Building the Rat Hole

[Captain Kernow]

Although the latest row of cottages are nearly finished, I thought I'd start something new for Callow Lane.

 

At the opposite end of the layout to the level crossing, the single running line disappears under a small girder bridge, and on towards Coalpit Heath. The bridge carries a farm track over the railway, and is consequently quite narrow.

 

I thought I'd do the abutments in stone this time, so I got out the Wills stone sheets and started work on the bridge.

 

Overall clearances are (by design) very tight - drivers would have to keep their heads inside their cabs!

 

The bridge is right at the back of the layout, hence the very narrow abutments on one side.

 

 

 

 

This only represents a couple of hours work or so over the weekend, there's still a lot to do!

[Guest jim s-w]

Hi CK

 

Dont know if its the camera angle but that looks like very neat work on the corners

 

Cheers

 

Jim

[shortliner]

SHHEEESHHH, Cap'n! You had me going there for a minute! - I thought you had gone USA - The Rathole is a disttrict in San Fransisco!

[great central]

SHHEEESHHH, Cap'n! You had me going there for a minute! - I thought you had gone USA - The Rathole is a disttrict in San Fransisco!

 

Well here's me thinking CK was building the GNR dive-under the GC heading for Bagthorpe Junction :icon_cool:

[Captain Kernow]

The idea is that the bridge used to span a colliery connection, which was subsequently upgraded to 'main line' status, when the line from Callow Lane to Coalpit Heath was constructed, hence the small dimensions.

[ian]

Go on, I bet that's a Lima HO scale class 33 and nothing else will fit through.

 

You've got the stonework to line up well and no cheating with filler either. Most impressive.

[Captain Kernow]

You've got the stonework to line up well and no cheating with filler either

Thanks, but the trick is to cut both walls from the same sheet....

[Captain Kernow]

Here are some updated views:

 

Basic structure as it is at the moment:

 

As above, but with the girders and approach walls temporarily in place:

 

 

 

I've got some Archers rivet transfers in the post today for use on the girders.

[gwrrob]

Here are some updated views:

 

Basic structure as it is at the moment:

 

As above, but with the girders and approach walls temporarily in place:

 

 

 

I've got some Archers rivet transfers in the post today for use on the girders.

 

 

Let us know how you get on with those rivet transfers as I fancy trying them myself.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Well here's me thinking CK was building the GNR dive-under the GC heading for Bagthorpe Junction :icon_cool:

 

That was the one I was thinking of too.

 

Regards,

Peter

[Captain Kernow]

Here is the bridge, with the structural work more or less complete, and the girders spray painted (but not yet weathered), showing the relief of the Archers water slide transfer rivets nicely:

 

 

 

 

Finally, a view through 'The Rathole' back towards Callow Lane:

 

[gwrrob]

Here is the bridge, with the structural work more or less complete, and the girders spray painted (but not yet weathered), showing the relief of the Archers water slide transfer rivets nicely:

 

 

 

 

Finally, a view through 'The Rathole' back towards Callow Lane:

 

 

Very nice Tim.Are those transfers easy to use and do they 'sit' nicely or do you need a setting solution.

[Captain Kernow]

Robin - the transfers are really easy to use, they do seem to sit nicely - I did use a bit of Microsol and Microset on them, and they did partially seem to 'silver' as they dried underneath, but a quick spray of Halfords matt black cured all that. The manufacturers also recommend placing them using Johnsons Klear, while still wet. I didn't need to do that in the end, although I did test spray some Halfords matt black over a bit of dried Klear, to ensure that the spray paint didn't affect the dried Klear, which it didn't.

[Guest Phil]

Well here's me thinking CK was building the GNR dive-under the GC heading for Bagthorpe Junction :icon_cool:

 

 

 

No no no.

 

Surely everyone knows that the "rathole" is the kinked tunnel on Camden bank officially known as something like the "Down empty coaching stock line".

[Miss Prism]

Positively Cornish, CK. (Very 'Newquay branch'.)