Layout diagram for Phase 1

[FJ and G]

Completed Phase 1 and did a diagram (note that these ARE toy trains running on batteries)

My Garden Organizer



1. creeping cedar (native); Fall 05; not thriving

2. Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrot); doing well in shade; Fall 05

3. ?

4. ?

5. Korean Boxwood (transplanted Spring 06 from front yard)

6. Asparagus fern (spring 06)

7. “ “ “

8. Blue Rug Juniper (spring 06)

9. “ “ “

10. Alberta Spruce (spring 06)

11. “ “ “

12. “ “ “

13. Asparagus fern (spring 06)

14. Wooley Yarrow (spring 06) doing poorly

15. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

16. Thyme tomillo (spring 06)

17. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

18. Wooley Yarrow (spring 06) doing poorly

19. Alberta Spruce (spring 06)

20. sedum ogon (spring 06) spreading!

21. sedum ogon (spring 06)

22. sedum ogon (spring 06)

23. Alberta Spruce (spring 06)

24. Alberta Spruce (spring 06)

25. Alberta Spruce (spring 06)

26. Alberta Spruce (fall 05) (dead)

27. Alberta Spruce (fall 05) (dead)

28. Rosemary tree (fall 05) (dead)

29. Japanese mat juniper (spring 06)

30. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

31. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

32. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

33. Alberta Spruce (fall 05) (dead)

34 Japanese maple (spring 05) transplanted from front of house)

35. Lemon plant (spring 06)

36. Lemon plant (spring 06)

37. apple tree (spring 02)

38. Oak tree (spring 03) (naturally growing)

39. curry (spring 06)

40. silver thyme (spring 06) spreading!

41. grape vinyard (spring 04)

42. ? tree (spring 02)

43. daisies (winter 05) spreading! (grew naturally)

44. scarlet flame moss (spring 06)

45. scarlet flame moss (spring 06)

46. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

47. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

48. Alberta spruce (fall 05)

49. Alberta spruce (fall 05) dead

50. Dwarf English Boxwood (spring 06)

51. Juniper blue rug (spring 06)

52. mint (spring 06) spreading

53. cham. G. thrdbrnch sungold (summer 06)

54. scarlet flame moss (spring 06) ???

55. maple tree (spring 02)

56. maple tree (spring 01) when house was built

57. grass (spring 01 when house was built)

58. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

59. juniper virginiana (fall 05)

60. Mexican Heather (summer 06) NEED to put indoors before frost)

61. Scotch moss (summer06)

62. thyme (summer06) transplanted dead

63. thyme (summer06) transplanted dead

64. thyme (summer 06 transplant) don’t know kind

65. thyme (summer 06 transplant) don’t know kind

66. six-sided stonecrop sedom (summer06)

[cnw1995]

What's with all these trees and plants getting more attention than your trains, David.[:D]

[FJ and G]

Doug. Yeah. It's like a rock garden Zen meditation thing. You know, stand on my head in the lotus position, watching the Express Mail tools by as the Giant Hound roams the plains.[:D]

[pbjwilson]

Botany and the Beagle. I think that was a Disney movie.

[mitchelr]

David - Lookin good...the garden and the railroad. Wish I had the patience for gardening. Most things I plant windup dead before they get in the ground.

Mitch

[DCmontana]

Great work David! Now if I tried that it would have to be called the sage brush express!

[Train 284]

Looking good Dave!

[wickman]

Pretty cool [:)]

[dbaker48]

Nice stuff, How long did it take to train BB not to dodo in the wrong place. Has she become complacent with the trains, and doesn't attack them?

Nice looking parkside area. I really like the RC application!!!

[FJ and G]

Thanks, guys,

Don, BB actually is a hi-IQ beagle. She observes where I walk and has never pooped within the approx 20X35 foot layout area or the places I walk in the yard. She also can find her way home by herself through woods and swamps 5 miles away!

One thing I never mentioned before is that the motorboat controller that I modified (with advice from Jim Duda--who's on a break), is completely waterproof. Thus, I run my "3-rail" trains in light rain, as I removed the other circuits.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Dave! Are all of the plants on your outdoor layout activated by a # 153 Contactor for animation?[;)][:P][:o)] Also, Where are the Roseyville Japanese Beatles?[;)][:)][8D][:o)] Then, you would have music when running trains outside.[;)][:)] BB deserves a Silver Fire Hydrant Award for her work on this layout.[;)] Don- Dave Probably has Miniture Outdoor Shacks for BB when she has to Do-Do. Probably activated by a series of 153 Contactors also.[;)][8D][:o)] Take Care all.

[jefelectric]

Nice presentation David. I am also a gardener and appreciate the plant info. Don't have an outdoor train but have some of your plants in the area around my pond.

Is that a natural stream or man made?

Where is your home in relation to the layout?

I'm interested in seeing how it stands up to the winter weather. One good point with your mode of operation is that you don't have to clean the track to keep it operating. Have you thought about powering a steamer with the batteries in the tender?

Again, a nice job.

[FJ and G]

"Oh boy oh boy the Golden Firehydrant Award. I win, I win woof woof," barks the bagel[:D]

-----------

John,

I also plan to take photos of each plant to maintain a plant log; also plan to photograph sections of the right of way to see where landslides or sinking is prevelent then shore it up with cribbing or fill, just as real railroads do. Also planning on starting phase 2 which will include lionel tubular tracks. I'm looking forward to the realistic rusting effects.

The stream is made with concrete and is a "natural" stream because it gets its water from the downspout of the house, which replentishes the water in the pond.

My next project is to convert more locomotives, including steam, to remote control. Eventually, I'd like to get real coal powered locomotives or at least ones powered by propane.

Here are some raw construction photos taken couple months ago:

We are standing at #34 on the map looking across the unfinished layout. See the deck and house off to the right.





We are on the deck stairs landing looking the opposite way now. (half of the layout, including the 12-foot-long 3-track storage warehouse is underneath the deck)



deep under the deck is the warehouse



the layout has withstood last winter (layout started last fall). I'm using stained cedar that some guys have had out 30 years. I'll be 80 then






behind BB is the house (we're standing at #13 on the map)