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RR height
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***, <br /> <br />Decide first what you want to do. To just watch trains run around through the scenery you can't beat a ground level railroad. If you just don't want to have to stoop over so much to work on the railroad and run the equipment then a raised bed 24" or so high works well. Or if you like to operate and switch industries and so on a high raised benchwork does the job best. <br /> <br />[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/RichardSmith/Visitors/2005Apr10-TerryFoley-LarryJackson-Web.JPG[/img] <br />My railroad is built on raised outdoor benchwork and is a nominal 40" in height. It is a perfect height for most people whose primary interest is switching cars and don't especially care for gardening. <br /> <br />Like everything there are advantages and disadvantages. At 40" height the RR is a bit high for small children although platforms can be set along the right of way to accomodate them. Track and structures are pretty well protected from being stepped on and there is much less accumulation of debris than I had with a previous 16" raused bed. To raise the RR to 40" height on benchwork was no more expensive than raising it to 24" with fill dirt and retaining walls. <br /> <br />Of course access is a prime concern which limits the width of individual benchwork sections but it is nice not to have to stoop over to work on or operate the railroad. <br /> <br />If you want some height that better integrates the RR into the garden then a raised bed works very well. A height of 12" to 24" is moderate enough to be able to step up on and doesn't dominate the scene. <br /> <br />If you want to emphasize the yard and garden and prefer to sit on the patio sipping a cool one while watching the trains run around then a ground level is a good choice. <br /> <br />It depends on how you visualise using the RR and whether it will be primary to the rest of the yard, equal to it or just a novelty in a garden. Once you determine that you can make a meaninful decision on how to build the RR and what height to make it. <br /> <br />Richard Smith
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