Thanks so much for starting this thread. I have been struggling with a similar layout problem, and, in fact, it has been the daunting prospect of planning and executing a flawless 1:1 / 1:20.3 crossing that has delayed construction on my railroad for FOUR YEARS.
In my case, grading the roadbed for a tunnel would involve a huge caloric/financial outlay in terraforming (probably resulting in the use of an actual 1:1 backhoe – which is cool, but only provides a temporary thrill to the hobbyist) and it might damage a valuable 1:1 ancient redwood tree.
The track-on-a-gate solution was suggested early on, based on a cute magazine article photo, but was deemed impracticable due to the general prevalence of gate-saggage in the sandy soil of the nearby 1:1 scale dog enclosure area, which has already resulted in numerous local gate failures, hinge re-hangings, latch re-positionings, and general frustration among the dog-loving population for the past 20 years. The phrase “Never again!” has been uttered by local gate-protestors.
A manually operated lift bridge was suggested five years ago, but has since been deemed out of the question due to the aging human population of the 1:1 scale area.
Doubts and second guessing about the geolgical stability of structures in the 1:20.3 area, and general aesthetic considerations have resulted in what might be described as “an endlessly recursive self-imposed internal EIR-report deadlock” which was only broken through last week, when an elective medical procedure alerted the 1:1 scale human community to the fact that time is passing and “the roads must roll” soon, if they are to roll at all.
A professional garden railway consultant has been called in to assess the situation and engineer a solution. The sugically recovering 1:1 population has optimistically placed orders for 1:20.3 rolling stock while under imposed bed-rest and is awaiting a professional engineering consultation on October 28, 2013.
The flagstone solution shown here is elegant, Jon.
I now have a serious question, and it is fine if the answer is “no” or “i don’t know” –
Could you, with confidence, run a loaded 1:1 scale hand-truck over this structure 5 times a week?
Specs: The load on the hand-truck generally consists of cardboard boxes stacked 4 - 5 high, containing an aggregate total of 100 - 150 lbs. of mixed merchandise. The operators of the hand-trucks include a mixed population of uniformed UPS and USPS delivery drivers, themselves weighing between 150 and 180 lbs each. They are named Scott, Tom, and Linn.
to expand the railroad on the condition that I finish the current small portion first.
