Repairs completed While I was working away on the railway extension this year, I was well aware that the woodwork retaining the front of the original layout was in need of replacement after 7 years in place. The woodwork was rotten in several places and the infill of earth and stones was leaking out, leaving the concrete base of the station as an overhanging ledge with no support along the front edge.
I had various ideas of how I would carry out repairs, including building a brick or stone wall or making a retaining wall from interlocking wood blocks. In the end I went for a cheap and quick solution, a repeat of the original method using fixed log roll panels and infilling behind, but this time infilling with concrete rather than earth or stones.
In order to get the panels as near vertical as possible, they had to be positioned further from the front of the layout, leaving a gap between the top of the panels and the edge of the concrete; this gap also allowed for the concrete to be poured in to the void behind. First of all the narrow slab path had to be moved a short distance away from the layout, and the panels driven in immediately behind it.
In order to facilitate pouring the concrete through the gap, the adjacent station platform on needed to be removed. Post fixing concrete was then poured dry in to the void until it was filled up to track level, eight and a half bags of concrete were needed to achieve this. The dry concrete was then well watered so that it would harden. Heavy rain the following day ensured that all the concrete was watered.
Since building the extension, the second platform at Culdaff was no longer required, it was put in to add operational flexibility to the old oval layout with one station; I decided not to reinstate it. The concrete surface beside the Culdaff passing loop represents a section of the public road; the only piece of road modelled on this roadside tramway!
The removal of the platform also resulted in a bit of signalling rationalisation, the starter signal on the removed platform was also dispensed with and the starter on the main platform was relocated to a position nearer to the signal cabin, controlling both lines.
I had various ideas of how I would carry out repairs, including building a brick or stone wall or making a retaining wall from interlocking wood blocks. In the end I went for a cheap and quick solution, a repeat of the original method using fixed log roll panels and infilling behind, but this time infilling with concrete rather than earth or stones.
In order to get the panels as near vertical as possible, they had to be positioned further from the front of the layout, leaving a gap between the top of the panels and the edge of the concrete; this gap also allowed for the concrete to be poured in to the void behind. First of all the narrow slab path had to be moved a short distance away from the layout, and the panels driven in immediately behind it.
In order to facilitate pouring the concrete through the gap, the adjacent station platform on needed to be removed. Post fixing concrete was then poured dry in to the void until it was filled up to track level, eight and a half bags of concrete were needed to achieve this. The dry concrete was then well watered so that it would harden. Heavy rain the following day ensured that all the concrete was watered.
Since building the extension, the second platform at Culdaff was no longer required, it was put in to add operational flexibility to the old oval layout with one station; I decided not to reinstate it. The concrete surface beside the Culdaff passing loop represents a section of the public road; the only piece of road modelled on this roadside tramway!
The removal of the platform also resulted in a bit of signalling rationalisation, the starter signal on the removed platform was also dispensed with and the starter on the main platform was relocated to a position nearer to the signal cabin, controlling both lines.
 The rotting wood gradually falling away.  Platform removed |  Paving slabs moved and new wood panels driven in.  Infilling in progress |  The gap between the retaining wall and the edge.  Job done! |
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