new to the out doors

[Anonymous]

  i have a few questions for you guys. after the winter i am going to put up my first garden rail road. one question i had was, what do i use to hold the tracks down? so they wont slide or sink in the dirt & grass.

 

   what is the best way to save space?  i dont have the biggest yard so i have to try and conserve as much as possible.

 

    How do i get multiple engines running? id like at least 2 to be running. and how do i keep them outside? is there like a shed i can use to store them out side and protect them from the elements?

 

 

thanks - Jon 

[lyctus]

Hey Bandit, you are going to love the great outdoors. You don't need much space...I'm building an empire in a 7metre x 2.5metre (20'x8' roughly) raised garden bed. Our soil is sandy, so I purchased a product called 'road base' from the landscape people which is cheap and consists of crusher fines and granite all mixed up. You can lay it as it is in a trench about 4-5" deep, or, as I have done, sieve out the large granite chips (about 3/4"-1"size)using the large stuff as a 'base' in the trench, and the use crusher fines (pulverised granite chips and granite dust) which went through the sieve as the track ballast which will bind to the larger stone sub road to enable you to level and tweak your track just like the real track gangs do (track gangs ? well those yellow track dressing machines anyway). Keep the areas around swith blades clear of too much ballast to avoid stones in the works. I'm assuming from Part 111 of your query that you want a permanent arrangement. 

Use standard double pole double throw switches to control power through 2 throttles and youv'e got independent control of two locos on your layout. You will need a box arrangement to mount your DPDT switches on. Then there is DCC of course, easy independent control of every loco and some accessories.

I collect up my locos and rollingstock at the end of a session and store them indoors between operating sessions.

Hope this helps....keep it simple to begin with for an achievable result which maybe you can add to later. Just get some trains running ! 

Geoff  

[altterrain]

  i have a few questions for you guys. after the winter i am going to put up my first garden rail road. one question i had was, what do i use to hold the tracks down? so they wont slide or sink in the dirt & grass.

 

   what is the best way to save space?  i dont have the biggest yard so i have to try and conserve as much as possible.

 

    How do i get multiple engines running? id like at least 2 to be running. and how do i keep them outside? is there like a shed i can use to store them out side and protect them from the elements?

 

 

thanks - Jon 

- If your track is on a compacted gravel or stone dust base it should not be a problem. If your track is just on the soil, I think you may need to improve your roadbed in the future.

- I don't have clue by what you mean when it comes to conserving space.

- Multiple engine running has several options -

  a) two separate loops 

  b) a long passing siding that is blocked so the two trains can take turns on the mainline

  c) DCC

  d) a radio control system like the Aristo Train Engineer with the on board controllers 

  e) battery / RC

I use a combination of a, b and e on my railway.

I adapted a plastic garden shed for storage of rolling stock and electronics - 

 -Brian

[gardenengineer]

Hey bandit-

I would spend your winter searching the internet for information and photos.  That is what I did 6 years ago.  I found all the resources online.  When you are looking at photos you will see the same technics used over and over by many gardern railroaders.  You will gain alot of confidence over the next few weeks and months by just reading whatever you can find, believe me it is out there.  Once you have read up on the methods you will be outside on the first warm day in February surveying your lot and planning, making drawings and such.  If you ask me, getting started and creating the railroad is quite an accomplishment and you will really be amazed what you have created by this time next year.  Good luck and welcome to the hobby.

Pete

[two tone]

Hi Bandit, You dont say where you are i`m in England and my layout sits on themolite blocks this keeps it about 9 inches off the ground, I use 4mm grit to ballast it I find this does the job ok. If you are only having 1 loop I would recomend you use MTS mult train system it`s easy to wire up and most new engines come with DDC installed. Hope this helps

[DMUinCT]

  Like the real thing, a base of crushed stone (pea gravel from Home Depot), secure track sections together (rail clamps), and float the track by imbeding the ties in the gravel.  Now you can run year round, even in the snow.     I also use a "Rubbermaid" plastic utility storage box (with a lock) to store my cars when not in use.  Locomotives come inside.

[Anonymous]

thanks guys, keep the info coming i need any and all the advice i can get!!!!