Late summer has been a busy time for the MVR. I was able to take some time off work, which gave me the perfect opportunity to tackle two long-overdue civil engineering projects.
The first of these was the construction of new platforms. Ever since the railway was built, it has always been an aspiration to construct permanent platforms, but as I had no experience of working with mortar or cement it seemed a daunting prospect. Fortunately, our friend JP of the Vale of White Horse Railway once again came to our rescue, kindly offering to demonstrate a technique which he has used very successfully on his own line. His method was to create platform edges by laying strips of mosaic tiling (designed for use in bathrooms, and available from all good DIY stores) using tile cement, then filling up the centre with mortar.
My only reservation about this plan was that the tiles were quite expensive; as ever, my financial circumstances compelled me to keep the cost of the project as low as possible. Racking my brains for cheaper alternatives, I hit upon the idea of using Teifoc bricks. These miniature bricks are made in Germany for a range of children's construction sets; they are designed to be used with water-soluble mortar so that buildings can be dismantled and the bricks re-used. Long-term followers of the MVR may remember that I used these bricks to build the original Box End station building back in 2004 (as shown in the archive photo). That building did not last long because it could not be left outside permanently, but equally it was too heavy and delicate for regular handling. However, it occurred to me that, if used with permanent mortar, the bricks ought to be robust enough for outdoor use. I therefore decided to use the bricks for the bottom course of the platform edge, with a course of tiles on the top to give a neater finish.
The first of these was the construction of new platforms. Ever since the railway was built, it has always been an aspiration to construct permanent platforms, but as I had no experience of working with mortar or cement it seemed a daunting prospect. Fortunately, our friend JP of the Vale of White Horse Railway once again came to our rescue, kindly offering to demonstrate a technique which he has used very successfully on his own line. His method was to create platform edges by laying strips of mosaic tiling (designed for use in bathrooms, and available from all good DIY stores) using tile cement, then filling up the centre with mortar.
My only reservation about this plan was that the tiles were quite expensive; as ever, my financial circumstances compelled me to keep the cost of the project as low as possible. Racking my brains for cheaper alternatives, I hit upon the idea of using Teifoc bricks. These miniature bricks are made in Germany for a range of children's construction sets; they are designed to be used with water-soluble mortar so that buildings can be dismantled and the bricks re-used. Long-term followers of the MVR may remember that I used these bricks to build the original Box End station building back in 2004 (as shown in the archive photo). That building did not last long because it could not be left outside permanently, but equally it was too heavy and delicate for regular handling. However, it occurred to me that, if used with permanent mortar, the bricks ought to be robust enough for outdoor use. I therefore decided to use the bricks for the bottom course of the platform edge, with a course of tiles on the top to give a neater finish.
First, I prepared the site by scraping off moss and using a stiff brush to remove dirt. I then undertook a dry run of the platform edging, which allowed me to check clearances and confirm the quantity of materials needed. JP and I then completed the bricklaying on a single day; the mortaring was tackled gradually over the course of the following week.
To complement the new platforms, I decided that it was finally time to tackle the long-overdue task of reballasting. When the railway was first built in 2004, our contractor used a very fine grit, probably more suitable for smaller-gauge railways; most of this had disappeared over the years, and moss had grown up its place. In places this looked quite picturesque, but the problem was that it did not grow evenly, leaving us with large, unsightly patches of bare track. I decided to make a clean sweep of it, and after clearing the entire trackbed of dirt, moss and what remained of the old ballast, I laid down a mixture of horticultural grit and rapid-setting cement. This method was inspired by Mark Found's Garden Railway TV series; however, the cement has failed to set the ballast in position as I had hoped, so I am now considering using a layer of PVA on the shoulders to fix it in position. Nevertheless, the whole railway is now looking much more presentable than it has at any time since it was built.
Away from home, I have continued to attend South Oxfordshire Group open days whenever possible. Russell visited another 32mm gauge line near Didcot in mid-August. Then in September, Auric and Blackbird visited the VWHR to celebrate the opening of their new extension. The latter was a major event with more than a dozen visiting engines! In addition, the VWHR's Beddgelert paid a brief visit to the MVR; she provided a welcome distraction from platform construction!
Unfortunately, the month has ended on a frustrating note as both Russell and Auric have failed in traffic. Russell's safety valve has malfunctioned; it now lifts at 10psi, making running totally impractical! Although I expect the original valve could be repaired an reset, I have taken the easy option and ordered a new one. Auric meanwhile is suffering from a broken battery holder for its R/C receiver; again, a new on is on order. Thus, our electric locomotives have been pressed into service for the first time in several months! Hopefully both steamers will be back in traffic soon.