wet behind the ears- beginner

[Anonymous]

Well Tom you have been given some very good advice, but I would put in my little bit. My advice is not to buy anytyhing that you will regret later. A starter set is a good idea it is inexpensive and gives you a bit of everything. But don't forget when you get further into it you may not want a bit of everything and what you have may be not what you now want. So if you decide to buy anything, don't; wait three months and if you still want it then, well go ahead.

My advice is to decide early on if you want to go digital or not, if so buy a digital starter set. This is a big ask I know; to decide this. It is expensive, very expensive but it lets you do things easily that you would not be able to dream of. The wiring, expense and extra planning once you get into more complex set ups is inceredible, compared to what you have to do if you get into digital contol in the early stages. I did and I am very pleased that I have, I can do virtually anything I like as far as control is concerned, no fancy wiring, very few isolated track sections, no irritationg restrictions. But digital is a mine field inits own right and I am not happy with the reliability of my equipment but I would not choose the other route under any circumstances. I emphasise digital is expensive to get started more than double the cost but as you go on, you will be glad that you have paid the extra.

The advice to get in touch with Old Dad is good, he has a great setup, his mountains are to die for and he is good fellow.

To MMS I was surprised that you thought that Canada was down under; I live down under and Canada is nowhere near where I live. Down under is in the Southern Hemisphere of the planet and mainly includes Australia and New Zealand and a few Pacific Islands.

Regards. Ian: Kawana Island Tropical Railway; Sunshine Coast. Queensland. Australia.

[Anonymous]

Well Tom you have been given some very good advice, but I would put in my little bit. My advice is not to buy anytyhing that you will regret later. A starter set is a good idea it is inexpensive and gives you a bit of everything. But don't forget when you get further into it you may not want a bit of everything and what you have may be not what you now want. So if you decide to buy anything, don't; wait three months and if you still want it then, well go ahead.

My advice is to decide early on if you want to go digital or not, if so buy a digital starter set. This is a big ask I know; to decide this. It is expensive, very expensive but it lets you do things easily that you would not be able to dream of. The wiring, expense and extra planning once you get into more complex set ups is inceredible, compared to what you have to do if you get into digital contol in the early stages. I did and I am very pleased that I have, I can do virtually anything I like as far as control is concerned, no fancy wiring, very few isolated track sections, no irritationg restrictions. But digital is a mine field inits own right and I am not happy with the reliability of my equipment but I would not choose the other route under any circumstances. I emphasise digital is expensive to get started more than double the cost but as you go on, you will be glad that you have paid the extra.

The advice to get in touch with Old Dad is good, he has a great setup, his mountains are to die for and he is good fellow.

To MMS I was surprised that you thought that Canada was down under; I live down under and Canada is nowhere near where I live. Down under is in the Southern Hemisphere of the planet and mainly includes Australia and New Zealand and a few Pacific Islands.

Regards. Ian: Kawana Island Tropical Railway; Sunshine Coast. Queensland. Australia.

[Anonymous]

Hi tom
you will need to get in touch with local modelers to find out how the deal with your winters without the railway breaking up in the cold.
It can be done.
Read as much as you can on the subject
Ask questions here remember the stupid question is the one you did not ask when you should have.
[#welcome]
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi tom
you will need to get in touch with local modelers to find out how the deal with your winters without the railway breaking up in the cold.
It can be done.
Read as much as you can on the subject
Ask questions here remember the stupid question is the one you did not ask when you should have.
[#welcome]
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi Kevin Graham
raid my profile and Email me I am in West Australia as well.
will assist where I can by the way AMRA in Perth have an active large scale group in Perth that covers both electric and steam trains in the garden.
Check out the Toenail Ridge shortline web site for a start
!/2 acre that will do a good job of getting you into trouble[:D][#welcome][wow]
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi Kevin Graham
raid my profile and Email me I am in West Australia as well.
will assist where I can by the way AMRA in Perth have an active large scale group in Perth that covers both electric and steam trains in the garden.
Check out the Toenail Ridge shortline web site for a start
!/2 acre that will do a good job of getting you into trouble[:D][#welcome][wow]
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi,

A great way to get going is to buy a starter set with everything in, some extra track if you have the funds, cut the grass, set it up with the mains unit indoors and run those trains. In the UK the LGB starter sets are well priced - to get you hooked - and the quality is superb. I ran mine on Sunday for a few hours and did a pu***est on one of my Bachmann coaches and my LGB drovers caboose, both lighted. A good push on the Bachmann sent it a few feet down the track, the LGB went on, and on and on - the moral being, you get what you pay for. Whichever make you get, don't forget the lubrication, Hobby Lube do a good 6 pack of all you need, and follow the makers instructions. Happy railroading.
Cheers,
Kim

[Anonymous]

Hi,

A great way to get going is to buy a starter set with everything in, some extra track if you have the funds, cut the grass, set it up with the mains unit indoors and run those trains. In the UK the LGB starter sets are well priced - to get you hooked - and the quality is superb. I ran mine on Sunday for a few hours and did a pu***est on one of my Bachmann coaches and my LGB drovers caboose, both lighted. A good push on the Bachmann sent it a few feet down the track, the LGB went on, and on and on - the moral being, you get what you pay for. Whichever make you get, don't forget the lubrication, Hobby Lube do a good 6 pack of all you need, and follow the makers instructions. Happy railroading.
Cheers,
Kim

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JohnLat

Hello Everyone

Right now I am stumped, because I have some permanent landscaped plants, that I can't move where I need to lay the track, between them and a fence, but the roots are near the surface so I cannot dig a trench to put in the crusher fine ballast.

Any suggestions on how to lay the track, if you can't dig a trench to put in the ballast?
I don't want to just lay the track in the dirt.

Thanks
John

John, and Jim

why not bridge over the offending roots? all you would need is a couple of pressure treated 2x4's and a 2x6 on top to allow the track to span over the rooted area, or plan on elevating the route a couple of inches so that it clears the roots at the bad spots?

Just a couple of suggestions.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JohnLat

Hello Everyone

Right now I am stumped, because I have some permanent landscaped plants, that I can't move where I need to lay the track, between them and a fence, but the roots are near the surface so I cannot dig a trench to put in the crusher fine ballast.

Any suggestions on how to lay the track, if you can't dig a trench to put in the ballast?
I don't want to just lay the track in the dirt.

Thanks
John

John, and Jim

why not bridge over the offending roots? all you would need is a couple of pressure treated 2x4's and a 2x6 on top to allow the track to span over the rooted area, or plan on elevating the route a couple of inches so that it clears the roots at the bad spots?

Just a couple of suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Hi john Lat
This is a situation that often happens in the garden where preexisting plants are in the way of the line.
there are usualy three options
pull it out :-this usualy means trouble as murphies law as aplied to garden railways
dictates it will be domestic managements favorite plant.
re route the line to avoid said plant
or Vsmiths option go over the area my thoughts on this one are a little diferent in that if it was me I would build or get built a propper bridge made of steel or aluminium to cross the area.
The absence of water underneath I dont see as a problem being in Aus we have a few bridges that apear to have been built for fun that is untill winter when the reason becomes all to aparrent.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi john Lat
This is a situation that often happens in the garden where preexisting plants are in the way of the line.
there are usualy three options
pull it out :-this usualy means trouble as murphies law as aplied to garden railways
dictates it will be domestic managements favorite plant.
re route the line to avoid said plant
or Vsmiths option go over the area my thoughts on this one are a little diferent in that if it was me I would build or get built a propper bridge made of steel or aluminium to cross the area.
The absence of water underneath I dont see as a problem being in Aus we have a few bridges that apear to have been built for fun that is untill winter when the reason becomes all to aparrent.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Kim and John;

I have been determined to make my railway fit my garden and not vice versa, so I have come up against your problem several times. To make matters worse I live in the tropics and things grow so fast you can nearly watch them. I have many tropical ferns and palms around my layout and the biggest single problem is with them growing bigger and everything goes ok for a while and all of a sudden you get a stoppage or a derailment and its the same old culprits all the time, and I think they might have something of a permanent or serious nature happen to them soon.

However your root problem is not too hard, heres what i have done with some success.

1) Excavate around them as much as possible, over under and around don't stint.

2) Get a small saw and cut off what you can then repeat item (1), this wont hurt your plants or it hasn't mine.

3) if you have a really low point, run a bit of plastic conduit down to it and fill it with fine gravel. Make up a mixture of 3-4 parts fines to 1 part cement, mix well with water so that you get a very slightly sloppy to stiff mix.

4) Don't just pour it in, bring it up nearly level with your ballested way using a trowel to get the shape you want and then cover gently with fines.

5) Leave for a few days or untill you get your next tropical monsoon and check.

6) After that, lead a good life, be kind to your wife and kids and all should be ok.

Best of luck

Ian

PS You can guess we are having a wet day here on the Sunshine Coast, very rare but it happens, thats why I have answered everything going.

[Anonymous]

Kim and John;

I have been determined to make my railway fit my garden and not vice versa, so I have come up against your problem several times. To make matters worse I live in the tropics and things grow so fast you can nearly watch them. I have many tropical ferns and palms around my layout and the biggest single problem is with them growing bigger and everything goes ok for a while and all of a sudden you get a stoppage or a derailment and its the same old culprits all the time, and I think they might have something of a permanent or serious nature happen to them soon.

However your root problem is not too hard, heres what i have done with some success.

1) Excavate around them as much as possible, over under and around don't stint.

2) Get a small saw and cut off what you can then repeat item (1), this wont hurt your plants or it hasn't mine.

3) if you have a really low point, run a bit of plastic conduit down to it and fill it with fine gravel. Make up a mixture of 3-4 parts fines to 1 part cement, mix well with water so that you get a very slightly sloppy to stiff mix.

4) Don't just pour it in, bring it up nearly level with your ballested way using a trowel to get the shape you want and then cover gently with fines.

5) Leave for a few days or untill you get your next tropical monsoon and check.

6) After that, lead a good life, be kind to your wife and kids and all should be ok.

Best of luck

Ian

PS You can guess we are having a wet day here on the Sunshine Coast, very rare but it happens, thats why I have answered everything going.