Hello

[themattman]

I have a quick quetion for any of you . Being that i an just getting into O scale, i am trying to figure out what scale you are useing for your garden railway? Also how do you work with the climate? I live in the midwest where we get everything. Just a little curiouse.

Matt

[Rex in Pinetop]

Matt,

Welcome to the forum.  We'll try to answer your questions as we've all been through the adventures you are about to experience with the great outdoors.  Take some time and read through some of the other posts on this forum. 

Most of us are in G for garden railroads.  All kinds of different scales are available from 1:32 to 1:20.2.  I run outdoors with battery power and remote control.  My layout is in the front yard so I can share the fun with all the kids in the neighborhood.  (Some of those kids are in their 80's.)  My track stays out year round.  I do bring in our buildings for the winter snows since we don't live there year round.  Some guys in other snow areas run some really great snow plows.

Rex

[g. gage]

Howdy Matt; Most of us Garden Railroaders use “G” gauge track (45mm). The scale varies to fit this track. In other words I model in 1:29 scale using 45mm gauge track. BTW 1:29 is exactly three times bigger than HO. Those modeling 36” narrow gauge usually model in 1:20.3 scale with 45mm gauge track. This may seem odd, however many of us belong to Garden Railway Societies and can run our equipment, regardless of scale, on each others railroads.

 

The weird thing is that because prototype railroad cars were 40 – 50 feet long by 10’ wide for example and in narrow gauge were about 30’ x 7’ each scale model’s mass is  about the same size when viewed side by side. Many modelers even mix scales on their railroads with little notice.

 

I live in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at the 5,300’ level. We can get snow in any month of the year and winds over 100 mph. Temperatures can be 10 below in winter and 90’s in summer. I use track power with R/C control and run most of the time year round. I have storage tracks under the house.

 

That said, O scale and track (16mm) is popular in Europe and I do know modelers using O scale outdoors in the US. But remember that everything outdoors must be UV protected; most O scale equipment is not.

 

What I like about “G” gauge, in addition to being outside, is that trains rumbling by sound and feel more like real thing. In the end it will be your railroad and we all accept that.

 

Have fun, good luck, Rob  

[altterrain]

 Actually the scales run from 1:13.7 (7/8's scale or 7/8's of an inch to the foot) and down to 1:32 -

Dealing with the climate? Well, you just build everything like the would in real life. Though we tend to used more plastics.

A real stone, cedar, cedar shingled and copper station in 7/8's scale -

more here - http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/157615/1738373.aspx#1738373

 -Brian

[ttrigg]

Matt:

We have a few folks who work in "On3" outdoors here in the states. Most (if not all) of them use hand laid rails on wooden (treated) ties. I’m not sure of this point but I do not believe "O" track has UV resistant ties. (Please confirm this with an "On3’er.) How each of us "accommodates" the local weather runs the full gambit. The rails stay put all year long, with seasonal re-ballasting as needed. Some bring their structures indoors during the winter. Some build boxes (portable garages) to cover their structures. Some of us (like me) that live in "snow free" areas just leave the stuff out side all year long. I think that all of us bring the rolling stock in after each use.

Some of use battery power, some use remote control of various sorts (using rail and/or track power), and some (like myself) still run analog transformer throttle power through the rails. Some even run live steam. Like Rob said, "many of us belong to Garden Railway Societies and can run our equipment, regardless of scale, on each others railroads."

Some unique problems with working outdoors include weed control, gravel being moved on top of rails by domesticated and undomesticated wildlife, flooding and such. In my case the dogs like to leave deposits on the rails, the chickens love to dig out under the rails. In other words we all have lots of fun.

 

Edit:  26 Dec;  OK; I stand corrected.  Thanks to Jerry for correcting my faulty memory. O rails are avail in "O"

[Marty Cozad]

Hi Matt

I live in the heart of the Midwest, Nebraska City , NE.

go to Youtube, search NTCGRR and you can see how we do it.

With this years winter storms I am casting car parts and scratch building for shows.

Year round hobby.

[Jerry Barnes]

 

SVRR has O guage track for outdoors.

[Ray Dunakin]

Howdy! As Jerry pointed out, there are several different scales using Gauge 1 track. Most Bachmann stuff is 1:20.3 scale, plus some that is around 1:22.5 or 1:24. LGB varies considerably but is often around 1:22.5 scale. Aristocraft and USA are mostly 1:29 scale, though they do have some 1:24 scale stuff. There are other brands and scales, including 1:32. My layout is built to 1:24. I'm in sunny San Diego so I don't have to deal with any extreme weather here. Almost everything on my layout is designed to be left out year round. During our few extended periods of rain, I take the locomotive(s) inside, but in most conditions, including light rain, I just park the train in a long tunnel.