Temporary track laying

[Anonymous]

Hey all, I have a question. I'm unsure about how I want the track to be layed down. I'm laying a loop using 10' minimum curves, I've layed the track out and am thinking of smoothing the ground out so I can run trains for a couple weeks to see what I think. Will this work, or will the the lack of ballast be a problem?

[mkblk]

Jim,

I think if you smooth the ground out reaaal smooth, you shouldn't have problems for a temporary track. I just finished laying track for my garden railway and used 3 different methods just to see how they work out.

Method 1: dug a shallow (2") trench and filled it with ballast
Method 2: didn't bother with the trench
Method 3: laid the track on pressure treated 1 x 3's

The mainline is trenched and ballasted. One of the advantages of ballasting (with or without trench) is the track "floats" in it (just like 1' = 1'). This helps avoid twisting of the track where the ground isn't very even.

I used the 1 x 3's in the yard / service areas.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the frost hits next winter.

Bottom line - level the ground best you can, shim where necessary and enjoy running the trains!

MK

By the way, if you're running live steam... better use that bubble level unless you have R/C.

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim
level and lightly pack the ground. then lay the track shims can be put in as nesasary to get the track level.
play trains fiddle around untill the track is Level play some more if you dont like track location move.
Same process again once happy with location and sure this is what you want then put in propper track formation.
No need to get to carried away with packing the ground if you move the track you don't want to have to do more than run a rake through where the temp track was to remove all trace of it.
While the temp track process is happening give some thought as to what construction method suits the ground in your area and how to blend it in with the garden so that it is part of the garden not just in the garden.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim,
You'll be surprised how forgiving those trains can be. I'm in construction mode right now but I still run on the grass at weekend and believe me, my lawn aint flat!. I have to say that watching the Bachmann connie dipping and twisting is a sight to behold. The big let down is that old favourite, couplers! I have gone back to hook and loops because the knuckles kept parting and now everything in the garden is...well...rosey! Even when the RR is a permanent way I suspect I will stick with hook & loops because I like to sit with a beer and watch them trains.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll take Johns idea about lightly tamping the ground under the track. I'm in New England, so frost heaves may be an issue. I am hoping to be able to run trains in the winter (saw a rotary plow in action once, fell in love with it.) If I secure the track to 1x3's, will I have to contend with kinks in the rails?

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim
I go from 40c in summer to -2 or 3c in winter my track is floating in ballast I have had
no problems.
Remember when fixing the track to the timber it then becomes rigid and cannot move
In that situation heat kinks could be a problem.
It is easy to deal with when fixing your track down hold it in place rather than hard down
and get two adjustable tracks in your chosen brand open them out to 3/4 of there length
and put them in that will allow the rails to expand and contract without causing any dramas.
If you use this method of temp track then to make it perminent is not hard make adjustable steel posts get them in so the concrete and base of the post is below the frost line then level and bolt the posts your track boards on top.
give the timber a dam good drowning in a good quality wood preservative first off then once a year paint it with some more and the layout will last for years.
A bit harder to blend into the garden but easier to revove for mods or house move
regards John

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone in this forum who can comment on plastic track? Is there any? If so, where and what type? Any known problems with it? I'm in South Florida so freezing is not an issue but UV might be in the long run; if so, how long? Could it be used for permanent layouts if properly secured? Any experience with it?......Jack