Joe Zullo said:
Good job Vinny. Looks like you’ve done a terrific job there, Congrats.
Thank you, it’s getting there.
Been a little challenging but not to bad, I am really enjoying feeling like a big kid again playing with trains.
I know my local dealer is sure happy about it 
Good video, but as Ralph mentioned, where’s the caboose?
Joe Zullo said:
Good video, but as Ralph mentioned, where’s the caboose?
Out of everything that I own…I don’t have a caboose in 1:20 scale!
I had one, a real nice brass one from Accucraft years ago. But because I had 5’ diameter curves I could never use it, so I sold it.
Guess what is next on my list?
Nice!
No need for a caboose I figured it had a F.R.E.D on the back
Vincent D’Agostino said:
Joe Zullo said:
Good video, but as Ralph mentioned, where’s the caboose?
Out of everything that I own…I don’t have a caboose in 1:20 scale!
I had one, a real nice brass one from Accucraft years ago. But because I had 5’ diameter curves I could never use it, so I sold it.
Guess what is next on my list?
a pony???
A pretty Pretty Princess Doll? Oh no wait thats Rooster…
Day 6 of the build! 6/15/13
And ALL of the track is done.
I am not going to lie…I am hurting!
This was a long day, a little over 12 hours we spent out there today.
Went for breakfast at 7am and we started on the track at 8am, finished up just after 8pm!
With the main line finished it was time to work on the reversing track and some sidings.
I also wanted to use a Aristocraft bridge I picked up earlier this year so that was also in the plans for today.
As usual we started with laying things out and seeing if what we had was going to work.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08998_zps43293d15.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC08999_zps36f4fa6e.jpg)
After guessing that we could make a go of it my princess was off setting some block so we could raise this particular part of the railway to make it somewhat level.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09002_zps5f19416f.jpg)
Then it was time to dig a hole so we could place the bridge inside it.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09003_zps568670ef.jpg)
After setting the bridge and getting it level it was time to start playing with some track.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09004_zps11a1f007.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09005_zps45a57027.jpg)
This little section of track was a royal PAIN!
Mostly due to how un-level my yard is, so it took a lot of placing, digging, placing…removing, digging some more!
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09006_zps1690f0d9.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09007_zps3711530e.jpg)
So after finally getting all the track in and wired up it was time for some fun!
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09008_zps1ff20a66.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09009_zpsc248d165.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09010_zpsd5fed37c.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09011_zps81aa4c6c.jpg)
I will be using the sidings as displays mostly as the train on this section of track is just running on a Aristocraft reversing setup. Always liked how it looked on my old layout so I wanted to make sure I fit it in this one somewhere!
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09012_zps286d41af.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09013_zpsd095bd34.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09014_zpsdf7dbff8.jpg)
Tomorrow will be spent doing the finishing touches on the track. We need to level everything and finish with some stone dust.
I also have a few building I may be able to get out there tomorrow after I hit them with some UV spray.
Then the rest of the day is going to be spent relaxing and watching trains run!
Vincent, nice work, both of you…
Just a few pictures from today, we did a little track work and then sat back and relaxed!
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09016_zpsbc01e5ef.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09017_zpsfd156e4e.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09018_zps3df9c781.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09019_zpse71288a1.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09020_zps7c525d3d.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09021_zpse318fa99.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09025_zpscc7a6933.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09027_zpsea65d6fc.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09032_zps00bc9898.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/139vinny/New%20Garden%20Railroad/DSC09033_zpsd18478ce.jpg)
Hope everyone enjoyed there weekend!
Nice work Vincent. Looks like you should get lots of enjoyment from your efforts
Now you need Plants!
So now that the track work is finished here are a few observations.
I still like the look and feel of LGB track better then the Aristo.
I thought I had enough LGB to do the layout with, but after making some changes to the original design I had no choice but to break down and use some Aristo.
A real disappointment was the Hillman Rail Clamps…
I used them on my old layout (10 years ago) and they worked perfect, never had any issues with them actually holding the track together or there quality.
Now I know Hillman rail clamps have been bought/sold a few times and I am not sure who actually ownes them at this point, all I know is that the 80+ pieces I purchased to use on my new layout were garbage.
Most of them don’t hold well at all, you can slide the tracks apart pretty easily. It seems like the bases of the rail clamp are to wide and need to be shaven down for them to actually tighten on the tracks.
I also lost count on how many just snapped or the screw holes stripped out (not the allen head, but the screw hole itself).
My old Hillman clamps still worked great, I just replaced all the screws, but the clamps actually hold the track together!
So I don’t know what version of the Hillman clamps I bought, my local dealer had them for about 2-years…So who ever was producing them 2-years ago, thats who I have.
I also changed track power for this railway.
My old layout I used (2) Control Master 20’s and they worked great. I liked the fact that I had them indoor out of the weather and I could operate trains in the rain & snow!
New layout I switched to a Bridgewerks Mag200, this was mainly because I knew I was going to have to put the transformers outside for this layout and I didn’t want to carry the two CM20’s outside and have to wire them up.
The Mag200 is nice and easy in this aspect with the carrying handle and the quick disconnects for the track power. I will just have to pay a little more attention for when it starts raining!
But the transformer works beautiful, plenty of power and smooth operation.
Now the fun of reworking some old buildings that I have and planting trees and ground cover are up next!
