Outdoor railroading with kids

[Anonymous]

My son (3yrs) and I are very interested in starting a garden railroad. My mother-in-law gave us two trains: "Great Land Express" by New Bright Industrial Co. and "Silverado Express" by EZ-Tec owned by Scientific Toys, Ltd. Both battery pwered trains. Both tracks are plastic. Can these two trains and track be used outside? We would like to keep the track set up outside in all weather, all year. We will probably take the trains inside until we build a shed for them. Let me know if these can be used outside.

Thank you,
cslone

[Anonymous]

Hi cslone,

I doubt that your New Bright and EZ-Tec track would last long if left outside year-round. Your best bet would be LGB or Aristocraft track. The rail is brass (other metals available too) and the ties are UV-resistant plastic. They would last many years outside.

Marc Horovitz, editor of Garden Railways magazine, recently wrote a buyer's guide to track in the June 2001 issue. It is very helpful in sorting out the wide variety of track available on the market today. You can purchase a copy of that issue from Kalmbach Publishing Co. (or from your local hobby shop). Call Kalmbach toll free: 888-350-2413.

Regards,

Jim Schulz
associate editor, Trains.com

[Anonymous]

Doh! I almost forgot, Marc also has an article in Trains.com explaining the types of rail used in garden railroading. Click here: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/445rqing.asp

Regards,

Jim Schulz
associate editor, Trains.com

[cprted]

Have you ever considered ride-on live steam? The guys done at the local live steam club did the math and it is actually cheaper to lay 7 1/2" gauge track than it is to lay LGB. If anyone is interested check out www.livesteaming.com and click on the clubs link to find a club near you.