JJ at netzero.com says: ...been enjoying the projects...finally bought the CD |
NE of York, ME says: ...my pond's better than the one landscapers built next door. Thanks. |
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The rough layout shows track location, switches, landscape timber frame and ponds. In the lower right corner, is my experimental track bed made of 1-1/2" thick foam insulation board. The pieces are cut an inch wider than the ties, taped together with duct tape and secured in the soil with 8" nails pushed down through the middle. After 8 years of new England weather the track is still level.
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The track bed is about done...I researched track beds from cement to special metal forms, but decided to try foam insulation board. It's easy to cut with a scroll saw or razor blade, unaffected by weather, doesn't warp, and I hope, won't move with use and the winter frost. I made plywood templates so I could rough cut all the pieces in the workshop and then I trimmed the ends to match any track that had to be cut or altered as the layout was assembled.
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I covered the insulation track bed with plastic weed barrier and finished wiring for the track and switches. Wiring crosses under the track through 1 1/2" diameter PVC pipe to be accessible without disturbing the track. Wiring also runs along the entire track and attaches about every 24" as a back-up to the track to track electrical connections. Track and switch wiring runs to the transformer and control box (A tackle box mounted on the timbers.) I would have preferred radio control and eliminated the wiring, but the price difference was substantial.
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Crushed stone (3/8" diameter) was placed over the track ties to lock them down and cover the weed barrier and wiring. The scale of the stone is a bit too large, but anything smaller would quickly wash away in the heavy rain. I always planned at some point to add a better bridge over the stream, but for the past six years the two 3/4" x 3/4" wooden "beams" have worked just fine and I am reluctant to mess with it.
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The track was tested with the locomotive as the landscaping is begun. Lower branches were pruned from Dwarf Alberta Spruce to create "large" pines and low shrubs like Heather and a variety of low ground cover were added. (Actually, keeping the groundcover from growing over the track has proven to be the major part of maintenance and I would recommend the less vigorous varieties.) |
Pond Build Tip - In a two pond system (like this pond) the water drains from the stream and the upper pool drains below the outlet when the pump is turned off so you must allow enough extra depth in the lower pond, above what you wish for the full level, to hold this water. Otherwise the lower pond will overflow and that amount of water will be lost every time the pump is turned off or there is a power outage. If the upper pool is larger in area than the lower, this becomes especially important!
You must also make sure that the tubing end from the pump in the lower pond is not submerged in the upper pond or it will siphon and drain the upper pond when the pump is turned off. Quite a few ponderers are greated by an empty upper pond the first time they turn off the pumps! An anti-siphon valve is a possible fix, but many pond pumps are not powerful enough to move the valve. Other options are described on our Pond Place CD along with many more tips, valuable information plus ALL of our Pond Projects.
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Ponds are full of surprises! |
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Enjoy your visit!
