10 Commandments of Garden RR

[ghelman]

If you were to put a list together of the 10 things a Garden Railroader should do, be aware of, rules to follow... What would you put on that list?

 Something like:

1. Lubricate

2. < 2% grade

[altterrain]

Well, I have already broken #2. Maybe that should be under 3% for mainlines and 7% for logging.

How about - no inviting others over to run trains if your trackwork is !

and - no birdhouse buildings (well, that's just more of a dislike ).

 -Brian 

[GearDrivenSteam]

Less than 2% grade???? You want a mighty boring railroad, don't you?

[cabbage]

1: Be happy with what you can do
2: Make sure your layout can be used by others
3: Scale can be important -but rivits are not
4: Live in harmony with the other users of the garden
5: Make it up as you go along -there are no rules....

regards

ralph

[Coogler Rail Line]

How about:

 

Thou shall include the wife in the decision process of purchasing new equipment.

I have broken that one several times and recieved the wrath! 

 

[EMPIRE II LINE]

How about:

 

Thou shall include the wife in the decision process of purchasing new equipment.

I have broken that one several times and recieved the wrath! 

 

Oh well, guess I missed that one, she's already stepped out, but made sure she took the new car though, no problem spending money on that!!!!

Byron

[vsmith]

Thou shall not buy New Bright

[vsmith]

Less than 2% grade???? You want a mighty boring railroad, don't you?

Yeah really, I'm planning 5% grades to keep my geared lokies interested

How about, Thou shall not exceed 7% grades

[ttrigg]

The last two should be!

9.  Remember to enjoy it all.

10.  If anything about rules 1 through 8 interfere with rule 9, then toss out the offending rule.

[GearDrivenSteam]

Less than 2% grade???? You want a mighty boring railroad, don't you?

Yeah really, I'm planning 5% grades to keep my geared lokies interested

How about, Thou shall not exceed 7% grades

Now, THAT might work.

[ghelman]

OK. 2% isn't enough for most. However, the wrong loco pulling to much on a 2% grade on a radius could lead to problems.  Maybe grade has to many variables. What I was thinking of was a help list of do's and don'ts for the less experienced. 10 might not be enough.

[gbbari]

hey Hey HEY!  Now doggone it Brian what in tarnation is wrong with my 15 birdhouse buildings?????  I spent a lot of money on those..at least $10 to $12 each . 

Ya gotta have a little whimsey....and besides... SWMBO loves 'em, and that is required to comply with Rule# whatever-the-heck-it-was.

Seriously, most of these suggestions are good. the only rule I would recommend is:

-It's your railroad. Run whatever you want on it. It does not have to meet anyone else's criteria.

 -GB 

[GearDrivenSteam]

OK. 2% isn't enough for most. However, the wrong loco pulling to much on a 2% grade on a radius could lead to problems.  Maybe grade has to many variables. What I was thinking of was a help list of do's and don'ts for the less experienced. 10 might not be enough.

2% is a great rule of thumb for most normal railroads. I was just funnin with ya.  

 

[Curmudgeon]

2% is often considered ruling grade for MOST mainlines (although 2.2% is seemingly common in the North West, and there is always the "rule-breaker" of Saluda), and 4% for narrow gauge, altho steeper was found many places.

I have 4% ruling grade, and have no problems, but when we declare "wet-weather ops", the guys know the two helpers stored at the bottom of the grade may be called upon at a moment's notice.

 

[two tone]

Well you opened a can of worms on that one   LOL  All good points but I think some people have plenty of money if they want 7% incline the loco may take it BUT what happens whwn you strip the gears on a loco Lost running time with loco at repair think what you could have purchased with the money you spent on the repair

[FJ and G]

####1 advice is to FIRST build a very very small garden RR with as many features as you would like to have later on. Plant a variety of plants as well. Enjoy it for a couple of years and LEARN from all your MISTAKES.  Then, and ONLY then are you ready to build a garden RR.

You can spend those 3 years scratchbuilding stuff and testing stuff on the layout.

 

You won't ever hear this advice from anyone but it is the best I can give you based on experience. 

[ghelman]

####1 advice is to FIRST build a very very small garden RR with as many features as you would like to have later on. Plant a variety of plants as well. Enjoy it for a couple of years and LEARN from all your MISTAKES.  Then, and ONLY then are you ready to build a garden RR.

You can spend those 3 years scratchbuilding stuff and testing stuff on the layout.

 

You won't ever hear this advice from anyone but it is the best I can give you based on experience. 

I think this is very good advice.

[ghelman]

Well you opened a can of worms on that one   LOL 

Brian how about some worms?

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Well you opened a can of worms on that one   LOL 

Brian how about some worms?

Would'nt they get the track all gooey ??? And cause wheel slippage.....OH MY !!!!!!  

Byron

[Beach Bill]

The advice of starting small to learn and experiment is wise.

Many of the construction techniques that you have mastered on indoor smaller-scale railroading won't apply outdoors.

Consider maintenance in planning the size.  Leaving the indoor HO or N layout untended for awhile will mean some accumulation of dust, but most things will still work fine.  Even with sturdy construction, thunderstorms, creatures, and changes of season will create outdoor maintenance needs just like a prototypical railroad.

Enjoy.   Learning new things is supposed to stave off dementia, right?   Or is the dementia question already decided once we get to the point of running trains outdoors?

Bill

[markperr]

1)  Thou shalt remember that this is a hobby, first and foremost.  It is designed to bring pleasure to the hobbyist to which it belongs.

2)  Thou shalt never count another hobbyist's rivets.  When visiting another's layout, the ten foot rule shall always apply unless the host says different.

3)   Never offer unsolicited advice to a host without first knowing the hosts inner mind with regards to their layout.

4)  Thou shalt not attempt to build a layout that violates the general laws of physics.  All other options are viable.

5)  Thou shalt consult with one's significant other on purchases which shall impact the family budget.  Equal weight shall be given to both opinions before rendering a decision.

6)  Thou shalt always look for the best deal.

7)  Thou shalt mix scales only to the extent that it makes one happy and does not detract from the "theme" of the layout.

8)  Thou shalt not kill other creatures of the Earth who may invade one's layout without first attempting to disuade such creatures from using one's layout as a path/feeding grounds/toilet/etc.

9)  Thou shalt not covet another hobbyists layout style.

10) Thou shalt not covet another hobbyists rolling stock.

 

Just my take,

Mark

 

[ghelman]

Nice feedback Mark. But 9 and 10 are tough. If I dream of having, is that coveting?

[altterrain]

That's the only appropriate use for a birdhouse. Hang them around your garden railway so the birds can live in them and then eat the skeeters and worms  !

-Brian

[altterrain]

10) Thou shalt not covet another hobbyists rolling stock.

I don't know about number 10. I certainly covet that USA Hudson

 

 

-Brian 

[imrnjr]

"....

9)  Thou shalt not covet another hobbyists layout style.

10) Thou shalt not covet another hobbyists rolling stock."

 

Nah.... I can agree with all the others, but not these last two....

if it weren't for lusting after the way some of the best garden roads are built, look, and operated I would not have even attempted to do some of the things in my railway!!!!

mark

[vsmith]

Here are my 10 principals of GRing, all codified and Old testiment like... 

Top 10 Demandments of Garden Railroading

1) Thou shall have fun at all times.

2) Thou shall not obsess on rivets.

3) Thou shall not obsess on scale.

4) Thou shall not exceed grade of 100%.

5) Thou shall not pass up obvious bargains.

6) Thou shall not buy New Bright.

7) Thou shall lubricate regularly.

8) Thou shall not wait for long suffering promised items by manufactures and take up the razorsaw and CA bottle and kitbash regularly.

9) Thou shall remember the KISS principle at all times.

10) Thou shall lust after other hobbyists layouts, rolling stock, and college age daughters .

(well… maybe not that last item )

 

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Thou shalt go to a general type forum for inane subjects rather than a train specific forum!

[ttrigg]

"....
9)  Thou shalt not covet another hobbyists layout style.
10) Thou shalt not covet another hobbyists rolling stock."

Nah.... I can agree with all the others, but not these last two.... if it weren't for lusting after the way some of the best garden roads are built, look, and operated I would not have even attempted to do some of the things in my railway!!!!
mark

#9 - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
#10 - I see, I like, I want!!!!!!!!!!

I still say the last two should be:
9.  Remember to enjoy it all.
10.  If anything about rules 1 through 8 interfere with rule 9, then toss out the offending rule

[Anonymous]

I like Mark's and Vic's take on this. And yeah, TOC has to be in there.

Seems as a group not looking outside the box, what about people (non-train types) that come to the RR? Or should there be 2 types of Commandments?

From the Frog in da swamp!