Hey guys, I have never really posted too much about my outdoor layout. The reason why is because it has kinda been sitting dormant for the last few years at my folks due to practicality of the layout. It was great when I was building it, 7 years ago. That was the time when I only had a few electric engines and at the time the biggest loco I had to worry about was a bachmann connie. Unfortunately for the railroad, and my wallet, I started getting bigger, better, and much more “finicky” locomotives. About 2 years ago I was tired of seeing it sit, plus I had acquired a live steam shay, so I redid all of the ballast and had the layout running good again. Once summer rolled around and it was no longer fun to run trains in 110 degrees, it went back to dormant mode. It’s too bad that here in Arizona the critters around are just as destructive as everywhere else. I had about 10 resident lizards that had burrowed their way into the ground and just about destroyed half my trackage. Finally about 3 weeks ago, after the purchase of another live steam loco, my spng ten-wheeler, it was time to rebuild the layout, into a more practical running layout. As I was designing it I was keeping in mind that I want good level track for my rod-engine live steam, and would stlll like a little bit of gradients for my shays and electrics as well. I decided that the main line would be completely level, and that I would have a branch off up to a lumber, logging, forestry camp. Also, I kept in mind other people running there and a couple of storage tracks along with sidings and a place for live steam locos to steam up. So, three days ago I went into destruction mode. I tore up all the old trackage, started moving dirt and lined up the retaining wall. I plan on building a retaining wall with 4x4 lengths, double high. So about an 8 inch retainer. The bottom piece will be about 2 inches sub-surface,and I am using all of my old dirt as fill within the confides. Just a quick tidbit- the 4x4’s are all old bridge ties from the 15 inch gauge railroad in Scottsdale. As of about 6 years ago, the wood was all replaced with plastic ties and these nice creosote treated ties went onto pallets in storage. As nice as it sounds, 115 degree record temps only give one about 4-5 hours of good hard work. I would have liked to have moved quicker, but I think I will survive. These pictures are as the layout stood just last week.
more to come… Matt
Nice progress…
