How I made the platform at Beeston Market station

I recently completely rebuilt the baseboards beneath Beeston Market station and the Copper Mine because they were going rotten (see How I rebuilt the baseboards at Beeston Market and the Copper Mine). Once the track had been relaid, I needed to think about providing the station with a new platform. Previously, the platform had been little more than a plank covered in roofing felt (aka tar paper). I hadn't attempted any detailing on the sides or the surface so, this time, I thought I would try to make it look a bit more interesting.

The platform itself was made from a length of 6" x 1" treated fencing board plus a few off-cuts.

 After positioning the boards and checking they wouldn't foul the stock, slots were cut into the underside of the planks for the point rodding (see How I operate some of my points with rodding Part 2).

I decided to give the edges some facings, using 3mm foamboard. Once sufficient pieces were cut, stonework was scribed on to the surface using a screwdriver.

The mortar courses were then painted browny yellow with acrylic paints ......

.... and the excess wiped off, to leave a good deposit in the scribed depressions.

 Once this had dried, a mix of reddy, orangy, brown acrylics ......

 ..... was applied to a sponge, with most being wiped off.

 The paint was then dabbed on to the foamboard lightly.

Once all the facings had been painted, they were glued to the edges of the platform planks using contact adhesive.

 Clearances for the stock were then checked again before the planks were screwed down into place.

 

20mm wide strips of roofing felt were then cut and glued (with impact adhesive) along the upper edges of the platform, with the smooth side facing upwards.

More felt was cut to fill the gap between the platform edging strips. Roofing felt adhesive was then liberally applied to the platform and the felt glued into place - this time with the gritty side facing upwards.

Tiles and concrete blocks were then placed on top of the platform to hold the felt in place while the felt adhesive set. 

I know, from experience, that the felt adhesive takes ages to set properly and so the weights were left in place for a week before being removed.

[Awaiting photo]

Once, I was happy that the felt was firmly fixed, I checked the clearances once more before ballasting was started (see How I ballasted the station area at BM)