Railway Sleeper Retaining Wall

[rqy99g]

I want to create a 24" high retaining wall and current thought is railway sleepers.

I would propose to use 8' x 8" x 4" sleepers stacked on their narrowest edge ie 3 x 8" to create a 24" high wall over a length of 56 feet.

I would use sleeper posts in to the ground at 8 foot intervals and dead men to anchor the wall to reduce chances of moving/breaching.

So if the wall is to be 24" high how deep should the posts go? How big a hole should I dig for both post and concrete?

Cheers

Simon

 

[blup]

The rule of thumb is one third the height of the post is the size of the hole.

The hole would need to be a four or inches wider all round for the size of post you are proposing to use.

Blup

 

[rqy99g]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of digging down 2 feet! I may just halve that and go 12" to be on the safe side.

 

[bernardgreen]

If the sleepers are ones that have been used on a railway line then be aware that they may have had herbicide ( kills plants ) sprayed on them and this may leach out and affect plants close to the wall.

 

[blup]

12" minimum would be sensible

Blup

 

[rqy99g]

So I’d appreciate your views thoughts on initial ideas on levelling.


I my drawings are to scale.


I’m considering using around 30 railway sleepers 8’ x 8” x 4” to create a 24” high wall approximately 56’ long.


Thoughts are to use posts at 8’ intervals approximately 18” in to the ground with around 4” of concrete on all sides of the post.


Land drain behind running off beyond the far fence. Use ¾” limestone chippings to bed pipe in to (and under sleeper wall to act as base). Limestone chippings lock together, soles chance of movement.


I’d probably want to put deadmen anchors at a few intervals back in to the ground.


Thoughts on a postcard, when are you available to help?