From indoors to outdoors

[Rene Schweitzer]

This poll coincides with the "Indoor-outdoor solutions" article that's in the February issue. Does your railway begin (or end) indoors--and where does it run (basement, garage, etc.)?

[bman36]

Hi Rene,
Plans were to extend my line to the basement window this past fall. Unfortuneately it did'nt happen as planned so we will be waiting until Spring now. My goal is to set up storage track and a staging lane for my trains. That way I can make up a train and send it outdoors. Should be fun. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

Indoors only

Specifically in the back of an unheated/unconditioned spider-ridden garage and wedged under a storage loft, I have to share it with my big dumb orange oompa-loompa Chow-Chow of a dog and a bunch of junk accumulated over the years, Time for a Garage Sale!

There's no good place in my small area of yard where an outside line would be practical, so its inside for me! Besides I can try my hand at doing it more of a Finescale layout with a "2 foot rule" rather than a "10 foot rule" RR. definetly more challenges and I hope when finished a more interesting layout.[:D]

[Tom The Brat]

Am I vote number 2?

I don't have any outside any more. It might be quite a while before I do.

[TurboOne]

Hi Rene, I picked indoors, well because that is what I have. HO scale, but I have been watering it so it will grow into a G guage. I feed it all the good foods, and I am just waiting for it to be a big boy soon.

My outdoor plan will have a line into the Garage for staging, and storing. Otherwise I would have to carry them in, and that would be work.

Thanks for the poll.

Tim

[Anonymous]

RENE
I have both in side and an out side rail road my garden rail road has 170 ft. of track for now and inside i have 100 ft. of track around my basement ,hanging from the ceiling, this way i can stay warm in the winter and still run trains . Ben [:)]

[ondrek]

My layout will include a spur that will run around to the side of the house and enter into the basement through the basement window. its only 12" tall and is pretty muc flush with the ground. once inside, the tracks will be 7' off the floor...so i have to figure something. the article in the GRM was good for ideas, that lifting shelf was good, i might need to rig something like that, but the opposite, lift the track to the exit, not lower it to the exit. hmmm

Kevin

[Tom The Brat]

Tim, lack of an outdoors, or even a house, hasn't held me back any. Go with G!

[Anonymous]

Kevin
I read that article to, i would have to add a 35 ft siding to go through a window , this is something to think about , I have shelves on two walls in the basement already. BEN

[cacole]

I run mine from home-made 3 foot wide by 12 foot long shelves in a metal storage shed, if you can consider this "indoors," out a hole in the side on an elevated section approximatley 19 inches tall, and then downhill to reach the main part of the layout, which is elevated approximately 14 inches throughout.

[Anonymous]

Rene, I thought the article was very interesting! Although i myself post a similar question a year or so ago. I hope to have storage like some that was featured in the article but it would definately have to be in the back garage. Of course that would start an indoor line probably or at least a yard to do some switching in.

[ondrek]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bennysrr

Kevin
I read that article to, i would have to add a 35 ft siding to go through a window , this is something to think about , I have shelves on two walls in the basement already. BEN

yeah, you can use it as an excuse to expand!

Kevin

[Anonymous]

I have a outdoor G gauge rr& another G gauge rr on a 5 x l5 table - - -it's out on the patio ........I

[Anonymous]

The cool thing about Large Scale that attracted me to it is the fact that it could be ourdoors. Thus, only test tracks and seasonal displays indoors and and eventual UTOPIA outdoors!

[Rastun]

All I have is a worn out web browser checking on the track order I made at the end of the year wondering if it's ever gonna ship. Hmm wonder if I should put this in the rude dealers thread instead? amazing how that thread ties into a bunch of the other ones.

See ya later
Jack

[powlee]

Had to vote no unless the shed is indoors. Mine runs into the shed as I explained in another topic somewhere. I did use to spent a lot of time in it.
All the best
Ian P

[Anonymous]

I am currently renting a two story house, and am unable to procede with exterior grading due to current grade of lot, and/or, renting restrictions.
Although, I feel very lucky to have the landlord, and, house. Due to his very agreeable attitude towards my wife, and, I. Having a pre-existing shelf around half of the basement, made consrtucting a large scale layout rather easy. Nothing like only having to lay track in order to run, when you move in !!!
Someday, have partial plans made, and, am constantly working, for outside, and, inside railway.

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rktsnellga


I am currently renting a two story house, and am unable to procede with exterior grading due to current grade of lot, and/or, renting restrictions.
Although, I feel very lucky to have the landlord, and, house. Due to his very agreeable attitude towards my wife, and, I. Having a pre-existing shelf around half of the basement, made consrtucting a large scale layout rather easy. Nothing like only having to lay track in order to run, when you move in !!!
Someday, have partial plans made, and, am constantly working, for outside, and, inside railway.

Hi there,
Nice that you were able to use what was available to you. Some landlords can be really strange...trust me I know. Keep dreaming about that outdoor layout. You'll have it one day. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

I don't run anything indoors it's just too hot.

Ian

[Anonymous]

I have a lovely outdoor loop that I one day would like to tie into an indoor area as well. I don't think that my wife likes the idea of that though [:(] I did manage to negotiate an expanded right of way outdoors though.[:D]

[Anonymous]

When I built my house in 1996 the plan was to build a around the wall HO layout in the basement . I had the stairs going down in the center along with all the utitlies so all 4 walls were free to build my empire . Well I never did build the HO layout and then found G guage. If I would have known that I would be building outside I would have made sure the foundation walls were high enough to get the trains inside under their own power . Now if I were to cut into the foundation the tracks would be competing with the pipes and air conditioning ducts 6" from the celing . Its a real hassle to bring all the rolling stock in and out everytime I want to use them . A 30 car train and two locomotives means 64 trips up and down my stairs. Unless my wife helps then its ONLY 32 trips . Thats one car per trip . Sometimes I can grab two at a time . Hindsite is 20/20 .

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by blue aster

When I built my house in 1996 the plan was to build a around the wall HO layout in the basement . I had the stairs going down in the center along with all the utitlies so all 4 walls were free to build my empire . Well I never did build the HO layout and then found G guage. If I would have known that I would be building outside I would have made sure the foundation walls were high enough to get the trains inside under their own power . Now if I were to cut into the foundation the tracks would be competing with the pipes and air conditioning ducts 6" from the celing . Its a real hassle to bring all the rolling stock in and out everytime I want to use them . A 30 car train and two locomotives means 64 trips up and down my stairs. Unless my wife helps then its ONLY 32 trips . Thats one car per trip . Sometimes I can grab two at a time . Hindsite is 20/20 .

Jack the house up and add another course of block[:D] Seriously is there any way to bring it in through a basement window and rerout the duct work?

[bman36]

Hey guys,
If this snow keeps up I will be able to bring my trains in through the second story window! Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Brian
we got all of 4 inches, But their may be another 10 comming tomorrow, i got the smow blower ready and i must go get gas, no running trains out side, boy i'm glad i have an inside track ,where i can run trains BEN[:D]

[Rastun]

Blue Aster,
Kinda along Matt's idea, how about a tunnel with a grade to get to the proper level to enter the house, kind of like where the big city rapid transists go from elevated to below ground, you could even put a set of doors on it to keep out un-wanted critters. Maybe something like the Great Northern route did with the cascade tunnel.

The whole story about where that shot came from and a bit of history about the 7.8 mile tunnel is at http://www.gngoat.org/east_portal.htm it's a link that you can access from the GN Historical Society's page about the empire builder.

Brian,
Wow you're getting more snow? It's all been melting around here, unusually warm for this time of year.

Later all,

Jack

[Chompers]

I have too much snow.

Finaly School Let out Friday. I went out w/ my snow plow and found that 10" was just a little bit too deep for my plow.


Just a Little........[:D][;)]

[Anonymous]

I currently have track about 3/4 of the way around inside walls of 12x24 building. Plan on going outdoors later this year after the loop is completed. Will put a hole in the wall, add a portal of some type, then go on to the layout, 45-50 ft run. Much easier than making multiple trips with hands full of rolling stock. This also eliminates possible damage to the equipment during transit with my 5 & 7 year old grandkids helping.

SM

[bman36]

Hey all,
Yes the snow is still coming here. My line is under a good solid three feet of it now. Spring will see a LOT of runoff. I pray it does not melt too fast when it warms up though. Last spring saw water coming in under my side entrance. NOT a good thing. Working still on my indoor line. The goal is to have the loop joined by fall. That way next winter will mean still running! Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Sandyman
I built a cart to take my engines and rolling stock out side, I would have to run a 35 ft siding to go into the house, through a window . ben

[Anonymous]

Brian I got see that! Send me some pics if you get a chance.

Ben, buy the track now spring is hopefully around the corner[;)]