Large Scale Central

New from Southern California

General Discussion
#1

Hello all,

I have always loved model trains, just never had the space or time to really get into the hobby. But, now that i have a little more time, and a little more money, I’m starting to plan my RR and collect engines and rolling stock.

My parents are getting ready to retire, and have graciously offered me a corner of their 2 acre property to build on. My father im sure has ulterior motives, haha.

So far i have a Bachmann 3 truck shay, a few spectrum gondolas, and a Connie on the way. The property is out in Yucca Valley/ Joshua Tree area on the side of a rocky hill. I am thinking a turn of the century mining operation will be a good theme to shoot for. They call the property “Juniper Ridge” so i am brainstorming ways to possibly use that as my road name. The area i have to work with is aprox. 30’x40’ though i am sure it wouldn’t be much of a problem to expand a little.

If anyone has any track plan ideas, I’d be more than happy to accept advice. The minimum diameter would be 8’, more possibly around 10-15’ curves. I want to have a trestle or two, and maybe a short tunnel. Not too many switches, but definitely an engine house and a few sidings.

I’ve been reading a lot for the past months, and absorbing as much as i can. The average user here seems to be about twice my age, so there is a lot to learn!

Thank you for reading, and i look forward to sharing my progress :slight_smile:

#2

A suggestion, draw the property at a scale you can work with 1" = say 10’ (better 2’) then, make a few different size curved templates out of card stock (3x5) then start playing with layouts. Check out the local copy store (as in FedEX) and see if they will give a cut off or two that will be your size. Then make copies to work on. Remember that you change it more times than you will ever admit too, I have! I am a bit evenious of you!

PAUL

#3

Hey welcome! You’ve come to a very friendly and helpful forum. I am a newbie too. I am sure you will great ton of advice here.

I guess the only thing I’d toss in is to think a bit about how you will reach parts of your layout for fiddling and maintenance! I am already having to climb over track!

#4

I hope to lay the track on either a concrete bed, or on a ladder system i’ve seen here and other sites. I am planning on running battery and r/c using micro engineering code 332 aluminum track. I like the price and the look of the uneven/stagered ties.

The area i’ve chosen is fairly level, with a 2 1/2’- 3’ slope running down the middle. I think this will make a great place to build in a canyon or overhanging trestle.

The benefit is, i’m 25, so i don’t mind climbing in or around the layout.

#5
E. Paul Austin said:
A suggestion, draw the property at a scale you can work with 1" = say 10' (better 2') then, make a few different size curved templates out of card stock (3x5) then start playing with layouts. Check out the local copy store (as in FedEX) and see if they will give a cut off or two that will be your size. Then make copies to work on. Remember that you change it more times than you will ever admit too, I have! I am a bit evenious of you!

PAUL


Excellent advice i will gladly take.

#6

William,

You might also look into a software program called ‘AnyRail’. It is supposed to have most of the popular brands of track already loaded in, and will make changing the track plan much easier than using an eraser. You also cannot wear a hole in the paper (old draftsman’s smart a$$ remark). I use AutoCAD, but everyone does not have access to that high a caliber program.

Welcome aboard! Don’t be afraid to ask questions, there are plenty of folks here who most likely have ‘been there, done that’.

Bob C.

#7

Welcome! There are many guys here with years and years of experience with setting up and running a garden RR so you will get lots of good advice for any question that you can come up with but do remember that there is no right or wrong way just sometimes a long way. It is after all your RR.
I would suggest looking into some track design books. It doesn’t matter the scale they are for you can mix and match the designs. Do some track plan sketches and test lay some track around. Your plans will change as your interest grows. It is a good idea to stick with 8’ diameter curve or greater.
Also remember a train needs a purpose whether it is hauling freight or passengers from point A to B or supporting a industry like mining or anything else from your imagination.
Trains are a great lifelong hobby and garden railroading in particular is probably the most multi faceted.
Happy RRing

#8
William Beck said:
I hope to lay the track on either a concrete bed, or on a ladder system i've seen here and other sites. I am planning on running battery and r/c using micro engineering code 332 aluminum track. I like the price and the look of the uneven/stagered ties.

The area i’ve chosen is fairly level, with a 2 1/2’- 3’ slope running down the middle. I think this will make a great place to build in a canyon or overhanging trestle.

The benefit is, i’m 25, so i don’t mind climbing in or around the layout.


Hi William,

Welcome to LSC.

I use AnyRail and CADrail for layout planning (from Z scale to Large Scale).
AnyRail has less of a learning curve, you can download a trial version to see how you like it. If you have questions there’s the AR Forum http://www.anyrail.com/forum_en/index.php or you can just ask me :slight_smile: :wink: Disclosure: My relation to AnyRail is … I’m a happy user and “fairly active” on that forum.

The following track libraries are presently included for 45mm track: Aristo, Bachmann, LGB, Lionel, Piko, Train Line, Thiel.

#9
Bob Cope said:
.............

I use AutoCAD, but everyone does not have access to that high a caliber program.

Bob C.


And even when they do have access, they may faint because of the learning curve. :wink: :slight_smile:

#10

I would visit lots of layouts, while you build your own, to get ideas and advice from other railroaders who have done some good things but have also learned from their mistakes. Start with a visit to Doug Arnold out there near you, Pinon Hills I think. He is the maintenance foreman for the Dirty and Dusty RR. You’ll learn a lot from him.

#11

Welcome and all good suggestions. Another good track plan program is RR-Track v.4 which also has a low learning curve and is easy to use, plus it has all the popular sectional track libraries and buildings. You can mess with it to your heart’s content to see what track arrangements you can come up with. Although I use mostly Flex Track in 6’ sections, it helps me to get an idea of what will fit in a certain area. I’ve used it on my previous layout and on both phases of my current layout.

http://www.rrtrack.com/html/address.html

#12

Welcome looking forward to seeing your build log. You will get great advise from the guys on here. Us young guys have to stick together :wink:

#13

Welcome, William.
I used a much higher tech track planning medium than those guys:

Garden hoses, and upside down ground marking rattle can paint. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

The prollem with “track planning” is you can plan and plan, and never get anything on the ground.

#14

Welcome aboard… Watch out for the Rooster, it has started to bite… :slight_smile:

#15
John Bouck said:
Welcome, William. I used a much higher tech track planning medium than those guys:

Garden hoses, and upside down ground marking rattle can paint. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

The prollem with “track planning” is you can plan and plan, and never get anything on the ground.


I agrre with you John. Just get some track down and start running. You will figure it from their. Thats what i did and it worked out very well.

#16

Welcome aboard!

#17
Shawn said:
John Bouck said:
Welcome, William. I used a much higher tech track planning medium than those guys:

Garden hoses, and upside down ground marking rattle can paint. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

The prollem with “track planning” is you can plan and plan, and never get anything on the ground.


I agrre with you John. Just get some track down and start running. You will figure it from their. Thats what i did and it worked out very well.

It all depends what you intend on building. Apart from that there’s something to be said to put a trackplan down that uses actual dimensions - especially important when building stations and yards - instead of using the “I think that looks about right” method that goes along with sketches. And then there are the many, many changes one can make very quickly in planning software and have umpteen different versions that will fit in the same layout space. And if desired one can amalgamate elements from the different designs and see how it all fits.

As I said it all depends what you intend on building. BTW one can easily doodle with most of the planning software that I’ve ever tried out, but the easiest (for me) is still CADrail. I haven’t even mentioned that I draw most projects - from the pergola in the garden (all the contractor needed to do is follow the drawing), furniture (1:1 or to modeling scales), the complete layout of a reno project - in CADrail. Yep, first one has to climb that learning curve, but after that it’s full-tilt ahead.

#18

William -
As a fellow SoCalif. resident, I strongly encourage you to join the SoCalif. Garden Railways organization and visit layouts near you. One of the consistent comments from veteran garden RRs is plan for the plants and plan for access to those plants!Walking on the track may be only alternative after the layout is built and plants, etc., are installed. Track on top of any size grit, when repeatedly walked on, starts to bow from the compression. Track on a solid base - either treated wood or concrete - does not. For our roadbed, I have successfully used topper blocks with a concrete overlay. The need to walk on the track became obvious as soon as the plants started growing and the soil needed attention.
If you wish to join the SoCal group and receive the newsletter and notice of open houses, please give me a call (562) 943-2721 for more information.
Welcome to the Large Scale Central group!
Wendell
La Mirada, CA

#19

Welcome aboard!

It will be a lot of fun to have another desert mining railroad! I’m sure having a lot of fun building mine. Be sure to look at the work Ray has done in San Diego.

You will hear about every method of laying track here. I float mine to eliminate any problems with desert heat.

#20

Welcome aboard William. There is a lot of great advice and experience here along with a little BS, buts it’s all good and fun.

Chuck