Trackwork
Early attempts at building a railway in the garden were made using Peco O-gauge track fixed to wooden timbers laid end to end. This was quite successful with my then 32mm gauge stock of Triang Big-Big shunter and trucks, a Lima 4F and some assorted Mamod wagons. The Mamod loco (see No.1), was very temperamental and the cause of much swearing for all sorts of reasons! The arrival of No.4, which was much heavier but so much more reliable, showed up the light nature of the rail, it requiring a total re-lay to make running just reasonable.
Following visits to other local lines with my engine, I was given an LGB starter set as a wedding anniversary present. Now LGB is 45mm gauge and fortunately my No.4 was re-gaugeable. The improvement in running on the heavier rail made up my mind and when the original CSLR was relaid, it was in LGB 45mm rail. I have now used this rail throughout.
The current CSLR is laid on a bed of concrete and Celcon blocks for most part, but there are sections where granite edging blocks have been used and by the rockery the rail is laid on the rockery stone. To take up imperfections between the rail and block, a layer of cement is used, the pre-bent track being pressed into it whilst wet to ensure it is level and true. This method holds the track in place but allows it to be easily lifted later if maintenance is required. In some places where the track lies directly onto the Celcon blocks, for example around the pond, galvanised screws go directly through the sleepers into the blocks. This prevents the track from shifting sideways.
A variety of ballasts have been tried, fish pond gravel, coarse grit, the cement itself and simple mud, but the best looking and lasting is what is known as Rowlands mix. Part cement, part sand and part peat, this mixture holds the rails in place during all weathers, but allows moss and small foliage to grow too. The peat makes the mixture dark in colour and looks very realistic in use.