Ever Run Them Outside?

[Jumijo]

I know many of you have layouts, but how many, if any, run trains outside? I'm not talking about garden railways, but regular O or O27 trains. I have enough FasTrack to set up a pretty good-sized loop on my deck. If the weather ever becomes tolerable in my area, I'd like to run some of our trains outside some afternoon.

The great thing About FasTrack is that it can be picked up in it's entirety and moved. Temporarily running trains outdoors on a porch, driveway or even grass with this track system seems like a natural.

Jim

[cnw1995]

Jim, I set up a loop from my Santa Fe K-Line train set on the deck - just to see what it was like. It would be fun to be able to afford stainless track that could be year 'round and run a battery powered engine like in the larger scales.

[FJ and G]

Jim,

As we now speak, workers are erecting a deck in my backyard so my beagle can sunbathe with a better breeze and also find shade under the deck. Planning to erect a loop of Realtrax on the deck and run trains to my hearts content while grilling.

Will provide pictures when it happens.

[Anonymous]

You can run trains of any scale outdoors, just as long as certain conditions are met.

Large Scale trains--such as LGB and the like--are the only trains purposefully made for outdoor operations. The components used in their construction are UV resistant; the motor blocks are sealed against dust and moisture; and they are generally made for operation in all types of weather conditions and in all seasons (within reason).

Trains in most of the smaller scales are not intentionally made for outdoor operation where they can be exposed to the elements. That's just the reality of things. This does NOT mean they can't be operated outdoors, but they surely are not made for long-term resistance to the effects of sun, moisture, dust, dirt, an occasional critter on the tracks, and that sort of thing.

Likewise, the track components used in Large Scale are generally made with great durability--far more durable than anything made for the smaller scales. This is especially true of the ties and/or roadbed, which is made intentionally for permanent outdoor placement--year round, and in all weather conditions. LGB track, for example, can easily be walked on without risk of damage, and I've even seen placement across driveways where a car can be driven over this track without damaging it. Try this with track in any of the smaller scales, and you're apt to be disappointed.

I've run layouts as small as Z scale outdoors (at train shows), so it's obviously possible to operate these things outdoors if the operator just uses common sense. I would never consider running Z scale or the other smaller scales in an area exposed to the direct summer sun, and I would never consider a permanent outdoor layout in the smaller scales because I'm too lazy to be bothered with constant track cleaning and such. But for a temporary setup on a nice day, there's sure nothing wrong with giving it a try, if that's what interests you. After all, their your trains, and the only person affected by any adverse consequences will be you alone.

[choochin3]

Yesterday I ran some cheapo HO stuff on the table out on the deck.
Does this count as runnin outside?
Next week some O gauge stuff is going outside.
And after that maybe some Flyer stuff.
I would set em up in the living room,but my HO slot cars are set up in there.
Cheers,
Carl T.

[Anonymous]

I would never, ever run my trains outside...



Especially the scale ones under Command Control...



And God forbid anyone trying to run Standard Gauge outdoors on a permanent layout...



Never mind...

Kidding aside, Alan Miller is correct-only the G-Gauge/No/1 Gauge trains that are UV protected and designed to handle constant outdoor weather, dirt, etc, should be left outside. The trains in the photos, and the track, with the exception of the Standard Gauge, all were brought in at the end of each operating session.

[Boyd]

Not many houses have big enough rooms to have an O scale layout that allows a straight long enough for a 40 car train. An outdoor layout seems to be the easiest way to do this. We rent where we live and the landlord has rules agains practically anything you want to do,, I think he stays up at night thinking of new rules.
When I get my own place there will be an outdoor layout before or after I get a 1/8 scale layout gets running.
Now that I think of it, my 81 DM&IR GP9 has the older big vertical motor inside the cab. The motor has a fan on it which blows up while going one direction and down while going the other direction. It would be preferable to run it outside with the fan blowing down onto the track as to not such dust up into the engine.

[TexasEd]

QUOTE: I would never consider running Z scale or the other smaller scales in an area exposed to the direct summer sun

Don't forget about the wind!

[FJ and G]

Boyd,

Great point. Often the house (or trailer) is small, but the broad expanse of land rolls to the distant horizon, beckoning rails to be laid.

[Wild Bill]

I was just crusing through and saw this post. After lurking arund here for some time I just couldn't resist responding to this one.
I run my O guage out side on a permanint layout, and I'm not alone!
Check out this link: http://www.trainweb.org/oscaleoutdoors/
Mine is the layout outside Reno Nevada.
I don't usually have time to participate, but I have really enjoyed the discusions here, and have learened alot!

[webenda]

Wow Wild Bill! Great looking pictures of your trains going through boulders and across the pond. Thank you for the link.

I run mine outside occasionally, but bring it all in when finished. Your scene with boulders gives me the desire to make a similar scene in my back yard. I can see it now...

[rtraincollector]

Boyd Thats why I left the last place I was at and told the land lord he could take the trailor I was buying from him and [censored][censored] it. I now have another in a trailor park my boss owns and can do as I please lol. (within reason ) The last was going to fine me $50.00 a month if I didn't replace or sand and paint every outside screw in the 14X60 mobile home as they were rusty and detracked from the lok he wanted for thepark and the worst thing about it was he had a judge who would back him .
All that and had to pay $220 a month to have your trailor there and still had to pay for your own water and trash pick-up.

[3railguy]

Atlas O claims their nickle silver track line can be used outside and the ties are UV resistant. I can see where airborne dust and stuff can foul switches. They could be easily cleaned with a shop vac before running. Just keep the trains indoors when not running them.