Expansion for rail yard and shed

This weekend I started working on my new rail yard which will be in a narrow space between the garage and a fence. I had planted this area with twig dogwood several years ago as I wanted something that could be completely neglected and make it through the summer without watering. The dogwood has done very well and completely filled in the space, and was trying to climb over the fence as well. When I learned a few weeks ago my neighbors were planning on replacing the fence sometime this year I realized I needed to get back there and trim the dogwood back, but then I decided to coppice instead to stimulate new growth.

Once I had cleared out all the growth, I saw all this open space and realized I had a much better idea. I had not considered running the train back here when I originally was planning my layout as the space is only seven feet wide so I wouldn't be able to create a loop. But for a dead-end train yard the space would be perfect.

A view of the site after clearing out most of the growth. Other things back here that need cleared out include my pile of unused bricks.

After digging out the dogwood roots, my first step was installing a small retaining wall using stackable 4" high concrete blocks. I wouldn't recommend this type of block for a real retaining wall, but for something 8" high it's perfectly fine and inexpensive.

This is a frequent area for moles, so my next step was to put down a 1/2" wire mesh. Bricks are holding it in place until I can get some gravel on it.

Next I started putting down 3/4" minus crushed rock and arranging bricks to serve as the foundation for the train shed.

Another view of the foundation in progress, making sure everything is level. 

Once the foundation was complete I moved the train shed to its new home as it was blocking my progress to the north.

The main track where the spur will branch off is slightly elevated above ground level. Rather than having two elevated tracks here I decided to elevate the ground level instead, using bricks as a short retaining wall for now. I may replace this eventually with something more decorative. I filled the area with gravel and tamped it down.

On top of the gravel I added 1/4" minus crushed rock, then installed the switch and reattached the main track.

This image shows the completed switch after adding ballast.

The rail yard is three feet wide so I could fill the whole area with crushed rock and install up to four parallel tracks. But I'm also thinking I might install only three tracks, and put a buffer of soil along the retaining wall to allow for some plantings.

Alki checking out the wall. Something new to pee on! The wall will continue another five feet south along the train shed to help prevent soil slumping. I only built six feet of wall today as that's all the blocks I had on hand.

My first bearded iris of the year opened up today thanks to all the sunshine!