In 2009 I intend on incorporating a G-Scale Outdoor railway into my yet undesigned Garden... I am a Diesel Fan, So I would like to know what is the Best way to get started in G-Scale... I would be interested in running a train with no more then say 5 Freight Containers long... Santa Fe Warbonnet is Desired... thanks !
One of the best steps is to pick up a starter set. USA Trains and Aristocraft both have starter sets with their small locomotives, Aristocraft has the Little Critter set, and USA Trains has the Mighty Moe set. I suggest that because you get a simple loop of track with them. USA Trains and Aristocraft both make track expansion kits as well featuring one siding and turning the track into an oval. If money, however, isn't an object, then I would suggest going to http://www.usatrains.com, Welcome to the Aristo-Craft Trains Internet Depot, or exploring the threads in this forum, EMDTrainmant's News and Reviews, or EMDTrainmans Trains. As for going out in the garden, get some track and just lay it out there to get a feel for it. Start small. Why? Because if you design a huge garden railway at the start, Like I did, you'll get overwhelmed and nothing will happen. Small layouts are fine, you just design the blue prints for expansion. Next would be to pick up some resources. Garden Railways magazine is a fine resource and they also have a small insert (For new subscribers I think. Not sure if they still do it) called Getting Started In Garden Railroading. I would also recommend you pick up the December Issue of Garden Railways. Borders and Barnes and Noble carries it, it's got a green top and says "25th Anniversary" on it. In side they have a section, 25 Tips for Beginning Garden Railroading. Finally, using the internet to ask other hobbyists is also a good way to start. Out section here is a bit small, but unlike Largescaleonline, you don't have to pay a subscription fee to access our boards. We'll try to answer as best we can, but the golden rule still applies, Research. Look online, or look for G-Scale videos on youtube. The Schreyer Family Page is another sight that's good for technical tips as well as a good example of layout progress. Finally the last important step in getting started is, Just do it. you can read until you're blue in the face, but with that knowledge, until you get started and working on it, it's just knowledge. The best knowledge is one that can be applied. Trial and Error is what this hobby is, if you don't get it right the first time, don't be afraid to do it again. 75 bucks is what the average for cars is. You're next step is to research the locomotives you want, and if their DCC compatable. DCC, if you are not aware, and if you are I apoligize for what seems like a lecture, is Digital Command Control. G-Scale has recently become a part of the DCC Family that HO/N/Z/O have had for a long time. EMDTrainman can help you further on DCC as my units are both analog and I have to settle for the Train Engineer system. I hope this helps. Welcome to G-Scale. Where Bigger Really Is Better!
So Really the Best way to get started is to use the simple Starter set to Highlight a garden Bed or garden feature then plan for expansion.. The Mighty Moe looks like a Nice Train to Start with... then possible end up with a Dash 9 or F7 in the future...
This is the Basic Plan.. A Simple Extended loop.. I am just not sure what radius Curves I should be planning on using If I want to run at least a 6 wheel drive loco.. Would LGB R2 Be wide enough ???
Well with that radius question in mind, I'll point you towards EMDTrainman's post reguarding radius' I'd just like to add if you plan to run Aristocraft's 100ton Hoppers that a minimum 5 foot radius is called for, but I run mine on 4 foot radius and it looks pretty good when turning. My friend runs the Aristocraft 53' Evans boxcars on 6 foot radius but says 5 foot will suffice for them. The Aristocraft Heavyweights with 3 axle trucks require minimum 8foot. If you swap to the newer 2 axle trucks then they will only need 6foot minimum. The USA Trains Double Stacks require a 10foot radius and I believe the USA Trains modern Tank cars do aswell. Hope this helps.
Hi, I like to thank DragonfyreGT for recomending my EMD Trainman G scale section for resources. Magnat1978, USA also has NW-2 starter sets which includes a box car and a caboose. I would recommend the NW-2 starter set over the Mighty Moe set because the NW-2 will pull the cars you are looking to add to it, at least up to 10. I'm not familiar with how LGB rates thier curves, also LGB of America is no more and now track is sold as Piko which is owned by Marklin. I would highly suggest you drop the LGB track idea and go with Aristocraft Stainless steel track since you want to be outside, but you better have a deep wallet, but worth the price. USA is also getting into track, but not sure if they started making stainless steel yet. Next you have to under stand what climate you are in, if you are in a area of changing climate, I also suggest getting a couple of Hillmans expanding rail tracks which helps your layout to expand and contract in between the hot and cold, if not, you could end up with a buckled up track on the layout. You will need a good sturdy base for your track, some people use pressure treated 2 x 6 wood and then cover it with ballast, some people use commercial made bases made from plastic and then some people will use a crushed ballast mix with diluted plaster or quick crete mix and then put it on top of that. What ever you do, you need a solid base under your track. If you are in a rainy area, you will need drainage piping under your layout so it doesn't wash your dirt away from under your base. As far as radius is concerned, the USA Mighty Moe and NW-2 will run on 4ft diameter curves. Both USA and Aristocraft rates their curves in feet instead of degrees like with HO or N scale and is also much different rating than LGB which is R1 and R2, etc. I like the Aristocraft and USA curve rating because it is easier to understand what equipment can and can't run the a particular curve. I would suggest however you go to a 5ft minimum diameter curve since you want to run the bigger 8 wheel drive locomotives later such as the Aristocraft U25B or the USA F3 units. The bigger 12 wheel drive locomotives will need at least a 10ft diameter. The USA 55ft series tank cars and center flow cars both need 8ft diameter curves. There will be however a lot of experimenting like DragonfyreGT said as to what will work in your area and what won't. One thing is for sure, most of the trains and buildings you will need and not UV protected. The trains will be needed to be kept in a shed or some type of shelter. There is a clear UV protectant type of spray in a spray can you can buy to protect your buildings and trains, make sure it also has a water repellent in it to protect your buildings. Plan your layout ahead with sticks and string, this way you can trech out where you need to put your base for your track and then make sure it's ok by laying the track on top, especially in the curves so you know you trenched it out right. You will need rocks or granite under your base if not installing drainage pipes to help keep water away from your track. Good Luck, you are in for alot of work
Pockets are not real deep...at the rate things are going this will be a 10 year plan.. Climate : Mainly its Hot in summer and wet in winter.. The Trains will be kept indoors when not in use...(Heck lets face it... On the Layout I am Designing it will be a Single Train) The Reason for going with LGB was mainly the Price factor and the closeness of my local Train store... and the fact that with the amount of Balls and cats ending up in my back yard, at least I know the LGB will take a cat sleeping on the rails and not worry about too much damage... There is a plan to build a bridge to go over a still pond and at least a Tunnel with a hinged lid for easy access... but... the plants will have a major part in the garden as it is supposed to be a Garden Railway and not a Railway Garden. I was going to post up in regards to the railway base.. The original plan was to Dig out and re-fill the tracks layout with a hard road base material then cover with course gravel type white rocks.. just so the weeds don't have a chance to grow through it..
Started work on it today... The Roses have been pulled out and I have Ordered the 25 Metres of Railway Sleepers that I will be using as the Garden surround..
I have found a USA Santa Fe NW-2 starter set on e-bay, here is the link for it > http://cgi.ebay.com/USA-TRAINS-R72301-Santa-Fe-NW-2-Train-Set-NIB_W0QQitemZ360109349795QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item360109349795&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50 just click on the link and it will take you there, the link will only be good as long as the auction is still active.
There were 2 more of the same set on ebay, click on the toys and hobbies section under the buy section, click on model railroads, then click on the G scale heading and then you can click on the USA trains sub heading. Alot of folks don't want to deal with over seas shipping for many reasons. You have to deal with the foriegn currency exchange, then most banks like mine charge a fee to convert it. then you need a ton of paper work just to ship something over seas out of the USA. I myself have only done 2 out of country auctions and never again, both were disasters. If you have a relative or friend in the USA, you could ask them to buy it and ship it out to you, that would be one of your options. I'm also not familiar with what type electrical plugs Australlia uses, but the Aristocraft and USA transformers are adapted to USA specs which is 110 volt with 2 vertical male spade end and 1 round male end for the ground. This was another reason why LGB was so popular overseas, their transformers were already made for European elctrical specs which uses a different style plug and voltage, one male spade is horizontal and the other is vertical for 240 volt.
Another option is to just buy an adapter plug for your region to use US Plugs. Most game console websites like Buy Video Games for Consoles and PC - From Japan, Korea and other Regions! - Play-Asia.com sell those adapters. In the past when I've gone on vacation overseas to visit friends I always carry an adapter for my game consoles. I've found that they work well with transformers too. Actually their called Step-Down Converters.
Looks like LGB will be the way to go. I went and priced everything up and had a look at my Local Train Museums G-Scale layout which they recently extended but $45 Thousand AUS is a Tad out of my Price range... (That would make it around $30,915.88 USD) There layout uses LGB Track and is all Digital but since I will be running a Single Loco at a time.. I won't need to go that far... I looked at an LGB Starter Set which was $795AUD ($547US) it has a Small steam loco and 3 Carriages with a 4 foot Oval track and looked at the 1.2metre Straight pre-assembled Track pieces which worked out at $60AUD Each (with an 8 Metre Straight Section works out at 16metres which puts the Price Of my Layout into the stratospheric Level of about $1200 in straight track alone), Then got some helpful info into how wide I need to go to run the larger Loco's which turns out I need a Minimum of R2 which is around a 2.4M Diametre Circle...so I will re-size to allocate room for the R3 So I have to re-work my Garden Design to fit the loop ends in... (Just as well I didn't go and confirm the order for the sleepers just yet..) Whilst at this Stage it looks like I have bitten off more then I can chew.... So it looks like I will have to grow a Bigger mouth !!
Plans for my Garden railway got de-railed.. I lost my job and have had to return to Adult education to get a Certificate in Information Technology... So I shall in the future get the garden railway back on track but for the time being it is de-railed..
Sorry to hear this, but it does prove a theory that we are in a "Global" recession and not just us in the USA are in a recession. Without getting too political and at the risk of starting something, but I would dare to say that a Global economy wasn't the best idea, but I'll end that discussion here because this is a train board and not economics board. I hope things pick up and get better for you.
