Rae Bridge works

Rae Bridge works

Ted Polet

June, 2006 - Rae Bridge works has been completed at last. Recent work includes:

Adding the interior floor to the running shed and detailing the inspection pit.
Separating the frail balsa workshop building from the main structure and setting it up permanently on the left hand baseboard. This called for a new corrugated iron 'neck' to be built to connect the two structures. This was attached to the main shed and slips over a styrene 'shade' fitted to the workshop.
Connecting and testing the interior lights.
Adding some detail around the complex.

Click on the photos to enlarge

	Left: overview of the works yard and the station. The ash pit is out of view near the water column. Right: coaling stage, fuel tank and sand dryer.
	Left: the floor of the shed and the inspection pit, finished in grey card. The floor base was brought to rail level using corrugated card packing. Right: the workshop interior dates back to 1979. It includes a workbench, lathe, drill stand, power saw and a smithy.
	The track is carried across the inspection pit on steel girders supported by concrete posts. The workbench was built by my son Marijn, from 22 pieces of stripwood. The tools are by Springside.
	Workshop interior, including the glowing smithy fire, early on a winter's morning. Note engine on the repair road behind.
	The loco shed at night. Note the light in the inspection pit.
	The main building with the new corrugated iron extension being lowered over the 'shade' to the workshop. The latter was made of styrene strip and painted black.
	Left: detail around the workshop. Note the scrap heap between the building and the embankment. Right: the entrance to the carriage shed. This is an old feature - the building was converted from a Ratio kit.