Building a Garden RR layout

[MisterBeasley]

Marty's user ID is just Marty Cozad.  This is one photo post of his.  You might find others.  If you can find a working copy of his video, please let us know.

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/651645/ShowPost.aspx

 

[simisal]

The sound system that comes in the Bachman unit is pretty quiet. Ok for indoors but leaves alot to be desired outdoors. I disconnected that sound unit and installed a Phoenix sound system in the tender. A friend mentioned putting it in the tender. If by chance something bad happens to the engine, I can get a new engine and use the original tender with the sound system installed. I think I paid around $200 for the train starter set and about $275 for the sound system. The unit does sound pretty good now.
Simisal

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the kind replys.  SIMISAL; tell me some more about your Bachmann and a little more about the sound effects you were talking about.

MRBEASLEY:  Thanks for the tip on G-Scale Video's.  I will search for Marty Cozad's postings.  Do you perhaps know his account name?

Thanks again.

[MisterBeasley]

MR featured a very nice G-scale garden layout last summer.  There were a lot of nice photos, and some good descriptive writing as well.  It made me feel lucky not to have to deal with problems like real drainage and critters building burrows under your track.

Marty Cozad has contributed some terrific photos and videos to this forum.  If you look for his posts, you will find some great examples of G-scale work.  My favorite is the video of the rotary plow clearing real snow off the tracks.

[simisal]

I started a garden railroad this pass year. I have a Bachman starter set and it runs great. I was told by other G scalers that Bachmann is very good about guaranteeing and repairing their equipment. I did use Aristo track and 5 foot radius curves. I wouldn't go any smaller but you may want to go to 8 foot instead. I'm using Train Engineer for control. I also replaced the sound system in the Bachmann with a Sierra system mounted in the tender and I like it alot better. The sound system cost as much as the whole Bachmann train set. I hope this helps you some.
Chuck

[Anonymous]

My bad.  I thought I was in the Garden RR forum when I posted the message.  Thanks for the advice anyway and will move my questions over to that forum.

For the record I am doing G-Scale, the Bachmann engine is from their 60th Anniversity Edition.  Purchaseing rolling stock, track and power all seperately.  I just recently subscribed to Garden RR Magazine.  Haven't gotton my first issue as yet.

Thanks again everyone.................

[cacole]

Move your questions over to the Garden Railways Magazine forum and you'll get faster answers -- that's the area for G-scalers.

I have both HO and G.  For outdoor G-scale, I run everything from on-board battery power and the CVP AirWire 900 wireless DCC system.  No track power and no worries about dirty track.

As far as track is concerned, check into AristoCraft sectional brass or stainless track.  Hand laying is an option if you have lots of time on your hands with nothing to do.  A lot of other members will recommend LGB track from Germany, but it is quite expensive.

Instead of the cheap Bachmann train sets in G-scale, you'd be much better off to purchase your locomotives and rolling stock as individual items and avoid the horrible Bachmann track and their power pack.  If you would like a steam engine to start, the Bachmann 2-8-0 Consolidation is an excellent beginning.

A subscriptiion to Garden Railways Magazine would help you immensely at this stage.

[Anonymous]

Are you talking about an HO scale garden railroad or the more conventional G scale?

I do not recommend HO garden as the loco's are not designed to operate in an outdoor climate.

[Anonymous]

Man oh man do I have a lot to learn.  I've been reading through this forum seeking tips and advice on how best to proceed with my own outdoors RR layout.  I've almost come to the conclusion it is too complicated for a simple minded jarhead like me.

Here's the thing:  I plan to run a simple system using a Bachmann 4-6-0 Big Hauler Engine.  My space is quite large measuring appx. 24x24' square.  It is all level although filled with many garden plants, ground cover, a few trees, pathways and flower beds.

Track is a question -  Flex or fixed?  Brand or Mfg best for outdoor use?  Curve radius?  Roadbed preparation, what materials?  What is DC and DCC all about?  Explaine turnouts with and without frogs?  Power supplys, what should I use to operate just one train, for now, but two or more for later?  How do you operate more than one train on the layout at the same time?

These are just a few of the questions I've come up with since reading the messages on the forum.

I thought I could just purchase a train set, lay some track, plug it in and presto, instance garden RR!

HA...............