Question on starting a Garden Railroad

Carole Dec 12, 2000

  1. Carole

    Carole New Member

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    I've been interested in starting a garden railroad for about 5 years. I've never owned a model train set or done any kind of modeling. I love the G scale trains, the idea of having a model railroad where the plants are real and I love the buildings. I'd like to get advice on the following. We have a spot in the backyard where we can tap into a drip line for watering the garden railroad and so we don't have to mess with moving sprinkler heads. The area is 66' long and 15' wide at the widest. Should I take a smaller subset of this area for my first endeavor or go all out? Any recommendations? BTW, my husband is supportive of me in this hobby but is not as hooked as I am. I'm hoping that will change. So, I don't want to burn us both out by taking on too much at once. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.



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    Carole
     
  2. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hello Carole. A very warm welcome to TrainBoard [​IMG]

    I used to have a garden railway, first in O scale, then #1 scale. But here in England the weather is not too kind to us , and if it is going to rain, it will be on a week-end just when time is available for running!

    If I were to do so now, it would definitely be G Scale, as the equipment is very robust, and will run in any weather [​IMG] I have seen them running snow ploughs [​IMG]

    Also I would go for radio control of the trains, then you would not have to do that chore of track cleaning [​IMG] You could run trains whilst sitting in a deck chair sipping a beer, or whatever!

    The main thing to aim at is to get something running as soon as possible, this fires the interest, and keeps work on the railroad exciting, as you prepare the next section of roadbed. Is the site flat, or will you be able to have cuts, embankments, etc.?

    Some of the G scale guys will give you good advice, just ask about anything you need to know, and please let us know what you decide, and how you get on [​IMG]

    Good luck,



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    Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12

    The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

    www.alancurtismodels.com
    Andersley Western Railroad
    Alan's American Gallery
     
  3. Carole

    Carole New Member

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    Alan,
    Thanks for the welcome and your reply! [​IMG]
    I had planned on doing radio controlled. That's the same as battery powered right? She asked with a red face. I definitely like the sound of sipping a beer whilst running my trains! I had read about the conductivity issues and keeping the track clean, wiring, etc, and don't want to deal with that. Although I do want my structures to be able to be lighted.
    The only thing I own now to get this garden railroad started are 10 issues of Garden Railway magazine! I don't even own a train yet! So, I'm very green!
    I will definitely take your advice about getting something up and running fast. I have done some rudimentary design and have come up with a dog bone shape. I will just develop a loop at one end of the dogbone and then extend from there. Do you think that sounds like a good idea?
    You asked about whether the site is flat. It is mostly flat with two areas that have a slight grade on each end. I have not determined the actual grade of the site.
    Thanks again for your advice!


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    Carole
     
  4. Robin Matthysen

    Robin Matthysen Passed Away October 17, 2005 In Memoriam

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    Hi Carole, I too welcome you to Trainboard. A fun place to visit. A friend of mine Dave Inman in Abbotsford BC has a growing garden railroad in a space similar to yours. I am giving you his web site then you can contact Dave direct. http://members.tripod.com/islepacrr/

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    Robin member #35
    [​IMG]

    Maberly and Tayside
     
  5. Carole

    Carole New Member

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    Robin, thanks for the welcome! And thanks for letting me know about your friend. I will definitely contact him! Thanks again! [​IMG]
     
  6. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Welcome to the "Family" of railroad Fans, Buffs, Hoggers, Modelers, Runners, Builders, Titans, Tycoons, Moguls, and an old Coot or two! Even those who are not active in your particular Gauge are none the less interested in your new project! Do take an occasional photo as you progress. You will them make a scrap book and stick little temporary notes in with the date. I promise you, you will dearly appreciate having the book to show friends how you built a railroad, and to help you make decisions when you do decide to enlarge the track plan later. We especially would enjoy seeing photos as you go along also. Do come by again, and bring your husband with you, he is welcome even if he only comes by for the tall tales and suds! [​IMG]

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    Watash #982 [​IMG]
     
  7. Art

    Art Permanently dispatched

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    Hi Carole,
    My wife and I were at the same spot you are now about 1 year ago. We just started right in and never looked back. The G Scale is great and the fun is more as we build more. So don't be afraid to have big plans, but do it a section at a time. You can expect to make mistakes as you go as we all have.

    Have fun.
    Art
     
  8. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    Carole,Welcome to the wonderful world of G scale [​IMG] [​IMG].

    Your idea of the dogbone concept is a good one as it will give you a great possibilities for expanding your railroad in the future. The best thing to do and this is true for every scale is to keep things simple.

    to many people started with projects that at the end they could not control, made no sense and couldn't finish either as they were to big and complex.

    No switches are needed from the start on. Just run your trains and ideas will pop up on how to develop your railroad.

    I do not know what you have in mind, do you want to run straight on the ground or would you like to have elevated track?? Of course the one on the ground wil be the cheapest and the fastest to accomplish.

    You are also right for running on battery power as electricity outside can be a little more tricky.

    I just started to build an outside layout, it's just an oval about 120 feet long and 20 feet wide. The track will run on a height of about 3 feet.

    This is comfortable for me as I will run only G scale live steam on it, thus also no need for electricity. [​IMG] [​IMG].live steam needs some preparation on the locomotive before it runs and I like to do this standing upright rather than laying on my belly on the ground [​IMG]

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    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    [​IMG]
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/

    [This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 13 December 2000).]
     
  9. moose

    moose TrainBoard Member

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    Welcome to trainboard Carole! I'm modelling HO myself, but, there is a wealth of knowledge on the boards here that is well worth it's weight in Gold [​IMG] You'll always have a question answered or you'll be pointed in the right direction to get the answer.
     
  10. Carole

    Carole New Member

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    Wow, thanks for all the great responses!

    I will definitely be back with more questions and photos when we get started.

    To answer you, Paul, I am planning to lay the track on the ground - not elevated. I had thought of building an elevated area like you said just so it's easier to work with. But that seemed daunting due to the amount of work it would take to build up the area and the cost too.

    Thanks again, everyone. [​IMG]
     
  11. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    Carole, if you run on the ground:

    You can make a small trench, twice to 3 times the width of the track and about 4" deep.

    In the trech you put some polythene sheet to prevent weeds from growing between the rails. Of course you will have to punch some holes in the sheet so that rainwater can be drained away.

    Now you can drive some wooden pegs in the middle of the trench on a regular distance. With a water level you can check that the height between the pegs is level.

    Now pour fine gravel as ballast in the trench and rake it level with the top of the pegs.

    Lay your track on the gravel and screw a brass screw through every sleeper that comes on top of a peg.

    Just as in reality, you will have to poor extra gravel from time to time.

    Wipe with a hard brush the gravel between the ties, take a train let it run, sit down in the grass and enjoy a BELGIAN beer [​IMG] because you will have earned it by then.

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    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    [​IMG]
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/
     
  12. Carole

    Carole New Member

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    Paul, thanks for the tips. Any worries about frost heave related to putting the pegs in the ground? We do get pretty cold winters where I live.

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    Carole
     
  13. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    the wooden posts should be water resistent, as I do not work directly on the ground i think the best thing to do is making a V at the end of the post and drive it in the ground with a wooden hammer.

    Instead of wooden pegs, you could also use concrete building blocks that can resist water or frost and put a thin layer of ballast on top to hide them.

    Just drill a hole in the block and put a plug in it and screw the rail to it with a brass screw.

    This is another possibility. [​IMG]


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    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    [​IMG]
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/
     
  14. BryGy

    BryGy TrainBoard Member

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    Carole - I have had the same thoughts about frost heave. Living in Cedar Rapids, we definitely get frozen earth and I would be a little nervous about how the track moves/doesn't move as the ground thaws out. Does anyone have experience with that in the cold climates?

    Bry

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    Smile! [​IMG]
    It makes people wonder what you are up to.
    Bry's Photopoint.com Album
     
  15. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    When I had my O scale layout in the garden, it was laid on poured concrete about 3-4" thick, and even that could get cracked and lifted by the changes in weather/temperature.

    But it was repairable, some of the joys of garden railroading [​IMG]

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    Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12

    The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

    www.alancurtismodels.com
    Andersley Western Railroad
    Alan's American Gallery
     

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