Large Scale Central

Front yard layouts: What advice from those who have done so?

General Discussion
#1

Geoff George’s posted on-going photo story showing the construction of his front yard garden RR is reallly interesting and worth following.

My guess is there is there is a great deal of advice available from those who have built front-yard garden railroads. What considerations do you have for those thinking of doing so? This could include those of us considering short term Christmas displays as well as permanent layouts.

We live in a suburb of Los Angeles in a housing trac with cul-de-sacs – we live on one so any traffic appears to be only by those who live there. Obviously, one consideration is how to think about any need for security.

Your experiences?

Many thanks,
Wendell

#2

We are resting through the heat to prep for the completion of our pike, built in the front yard.

4 houses on street, I’m at end in cul-de-sac.

one loop down now, in raised bed, can’t remember how many ft.

gonna do 2 more, figure 8’s.

as to experiences…been to hot to have many, other than the few neighbors we have, stopping by to see what I was doin’

cale

my links to the build-so far

http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=10541

http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=10783

#3

Ours is not quite in the front yard–it’s in the front/side, on a pathway to a public park.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lownote/overhead.jpg)

It’s behind a board fence, but it’s not a serious barrier either physically or visually:

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lownote/street.jpg)

We’ve never had any serious acts of vandalism–some little neighbor kids come over some time and mess things up a bit. I’m assuming that sooner or later we will get some major vandalism, and I’m mentally preparing myself. In my opinion it’s worth it because of the sense of neighborliness it creates. People stop by all the time, just people walking by. We talk, we say hello, they tell me almost always about the old lionel set their father used to have. They ask what size they are, and where you get them. It’s fun

#4

My GRR is in the front yard. I live in a rural area. The kind of place you can leave your keys in the car. So security hasn’t been a problem. Visibility from the road is not good. I have a “walkover” from the porch to the driveway that cuts the layout in half. It would be great for R/C and is great for observation. But it can be a PIA when working on the GRR. Ralph This is the only picture I could find with the walkover. I usually try to keep it out of the picture. As you can see, the GRR occupies the space between the house and the driveway to the left of the walkover. To the right where you can’t see I have a large front yard.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/Hail001Medium.jpg)

Here is a shot taken from the walkover.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/PVRR016Medium.jpg)

#5

Wendell Thanks I’m glade you and others are enjoying following my progress. The first thing is this. YOu know your neighborhood better then any of use. IF you feel its safe then most likely it will be safe. I have a policeman next door and one right behind me. I also have one of those dusk to dawn street lights RIGHT in front of my house. So, I feel its safe. 3 years no problems. I do how ever have a cam on the front yard and record everything why I am not here. Just in case. The rest of tha advice depends on what you are doing. Short trem Christmas display… Build it off ground and out of arm reach of kids Its easyer for people to see and trust me kids will craw, sneek and strech every way possable to touch the trains. That is something I did not think about before doing my layout. permanent layout. get your major things in place first or think about how you are going to get to them later. Case in point. I put down a lot of track first them did my mountain. I had to move 6 yards of dirt by 5 gal bucket because I did not have away to do it with a wheelbarrow or even back the truck up to the spot. I put my railroad in the front for two reasons. 1) I use it at Christmas with my light display. 2) My two dogs get the back yard and they would eat my trains. one dog is 115 lbs and the other is now 60lbs.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/geogeorge/_forumfiles/airone.jpg)

In the above picture the house i share the driveway with is my policeman neighbor and you can see the street light on the pole in the front by the driveway. My personal thought would be that living in a cul-de-sac you should be a bit safer. I live on a thought street that people use all the time a way around traffic. If there is anything more I can help with please feel free to ask. I would be more then glade to help if I can. Geoff

#6

That spot on the left side of the walk looks like a great spot for a garden railway. A much better use of resources than having a green lawn in so cal.

-Brian

#7

Ralph Berg said:
Here is a shot taken from the walkover.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/PVRR016Medium.jpg)

You might want to check the track on that inner loop Ralph! :lol: -Brian

#8
Brian Donovan said:
You might want to check the track on that inner loop Ralph! :lol:

-Brian


That is the siding for the passenger station. Still under construction.
Ralph

#9

Our’s goes to the front yard, but if trains aren’t running you really don’t see the track much. It has been out there for 8 years and we’ve had no problems.

#10

Thanks all for the input.
The “out-of-reach” suggestion from George makes sense. Kids will likely want to touch. Elevate the track, move it inward from the sidewalk, and add a plant barrier at least discourages the idea of touching.
Wendell

#11
Ralph Berg said:
My GRR is in the front yard. I live in a rural area. The kind of place [b]you can leave your keys in the car.[/b]
Hey Ralph, I need a new car...where do you live again? :D

My driveway loop is beside a through street, and despite being in a rather redneck area, I’ve had no problems with it up til now.

#12
Robbie Hanson said:
Ralph Berg said:
My GRR is in the front yard. I live in a rural area. The kind of place [b]you can leave your keys in the car.[/b]
Hey Ralph, I need a new car...where do you live again? :D

My driveway loop is beside a through street, and despite being in a rather redneck area, I’ve had no problems with it up til now.


Hey,
I think you misused the word “redneck”. However, you are young and so therefore forgiven :lol:

My truck is nearly 30 years old. So not exactly a “new” car.
But yeah, more often than not, I forget and leave my keys in it.

The trains have been out in the yard for three days. The weather has been nice so I’ve not brought them in every night. Time not spent moving rolling stock means more time spent running trains.
Ralph

#13

My RR is also in the front yard. I dont worry about anything beause I am also in a rural area and along a county road. Any car that does go by is usually going to fast to notice anything. My area is like Ralphs I can keep my keys in my car and leave doors unlocked and not worry. It is also hard to see the RR from the road because of a a few spruce trees and bushes along the road way.
If you have a RR in the front you can always get some fast growing shrubs to hide the RR.

#14

We didn’t lock the door either. Susan said, “Might as well not have to replace the door too.”

#15

Out here, we keep the front door locked to let folks know that we are not home, and the back door open if anyone needs to get inside.

#16

About 2/3’s of my layout is in the front yard. We know most of our neighbors in our private community. I don’t leave rolling stock out, and there has never been a problem. My only concern is that the track will get stepped on in the dark when the neighborhood kids run between yards playing “Man Hunt”.

It depends on where you live.

#17

Geoff, you are just toooooo trusting, a thief will steal anything he wants, or anything he sees, even with a cop next door to you. Without giving out any detail, I am an ex-cop, and my advice to you is don’t trust anyone! PERIOD In this day and age, trust is a thing of the past. And I can tell you that next to a cop would be a prime place for a thief to gettcha if he wanted to. ??? nuff said and I still like ya, and am tryin to protect ya. HaH LOL The Regal

#18

When we started our layout it was in the front yard. In a small rock garden against the front of the house at least 60 feet from the street. By the end of the first day I decided to move it into the backyard. We live on a nice cul-de-sac as well and the neighborhood is pretty nice too. But, I guess I’m just not that trusting. Everything has survived very well in the back yard for 11 years now with the exception of damage done by our German Shepherds. :slight_smile:

Jon.

#19
Jerry Hansen said:
don't trust anyone! PERIOD In this day and age, trust is a thing of the past. The Regal
Just a wee bit cynical today, Jerry :) Ralph
#20

Jon-

Some event prompted your stopping the first day front yard construction. Intuition? Kid’s and neighbor comments?

Wendell