Large Scale Central

The Outdoor Layout is ON!

General Discussion
#1

Finally! I get part of the yard! This weekend my lovely wife gave in and we started the initial clearing of outdoor space to move the Redmond Creek RR outside. She even helped and said she would love to help further. Can’t beat that!!! I will be posting pictures as things progress. At the moment this is kind of what I have planned. Each square is 1 foot.

#2

congrats , the fun begins , remember access , you must be able to reach it .

#3

What?
Move from indoors to out?
I’m trying to move the family into the yard so the train can come inside to the air conditioning.:lol:
Ralph

#4
Ralph Berg said:
What? Move from indoors to out? I'm trying to move the family into the yard so the train can come inside to the air conditioning.:lol: Ralph
:lol: :lol:

Haven’t you found that it’s easier to move trains than people.

#5

Tim,
Congratulations on the move!
And now some “fatherly” advice.
Most guys plan and plan on paper. I did the same thing. Trying to cram as much track into the allotted space. You will be happier in the end with half the track that was first designed on paper.
Most guys I know that put down all that track as they originally planned either removed it as they built, or removed it after they built.
For one thing, maintenance. You are going to have to get in and clean that track, if you are track powered. (And I assume you will be.)
You have a lot of track to keep level, and a lot of switches to keep debris free.
Access to the layout without stepping on track or other things.
Wire chases, etc.

Tim,
Just saying based on what I’ve experienced and witnessed over the years…:slight_smile: :slight_smile:

jb

#6

John and Dennis, thanks for the insite. I was just so excited about the newly aquired space that I sat down to configure something elaborate. But you are correct. Now that I look at things closer, there is no way that I can configure the layout the way I drew it and get around to all parts of it. Perhaps I will start with a simple over under figure eight.

#7
John Bouck said:
Tim, Congratulations on the move! And now some "fatherly" advice. Most guys plan and plan on paper. I did the same thing. Trying to cram as much track into the allotted space. You will be happier in the end with half the track that was first designed on paper. Most guys I know that put down all that track as they originally planned either removed it as they built, or removed it after they built. For one thing, maintenance. You are going to have to get in and clean that track, if you are track powered. (And I assume you will be.) You have a lot of track to keep level, and a lot of switches to keep debris free. Access to the layout without stepping on track or other things. Wire chases, etc.

Tim,
Just saying based on what I’ve experienced and witnessed over the years…:slight_smile: :slight_smile:

jb


Good advise John,
I didn’t plan anything on paper building my railroad. I just laid the track on the ground and changed the configuration several times. When I had something I was happy with I marked it with line marking paint. Picked the track back up and started working on the grading for the road bed.
I found this worked well for me.
Ralph

#8

Timmy

I am hoping to re-do the NBRR in the fall to something more ‘elaborate’, and much more FLAT… not sure what but at least 2 tracks that both older boys can operate on…roundy rounds!

anyways I’ve got a spot picked out 36’ x 24’ so we’ll see…good luck…I really like a figure 8 over/under and will incorporate at least one in my new line!

cale

#9
Ralph Berg said:
John Bouck said:
Tim, Congratulations on the move! And now some "fatherly" advice. Most guys plan and plan on paper. I did the same thing. Trying to cram as much track into the allotted space. You will be happier in the end with half the track that was first designed on paper. Most guys I know that put down all that track as they originally planned either removed it as they built, or removed it after they built. For one thing, maintenance. You are going to have to get in and clean that track, if you are track powered. (And I assume you will be.) You have a lot of track to keep level, and a lot of switches to keep debris free. Access to the layout without stepping on track or other things. Wire chases, etc.

Tim,
Just saying based on what I’ve experienced and witnessed over the years…:slight_smile: :slight_smile:

jb


Good advise John,
I didn’t plan anything on paper building my railroad. I just laid the track on the ground and changed the configuration several times. When I had something I was happy with I marked it with line marking paint. Picked the track back up and started working on the grading for the road bed.
I found this worked well for me.
Ralph

I did the same thing, although I used as a reference a plan I had seen in MRR mag. When I was done , I drew up the plan on RRTrak . Once that was done, then it got elaborate. But that was because it was easy to do on RRtrak. In reality, most of the elaborateness won’t be done.

#10

When “Planning” the IPP&W, we used great quantities of Sleeman’s Honey Brown Ale; it seemed to help in a multitude of ways. That was way back in the age where we just “Winged it” and had fun.

#11

One thing we did, that proved very wise; was to plan a point -to- point pike, using as much of the back yard as possible; then built in a countinuous run after. We have never looked back.

#12

I imagine there was at least a sketch or two on top of a Sleeman’s case. The IPP&W makes very efficient use of a small space. Fred has fit more track in his small back yard then I have ever imagined I could fit in my 1/3 acre. A very ingenious use of dog-legs and grade changes and over/unders makes for a very nice run.

#13

Ok…I didnt’ realize I started this post in 2008 and it’s now 2010. But… the fun truly begins now! I revised my plans to not include any switches at this time but rather an over under folded figure 8 sort of.

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_001.jpg)

I had 15 yards of dirt delivered last week. The area where the railrood is going has quite a slope that needs to be leveled out. There is no way to get anything but a wheel barrow around the side to the back of the house so with Susan’s help we started moving dirt.

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_10.jpg)

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_19.jpg)

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_2.jpg)

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_20.jpg)

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_4.jpg)

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_5.jpg)

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_9.jpg)

Before we can go any further I need to build a retaining wall which we started this weekend. The area slopes down to the left.

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_13.jpg)

(http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/images/outdoors/Image_15.jpg)

#14

Work is progressing well, so it looks…

#15

so far a good start. Shoulnt it be you pushing the dirt and your wife taking the pictures? LOL

#16

Timmyd -
Thanks for the photos - please keep sending the sequence of construction.
I reinforce a point made earlier: Walking on track and access to rail and plants is important and reveals problems only later in operations! I elevated my roadbed by 2" – which is brick or topper block height – to minimize the ground cover and dirt usurping the track and roadbed. I then mixed morter and placed it over the bricks - leaving 4"+/- between the bricks and topper blocks to be filled in with the mix. After leveling the concrete over the preset bricks, the track was placed and wiggled into the concrete slightly back and forth and sideways to accomodate track response to temperature. the concrete is beveled and looks fairly authentic as mainline track and roadbed. The point is the hollow ties have held the track on the concrete for over 13 years. You can then walk on the roadbed without causing dips in the track. Having level track and also foot traffic is difficult without strong support. I found the gravel roadbed was okay, but regular maintenance meant there were low track spots in time from walking on track for gardening.
There’s my experience – good luck with your installation!

Wendell

#17
Shawn said:
so far a good start. Shoulnt it be you pushing the dirt and your wife taking the pictures? LOL
I was thinking more along the lines of 'how doi I get a wife that will move dirt whil I take pictures ?' :D

Great start Timmy

#18

Jon’s post deleted for protection of the innocent, if there are any.

And from the crowd there was heard - “But what about the children?”

Quote:
Great start Timmy
Jon? And here I thought you valued life as you know it. Be careful, very careful, while you sleep. And, I forget, will you want plants or flowers at your memorial?
#19

Notice my fingers were trembling as I typed - that’s why so many typos. Marilyn never reads this website but I forgot that Jan or Jean might tell her.

And of course, to seal my fate you quoted my post so I can’t just delete the post and say it never happened.

Nice knowing you all.

#20

Not to worry Jon. Post what you will we’ll all save it for you so you’ll be protected. Hell we looked out for that other John when he ran his trestle right through his wife’s garden :slight_smile: