Newbi

[tangerine-jack]

Chicken Grit, AKA "crusher fines" are made of crushed granit or clamshell. They are used to provide poultry with grit in their feed to aid in digestion. They are available in several grits at feed and seed stores.

[Anonymous]

HAHAHHAH Iv'e been wanting to ask ,"WHATS CHICKEN GRITS?" but was to embarrassed to... I grew up in the city..LOL[:D]

[Anonymous]

I finally started my attempt to get the roadbed down. Keep in mind this is a small Garden RR. I'll only be running the bachman steam sets on it. Took me almost 4 hours just to get the first curve in and level. The ground I have to work with is very uneven. For sake of simplicity I'm going to dig out the other end and use large rocks/Shale to make a mountain tunnel that will connect the other loop via a wood truss bridge. My bones are killing me this isn't easy at all!!

The track is just for a template, I bought several boxes of aristo track. Back to work tomorrow!!!

[tangerine-jack]

Sure, it's tough, but worth it! What you are putting down now may well be there for 50 years or more. Don't give up, it does get a little easier and faster the more you work with it. Good job so far!

[Anonymous]

DAY 2:

Well it stopped raining so I got in a few hours of work. After cussing up a storm I finally got some of the track bolted together. Layed few sections, graded the ballest. Still a LOOOOOONNNGGGGG WAY TO GO!

[tangerine-jack]

Tsk-tsk and tut-tut and not to mention piffle, you're nearly done!

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Yeah, and it looks like it should stay there for a while!

Hey tj, back to drawing board, had 10' of retaining wall collapse in recent downpours! My $$$ saving idee didn't work! Another trip to the block company i guess!

[Anonymous]

Day 3:

The Arbutus & Southwestern Pike is finally taking shape, I know it's small but it's a start. Had to cut few pieces of track to get her connected. Tomorrow I'll level out the sub ballest and spread the finer ballest to lock everything in. Next step will be to build a truss bridge and start planting the tree's, shrubs etc. I wish I could have been able to afford wider radius curves but had limited start up funds. One day when I build the main line I'll use wider curves

[John Busby]

Hi Charlie
If you know where you will be extending from I would put the set of points (switch) in now.
So that when you have the time and funds to do so, you don't have to go back to "0" operations.
Try and create a view block with your plants when you put them in so the train disapears from sight for a short distance.
You will be surprised how much bigger the line apears with that trick.
A small station building and a general store next to the set of points and your line is in bussiness[^][:D]
Avoid the temptation to try and build more than one horse towns where even the horse is dead
on a small line, you will possably get a bit of a surprise as to how big even small buildings are.
The worst thing you can do is overcrowd it with all the wonderfull bits and pieces that are avalable
or so tempting you build it yourself.
Don't forget the most important thing once trains are running take time to enjoy it and dream a little about what's next it will all come together just the way you want it.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Day 4:

Did a few more hours of work on the pike. Got the rest of the track bolted together, and ballast set in. Started placing the rocks I gathered from a creek in the rear of my house. Ran the a test train around for awhile, looked cool only wish I had the funds and space for the wider curves. Still looks cool, I'm happy so far.

[tangerine-jack]

See, told you so, almost done! Looking good!

[Anonymous]

Greetings Charlie.

Your railway empire is really taking shape! You don't appear to need much help either. I read some of the comments about raised track. Well, yes your back will appreciate it when you are that old to care, but then track on the ground is putting your railway firmly in reality. In Japan we usually sit on the floor and think nothing of it. Think posture and not slouch and its no problem.

The best pics are usually the ones of a scene with track at ground level, scenery to match.

Great job, I look forward to more pics of your progress.

Matthew [bow]

[Anonymous]

Day 5:

Not a whole lot of work today, finished up putting in the remainder of my large rocks to define the layout outline. Added some mulch, next step to plant some tree's.

[John Busby]

Hi Charlie
Well you have done a good job of putting us all to shame with your progress[:D]
It looks realy good too Well Done[^][tup][wow].
One tiny critisisam your siding is too short you need to be able to fit a whole train in it so I am guessing you need another 2' or a 3' straight to finish it that will let you fit a locomotive and three cars in the siding if my working out is right.
Later it would be worth concidering a passing track to allow further operational improvements.
[2c]
regards John

[Anonymous]

Thanks John,

I ran out of track, I'll pick up some more this week end to fini***he siding. Saturday I'll start work n the truss bridge. This has been hard work, but I'm having a BLAST!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Day 6:

Didn't get much done today, added few dwarf spruce tree's and a juniper. I'll pick up all the plants this weekend and try get them in. Then I'll start working on the truss bridge.

[Anonymous]

My first BIG mistake!!! Well, I knew things were going to well! while ut raifanning today I saw a huge pile of what appeared to be fine gravel along the tracks. I picked some up and it loked a felt perfect for top ballast on my RR. So, I grabbed a bucket. I took it home. I spread it out along my pike and it looked very authentic. It started to rain as I was running my engine alng to check the track. The engine then sloooooowwwwwllly came to a stop. The ballast that I put down had turned to sluck on the rails. It looked like gray mud. It looks just like lil rocks until its touched then it turns to sluck!! Only thing I figure I can do is wait for it to dry out and try to suck it up with a vacume. GOSH DANG IT!!! That;s what I get for trying to save few bucks!!

[John Busby]

Hi Charlie
Thanks for sharing your OOPS!! that way we can all learn something
Never mind we all make mistakes at least that one is fixable ( and there but for the grace of god go the rest of us)
Just for future reference.
The three areas to accept no imitations or short cuts
motive power
power supply
track work and its foundations
on those three the reliabilaty of your line depends.
There are however areas that a few dollars can be saved without compromising the line some of the el cheapo rolingstock thats around is quite usefull provided you get decent wheels and trucks under it.
Buildings can be built as can rollingstock its all a question of what you want and how much you wi***o do your self.
Make no mistake we all want our hobby dollar to stretch as far as we can make it go.
And I am sure we have all made a mistake somewhere.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Update...Got the ballast proplem fixed. I'll finish up the siding, add few more plants and a building or two this weekend. I picked up few RR Lanterns to hang around the perimeter of the layout. It's not big (YET) but fun to watch!! Put in a old rustic bench tday so I can relax and watch the train.

[John Busby]

Hi Charlie
All you need now is a small table a glass of your favorite cold drink
and a shade umbrella then you have it made[:D]
No body said you have to suffer for your hobby.
I like the RR lantern idea adds a touch of class well I think so, also filled with
citronella oil they will keep the biting bugs away on those warm sumer evenings as well as providing light.
Sounds like you are going to be more than repaid in Enjoyment for your efforts
regards John

[Anonymous]

Han't had alot 0f time to work on my pike, here's few pics of recent progress.

[John Busby]

Hi Charlie
The birds on the cabin are a very nice little touch.
They really add a little bit of life to the structure[8D]
Where they part of the cabin?? if not what are they made of and where did you get them.
regards John
.

[Anonymous]

John,

They came in a small pack. Got them from michaels craft store. Only problem is they did't hold up in the rain. They are made from dyed styro foam and when the got wet the red dye ran out and the turned to a white glob of goo!! I had to take them off and redo part of the cabin stain. I have always been a modeler but learning alot dealing with mother nature.

[John Busby]

Hi Charlie
Oh[censored] that's blown my plan out the window
Will have to have a think about that and see what I can come up with to deal
with that problem have seen similar product in my neck of the woods.
regards John

[MTCarpenter]

Charlie-
I have to say a very big Thank You for posting all these pics and you detailing your process of building your railroad. I haven't had a chance yet to start putting mine in - I'm close - but I have to say that some of what you've done here is even better than a few of the books I've got on the subject.

And for everyone else - I appreciate the comments and input you've been giving Charlie. Man, what a great tutorial this link is!!

Q for Charlie- Where and how did you run your wiring? I didn't see if you had put that step in.

[Anonymous]

worked alil more today on the pike added some details and finished the muddy road! I made the road using cement, then painted it muddy brown.

[Anonymous]

Sorry double post

[Anonymous]

Did have a little problem today, LOL!

[John Busby]

Hi charlie
I think you need to change the thread name[:D]
Looking too good for a newbie now.
Liked the old time photo.
Been looking into the bird problem preiser (spelling) do some birds pigions (spelling)
may be they might be of use some one does sea gulls but I cannot for the life of me remember who.
May be some of them could be painted and used for the cabins.
wonder what diferent brands do birds that may be of use
regards John