A diary of Tramway Demiel

the sunday service autorail arrives at the papermill halt to transport the workers home for a well-earned glass of vin rouge (or Pastis or whiskey!)





mikey

AArrrrgh... camera gone flat!!!!!

Mikey, what is that tile-like thing that you're using as the platform?

exactly that Clive! The way they build a lot of houses in this area is to construct the house with 'agglos' (concrete blocks 50 x 20 x 25 cms) then 'coat' them with these tiles for insulation. The lot is then 'crepied', a mix of lime and sand mortar. When we bought this house ten years ago there were a couple of hundred of these tiles laying under the trees. they make ideal bases for buildings.

Mikey

clive_t wrote:

Mikey, what is that tile-like thing that you're using as the platform?

Looks like the top of a building block Clive (Most of Europe use hollow clay blocks to build and then render the surface, hence the ridging to key the render to the block).

Like the vintage train Mikey - might look good as a sepia type photo.......

Snap !! same time answer

snap ( but you used more technical terms. are you a builder by any chance Paul?)

Mikey

mikeyh wrote:

snap ( but you used more technical terms. are you a builder by any chance Paul?)

Mikey

Sort of Mikey, I'm a project manager in the building industry

Heres a view of the recently refurbished 'Hotel de la Gare' showing its new roof neccessitated by the severe storms in winter;



more to come when Photobucket decides to play ball!!

mikey

Meanwhile the Meuse 020 delivers a covered wagon to the papermill. You can just make out in front of the Hotel the Postie scrounging a glass of pastis!!



mikey

Ah.....that's better, photos with some greenery, blue sky, sun and shadows.

Very pleasant.

Yes, definitely a touch of Spring about those photos Mikey. I like the 'ivy' effect on the hotel wall, is that painted or have you hauled something out of a skip somewhere that looks like G-scale ivy?

Actually I'm quite proud of that . ~I tore up a bath sponge and then ground it in an old coffee grinder. I then mixed it with some oil based green paint and when it was dry, ground it again. I drew the path of the ivy with exterior grade glue and then scattered the sponge. A similar technique as used in the smaller scales but also completely weatherproof!

mikey

Its a peaceful line where the passengers can get off and watch a game of petanque!





Mikey

Félicitations

the last train of the day collects the workers from the papermill;







Mikey

A goods train passing the papermill;





Mikey

You must be getting better weather down there Mike?

I haven't been able to get near the railway for rain the last few days!

Last few days would have been even warmer were it not for the wind! Raining today though.

mikey

After a couple of minor changes we finally completed our circuit yesterday. I want to put a 'top' ballast on. I'd like to put a dry mix of sand/cement on to conceal the sleepers and make it look more 'tramlike'. I have a little concern about sand finding its way into the mechanisms so wondered if small grit would be better/ any comments? (please)

Mikey

With Easter traditionally marking the start of the 'outdoor season' (well it does in our house) it was time to make a few changes in the village of Demiel.
Firstly a new fire-station has been built to house the newly delivered motorised appliance;



The Gendarmerie has been relocated next to the Mairie;



A new house has been built between the Church and the Presse;



and finally a new water tower has been built, with a solid base to replace the wooden one which unfortunately collapsed this winter;



Mikey

Lovely atmosphere.

Quote :

The Gendarmerie has been relocated next to the Mairie

That's a good place Mikey. Now we live in the country...I notice that there is nearly always a school next to or even part of the Mairie.

I think as you said somewhere else that the track needs heavily ballasting over the sleepers for that 1910 look.

Someone suggested at an expo once, loose cat ltter as when it gets wet it settles but it's easy to remove if required and it doesn't abrade like grit or sand.

Now thats an idea! I presume that when its wet I will be able to smooth it out for road surfaces as well. Our cat doesnt go in the railway 'cos he's scared stiff of the engines and there are no neighbours cats to worry about. At 2 euros 10 for a bag of 7 litres thats got to be worth a go! cheers

Mikey

I like the water tower - how did you make the solid base?

Peter

hi Peter. I make everything from recycled materials. The base is an old garden pot, like a flowerpot but with straight sides. i cut the door opening with my Dremel. coated it in exterior PVA and rolled it in a drymix of cement/sand to give it texture. When dry it was drybrushed with mixes of colour. the top is an old babymilk can painted grey. the ladder is cut from wire fencing. I couldnt get wood to stick to the terra cotta so just varnished the side of a block of wood and put it inside for the door.

Mikey

Ever ingenious Mikey, I love the way its all coming together. My Clay (what passes for soil) is slowly drying out so will be able to get on it without it all sticking to my shoes shortly (I hope).

The other Peter.

Carl Hibbs wrote:

Someone suggested at an expo once, loose cat ltter as when it gets wet it settles but it's easy to remove if required and it doesn't abrade like grit or sand.

I don't have any cat litter, but I do have large numbers of Brita water filter cartridges, the carbon guts of which I intend using as some form of ballast in a 'quiet' area to see if it looks ok.,