General Discussion (Garden Railways)

Finally, I can run trains outdoors.

I'm not completely satisfied with the raised roadbed, doesn't look to realistic. But this is Phase 1, to get trains running. Maybe with time, accessories and plants, things will look better.

The Crest TE and switching power supply seem to work great.

Anyway, here's some pic's..... (If I can get this URL to work)

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/OkieRRr/Outdoor%20G%20layout

What, you kidding? Looks great! A little finish work here and there and it's done. A garden railroad is a compromise between what works and what looks realistic. You have nothing to apologize for[:D]

Okie made some suggestions over on the other site, say it again here, looks good to me too.

Okie
nothing wrong with that lay out , i wish mine had the shade you have , mine is in the open , no trees. go to page two of this forum , my pictures are posted their under new pictures. [:)] ben

Congrat!

Hi OkieRRr
I think you ought to finish phase one before indulging in too much self critisisam.
I know we are our own worst enemy's on that one.
Like you say a few well chosen plants a bit of ballast, and some well chosen accesories and all will be well.
You have reached the time to enjoy a bit of play time stage of construction
so enjoy your creation.
While you relax and have fun the ideas to finish it (are these things ever truly finished), extend it and improve it will all come and you will wonder why you where so concerend about it[:D].
Always remember every one builds The Worlds Greatest Garden Railway it's just we all have a different idea what that is[:D]
regards John

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I had read about us 'old' guys needing a raised track, so we wouldn't have to stoop, kneel so far, and get the trains closer to our eyes to see them. <grin> But then after I built it, I began to wonder how to add detailing to the raised area without just making it look like a very extended bridge, or trestle. Guess my best bet, is to get some 'fill' inside the oval, and build from there.

Anyway, my next project, Phase II, is to build a siding yard, so I can set up a few trains to swap out running on the main line.

Its great to just have the trains running outside. You guys have inspired me -- Phase II, here I go.....

That looks great so far! (And it's nice to see someone else running a Buddy L loco.) :)

You have got off to a very good start much better than my first effort.

It does look a pretty perfuncionary but that is to be expected at the beginning.

I like variety; and a few little bridges and say a tunnel out of storm water pipe (say 10")
would make a lot of difference.

we do a lot with decorative gravel and stones and maybe that would help a lot?

If you like to send me an elail i will send you some photos of what we do with gravel.

I have also noticed that you haven't done much about ballast which is very important.

Rgds Ian

Hi OkieRRr
Forgot to ask is the one room red school house a kit, scratch build or something else
regards John

Beautiful train garden, Okie.

John...

The Red School house is a bird feeder. The wife picked it up at Petsmart.

OkieRRr

Very nice, I like what you have done, if interested, some dirt and ballast laid next to your bricks would bring it to make your track look like it is raised on a fill, the real RR do it all the time in low spots to keep grade, and they will do it for miles and miles. I'd post picks of what I mean, but my RR is similar in that it is on concrete, fill added, but waiting for the ballast.....

Man! Looks great to me so far. I've got a 4' circle of track sitting on the concrete of my back porch, so compaired to that...

Keep up the good work! Post more pictures when you get a chance.

QUOTE: Originally posted by OkieRRr Finally, I can run trains outdoors. I'm not completely satisfied with the raised roadbed, doesn't look to realistic. But this is Phase 1, to get trains running. Maybe with time, accessories and plants, things will look better. The Crest TE and switching power supply seem to work great. ://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/OkieRRr/Outdoor%20G%20layout[/url]

I think your layout is terrific! Don't fret on getting it to look realistic---all you need is gravel...crusher fines I guess they call it at most places--and lots of it inbetween the tracks. I guess you are running track power---so dont ru***he job and before you lay the fines put some PVC tubes with lots of wires for feeders to the track around the layout. Put extra wires in there for future accessories. You may want to setup a yard with a matrix of turnouts somewhere for shunting and parking consists.

if you want to do more than just watch trains going in a oval, you really need to setup some shunting ops and looking into turnout control firstly.
The "big" issue you may tackle is turnout motors not doing their job reliably . LGB still has the best electric motors but they get stuck and eventually need lots of cleaning. You may want to forgo electric and get Air-powered system "pneumatic" turnout control. You;ll need a compressor but there is a good package deal for the system (see ad in GR). I swear by LGB epls indoors but outdoors it looks like air system is more reliable because it has advanced pressure.

Of course, many, many railways just use hand-thrown turnouts,, which I think is back-breaking and i cant understand how you can have reliable shunting ops by throwing each turnout with your "free" hand.???