Large Scale Central

Water? Yes, water...!

Gardening
#1

Hi all, Things need to be contemplated, evaluated, modified and clarified Years ago I started to dig a pond, then I was waiting for old carpet for underlay. Didn’t happen! What happened next was friends of ours put in a little pond in “no time”. Hmmmm… I gotta get that finished! Naturally more of the contemplating etc. etc. but I found a nice little preformed gizmo which is just the ticket at the start of the stream - it has a spillway. Last two weeks I dug and carted and schlepped stone … and two days ago the water started to circulate. So here is the evolution of project pond; originally we had a “pond” from the previous owner. “Not suitable for GRR” would be one term.

Then came my modified plan

with an oval running around the lake, a filter unit at the start of the waterfall (hey what did I know!??) but three weeks ago it was decided that a stream would be a very nice feature, that’s where the preformed came in. And the subsequent mods… The longer I considered that track oval around the “lake”, the less I liked it. Good thing I never hurry when I’m building or I’d be rebuilding. The two turnouts get used for sidings at “Seedorf”, the landscape will be more or less logical. And if we want to “watch the trains and sip whatever” that’s what the shuttle function on the ZIMO can be used for.

Soooooo I need to do more digging, schlepping and placing to get the stream built; that happens right after I run a proper electrical connection to the edge of the GRR. In the meantime the water gets filtered.

There is a 3 ft drop from the spillway to the “lake” and the run is about 27 ft. SWMBO requested little pools along the way. Sounds good to me! :wink: :slight_smile: The other thing … I went for the 1.5" PVC tubing for the posts of the ladder roadbed. It dawned on me that never mind which angle the strips run by, it will always fit perfectly (DUH!!!). :confused: :confused:

#2

I must say that I am impressed. From personal experience, I know that there has been a lot of hard work done here, unless you happen to have a backhoe.

But, ummmmm, where are the trains? :smiley: :lol: :smiley:

SteveF

edited to correct a stupid finger mistake

#3

That water feature is probably where the new layout is going to go!
I put in a bridge three or four years ago but haven’t done the water feature yet!

#4

Doug Arnold said:
That water feature is probably where the new layout is going to go! I put in a bridge three or four years ago but haven’t done the water feature yet!

Doug, You got that right. Young Steve is much too impatient, OTOH if he had more “patients” (sic) he would/could have been a doctor. :wink: :slight_smile: :smiley:

Careful planning before building to achieve the max effect of capturing the proto feel. I was very careful about the angles of the pictures, wouldn’t want to give away the state of progress on the rest of things.

#5

Today is a “glueing flagstone around the rim of the pond” day. While the weather holds.

#6

Just from those pics , I can see a location for some real looking photographs to happen , one of these days , the site has real promise !

#7
Dennis Paulson said:
Just from those pics , I can see a location for some real looking photographs to happen , one of these days , the site has real promise !
Thank you Dennis!

Believe it or not it was planned that way and every change that happened so far - while building - was with that in mind.

#8

On to more water features.

No, this is neither a pen-stock pipe nor an Alphorn, it’s the 3 inch PVC protection of the flex pipe for the Waterfall. Just a small interlude before the shoveling starts in earnest.

Miniature Alberta Spruce around the filter unit will have to simulate the mountain peaks, focusing the camera in the appropriate manner should help the illusion. :wink: :slight_smile: Well, at least that’s the plan. :smiley:

#9

Beautiful, Hans.

#10

Time for a break and a change of pace i.e. fill in/cover the PVC pipe. One quick check how that holding pond will fit.

That should work, the red blob indicates the “Source” aka a large fitting glued into that wall to get the flow far enough out into the rocky “Falls”. First they’ll flow to the left, then come back to the right and then straight into the lake. Two tunnels in the required “Mountain”. In another thread I mentioned the camel I bought, for this location I’ll need an Alphorn blower, right on the highest cliff beside the “Source”. Gotta have some really eye catching “stuff”, could get one of those “Rock” speakers to hide up there. :wink: :smiley: :wink:

#11

Moving right along,

The tin snips worked well for cutting an almost perfect circle.

Test run. Imagine that, my guesstimate for the size of drain was right on the money. It’s nice when things work as intended.

The filter unit is in place, the pipe covered and tomorrow will be another day of shoveling and moving stuff. And listening to the water falling back into the pond. Very nice to listen to.

#12

My back hurts from all your work, but it will keep your heart in shape. great work ,now get back to work!

#13

Oh man, are you guys having a Holiday?

I was slugging rocks for the better part of the morning. Overcast and around 70ºF, I was sweating so much if I bent over the sweat was dripping off my baseball cap. :smiley: :wink: :smiley:

And still not enough in place to shoot another picture, well tomorrow will be another day. :slight_smile:

Oh yes, the afternoon I spent with water, too. Irrigation (aka irritation around this place), well she’s fixed and raring to go. :wink:

#14

Groan! I’m tired just watching you work!

Really? Oh, I’m told that’s from running 9 miles this morning.

#15

Hans,
How is the pond doing ?
Are you having trouble with green water ? It looks like you have a lot of sun on the pond. Do you use a UV sterilizer?

#16

HJ is still out in the East…he visited here several weeks ago, and I suppose he should be back in Coldstream withina week.
It is kind of quiet around here without his friendly scribblings. I hope he returns soon to these forums.

#17

Hi Fred et al,

Speak of the devil and …

Got back yesterday afternoon, but had too many ends to tie up and at my relaxed holiday pace that takes a bit longer. :wink:

Now on that pond … no UV filter and there was less water lost in the two weeks than I anticipated. OTOH judging by the growth of the grass, the amount of needles all over the place and the tipped flowers I’d say they had a fair bit of rain here.

#18

Welcome back, HJ. Somehow the place just didn’t seem the same without you. Dunno why that was.

#19

Heck here I was waiting for you to drop in on your return trip West…steaks are here; the weather is great, and I even brought in a case of white whine…!!!