Large Scale Central

My First Garden Railroad Project

General Discussion
#1

I’ve been working on the railroad. Sorry, couldn’t resist. I’ve been doing the heavy lifting part of this project for a few weeks now, working on weekend mornings before the temp gets into the nineties. Got 5 yards of fill dirt into it so far. I’m planning to use a ladder type foundation under flexible track. This is my first Garden Railroad, and since I can’t really find anyone around here for advice, I’m going on internet info and reading alone. So, I’m going to make mistakes, and I’m sure there are plenty of people here to gently point them out and call me an idiot. Here are some beginning pictures, if you are interested…

(See below post for pictures)

Thanks ahead of time for your kind input. I’m aware of grade problems, by the way, and I’m still working on it and trying to insure that the Engine can pull it. I intend to lay temporary track and try each climb out before nailing it down…

Rick Rorie

#2

I just found out that the picture links don’t work. I guess I’ll need to buy a freight shed.

Rick

#3

Sorry about the picture problem

Try this. Double click the gallery and you should be able to view the pics…

http://gallery.me.com/rickdesign

Rick

#4

Rick,

You’re off to a great start. Nice location too. That looks like horse country with all the white fences!

I’m not a computer expert as probably everyone already knows. hehe! But I understand the photos won’t post on here with % in the names. Otherwise unless there’s some restriction coming from their online location I believe they should post. Of course helping to support this site wouldn’t be a bad idea either. :wink:

BTW, No one on here will call you an idiot. I already have that title sewed up in the opinion of some on here. :smiley:

#5

Rick -

Looks like you’ve been putting in a lot of hours. Great start! Interesting use of both stone and wood for walls.

#6

Rick,
No spaces in the file name either.
Good job. It is hard work. As the saying goes, no pain, no gain.
There are plenty of knowledgeable members here.
Then there is the rest of us.
And Richard knows he can’t claim that idiot title exclusively. There are plenty of us.:lol:
Ralph

#7
Ralph Berg said:
Rick, No spaces in the file name either. Good job. It is hard work. As the saying goes, no pain, no gain. There are plenty of knowledgeable members here. Then there is the rest of us. And Richard knows he can't claim that idiot title exclusively. There are plenty of us.:lol: Ralph
Thanks for the reply from western NC. My RR is under construction in Charlotte.
#8
Rick Rorie said:
Thanks for the reply from western NC. My RR is under construction in Charlotte.
Cool. I'm a couple minutes from Lake Lure. It seems like I'm in Charlotte or passing through all the time. Cale is not too far from me in Spartanburg, SC. Ralph
#9

I feel your pain… from moving all that fill dirt. That’s quite a slope you’re building on. I put my layout in front of the house to take advantage of the crest of a hill my property is on. I still had to use a lot of fill dirt to even out sections, and I resorted to raised track to accomplish a couple sections. Looks great in the spot you chose, however I would be concerned about the locomotive pulling cars up that slope.

I tested mine by laying out about 10 feet of track on the hill and hooking up power. I found I could only pull a couple cars up any serious inclines, and made several adjustments to the layout to compensate. By raising some sections I was able to balance out the slopes.

Good luck!
Paul

#10

Rick, looking good. I like your track plan, looks like you will be able to do a lot with that. Good luck and keep us posted.

#11

Welcome aboard, and congrats on getting started with your layout!

#12

Good start, Rick. It’s great to start an album of your construction efforts. You can look back at some point and realize all that pain was NOT in vain…:wink:

#13

I’ve added more photos to the gallery of this project, including work on the trestle.

www.gallery.me.com/rickdesign

#14
Rick Rorie said:
I've added more photos to the gallery of this project, including work on the trestle.

www.gallery.me.com/rickdesign


Hi Rick,
The link is not working for me.
Ralph

#15

Oops. My Mistake

http://gallery.me.com/rickdesign

Sorry 'bout that

#16

Rick,
Very nice trestle. Did you cut your own “scale” lumber or find a source?
I see your GRR is in the front yard also.
I still can’t believe I was able to get my wife to agree to let me put my GRR in the front yard.
I’m still waiting for the “other shoe to drop”. I know somewhere, sometime when I really disagree with her about something, I’m going to hear …“but I let you put your train in the front yard”
Ralph

#17

Ralph,

You better get a T-shirt already, there are some catchy slogans out there. :lol:

#18

The Lumber is undoubtedly not to scale… I just got some 3/4" thick Cypress and ripped it into 1/2" strips. The lumber is surely too big but I don’t care. Once I finished that thing I could sit on it, and I’m way north of 200 lbs.

The reason my train is in the front yard is twofold. 1- That natural area need a feature, and now it’s got one. 2- our back yard is fenced for our 2 Old English Sheepdogs, and they would go all Rodan on a Garden Train.

Ralph Berg said:
Rick, Very nice trestle. Did you cut your own "scale" lumber or find a source? I see your GRR is in the front yard also. I still can't believe I was able to get my wife to agree to let me put my GRR in the front yard. I'm still waiting for the "other shoe to drop". I know somewhere, sometime when I really disagree with her about something, I'm going to hear ......."but I let you put your train in the front yard" Ralph
#19

Looks like a heckova lot of fun to me :smiley:

#20

Rick,
The lumber looks pretty good to me on the trestle. Probably a tad large, but looks good. Nice job.
Ralph