Well I finally get to build the Carolina Southern Railroad! The bad news is it will only be set up for two days. The good news is it will be open to the public. I currently work at the South Carolina Welcom center on I-95 near the GA-SC border and on May 15-16 we will be holding National Tourism Week and inviting many exhibitors out to the center. My boss loved the idea of a garden railway.
I do have some questions about building a railroad for public display. I plan to keep the track plan simple and portable. I want to be able to move it into the stroage shed at night since highway rest areas aren't the most secure places at night. What is the best way to lay track temporarily? I was thinking about joining several modules together with black cable ties. Also, what is the best way to control the layout? I was planning on using my Train Engineer handheld. How does one go about child-proofing the layout? I plan to include a loop of track with some battery-operated Thomas The Tank Engin toys running on it for the youngest kids.
If you're on the super slab (I-95) on those days stop by.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
GP-9 MAN
the modules sounds like a good way to go, use split jaw clamps where you join the modules together. to keep people back use the red plactic mesh like the state uses to fence an area off if you can get some ,not sure if Lowe's or Home De Pot has it . good luck with your project . Ben
Here are the Del Oro pacific module standards - http://www.lsceverything.com/index.php?title=Module_standards
and some others - http://www.largescaleonline.com/library/modules/index.html
Child proofing a layout? There is no such thing unless its totally encased. We use a set of stackable pvc posts with plywood bases that we string rope through.
I would use split jaw connectors to connect rail between modules.
Don't make the modules more than two feet high if you want the littlest ones to be able to see it.
-Brian
I suspect by modules he's not asking about raised layout modules, but rather modules or sections of track which are already put together in barely manageable sections. We've had some success in holding temporary track for short term displays together by using rubber bands over the last several ties in a section, one per each side of the track!
If the truck stop-rest area-info center has any kind of security detail on duty at night, I'd tend to consult the head of security and maybe they can keep an alert eye on your track so that you would only have to put the rolling stock and electronics away at night!
If you have the do not touch approach to kids, you're gonna lose the battle. A quiet word to the parents should work when one wants to throw stuff at the trains or kick them. Be more tolerant of the real little ones. they don't realize how to measure the touch, yet much of thier learning is by touch. If worst comes to worst, shut down for a few minutes.
Hi GP-9_man11786
Pictures please when its set up
Child proofing the layout I don't supose banning children is the answer you are looking for
However low perspex (Not sure what you call it in the US) shielding on the sides of layout may be of help if it is a raised layout, and a good dose of keeping an eye on things.
Some one sugested road barrier mesh to keep people back that will provide a good demarkation line, but will not stop an excited over enthusistic child.
I personaly think pattern makers dowels, bolts and wing nuts would be a better solution for holding modules together, with rail clamps for the track.
regards John Busby
Thank you all for the usefull tips
Unfortunatly leaving the layout out at night is not an option. There is no full-time security at night. I'll keep the layout small (5'x9').
As for the child-proofing, The idea of a perimiter sounds like a good one and we have a few traffic cones that may work for this purpose.
If you'll be on the super slab that day, I hope to see you there.
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