Garden Railway Forum

At the Potters Orchid Railway the ply was removed from the tunnel at the Orchid House Loop. The pavers, sand the clay/sand roof curve form was removed. The seam line with the room and walls are just from the clay to stop wet cement flowing through gaps. MAM then blew the sand residue out.

At the Potter's Orchid Railway Mark one tunnel a few test runs were run to ensure all was correct, then the matt black spray can was directed inside the tunnel.

There was some excitement with the staff at the POR. Movie theme music was being hummed which was nauseating to the onlookers. I hope the rail regulator do not see this foolish and risky behavior. As usual the head foredog was contemplating the the next stages, such as the tunnel portal contract.

The contract to make a pair of fired clay tunnel portals has been issued to the Potter further down the line at Potters Junction. These will be fitted with mortar and adhesive. Then the POR's terra forming can commence, directed by the award winning creator of the Norwegian fjords, Slartibartfast.

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 9:14 pm

ge_rik wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 6:42 am Have you received a contract for the construction of the UK's HS2 Project by any chance? You'd no doubt do a far better and sustainable job!

Senior management took the UK's HS2 project to the board of directors. The board turned down the contract, mumbling something about bureaucratic nonsense and complexity and we all would be better off with stone viaducts, timber sleepers, mechanical interlocked frames and leisurely hauled trains with steam locomotives.

Sounds very much like the Great Central Railway ....... Now there's an idea......

Rik

Slartiblatfast is having a dry dummy run for the very first rock cutting at the Potters Orchid Railway. He is mumbling something about the rocks are not as good as he had available for him in Norway. The rocks will be mortared in sitting on a concrete footing, with a stabilising brick wall behind this, then all will be back filled with fill and soil. The Portals are on order from the pottery works and these have to be delivered before committing the rocks to cement and mortar. Then the cutting on the inside of the curve will be constructed. It is envisaged that the sound of live steam will resonate cheerfully and the plume of vapour and smoke will look impressive rising up through the cuttings.

At the Potters Orchid Railway work has been continuing most evenings, however Slartibartfast is still complaining that the rocks he has to work with are not as good as the ones he had when he did the Fjords. He keeps muttering some thing about keeping up his standards. The contractor is removing more earth for Slarti's plan for for running water. The Railway site is a mess, but one day it is hoped some order will emerge.

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:11 pm The contractor is removing more earth for Slarti's plan for for running water.

It's good to see the steady progress again. Can't beat a bit of lineside running water.

Good work Dazza, the landscape is starting to emerge from the building site and I can see it's going to look pretty damned good!

Andrew

Soar Valley Light wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:42 pm Good work Dazza, the landscape is starting to emerge from the building site and I can see it's going to look pretty damned good!

Andrew

Thanks Andrew, we hope to have some fun run days in the years to come.

philipy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 8:12 am

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:11 pm The contractor is removing more earth for Slarti's plan for for running water.

It's good to see the steady progress again. Can't beat a bit of lineside running water.

Thanks Philip, I have not done much this week due to rain and my chosen path of professional expression making time demands, this weekend I hope to make good progress.

philipy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 8:12 am Can't beat a bit of lineside running water.

I'll echo that. Sometimes I just run the stream when the railway isn't operational to have the background sound of running water while doing some gardening.

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 7:35 am [ Sometimes I just run the stream when the railway isn't operational to have the background sound of running water while doing some gardening.

Rik

Mine runs all day every day, just switching off overnight on a timeclock. Comes on at 07-30 because SWMBO likes to sit on the bench near the head of the stream first thing to listen to it. Goes off about 8pm because we are always indoors by then.

I have mine running all day every day, the wildlife love the stream (about 4 metres) with all manner of birds drinking and bathing, sparrows to crows, even had a wagtail.

The Potters Orchid Railway had a track closure today as the temporary bridge over the yet unnamed ravine was lifted and the MVL under arch bridge (painted in the Firth of Forth colour) was helicoptered in for a trail fit. Senior management was pleased as it all fits with the designed total of 3.00mm clearance. The abutment work is planned to be done soon fitting in around Slarti's terra forming and water feature creativity.

While Wal was excited the head foredog and his offsider were contemplating the abutment concrete work to be done soon.

Press release from the Potters Orchid Railway. The first of the botanical specimens was planted above Tree Snake Curve. "Today has been the passing of a significant mile stone in the railway's progression, coming nearly 3 years after the first sod turning ceremony" quotes one half of Senior management. It is expected that more planting will follow in the near future as terra forming contractor Slartibartfast completes more tracks side sections.

Great looking bridge, fits in perfectly - both literally and metaphorically. Also good to see flora starting to appear. It's all coming together.....

Rik

Very impressed with the bridge, it looks like it is planned to have water running under it, is that so and how do you plan to retain the water

Jimmyb wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:22 am Very impressed with the bridge, it looks like it is planned to have water running under it, is that so and how do you plan to retain the water

Stay tuned for more episodes to come.
Rain may slow things this week.