New starting layout in the backyard...

[Anonymous]

[black][/black
Hello all,

I'm just getting started in Garden Railway. I want to see what I'll have to do to get a railway going in my backyard, not much open space, but enough to get something started. Is there a book, that will give me some pointers to a good layout to "start with" (besides a round circle)?

Thanks for the help, this is all new, I've been doing N-scale for several years and now the trains seem to be shrinking, I just can't see to place them on the track anymore, hence the shift to Garden Railroading.

Topbarhive
Vermont, USA

[Anonymous]

[black][/black
Hello all,

I'm just getting started in Garden Railway. I want to see what I'll have to do to get a railway going in my backyard, not much open space, but enough to get something started. Is there a book, that will give me some pointers to a good layout to "start with" (besides a round circle)?

Thanks for the help, this is all new, I've been doing N-scale for several years and now the trains seem to be shrinking, I just can't see to place them on the track anymore, hence the shift to Garden Railroading.

Topbarhive
Vermont, USA

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by topbarhive

[black][/black
..... II just can't see to place them on the track anymore, hence the shift to Garden Railroading.

I understand perfectly!! (Thinking of having someone build me a Z scale as a model RR on my Large Scale layout.)

A super book for beginners is "Garden Railroading - Getting started in the hobby." It includes a chapter on track plan types that I found very helpful. The book is published by --- guess who? --- Kalmbach Books, the publisher of Garden Railways magazine. [:)]

Good luck, and have fun!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by topbarhive

[black][/black
..... II just can't see to place them on the track anymore, hence the shift to Garden Railroading.

I understand perfectly!! (Thinking of having someone build me a Z scale as a model RR on my Large Scale layout.)

A super book for beginners is "Garden Railroading - Getting started in the hobby." It includes a chapter on track plan types that I found very helpful. The book is published by --- guess who? --- Kalmbach Books, the publisher of Garden Railways magazine. [:)]

Good luck, and have fun!

[Anonymous]

A good starting place is a free book for Kalambach
called beginning garden railroading it is a giveaway
at most hobby shops supporting the worlds greatest
hobby program. They just issued the second version
of it.

[Anonymous]

A good starting place is a free book for Kalambach
called beginning garden railroading it is a giveaway
at most hobby shops supporting the worlds greatest
hobby program. They just issued the second version
of it.

[Anonymous]

Heers a tip use weatherproof track, because if you don't the track will get rusted and the trains won't run. Oh and hears one more thing trust me on this because I've tried this before and it didn't work. See ya'll later bgal

[Anonymous]

Heers a tip use weatherproof track, because if you don't the track will get rusted and the trains won't run. Oh and hears one more thing trust me on this because I've tried this before and it didn't work. See ya'll later bgal

[Anonymous]

Thanks, RailfanLady, & mnpfulb, it seems I going on a trip to the hobby store this week, to look for the book.
And thanks for the tip about the track, bgtal, Here I thought that all outdoor track was weatherproof, I will be looking for that also at the hobby store.
There is one in the Burlington Mall Maybe they will have what I need.
Thanks again for the help, I now have a great place to start my railroading empire, at least a small part, for now...

[Anonymous]

Thanks, RailfanLady, & mnpfulb, it seems I going on a trip to the hobby store this week, to look for the book.
And thanks for the tip about the track, bgtal, Here I thought that all outdoor track was weatherproof, I will be looking for that also at the hobby store.
There is one in the Burlington Mall Maybe they will have what I need.
Thanks again for the help, I now have a great place to start my railroading empire, at least a small part, for now...

[hobo]

Hi I am also new to garden railroading.Due to I might be moving soon,I used mulch with a weed cloth under it instead of a more permanent ballast.This temporary method is also easy to move,if you want to change your track plain.Happy railroading

[hobo]

Hi I am also new to garden railroading.Due to I might be moving soon,I used mulch with a weed cloth under it instead of a more permanent ballast.This temporary method is also easy to move,if you want to change your track plain.Happy railroading

[Rene Schweitzer]

I understand perfectly!! (Thinking of having someone build me a Z scale as a model RR on my Large Scale layout.)


Hey, RailFanLady, I saw a garden railroad do that--use a Z scale Thomas as a garden railroad for their garden railroad and it was neat. A very clever idea!

BTW, to the OP, you might try a video produced by editor Marc Horovitz called Building Your First Garden Railroad. I've watched it, and it's very thorough. You can check it out here: sidestreet.info

Kalmbach also sells a shorter video too that's cheaper called Building a Basic Garden Railroad. Or, as others mentioned, call and ask for the free booklet.

[Rene Schweitzer]

I understand perfectly!! (Thinking of having someone build me a Z scale as a model RR on my Large Scale layout.)


Hey, RailFanLady, I saw a garden railroad do that--use a Z scale Thomas as a garden railroad for their garden railroad and it was neat. A very clever idea!

BTW, to the OP, you might try a video produced by editor Marc Horovitz called Building Your First Garden Railroad. I've watched it, and it's very thorough. You can check it out here: sidestreet.info

Kalmbach also sells a shorter video too that's cheaper called Building a Basic Garden Railroad. Or, as others mentioned, call and ask for the free booklet.

[cacole]

[?] I, too, am just beginning a back yard layout here in south-east Arizona and am having all kinds of problems finding supplies -- no hobby shops closer than Phoenix, 250 miles away, carry G-scale track, none of them carry stainless steel track, and no one has the foggiest idea what I'm talking about when I ask for crusher fines to use as ballast if I can find the track. All of the local rock dealers sell nothing smaller than chat, and even at that they want you to buy at least one ton. Home Depot sells Perlite in a large plastic bag which, just from feeling the contents through the plastic, seems like it might be fine enough to use as ballast. Does anyone out there have any experience using Perlite?

[cacole]

[?] I, too, am just beginning a back yard layout here in south-east Arizona and am having all kinds of problems finding supplies -- no hobby shops closer than Phoenix, 250 miles away, carry G-scale track, none of them carry stainless steel track, and no one has the foggiest idea what I'm talking about when I ask for crusher fines to use as ballast if I can find the track. All of the local rock dealers sell nothing smaller than chat, and even at that they want you to buy at least one ton. Home Depot sells Perlite in a large plastic bag which, just from feeling the contents through the plastic, seems like it might be fine enough to use as ballast. Does anyone out there have any experience using Perlite?

[edalsie]

Cacole: Do you have a farm supply store around? One that sells supplies to chicken farmers is what you need. Then get chicken grit. There often are three 'sizes' -- I get the medium. It works just fine and the price isn't horrendous.

Allen

[edalsie]

Cacole: Do you have a farm supply store around? One that sells supplies to chicken farmers is what you need. Then get chicken grit. There often are three 'sizes' -- I get the medium. It works just fine and the price isn't horrendous.

Allen

[cacole]

[:(] When I asked at a local farm supply store for chicken grit, they gave me a funny look and asked if I meant ground oyster shells. Being a farm boy from Illinois, I explained what chicken grit was, they said you don't need such a thing in Arizona because the chickens have plenty of sand available. Okay, so let me have some oyster shell -- sorry, we don't carry it. Back to square one. I think I'll have to take a wa***ub out to a dry wash and fill it up with sand and hope there's not too much tumbleweed seed, etc. in it. I've been told to put the sand in a microwave oven to kill seed and other baddies, but that would take forever.

[cacole]

[:(] When I asked at a local farm supply store for chicken grit, they gave me a funny look and asked if I meant ground oyster shells. Being a farm boy from Illinois, I explained what chicken grit was, they said you don't need such a thing in Arizona because the chickens have plenty of sand available. Okay, so let me have some oyster shell -- sorry, we don't carry it. Back to square one. I think I'll have to take a wa***ub out to a dry wash and fill it up with sand and hope there's not too much tumbleweed seed, etc. in it. I've been told to put the sand in a microwave oven to kill seed and other baddies, but that would take forever.

[Anonymous]

Check out a garden supply or landscaper foe "Crusher fines" or even small size red rock, (shale?) 3/8 in size for ballast...... unless some one in your location is actually raising chickens, you may have a hard time getting "chicken grit." Bachman track is not weatherproof, LGB and Aristocraft are. You may have luck buying your supplies mailorder if there are no local hobby shops. Check this site out for manufacturers, Garden Railways Magazine is an excellent source for information...... The web has many interesting sites, have fun hunting around, some of the U.K. sites are great, of course here in the States there are many also. Good Luck and have fun, it won't happen overnight, lay out a simple loop or adapt an OGauge plan to your yard, for the time being avoid turnouts.(switches)

[Anonymous]

Check out a garden supply or landscaper foe "Crusher fines" or even small size red rock, (shale?) 3/8 in size for ballast...... unless some one in your location is actually raising chickens, you may have a hard time getting "chicken grit." Bachman track is not weatherproof, LGB and Aristocraft are. You may have luck buying your supplies mailorder if there are no local hobby shops. Check this site out for manufacturers, Garden Railways Magazine is an excellent source for information...... The web has many interesting sites, have fun hunting around, some of the U.K. sites are great, of course here in the States there are many also. Good Luck and have fun, it won't happen overnight, lay out a simple loop or adapt an OGauge plan to your yard, for the time being avoid turnouts.(switches)

[Anonymous]

Here in Mich I use what we call slag sand, it's used for a base when installing brick pavers it's gray & sharpe so it stays in place just fine, try a landscape supply or a contractor good luck!!![^]

[Anonymous]

Here in Mich I use what we call slag sand, it's used for a base when installing brick pavers it's gray & sharpe so it stays in place just fine, try a landscape supply or a contractor good luck!!![^]

[cacole]

Well, I answered my own question concerning the use of Perlite, and the simple answer is NO. Perlite, even though it is a form of volcanic ash, is so light weight that it just blows away in the slightest breeze. Perlite is the small white specks in some brands of potting soil, such as Hyponex, and is as light as a piece of styrofoam. I think I have found what I need, though, and that is roofing granules, available from a roofing contractor in 100 pound bags. In the hot Arizona sun, roofers sometimes damage new shingles by walking on them when they are hot and rubbing off the granules. They all carry extra granules of assorted colors to patch those spots. I will use white granules, which are ground up granite.

[cacole]

Well, I answered my own question concerning the use of Perlite, and the simple answer is NO. Perlite, even though it is a form of volcanic ash, is so light weight that it just blows away in the slightest breeze. Perlite is the small white specks in some brands of potting soil, such as Hyponex, and is as light as a piece of styrofoam. I think I have found what I need, though, and that is roofing granules, available from a roofing contractor in 100 pound bags. In the hot Arizona sun, roofers sometimes damage new shingles by walking on them when they are hot and rubbing off the granules. They all carry extra granules of assorted colors to patch those spots. I will use white granules, which are ground up granite.

[Anonymous]

Good solution, Roofing Granuals.... I learn something new every day..........

[Anonymous]

Good solution, Roofing Granuals.... I learn something new every day..........

[Anonymous]

Home Depot in my area sells a 50 lb. plastic bag of "crusher fines" for about $3.00. Color, light gray. Nice and neat and cheap. It is moist when it is in the bag. I found it is easier to apply ballast with the stone being dry so I dump the bag out onto a tarp and spread it around. It dries out quickly. You can apply ballast moist, but I have found it is easier to work with when its dry. Have fun finding out for yourself, there is really no wrong way to do it. This product is similar to what DANIELROB describes above. Home Depot makes it easy purchase.
Here is a photo of the bag of "crusher fines"
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/JRad/images/TN_Step2-1-640.JPG

[Anonymous]

Home Depot in my area sells a 50 lb. plastic bag of "crusher fines" for about $3.00. Color, light gray. Nice and neat and cheap. It is moist when it is in the bag. I found it is easier to apply ballast with the stone being dry so I dump the bag out onto a tarp and spread it around. It dries out quickly. You can apply ballast moist, but I have found it is easier to work with when its dry. Have fun finding out for yourself, there is really no wrong way to do it. This product is similar to what DANIELROB describes above. Home Depot makes it easy purchase.
Here is a photo of the bag of "crusher fines"
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/JRad/images/TN_Step2-1-640.JPG