Securing railway sleepers to the floor

[theboyfold]

This might seem like a bit of a strange question but what is the best way to go about securing a railway sleep to the floor? I would like them to be stood up on their side (see the 2nd photo). At the moment the blocks that are in, are just resting there, but are very strong and don't move if you stand on them, they seem to be tightly packed in, but not cemented in.

The sleepers would be stood on uneven concrete and butted up against the grass, at the moment just resting there isn't quite safe enough, so I need to secure them some how, but I'm not sure how!


The blocks they are replacing are to the left of the sleepers here.


This is how we would like them to finish up, but without the blocks there, the sleepers would be up against the edge of the lawn

[robinhood21]

Well, you could drill through the sleepers and into the concrete, then drive re-bar or some such through the holes. Or, set the sleepers in the lawn (a couple of inches) abutting the concrete.

[ShadownINja]

No More Nails or Araldite?

[theboyfold]

robinhood21 said:

Well, you could drill through the sleepers and into the concrete, then drive re-bar or some such through the holes. Or, set the sleepers in the lawn (a couple of inches) abutting the concrete.

Both those ideas could have some mileage in them. Thanks.

ShadownINja said:

No More Nails or Araldite?

Would that really work if people are going to be treading on them as they go onto the lawn? No More Nails have never stuck anything to anything that I've known of! The one in the green tube (forgotten it's name) is stronger and could help stick them down...

[ShadownINja]

Araldite will do it. You will not be able to remove it later, though, if you glue it to concrete.

After all, it is named after the goddess of bonding from Greek mythology, Araldite.

Edited by ShadownINja on Sunday 17th May 00:29

[Simpo Two]

ShadownINja said:

After all, it is named after the goddess of bonding from Greek mythology, Araldite.

Vary good!

For an invisible fixing that would locate the sleepers and stop them moving about, I'd drill holes in the concrete and set in vertical metal posts so that maybe 5-6" is protruding. Then drill matching blind holes in the underside of the sleeper and drop it into place.

[hornetrider]

What Simpo said is the correct solution. My lazy solution would be to cut away some of the grass and lie them on their side.

[VxDuncan]

Simpo Two said:

ShadownINja said:

After all, it is named after the goddess of bonding from Greek mythology, Araldite.

Vary good!

For an invisible fixing that would locate the sleepers and stop them moving about, I'd drill holes in the concrete and set in vertical metal posts so that maybe 5-6" is protruding. Then drill matching blind holes in the underside of the sleeper and drop it into place.

7That's whatI'd do also - in fact I was thinking you bond in some studding (threaded rod), possibly M8, then drop the sleepers onto the studs. If you can get to the back of them then you could clamp them down with a wingnut sitting in a pocket on the back face, similar to the hidden fixing you get on flat pack furniture.

[V12Les]

+1 with Simpo twos idea.
Get along to your local builders merchant and buy a length of 1" reinforcing bar (M8 is way to thin) and jobs a good'en!

[ShadownINja]

hornetrider said:

What Simpo said is the correct solution. My lazy solution would be to cut away some of the grass and lie them on their side.

Araldite is the lazy solution. None of this cutting of grass. You'd have to stand up.

[tuffer]

I layed mine on a small bed of cement and then used those huge sleeper screws to hold them all together. They pull in flush so are nearly invisible. As long as you overlap the sleepers it should all be pretty solid, mine have never moved although some have warped slightly so if I was to do it again I would use a few extra.

[Simpo Two]

ShadownINja said:

Araldite is the lazy solution. None of this cutting of grass. You'd have to stand up.

I too love the Goddess of Adhesives, but have you worked out how much it would cost per square metre?

[ShadownINja]

Simpo Two said:

ShadownINja said:

Araldite is the lazy solution. None of this cutting of grass. You'd have to stand up.

I too love the Goddess of Adhesives, but have you worked out how much it would cost per square metre?

Lazy AND cheap? TBH you wouldn't need much Araldite. It's very, very strong.

[anonymous-user]

hornetrider said:

What Simpo said is the correct solution. My lazy solution would be to cut away some of the grass and lie them on their side.

I was going to suggest somthing similar! drill the sleepers, fix rebar into the groung and postion sleepers on top.

[xllifts]

Drill 10mm holes right through sleepers at aprox 800mm intervals and use 10mm studding or re bar, insert bar /stud through hole and spike into ground about 18" and if you are putting another row of sleepers on top use same method and then fill holes with some offcuts of sleeper to please the eye.

We did this in our garden 6 years ago and they are still secure.

[Simpo Two]

ShadownINja said:

Simpo Two said:

ShadownINja said:

Araldite is the lazy solution. None of this cutting of grass. You'd have to stand up.

I too love the Goddess of Adhesives, but have you worked out how much it would cost per square metre?

Lazy AND cheap? TBH you wouldn't need much Araldite. It's very, very strong.

Isn't that Andrex, the God of Bog Paper?

[ShadownINja]

Simpo Two said:

ShadownINja said:

Simpo Two said:

ShadownINja said:

Araldite is the lazy solution. None of this cutting of grass. You'd have to stand up.

I too love the Goddess of Adhesives, but have you worked out how much it would cost per square metre?

Lazy AND cheap? TBH you wouldn't need much Araldite. It's very, very strong.

Isn't that Andrex, the God of Bog Paper?

Are you suggesting tying down the sleepers with toilet tissue. Jeez, you're a rubbish gardener.