Took time yesterday and today, to get some trains out and run! found a bad section of track, after almost 2 hours of running yesterday! Was set up with regular rail joiners, and not rail clamps! Installed a set of power jumpers and that seemed to help. But, I still have some major rebuilding coming up. So, that track is going to be pulled up! But, extra feeders are going in, as are clamps when I put things back together. And just maybe, the K27 and cars will run for a change, without derailing! Part of the area being replaced, b;ocks are sinking, probably from tree roots pushing things around!! So, tracks are not close to level!! Diesels run fine though! Should be able to get started next week, since weather is going to be in the upper 60's to near 80 early next week! No photos/video though, since I didn't want to go back down and get camera(s)!!
Maybe as deconstruction and rebuild starts also. Plus more, once trains are running again, hopefully, without derailments! The K27 will determine that!! With 5 good days next week, I'll have some time to work! Looking at one day near 80. And at least 3 days in the 70's!!
Not here. They say Saturday, in the 60-65 range, then back down to upper forties, with possible day nighttime snow flurries. Good thing my modeling is indoors.
Nice and warm, starting Sunday, through at least Wednesday. Possible rain/snow tonight. Less than 1/2 inch, thankfully! Been nice lately, so I decided it was time to pull something out and play for a while! About 4 1/2 hours between yesterday and today. Ran pretty good until I found about a 6' dead section! Same section today, wth feeders added, ran fine! Put a 10 car train out, with the GP40's and caboose.
When I built my railroad over 20 years ago, I had never seen a Garden Railroad so had no one else's ideas. Blocks are good...IF you bed them in gravel on unmolested soil. The fill will sink for 10 years. Mine was built on 4X4 posts in original grade, with plates on top, THEN fill, blocks, rocks. My track is slip joiners only, so I can screw my track to the plates. Being 100% radio/battery for 20 years, I have no issues with level changing nor any issues with clamps, feeders, bonds...or expansion/contraction of rail, as the slip joiners take it up. Think about that. Solves all sorts of problems outdoors. Dave
The block heaving/sinking is more than likely due to the tree. Tree roots are shallow - 6" - below the surface!! Started after adding the extra dirt for the garden(s). My track problem was a small section not clamped. I had done a bit of work in that area, so I just used regular joiners, until I could get track clamped. Now, I have to pull that area apart for rebuild, so regular joiners are going to help! Then, feeders and clamps will be added when I reinstall my track! Surprisingly, I do NOT have that big of a problem with sinkage anywhere. For me, and as small? a layout as I've got going, track power works fine! I do NOT want to use batteries. Nothing against it, I'm just not interested. I've also thought about building a low level ladder style roadbed, installing and then building up to track level. Would keep track even. But, the slight grades I do seem to have make operating a bit more fun!! Throttle up, or down slightly, depending on whether I'm headed upgrade, or down! Probably not much more than an inch difference at worst I suspect. I'm quite happy/satisfied with what I've accomplished to date! Has taken 5 years to this point, with a year of no trains or track. Now that I have the curves I was in dire need of, I can now start leveling the track that will eventually take the railroad to the back yard! Now, straight track is the hold up for now. But, I still have plenty to do in front for now.
Did a little track work tonight. Dropped a section of track, heading to the back, about 2". Leveled it out, best I could, by eye. Looks pretty good! Cleaned rail heads and did a bit of testing. After I cleaned up my derailment! don't think I was on track completely, so I split the switch when I first got started! A momentary stall, then everything ran perfect after that! Too dark for photos tonight, so I'll see if I can get a couple tomorrow. Now, I can move to my next section of track to adjust. Checking with Mom first, about plant(s) coming up between the main and siding! Was all removed, but things have returned! Ran for maybe 30 minutes is all, before it got too dark. A little at a time, and I might be able to actually get something done!! It was still 72 outside when I started and supposed to be about 10 degrees cooler tomorrow, then back up into the 70's with Tuesday or Wednesday topping out at about 83 degrees!! Pain time and train time. I'll manage somehow!!
A few photos from yesterdays work forth coming! Nothing done today. Running errands with Mom. Plus, just as I finished getting my photos, it had started raining lightly! So.............Still have a few days ahead in which I can do some work!
Photos as promised!! Outer curve dropped. New ballast at later date. Turnout at right. Can see how far track was dropped! Track from this point will also be lowered as needed. You can also see a flower coming up between the tracks that needs to be relocated!! That is a remnant from Moms flower garden there BEFORE the railroad was even started!! And that's been about 5 years ago!!! Another view. Black ABS pipe will be buried where is is. This will be new drainage point under track! Can see the blocks that have heaved from the tree roots. Rocks sitting around will replace blocks. This way, it won't be as noticeable if they heave! Overall view of current layout. You see the life and colors starting to come out!! Things are starting to green up and bloom!! Hope to get some operation photos after the Easter holiday! Maybe video also.
Nice! It makes me think a little harder about making a small loop just to get a taste of outdoor G scale fun. Thanks for posting the photos.
Thanks! I was surprised when my folks actually let me take over the front and set up a railroad!! Mom figured that it would be less work - Grass etc.....And so far, it is! Pulling weeds, is maybe a 30 minute job at most! A partial family project. I did/do the landscape and trains, while Mom takes care of the gardening side of things! If out and running, it can also be an attention getter, for those that don't realize the trains are there! I'll have folks walking by, stop, watch briefly, make comment(s) or come up and ask about it! Beware: Addicting!!! :teeth: My original idea, an NW-2 and 4-5 cars and caboose, is now close the 3 dozen cars and 8 locomotives! Half standard gauge, half narrow gauge. One steam and the rest diesel!
Argh. With this topic ongoing, I keep looking out the kitchen window. I will need to check and see if I've won the latest bazillion in the lottery.
Hang around a bit more! Did almost 4 hours running today! Easter ruined early! So, I stayed home and played!! One thing that did catch me by surprise, was a broken rail joiner! Joiner broke, rails free and NO derails! Rebuild may begin tomorrow. Siding to right will continue to the back yard. Overview, this time, with a train! Random view The End.
Keith, thank you for sharing your layout. I wish I could get into something like that. I've wanted to for a long time but lost my house in 2005 and bought a trailer in a park where the manager was totally against it. I'm now in an apartment so I wouldn't even ask. But, good folks like yourself keep the dream alive.
Thanks!! Glad you enjoy it. Got a start on my rebuilding project. Ended up working on it for about 5 1/2 hours!! Figure I'm close to 80% done!! Have a few small sink holes to fill in. And still have to clamp and relay my track, ballast and level. Have to check a quick clearance point to make sure the K-27 will fit! Have one spot that looks to be too close for comfort! Think I might be up and running in a couple of days. Track temporarily set back in, to check clearances. The K-27 is my biggest concern! A general view of the new section of rock wall newly installed. New drainage pipe in place. Street side exit will be hidden from view, but still plenty of clearance for drainage.
Yes it was. As I pulled blocks, I uncovered a couple of tree roots! About 3" in diameter, and half exposed under the blocks! If I could, I remove current tree and replace with something that does NOT have a shallow root system.
Could you use a bridge like used to cross swamps in that root area? Pilings driven down about 100 feet apart and girder bridge sections between them. That could let the tree do it's thing with out disturbing the operations.
I'm sure something like that could be done. But, there's all sorts of roots/rocks that would make driving anything into the ground somewhat of a PITA. At one point however, I had thought of building a slightly elevated ladder style roadbed for the entire railroad. In the end, for me, it was just too costly to build. And would have been rather difficult, when trying to do alone. Can't find help when needed. Have some girder bridges I still want to install. Can't find anyone to help build abutments for said bridges. I've got an idea though, that requires the use of a 1x12 and probably a 1x8 as well. Then, a way to seal it from moisture, once planted in place.
