IAN'S LOW RETAINING WALL WITH TROPICAL HARDWOOD RAILWAY SLEEPERS
Here's some information on my low retaining wall project:
2.6m Jarrah railway sleepers, some cut in two, were used as uprights half buried in compacted hardcore. Good drainage is key to the structural integrity. No cement was used. A single row of concrete blocks runs along the base, behind the uprights, on a shallow hardcore foundation.
The railway sleeper rails rest on paving blocks (hidden behind the uprights) and are fastened with one 200mm timber drive screw each end. PVC coated 600mm x 19 gauge wire mesh with 13mm holes is tacked along the back. Permeable cloth membrane is laid against the bank with a land drain pipe at the base, and filled to the bottom of the top railway sleeper with 20mm shingle while backfilling.
I'm still working on the paving and surrounds. I'm a one man band doing general restoration so it might not be finished this summer! Thanks to all for a great service.
Ian Smith,
Lutterworth,
Leicestershire
RAILWAY SLEEPERS USED:
Used Jarrah and tropical hardwood railway sleepers
2600mm x 300mm x 125m
RailwaySleepers.com Says..
A brilliant technical description of your railway sleeper project with excellent photos to document the different stages you've gone through. I especially like the gap between the two layers of railway sleepers, which is especially effective. All credit to your one man band creation!
