order that a mothball can be applied.
JOhn
My wife Erika suggest that the answer to cats is mothballs, but first you have to catch the cat in order that a mothball can be applied.
JOhn
Last edited by FBGR on Sat Jul 01, 2017 7:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
Cat Demolishes Bridge on the FBGR
Dear pauly
The slatework abutments took a lot of time to construct, and share a single concrete block foundation, so I am loathed to do away with this feature at this location.
I await suitable inspiration, perhaps fuelled by some New Year Spirit (our next planned running day). Having spent the past year mostly doing mostly scenery, I was hoping to complete that railcar and make some other items of rolling stock over the next few months, so as it does not interfere with train operation it may have to wait.
JOhn
... The track is a dead-end at this point, and I was hoping to be able one day to either paint or clad the fence in order to give the impression that the line went off into a wooded valley.
The slatework abutments took a lot of time to construct, and share a single concrete block foundation, so I am loathed to do away with this feature at this location.
I await suitable inspiration, perhaps fuelled by some New Year Spirit (our next planned running day). Having spent the past year mostly doing mostly scenery, I was hoping to complete that railcar and make some other items of rolling stock over the next few months, so as it does not interfere with train operation it may have to wait.
JOhn
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At first glance the bridge "metalwork" looks a lot like a storage tray with the sides removed leaving the ends of the tray as the bridge sides - I think I'll experiment!
The plastic storage trays are the semi-flexible "poly" type plastic, so paint will be a problem (automotive bumper paint?), but "Feline Frolics" shouldn't cause any problems
The plastic storage trays are the semi-flexible "poly" type plastic, so paint will be a problem (automotive bumper paint?), but "Feline Frolics" shouldn't cause any problems
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Three Westies tend to make the local feline population think twice. The damage done by the Westies is far less than that done by cats simply because they leave it around to be picked-up/stepped in rather than bury it. Also, being dogs, they use the "sun beds" my wife assigned to them in the yard.
Peter in AZ
Peter in AZ
Traffic Pattern? What pattern? Spuds out; grain in, but cattle, sheep and passengers are a lot less predictable.
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