Well this maybe a little belated, but we've been working on the SCBL&FHRR for about 4 months now, and are just now getting to a point to lay track.....give or take three to four weeks with weather, golf, and my personal favorite fishing. I have not had a train since I was teenage 40+ years ago, and I have been exceptionally confused about DCC, Radio, and track power. And roadbed techniques
In the meantime I have positioned/laid 5 1/2 pallets of retaining wall block (approximately 780 @ 22 lbs each), moved 80+ yards of topsoil, placed 180+ feet of conduit and a similar amount of sprinkler line and built an outdoor train barn (14x3x3), set it in place, and my lovely bride thinks I'm obsessed.
As soon as I get thru the tutorial of posting pictures I'll give you folks a track plan, and pictures of the raised bed and train barn.
Sounds great! Will be anxious to hear more and "see" more as soon as you can. I too am working on my first out-door layout and it will be interesting to learn what others are doing. Mine I'm afraid will be rather small compared to most, only 14X17'. All level ground. You can see pictures of the area in my thread "The SRS Road" about pg. 2 I think. Check it out and let me know what you think............
Good luck and nice to hear about your project.
Obsessed? Phooey. Wives just don't have things in perspective, that's all.
You're out there working and building, good for you! That's what it's all about! Time well spent!
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
Toi compare radio controlled sytems, analogue and DCC systems is like waving a red flag at a bull; many people have some strong views on this subject.
I love DCC, it will definitely take you further than any of the others but it has its disadvanyages.
Like it is harder to work out how to use it properly at first and it appears expensive but i don't thnk it is in the long run.
rgds Ian
Ian -- you are absolutely correct... strong opinions, and a real lack of heads up comparisons of capability. It's a huge start up cost, and I'm really concerned about making a very uninformed decision..... but I guess I'll struggle thru.
I've attempted to cut a few pictures out to show some of the progress so here goes....
The track plan...
The start of construction...
I laid about 5 !/2 pallets of PaveStone retaining wall blocks...
Filled in about 80 yards of dirt.... Still need about 12 to 15 more of rock, sand and dirt and started positioning cribbing and retaining walls
And just this week set in the Train barn on the backside of the garden
Probably too much at one time but had to show the work!!
mark
All I can say is wow! Looks like a 30x40' space or there abouts, right? Man you haven't started a hobby, you've started a career!
I wish I had the space you have, and the where-with-all to take on a project like yours. Loved the pictures, please keep us posted. Will in interested to see how you utilize the train barn.
Best regards,
Mark mate, really DCC is not such a big start up costs, compared to DC or even R/C and in the long run it can be cheaper, as you need less track for the same result, as you can control your rolling stock better. But allow about $100 extra per loco.
Another subject; have you put a level over your intended layout, it looks to have a fair slope on it?
Anyway keep up the good work, what you have done so far looks awsome to me.
Rgds Ian
Thanks for the comments guys... to try and answer the questions from the posts here goes...
the area is about 45 feet wide and varies from 28 to 38 feet deep left to right on the track plan.
If you look at the Track plan there are a couple of sidings and some area that I plan to store the trains and electronics in in the Train barn.. It's 14 feet end to end and 12 feet in the main area. The switches are tight, but leaving or entering the main line speeds will be very low. I've pulled 110VAC to it and run conduit from it to center and around the perimeter of the garden with and access or jucntion box about every 25-30 feet. I'll feed DCC power to track and switch controls Through the conduit....(I hope....) Still don't have a good feeling about the DCC implementation, but I'm committed .... or as my lovely bride says committable.....
The cribbing is pressure treated 3/4 inch ripped to approximately 5/8ths ( I use 1x4 and 1x6 nominal) and cut in various lengths from 6 inches to 24 inches and then stacked using 8-32 all thread through a 9/32s hole and double nutted top and bottom. I've varied the verticle sizing to fit the need but most of it is 12 to 18 inches high. The highest is 28 to 30... The all thread lets me adjust the contour to meet my needs. The off cuts and short waste peices are stuck in randomly to look like a deadman.....relatively easy to put together and stake in place with pressure treated dowels or off cuts twice as long as the cribbing is high. Place the cribbing, and drive the stake to just below the top rail, then use a brad or finish nailer to tie the stake and cribbing together. (A little glue doesnt hurt either.... but I generally don't use it takes to much time.)
The max grade will be in the 3%-3.5% range and that will be in the inside of the double loop at the upper right hand corner of the track plan. right now I plan to deal with the clime via a series of trestle bents and fill. There will be some 1.5% to 2% grades on the down hill side of the inside loop, but right now I think every thing is managable... long curves and straights with short trains re early 1900's to 1930's and depression era doodle bugs and motorized combines for rural passenger and general freight services.
It's been cold and drizzly here in west Texas the last couple of day so not much progess in the second half of the week. Tomorrow's supposed to be better.... but then so was today. I apologize in advance for my PP typing and spelling
Goodnight all....
Well -- It's finally gotten semi-warm and the wind is blowing 15-20 mph but just had to get out and do something today. Got all the power and conduit done in the train barn, but mis-wired the lights and switches so only one light works.... oh well just have to trace it out and do it again. I'd never make a good electrician.... Still have a little trim work to do before we move the rest of the dirt and rock. Should be in the earth moving mode middle of next week. More pictures in the next couple of days (I hope...)
Mark;
From my experience it would be better if you could shift your 3 to 3.5 % grade away from a curve, you will be surprised at how much ity will shorten the train lengths you can handle.
From one who has doen it.
Thanks for the advice Ian --- don't know if I can given the way I've pre disposed the topography. fixed part of the lighting issue, but the lights are dim... got to check with an electrician friend to see what I'm doing wrong. Will post a few pictures in the next couple of days... gonna play golf tomorrow since it's gonna be 70+ degrees F and the wind is only supposed to be in the teens.....
Happy trails....
Well. Its been about 2 weeks since my last update, and I really did not get a lot done between weather, honey do's, other business committments and playing a little golf till this past weekend.
But I did get the train barn electrical sorted out,
The north side cribbing completed,
and about 10 yards of soil and a yard and bit of rock moved in.
Then I cut in or rather dug out the approximate lines for the tunnels.
I'm a little stuck on the construction of the tunnels since both involve curves, and I need to lay out the track to ensure placement is correct for the entry and exit clearances.
I've looked at several different threads in the various forums on different materials and methods for tunnel construction, but have not settled on one. (leaning to Cozad's PTW and mortar or the corrigated plastic pipe, but have some concerns about each with my track plan) Suggestions and comments would be appreciated.
mr
Tunnels in general are a worry and they always will be but i would rather have them and their associated problems than not have them, they really add to a layout.
Any help i can give you i will.
Rgds
Allen / Ian -
thank you for the encouragement, being new to the hobby I wonder if I'm doing it properly or "right".
It's been entirely to long since I was able to update the construction log, but I've had my priorities "modified" several times over the last 3 weeks.... Sometimes by my choice ...sometimes ‘cause I let my hummin'bird brain overload my mockingbird mouth......
I finally got a couple of days to work on the railway and got some decent progress in.
Got the trainbarn painted, but still need to paint the door trim ....
laid out all the track on the mainline.... But still don't have the backordered tie strips for the flex rail yet so I've got a couple of gaps to fill in....
And as luck would have it the chief architect (Me) missed a couple of details (measurements) and over ordered some track.....so I'll be looking for expansion ideas this fall..... just can't add anything else till I get this part of the road done. The CEO-CFO has given me a requirement to have trains running by Easter for the Grand Babies.
(However she does want me to play golf with her tomorrow morning......)
Used my Train-Li railbender and it makes meet ups really easy... just have to watch how fast you arc it. I had to back off a couple of bends ‘cause I got tooo aggressive....
It is spring in Texas... the mesquites are budding out.... And I have only once in 56 years seen a mesquite get caught by a late freeze.
More to come.......
imrnjr wrote:It is spring in Texas... the mesquites are budding out.... And I have only once in 56 years seen a mesquite get caught by a late freeze.
Yes, this is the 'week' of spring in Texas :) I think it's run a bit long this year, so we might get two weeks before it's all said and done.
Absolutely love the layout so far. Really inspiring.
Finally got started on the tunnels today, but since the curve is an increasing radius its requiriing multiple angles and lengths so its taking a while. Pictures will follow soon as I get my camera recharged.
I have a question for the forum on side clearance on the curves.
I have one place (about 6 inches in length) that the outside clearance (outside edge of outside rail) drops below 3.5" to 2.7125". I don't currently plan to run heavy weights or modern length freights, but would like to be able to run some of the larger engines in 1:20, like a 3 truck shay, or the 1:22 LGB Unitah Mallet or even some of the 1:29 stuff like the Hudson or Pacifics.
Where can I find a clearance list or some stats on the required clearances for those engines?? I've looked a couple of places, but haven't seen much.
Hi imrnjr
Dear confused you would seem to be making better progress than me
Me for the sake of my sanity am sticking with analogue DC and manual steam and battery power at least I understand that
TJ don't forget to pick up the body armour from the QM store on the way home you might need it
I must have a more understanding SWMBO she Tells me to get out and play with the trains should I be suspicious
regards John
If Easter is a deadline, it came to a screeching halt in Lubbock, Texas. We have 3 to 4 inches of snow and 27 degrees.................. The mesquites and Mimosa's are budded out and Apricots are the size of quarters, I have never seen snow on Easter (I'm 74). My trains are in the barn.
Lubbock Model Railroad Assn. will be at the Arts Festival at Civic Center April 20,21 and 22, Big Lake is not that far...
Allen
well... no we did not make the easter dead line .... the CEO/CFO had several duplicate priorities for me as Chief yardman and pool boy, and as surmised from others the weather went in the crapper..... 2 inches of snow and ice. I told the CEO that most of the plantings made in the last 3 weeks were only temporarily burned back and if they didn't come back by September she should replace them in March next year..... (fat chance)
However, some progress is in the offing this week once "ye old Tax Man" is satisfied. I do have tunnel #1 completed and in place but not yet leveled, and tunnel #2 construction has begun thought somewhat slowly. And the train barn has seen the paint brush.
Now what I've got left to do is get the tunnels set, the roadbed finished, the water feature built, the dirt work done, the wiring finished and sensor installation done, the DCC blocking installed, The DCC system installed, about some 40 linear feet of varying sizes of trestles built and installed, some of the landscaping done, the buildings and scenics set, and of course the track set......
so I guess I really do not know when the first @#$%&*&#$% train will make it all the way around the road way.
On a more positive note all but one of the 4 Grandkids were here ove Easter and they loved the train. So I guess I'll keep working to the goal. by the way the tempuratur on frideay was mid to upper 70's, Saturday high of 38, sunday high of 48, Monday high 84....
Mark
Well, it's been almost a month since I added to the construction log..... shame on me!
How ever I do have positive news... the tunnels are done... the outerloop is done and I ran trains today to the delight of my wife and and me.
It's been 6 plus months since I started the layout... I thought I was not ever gonna' hit today!
Hey Howdy,
Congrats on your benchmark! The storage shed looks awesome. I am looking forward to more photos from you.
Take Care,
Zak
Keep On Railroad'n..............
Bravo! Bravo! Bet your glad you can finaly make it out of the tunnel (literly and figeritivly).
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