Concrete Sleeper Track on Steep Slope?!

Zedlock · Feb 3, 2023

Grass And Grain said:
Planning on going to YAMS, so will come for a look.

Just thinking though, we've got all the kit to lay concrete, and readymix works out at about £21/M2, so the gravel grids aren't looking exactly cheap (unless a specific reason to use them, such as flexibility to take them up

I would say that our customers choose the grids because they are less visible than a solid surface, and they allow through-drainage. A few customers have used them as parking and turning areas (backfilled with topsoil and re-seeded) to avoid attention from planning authorities.
I take your point about the Readymix price but I guess you need to add reinforcing mesh/fibre, and once you have shuttered and laid 202 sq.m of concrete (based on a 150mm pad), your time and effort needs to be taken into account. The lay rate of the grids is about 50sq.m/hour so I would allow three days to get them down:

Look forward to seeing you at YAMS. We will be in the main entrance building.

Grass And Grain · Feb 3, 2023

Zedlock said:
I would say that our customers choose the grids because they are less visible than a solid surface, and they allow through-drainage. A few customers have used them as parking and turning areas (backfilled with topsoil and re-seeded) to avoid attention from planning authorities.
I take your point about the Readymix price but I guess you need to add reinforcing mesh/fibre, and once you have shuttered and laid 202 sq.m of concrete (based on a 150mm pad), your time and effort needs to be taken into account. The lay rate of the grids is about 50sq.m/hour so I would allow three days to get them down:

Look forward to seeing you at YAMS. We will be in the main entrance building.

Yes, can see the uses in some/many circumstances. Glamping carparks etc.

BenjB · Feb 3, 2023

onesiedale said:
Just re-read your post.
If there's already a hardcore base, you won't need anything else, just a skilled operator on the machine laying them .
Give us some pictures for a bit of context please.

As you can see its currently years of Planings built up on two tracks, grass in centre. This pic was back end of last year before all the rain so centre hugely raised now and half the tracks washed to the bottom of the hill!

BenjB · Feb 3, 2023

Gradients about 10-15% for the bulk.. maybe going up to 20% towards bottom of the hill Id say

onesiedale · Feb 3, 2023

definitely no more sub base needed. And don't dig them in, the water will run off them nicely.

Good man on a machine will have them laid perfect.

The biggest job you will have is taking the sleepers out to the track.
When laying them, remember to start at the bottom of the hill and work up.
Where are the lorries to be unloaded, top or bottam?

BenjB · Feb 6, 2023

onesiedale said:
definitely no more sub base needed. And don't dig them in, the water will run off them nicely.

Good man on a machine will have them laid perfect.

The biggest job you will have is taking the sleepers out to the track.
When laying them, remember to start at the bottom of the hill and work up.
Where are the lorries to be unloaded, top or bottam?

Super - Sounds good to me. I can get them unloaded at the bottom of the track about 100m away and can just fork them over to the bottom easily!

onesiedale · Feb 6, 2023

BenjB said:
Super - Sounds good to me. I can get them unloaded at the bottom of the track about 100m away and can just fork them over to the bottom easily!

don't underestimate how much work is involved! (and space needed)
2,000 sleepers carried 4 at a time over 100m could turn out to be a chore if you run out of space to stack them

caveman · Feb 7, 2023

I know it's Chalk and cheese re gradients on railways, but how do they overcome sub base washing out?

Ffermer Bach · Feb 7, 2023

Zedlock said:
I would say that our customers choose the grids because they are less visible than a solid surface, and they allow through-drainage. A few customers have used them as parking and turning areas (backfilled with topsoil and re-seeded) to avoid attention from planning authorities.
I take your point about the Readymix price but I guess you need to add reinforcing mesh/fibre, and once you have shuttered and laid 202 sq.m of concrete (based on a 150mm pad), your time and effort needs to be taken into account. The lay rate of the grids is about 50sq.m/hour so I would allow three days to get them down:

Look forward to seeing you at YAMS. We will be in the main entrance building.

I think you better tell that to Jeremy Clarkson, with his car part for his farm shop!

onesiedale · Feb 7, 2023

caveman said:
I know it's Chalk and cheese re gradients on railways, but how do they overcome sub base washing out?

clean stone, Limestone at 50mm washed probably.

Old apprentice · Feb 7, 2023

All your talk of it being permeable ,in a short time when the track or yard is used regularly the top will seal and certainly no water will penitrate into ground under neath.

onesiedale · Feb 7, 2023

Old apprentice said:
All your talk of it being permeable ,in a short time when the track or yard is used regularly the top will seal and certainly no water will penitrate into ground under neath.

our sleeper yard has been down since 2009 and we have no trouble with permeability .
As for the tracks, because they are on top of the ground, not set in, then any surface water just runs off or through

Old apprentice · Feb 7, 2023

I was implying about the plastic with holes not concrete sleepers ok.

Zedlock · Feb 14, 2023

Grass And Grain said:
Planning on going to YAMS, so will come for a look.

Just thinking though, we've got all the kit to lay concrete, and readymix works out at about £21/M2, so the gravel grids aren't looking exactly cheap (unless a specific reason to use them, such as flexibility to take them up

Did you make it to YAMS? It was a good show again this year. A bit cold but can't do much about that!

Andy Nash · Feb 14, 2023

BenjB said:
As you can see its currently years of Planings built up on two tracks, grass in centre. This pic was back end of last year before all the rain so centre hugely raised now and half the tracks washed to the bottom of the hill!

If that was my track I would dig a shallow ditch at one side, and put steel barriers across it at 45 degrees every 20 - 30 yds to direct the water into the ditch. Obviously level the track up with planings.
I would worry about traction on sleepers if it was a big frosty and all that water has to go somewhere.

icanshootwell · Feb 15, 2023

Grass And Grain said:
How do you need to lay these to carry the 60t weight?
Straight on top of soil, or on hardcore? Maybe that effects weight bearing capacity?

Can they be infilled with concrete slurry, or would it just crack up and all come out of the grids?

We used this system on a path for our glamping, the path is very steep in places but the water has not washed them or moved them, i can see them working well for livestock and will work out cheaper, they just click together, i will take a picture when its light.

icanshootwell · Feb 15, 2023

icanshootwell said:
We used this system on a path for our glamping, the path is very steep in places but the water has not washed them or moved them, i can see them working well for livestock and will work out cheaper, they just click together, i will take a picture when its light.

I would recommend this, it stops the sub base moving and washing in heavy rain.

Concrete Sleeper Track on Steep Slope?!

Member

Member

Member

Attachments

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Attachments

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page