Hey "iandor", you ever visit Australia Zoo? If so ever see Steve Erwin? Shame about him. I really like his show. We see him a lot here on Animal Planet, cable TV.
Best Regards,
I loved that blower idea, if i had a leaf problem i would try and build one for myself.
In the tropics we dont have leaves really, it is nearly all palms and ferns which have fronds rather than leaves.
Did you know that Australia doesn't have any native deciduous trees, they are all evergreens, eucalypts and some conifers mostly.
We don't have any normal native mammals either, except man and dingo's which have only been here for about 5000 years. Dingos were thought to be native dogs but they are neither. The natives weren't all that interested in them and they are a derivitive of the Asian wolf, bought here by Mallacan fishermen from Indonesia. All our native animals except two are marsupials and this is why there is no such thing a a koala bear; ever heard of a marsupial bear? i think not.
Rgds ian.
Yes, Aristo is the best for me in the ready to use department. LGB is the simplest, just push together, but Aristo has them pesky bolts for mechanical strength and electric continuity. By the way, just took delivery of the LGB Santa Fe freight starter set. What fantastic value, cost me £170 + postage from a UK e-bayer. It's in from the States with a 120v 1 amp transformer, circle of track, track power connector, loco, tender, tank car, caboose and engineer. For anybody starting off in G it's - for me - the only set to have.
Kim
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Don't forget that special item your looking for might be on sale Friday at the stores in your area. Hope you have loads of fun trying to find it. As for me, plan on staying home and watching football....
If you shop a lot "on-line" then Monday might be your best day. Suppose to lots of "deals" on the inter-net on Monday
Happy hunting.
mgilger wrote: SRS Here is what I designed to handle the leaf problem on the MM&G. It works great and it also works to blow grass clippings off the mainline after mowing the yard. It was built on a Buddy L gondola car. Regards, Mark
SRS
Here is what I designed to handle the leaf problem on the MM&G. It works great and it also works to blow grass clippings off the mainline after mowing the yard.
It was built on a Buddy L gondola car.
Regards,
Mark
Have fun with your trains
Thanks for the advice "kimbrit." I've been hearing a lot about track clamps, bolts and pins for laying and connecting track. Any advice on what make of track is best (easiest) to use? I know not to use Bachmann but what about the others?
Thanks.
Mgilger; e-mail on the way........
Totally agree about switches, if you know where they are going, get 'em in. However, they are not the cheapest thing in the world so if you haven't got one to hand make sure you put a piece of track in the same length. If you use aristo put a small section of track either side so when you come to put a switch in you take the whole lot out, connect the short tracks to the switch on your bench - including a short track for your new turnout - and then put the whole lot back and lay your new track. Those track bolts are a pain on the switch, you'll see when you come to do it. Otherwise,clamps!
I'll email the contruction article if you email me your email address.
I wrote it up for the Aristrocraft Insider news letter earlier this year.
Yes, it gets pushed around prior to operation.
M. Gilger - President and Chief Engineer MM&G web
Web Site: http://mmg-garden-rr.webs.com/
Greast idea there mgilger! Care to share the specs on this device? I guess you have one of your engines push it around the layout before starting operations, right?
Grass clippings won't be a problem for me but leaves sure will............
Thanks for sharing...
Aye Aye Capt. Bob! Soon as the weather turns nice in the spring this old engineer will be on the job. In the meantime a nice new shiny 4-6-0 will rest on my mantle....
I'll have plenty more questions, you can be sure of that!!!!!!
PS: Would it be asking too much for an explanation of your handle? Just what does the "Capt." part mean? Military connection perhaps?
Semper Fi
Hey Dude, It's a matter of whatever flips your skirt! If you want to tear a bit out and put switches in well after the fact, it can well be done. If you shudder at the thought of a bit of extra work and redoing something, then put them in first! I've done it both ways! If you absolutely know that you want a switch in location X, then do it at the beginning. After having something running, I felt I wanted a siding here, and to move a passing siding switch to make the siding longer! No problem, just more work!
Rail clamps do make it easier to reconfigure trackage than many other methods of joining track. They definately make it easier to remove switches when they need work.
Go throw a loop of track down under those trees and get something running. What do you think they make brooms for anyhow???
I agonized for years about that kind of stuff before I ever started and I wasted years in the process. Now my knees are too old for that getting up and down and crawling around on the ground. Just get it started!
OK. Thank everyone. I now know what a Dash-9 is and understand a little better the importance of curves and their radius. The only thing I don't understand is how do you know what the radius of your curve is going to be when you start prepareing road bed?
I have a garden-vac and a blower and I guess they will be SOP before turing on the train/s. The area has within its boundries, full grown mature trees such as a Tulip Poplar, Red Leaf Maple, Apple Tree and a TN Black Locus (spelling?). There is also a young Cypress in the mix. Together they all make for a very large "leaf" problem for me every year. I don't guess falling leaves, which occure all year, won't harm the track any. It is a concern but will not let it stop me.
I won't be running any big engines for quite a while. My first will be a "Big Hauler" 4-6-0 from Bachman. It will however have three passenger cars attached. I assume 4 to 5' curves will be OK. It will operate on the first installment of the RR, a simple loop well inside the perimeter of the garden. A second much larger loop will be added later with connections to the inside loop.
Which brings me to another question. How difficult is it to add switches to the track after the fact? Or, should the switches be installed at the beginning even though they don't connect to anything?
Man, do I have a lot to learn..................
Leaves are a problem for railways of all size. I have a garden vac that soon gets rid of all of the leaves and any other bits of nature that's on the track. Remember that the bigger the curve the better your train will look, and this applies to narrow guage as well as standard guage. Apart from LGB most modern big loco's will only accept 8' diameter track as a minimum and I think this should be 10' as I've done some filing on an Aristo mike to get it round my 8' curves. At the end of the day it's your railway and if it looks right then it must be right.
Cheers,
I agrree Bob,
Ian
Ok, you've decided on your starter set! I'd say that the one thing that can't be emphasized enough is to go big on the curve radius. Other than that, keep reading on these forums and you'll absorb a lot of useful stuff. At the risk of getting my hand smacked I can say that I frequent 3 forums, this one, Aristo's, and to a somewhat lesser extent the lsol. There are indeed several others out there and each will have it's detractors and proponents; so go with the ones you like.
One thing about it; the gang on these forums like it when you pick thier brains! Ask your questions, we all had to start somewhere! I think that reading the forums from now til you start construction will prove quite helpful. If you have a question you might also try a subject search. Those reference stickys at the top really will be helpful, and folks aren't discussing the same things over and over ad infinitem!
The biggest thing is to get something running, even just a circle!
Someone explaine to me what a "Dash-9" is and why the curve radius in track is so important? Pardon my "dumb" but remember this is all new to me. Also, some advice on laying roadbed would be most helpful.
I will be running Bachmann's 4-6-0 steam engine so what brand of track would be best? Also, I have a "big" leaf problem this time of year and was wondering if any members out there have run into this as well. If so, how did you solve the "leaf" issue?
Please bear with me..................thanks!
Me again. Wow, your responces have been terrfic. Keep them coming! The week end here was bad so didn't take measurements yet. The area as I mentioned is quite large so I don't think there will be any problem with curve radius. I will use 6' curves for most and maybe even one 8' if the layout works I have in mind.
I have a screened-in covered patio off the back door of the house. The garden area is just off the patio. I plan to run a spur track into the patio from the main line so at night, or during bad weather, I can bring the train/s inside. There will be one large loop around the primeter of the garden with smaller inter loops connected to form a figure eight. Where the figure eight crosses is a fairly large open area with no plants. This is where we have chairs and benches set up to relax in and enjoy the garden.
The garden area is fenced in with a wooden picit fence. It is completed hidden from the rest of the back yard and neighbor's houses by large shrubs and hedges. When your in the garden it's like being in a tropical "hide-a-way."
I see at least one bridge over a sunken gully and one or more tunnels through man-made moutains. The train will be Bachmann's "Mountaineer," a 4-6-0 Anniversity Edition Engine. It will have three passenger cars. Other rolling stock will be added as time goes on.
So, will be looking for advice on power supplys, track, switches, road bed construction and anything else anyone can think of. This project kicks off as soon as the weather here turns nice again, late March or early April.
I'd like to post some pictures, someone tell me how to do that in the forum...........
Thanks again to everyone's comments.
I dis agreewith what Vic had to say; i don't know why but i just do.
Rgds ian
As with all things in this world, just get going. I doesn't really matter whether you start off with an LGB starter set or a mix and match from Bachmann, you'll keep it for ever because it's your first bit of gear. It's a magic moment when you finish your first day's hard labour in the garden and you put some track down, crack a beer and run that first consist. A word about track, Aristo is very good because you bolt the joints together, which gives mechanical strength and good electrical continuity. The bolts are fiddley, I use a small bit of blue-tac in the bolt head to stick to the driver and put a container lid under the joint to catch the bolt if it drops off!. Agree with all about good power packs - go enjoy!
When i started in this hobby, i got a Kalmbach book, i think it was called "getting started in the hobby" and i treated it as my bible and i got a lot of good stuff out of it. I followed what Jack Verducci had to say and it worked out 100 % correct and now with the experience that i have had; i could nearly write a book myself.
I have gone right around a big circle and am really glad i got inot digital control, and it has taken me in a direction i didn't think possible, automation.
In a completely different direction i have actually copied a big bridge down in Brisbane and i have designe my own bridge, which i then made out of Marine ply, and i can tell you it has really helped me a lot. As i am getting on in age, keeping my brain active is important to me and this hobby has done just that. Just now i have even designed my own electrical device, bought the components and am about to assemble it and test it and see if it works as i think it will. It wiil also use an LGB detection module as wellin what i wish to do.
Rgds Ian
LGBFan123 wrote: Your investment NOW will pay off LATER! Realize that in garden railways, skimping on quality of roadbed, track, and power is going to frustrate you down the line.
Your investment NOW will pay off LATER! Realize that in garden railways, skimping on quality of roadbed, track, and power is going to frustrate you down the line.
That is one thing I missed when building my layout. I got a bunch of 4' Diameter (2' Radius) LGB curves and built my layout. Now that I have a Bach 2-8-0, I have to rebuild part of my layout to allow the 2-8-0 to run.
It may seem that you are spending a lot of money now. But don't look at just the money, look at the labor. How much time are you willing to spend to build, and possibily rebuild, your layout. Do it right the first time, and you will get years of enjoyment. And now back or knee problems.
Again thanks to everyone for your input. I am going to take some measurements this week end of the area I have to work with. It is a fenced in garden where a 15' above ground pool once sat. If some one can tell me how to post a picture I will include one taken from the roof over my patio. It gives a perfect "birds-eye" view of the whole area. I'm guessing it will be a 17 to 20' circle by the time I'm through mapping it out. It is all level ground with a lot of plants, some rocks and some big trees.
I have decided to purchase my rolling stock seperate so I don't end up with (maybe) an inferior engine, track I can't use, and an inadequate power supply. I have been searching on e-bay and there seems to be some really good deals out there. My first choice is still Bachmann's Moutaineer but I now belive it can be put together seperately at almost the same cost. I can get four coaches for that set on e-bay for 107.00. Then I will hand select the engine to pull them. Probably one of their "Spectrum" series. Will order track from one of the sources recommended, as well as a power supply.
I live in middle Tennessee near Franklin. There is a train shop there called "South Bound Trains." They sell Bachmann, USA Trains, and Aristo-Craft. I am going over there tomorrow to look around.
Thanks again everyone.
SRS 4501 wrote: Thanks for the tips to each of you. Two Tone, mind telling what type of equipment you have from Backmann? I want to do a passenger set first and while I like the prices of their starter sets I think I will buy track from someone else. I'm looking at their "Mountaineer" E.T. & W.N.C. line. Will purchase one additional car, a combind I think, and will ease into the hobby with that. I have a special interest in this line as my Grandfather was a conductor with the railroad there operating from Hickory to Ashville. Later I want to add a Southern Passenger Train to the layout as my father was a freight and passenger agent for SRS for 30 years. I remember seeing my very first Diesel Locomotive at the station in Valdosta GA one day with my dad. I was probably only about 7 or 8 at the time. Thanks again to everyone and I will keep the forum posted on my progress.
Thanks for the tips to each of you. Two Tone, mind telling what type of equipment you have from Backmann? I want to do a passenger set first and while I like the prices of their starter sets I think I will buy track from someone else. I'm looking at their "Mountaineer" E.T. & W.N.C. line. Will purchase one additional car, a combind I think, and will ease into the hobby with that.
I have a special interest in this line as my Grandfather was a conductor with the railroad there operating from Hickory to Ashville. Later I want to add a Southern Passenger Train to the layout as my father was a freight and passenger agent for SRS for 30 years. I remember seeing my very first Diesel Locomotive at the station in Valdosta GA one day with my dad. I was probably only about 7 or 8 at the time.
Thanks again to everyone and I will keep the forum posted on my progress.
Howdy!
If you have your heart set on the Bachmann Big Haulers (notice the spelling) by all means get a "Spectrum" series set and then purchase some QUALITY track (LGB, Aristo) to run it on outdoors. The Bachmann track, sorry to say--is the worst in the market. I recommend LGB turnout tracks for switches.
Depending on your real estate--get the largest diameter curve track you can $$ afford that will fit (i.e, LGB 16000 or 18000). Your investment NOW will pay off LATER! Realize that in garden railways, skimping on quality of roadbed, track, and power is going to frustrate you down the line. If you can't afford the bigger curves now, that is okay, you can always later sell the small curves for a good price on Ebay or somewhere.
Hopefully, your hobby shop has the goods in stock to help you get underway. A popular and good power unit to start out with is a MRC Control Master 20 (4.5 amp/20 volts). Ask your dealer if he stocks Aristo (Train Engineer) or LGB power and take a look and measure bang per buck (since you are on a budget).
You really are NOT suppose to keep these hobby power supplies outdoors and with kids around its much better to keep the power supply inside and run the throttle control outdoors. The MRC 20 allows you to do this for a fair price.
Tom M.
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