Model Railways
The Garden Canal
After completion of phase 1 of laying the track for the garden railway we decided to add a river with running water.
We weren't very happy with the river or its feeder waterfall and so we decided that we just wouldn't finish it. finish it
Having a love of canals and canal boats the decision was made to fill the river in and replace it with a canal. As with most things we had an idea that needed developing, we drew rough plans for a canal utilizing the Girder Bridge that had been built to carry the track over the river.
Strictly speaking a canal wouldn't normally go over a railway track because canals were here first but we are not purists so this is ok. The Truss Bridge is made from aluminium and is 6 feet long (1828.8mm). We have also added a branch line. By the way the shed will be getting a new coat but all in good time.
On the left you will notice that we have lifted the track, this is because we decided to lay all the track on a concrete bed, some of it was laid on a bed of sand with a weed proof membrane over it. In the trench you will notice a hose pipe, all will be revealed later. On the right the track has been re-laid on its bed of concrete and the canal is ready for the cemented sides and locks.
We finished building the canal and the locks, but unfortunately we had made the locks ½ an inch (12.7mm) too narrow. You wouldn't notice it and we could have left it except that, the boats wouldn't fit in but even worse was that we knew they were too small
The locks were actually an after thought because we thought the canal looked odd finishing where it did. We couldn't divert the canal or the track without major reorganisation and so we decided to take the canal over the track to end in a tunnel giving the impression that the canal continued into and beyond the the tunnel.
Off we go again this is Chris cutting flags to the required shape and size for the various sections of the locks
By the away have you noticed the shed has its new coat?
These are various stages of the building of the locks.
Right let's get back to the hosepipe, the circular wooden lid covers a sump with a water pump in it. The hose is connected to a pump and goes underground to the canal tunnel at the bottom of the garden, it actually runs under the canal bed. Water is pumped from the sump to the tunnel at the bottom of the garden it then flows along the top canal along the aqueduct drops through the locks into the lower section of the canal and back into the sump.
The canal and locks are now well the way to completion, and proper lock gates are on the way.
The canal walls and the locks have been treated with G4 sealant, and now have to be painted.
Pictures of the canal newly painted if only it would stay like that.
The lock gates have arrived, they are actually made of oak, from old lock gates off the Llangollen Canal, that have been replaced.
These three pictures show the lock gates, the paddle gear and the fixing brackets for the gates..
The Narrowboats in G scale; Hardy is the butty boat and Hood is the motor boat.
The locks gates are not yet fitted as they should be and there is still work to be done to stop the locks overflowing.
The boats and lock gates were made specially for us by Andy of AM Models, he also made us 3 'OO' scale narrowboats and a lift bridge as can be seen on out Train Room layout.
We thought that rather than have the canal just end, you will notice that it runs into a tunnel at each end giving it the effect that it carries on.
Original Date 06/10/2007
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