OK, how about 550' of THREE RAIL outdoor layout?

[Wild Bill]

Ian, didn't ya know that God split Paradise in two? One north, and the other south? More exposure that way, and we don't have to share. The only way to really tell the difference between the two is that in yours, the water swirls down the drian the other way from mine.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

No mate but I can get some in a few days we are going to have another go at putting up spans 7 and 8, I do them in pairs. Ill sned you aver a picture of the viaduct as is today mate.

Tks ian

This sounds like a good news story for the Two Trees Times!

[Anonymous]

No mate but I can get some in a few days we are going to have another go at putting up spans 7 and 8, I do them in pairs. Ill sned you aver a picture of the viaduct as is today mate.

Tks ian

[Anonymous]

Ian, do you have pics of the viaduct that collapsed on the Attila the Hun section?

[Anonymous]

Good on you mate, obviously you are mistaken about living in Paradise as well, I live in Paradise and you do not live near me.

Consider this deeply before replying.

Your friend Ian

[Wild Bill]

Obviously Ian, your just jelous 'cause I can build a reversing loop in about 2 seconds
without any magic boxes, or polarity issues. Ha!
Shady Background? They don't call me Wild Bill for my good looks ya know!

[Anonymous]

I would be suspicious of anyone operating with 3 rails, obviouslly that have a shady back ground and do not live a good clean life and do not respect their parents if they are still alive.

Rgds Ian

[vsmith]

Bill good to hear from you again, Layout looks great, a real eye opener.

[Wild Bill]

Hey guys, I'm still here, just a really busy time of year for me, so I don't get much of a chance at the computer.
Thanks for all the kind comments. I layed out this RR the same way that the big guys do, just used a finner grain of roadbed material.
As for the track, I used Atlas nickle-silver track, and Atlas says the plastic ties are UV proof. I have to agree with them, I had the stuff out in the sun, and weather, on the deck for a year, with no effect.
So far, its held up under desert sun, snow, and tons of rain, the last 6 months, and it still looks fresh.
Those pictures where taken during last weeks open house, here in Reno.
We had all three trains running at the same time, on one track, under digital control. It all worked beautifly!
And I can't wait to get the guys from the club here, a lot of them have O guage stuff, and I theink they would really get a kick out of this. I'll keep you all posted.
This is just fase one, next spring starts the planting, more detailed landscaping, and laying out of bigger, more perminent towns, and industries.

[Anonymous]

I should have pointed out that the HO track was in a location where it did not get much sun, so he may not get the UV problem with plastic sleepers. It has been out there for more than a year so far.

I thought HO track outside was reasonably common in England. I know I've seen more than one HO outdoor railway in English Magazines. Maybe that's all there are.

Glen.

[Anonymous]

Clarification: Mine was G Scale 550' +/- of track. [:D]

[cacole]

N and HO track is not UV or weather resistant like G scale is. Several people in Southern California run O scale outdoors, but not on Lionel track. They model what is known as Proto 48, on special UV and weather resistant track; possibly Gargraves brand. I once had a Rivarossi passenger car turn into a sway backed car with the center dragging on the rail because of sunlight shining onto it through a window, so my conclusion is that N and HO scale plastic models could never survive outdoors in the Arizona climate.

[vsmith]

The owner of that layout "Wild Bill" used to be a regular on this forum but he faded away, hasnt posted in a long while, too bad, thats a nice looking layout.

[Anonymous]

I would say, "Use any scale outdoors," albiet be prepared to deal with and solve unique problems involved for each guage.

N is tiny and thus not very easy to maintain. The small parts would not work well with the dirt grim and moisture, but if you can solve this...go for it.

HO is subject to the same problems, but I think it would be slightly eaiser. Most plastics used in these smaller scales is not suitable for outdoor use. Even the best "outdoor" stuff fades and will eventually decompose.

O and S are the same but have much more in common with Large Scale.

G is designed, it seems, for the outdoors; hence the least amount of extraordinary problems to solve.

Now, if only we could get the manufacturers to provide the same diversity of the small scales within the scope of the Large!!!!

[kstrong]

Clarification: it's O scale. We need to keep these photos as an example next time someone asks if O scale is possible outdoors. There always seems to be a bit of debate as to the feasibility of it. Just another example of how anything is possibile.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

That is weird, my track was going to be 550' +/- ![:p]

[bman36]

Hey Guys,
HO outdoors is a feat in itself! No thanks. As was already mentioned I have enough to do with Gauge 1! Sure is neat to see what others are doing outdoors. Thanks for sharing the link. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Geesh...HO...outside...and I think those damn helecopter seeds are tough on my annie!

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with it. I think it is good that people in other scales build out door railways too. It exposes a whole new set of people to the concept of running a garden railway.

Once all the other people from his club take along their trains and get the chance to run them outside they might find they actually like it, and end up building a GR too.

I know one guy that's got some HO track glued to concrete with 'no more nails'. That's all. A short length of line, no points buildings, or any thing else. He runs a shuttle train outside when it's fine. His wife wanted a garden railway, so that was his token effort. Still, one day she might nag him some more and he could move to G. [:D] In the mean time some of his HO mates have given their stuff a run, and they no longer bag garden railways so much.

Glen.

[Anonymous]

Here is the link, enjoy. Looks good, but i'll keep my three rail toys inside thank you. LOL
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=albumtopic&s=63160042&topic_oid=4241001561

Bill