New garden Railway - O scale

[CanuckWPnut]

Guys,

My son and I are looking to build our garden railway  in O scale because of a collection of trains that goes back to when I was a kid. Does anyone have any experience with O scale track outside, what brand or type and any tips they would like to share? We live on the southern West Coast of Canada, so gardening is a year round thing. Thanks in advance.

 

 

[cfourrier]

If you are going with O Gauge (which, IMHO, looks more like HO outside due to the scale of everything) then I would suggest using Gargraves stainless steel track with vinyl, UV-protected ties. I also hear that Atlas has such a track.   Also, much sure that your trackwork is level, as this affects the smaller scales.  Type "O Gauge Oudoors" into Google - there are several cool sites around on O gauge Garden railroading.

Clay

[CanuckWPnut]

 

 Clay,

Thanks for the response. I understand the size thing but in perspective, 4 O scale F units together and a train start to command a lot of real estate, so I hope O scale won't be a huge issue.( In the land of CP & CN, we also model the WP big time and we want to do the "final four" in a large scale!) Compared to our HO indoors it also seems so large. I had a line on the Gargraves track and was hoping to hear from someone that had put it to the test. I will check out the Atlas product also. I am aware that maintenance will be a major concern, but we can live with that. We are always in the garden anyway. My main concern is uv and sun damage so if the ties hold up , then I have no problems with the stainless rail.

Thanks for your input

Chris.

 

[enginear]

This scale (O) seems to be growing in outdoor interest. Here's one site to look at

http://www.btcomm.com/trains/index.htm

I've seen a lot more O scale popping up but I'm just entering this scale myself. Joe

[challenger3980]

Hi, I haven't used it outside, but I do Really like the Atlas O track, it has Nickel-Silver rails, and Atlas does specifically mention in many of their ads, that the ties ARE UV resistant. Evidently, they seem to have seen this trend early on, and made their track very compatible with outdoor use.

                                                         Doug

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Hi, I haven't used it outside, but I do Really like the Atlas O track, it has Nickel-Silver rails, and Atlas does specifically mention in many of their ads, that the ties ARE UV resistant. Evidently, they seem to have seen this trend early on, and made their track very compatible with outdoor use.

                                                         Doug

Say Doug,

Maybe so, but I personally would not want to use any of the Atlas switches machines out-side though, they look too cheesy to me, to hold up under out-side elements. My plan is to use the Atlas track in-side and run a loop of the three rail Gargraves all Stainless steel track, with U/V resistant plastic ties, to go out-side.

If I do happen to want to run a switch off of the line out-side, I'd use/or try to use, a tortouse machine on it and only stainless steel rail, the nickel-silver does tend to dirty up pretty much, so I've experienced that with the MTH nickel-silver track.

Byron C.  

[Jerry Barnes]

SVRR has O scale track. I've used their code 250 G scale track for 15 years, good stuff.

http://www.svrronline.com/index.htm 

[g. gage]

I've never used "O" scale outside, I do know a fellow in Reno with a large outdoor "O" layout. I've ask him about the UV factor, we have intense sun in this area. As I recall he said MTH O equip is ok. You did say you have older equip; I would consider a UV protective paint.

However having been in the US Coast Guard I paint everything.

Rob