How high???

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

The railway was in the garden of our new home on Sunday & it finally feels like home. The permanent way will be going down soon now, but how high? I'm undecided between ground level and built up between walls (18"ish) for ease of access. Any thoughts?
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Hi kimbrit
Ease of access wins every time.
Mine is only 9" above ground too low, but then it started as an experiment that be came perminent and has started too grow a lttle.
I am hoping it will grow enough to get part of it up to some where around 18 to 24"
so I have an area that is a comfortable hight for a proper yard for storage and shunting
during operation sesions
regards John

[Anonymous]

Hi Kimbrit , I started putting down the retaining wall in my backyard last weekend . It starts out at ground level and because of the slope of the yard will be as high as 24 inches . I can see right now my favorite spot will be the high end of the yard cuz i'll be able to watch my trains go by better . To answer your question I would say " make it as high as you can". I always thought you should view the railroad as if you were a 3" tall person. To me (and this is just my personal opinion) the trains look more real .

[bman36]

Hi Kimbrit,
Higher is definately better. For ease of access you will have to decide on a height for yourself that suits you personally. For viewing purposes it seems to look better off the ground. To each his own though. My layout is only 6 inches off of ground level and not higher due to cost. Having a fenced yard, garage and space to consider I kept it low. When we move out to the country it will definately be raised higher! Hope this helps. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

HI KIM
MY RAIL ROAD GOES FROM GROUND LEVEL TO 22 INCHES OFF THE GROUND ,THIS IS DUE TO SEVERAL BRIDGES THAT I HAVE AND THE WAY MY YARD SLOPES. THEIR IS A SMALL POND IN THE RAIL ROAD ALSO,THEIR IS ABOUT 175 FEET OF TRACK. AND ADDING MORE LATER. BEN --------IN PENNA. US.[:D][#welcome] TO THE FORUM

[Anonymous]

Kimbrit;

As you have heard fron others, above the ground about waist height is pretty good and most convenient. I have osteo arthritus in both knees and it is hard for me to kneel down, so it is doubly important for me. I have seen several layouts and they are definitle easier and better to observe elevated as well.

However for reasons of cost, local conditions and general lazyness I have opted to have my layout at ground level and I don't regret it. There is definitely less work to do at the beginning, if you do not elevated your layout unless local conditions such as sloping terrain etc make it more simple.

It is important when us oldies and even youngies first get into garden railways to get something going around ASAP to spur you on to keep going "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy".

So if you opt to elevated you Garden Railway, consider the work involved and the effect on your physically; cause after all none of us are as young as we used to be, take this from another retiree on the other side of the world.

Regards

Ian; Kawana island Tropical Railway.

[Anonymous]

Kim;

This is a postscript to the above article: I feel like a contemptible person I have confused you with someone else, as my mind has become dulled with age. I don't know where I got the idea from that you are retired and I apologise.

Still what i said is correct elevating your railway does involve more work initially, is more expensive to start and does cost more and you may not consider the extra cost and effort worth it.

Ian. The Aussie Grandad

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

Thanks to you all for your replies. John, Mike, Brian, Bennett, nice one guys - food for thought. Ian, no problem. I'm not that far from retirement and one knee has been under the knife 3 times!
I suspect that a compromise will come in here. A quick to build on the ground inside the building work for the raised track base.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Access is all important but that does not mean that you need to build it off the ground. For ground level, I use a maintenance bridge(bench) to straddle the track and structures to get at thoes pesky problem spots. While talking about problems, whatch out for tunnels. Make sure that you can actually work on the track inside the tunnels and retreive derailed cars and spilled loads (also cats, and other critters).

[Anonymous]

Hello Kim,
This is a topic close to my heart.My garden (130')slopes quite considerably.At the moment I have two loops at the top on vague level ground.I did try to use a cutting to get to the sloping part but then found that the slope would be too great for trains with more than two carriages.My Dad suggested that I use fenceposts to raise the track progressively as it goes down the garden.(the track at the end of the garden would be about waist height)I was against this at first because I wanted the railway to blend in with the garden.However,after taking my trains to his layout (with gradients)it proved him right.What I am going to do now is use "Metposts"to fix my fenceposts in the garden with marine ply cut to suit on the top.I am going to cut into the hedge at the edge of my garden so that in time the hedge will grow around the supports leaving the trains to run at the new level above ground.I am going to make the plywood top double track width to allow for further loops.
In fact any raised railbed can be enhanced by placing plants underneath.There is nothing worse than the perpetual bridge.

[bman36]

Troybetts,
An interesting solution to the grade problem was shown some time back in GR. The layout was modelled after the Georgetown Loop in Colorado. This line drops 600' in just two miles. At one point it actually crosses over itself during the descent. An absolute marvel in engineering that a modeller chose to copy for his yard. I visited the web site today since my family and I are going to Denver for the big convention. You can see the line at www.georgetownloop.com. Sadly this is the last season this RR will operate. This will be a must see on our holidays. Don't know the whole story but they are shutting down. Anyhow if you haven't laid track yet, take a look at how this line was built. The article is in the April 2002 issue of GR. Hope you find this of some interest. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

I will always say raise it, it looks better when its integrated into even a low planter.

Most of us have flat uninteresting yards, just laying the track at ground level losses alot of the appeal these trains have, raising the track in a planter creates a focal point and allows the planter/ layout to become a place, a feature.

A raised planter is easier to maintain, clean, plant and view. It also means you never have to worry about accidently running the mower over it and sucking up ballast or track, or having a weed whacker pepper you with chicken grit shotgun pellets when you run the edger near it, which isnt a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, it definately is going a couple of feet up - you have to think ahead!!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]