Congrats on your first big step!
Like Ken says, we’ve all been there. I find your approach of completing the landscaping in small chunks quite interesting.
Landscape planning is frustrating to me with only a tiny section of track installed. I purchased a wide radius turnout, found that the turnout has dark brown and pink spots on the railhead. I tested it outside with the 0-4-0(had more fun than a kid in candy store), and sometimes the loco would stop on the switch(tender sound stayed on).
CL Beeson said:cl that is a easy one. I have loco stops all the time on trunouts. the frog is not powered so on small locos with only two wheels or slids picking up power you wil get that.
Landscape planning is frustrating to me with only a tiny section of track installed. I purchased a wide radius turnout, found that the turnout has dark brown and pink spots on the railhead. I tested it outside with the 0-4-0(had more fun than a kid in candy store), and sometimes the loco would stop on the switch(tender sound stayed on).
If you can make sure slids and wheels all pick up power. that can help or you can power the frogs up. that is a bit more tricky.
Also use a scotch bright pad and clean the rails and see how the loco works then.
keep having fun and look forward to the progress on the railroad.
Tom Grabenstein said:
Good Start!! The learning curve begins. Doc Tom
CL said:
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/clbee/_forumfiles/41011-2.jpg)
So, that’s what a learning curve looks like. I always wondered… :lol: Good work so far, CL.
No pictures this time. I have aqquired a 8’x8’ storage building that will be used to park trains in, and store other garden railroad related items. Trains will be stored on track, and have their own door. Thoughts, comments, and concerns? Will post photos after “The Train House” arrives.
Not having to carry trains to and from the layout will add to your enjoyment and probably increase the amount of time you actually run trains. Good call 
Ric Golding has an interesting “fiddle yard” in his garage where the track enters at ground level and he has storage tracks above. Makes it easy to make up trains from stored equipment.
One of the best projects I have done is the train barn. It sure is a lot more fun to just “park” your trains. Another good place to put things is in a tunnel.
Just remember that you put a train there.
Last month I was preparing to run at the club layout and couldn’t figure out when an engine and some cars were. Then I remembered they were in a tunnel!
Heres mine…it can accomodate three tracks although there are ony two inside at this time, my building is a 9x12…
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bart_salmons/_forumfiles/0511201101.jpg)
I do run mine into a building. It just happens to be the garage under the house. Not only does it make it easier to run a train, it also acts as an Interchange for the RR with a fiddle yard in the garage.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/0801310008.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/0801290003.jpg)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/clbee/_forumfiles/6211-3.JPG)
The “Choo-Choo Barn” as my daughter calls it(she is three) is finally in place. The switch was placed roughly a month ago now, I then spread mulch around the area near the track. The brick wall is temporary, it was placed there to protect the track from the movers’ truck and trailer that moved the barn for me.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/clbee/_forumfiles/6211-1.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/clbee/_forumfiles/6211-2.JPG)
These photos show where the approach siding will be. I had hoped that I could run the siding straight into the building but the building sits 10" above the lead switch, so I am going around to the side. I want to run one siding into the barn for now, but I am leaving room just outside the barn to add switch later for a second siding.
Good progress. The trains will be happy!
A couple cool questions, will the lack of an air conditioner affect the train engineer receiver and rolling stock? Can the 0-4-0 pull it’s tender and a short train up a 3% grade? I am hoping the grade will be closer to 2.5%. I am still working on the siding design.
I have some wheel spin on the 0 4.0 on a 4.8 percent climb if I have two box cars and a caboos., U think you’ll have a lot less with your grade.
On the club layout we had no problems with the TEs even though it was well over 100 in the summer. On the shelf where I have mine and a 10 amp power supply I run a computer fan in the summer and have had no ptoblems either,
After summer vacation(means limited fund and searing days), the cooler weather felt nice so all ten 4"x4" post are in the ground, the “Hole in the ground(pond)” has doubled or more in size and started putting down weed fabric. I learned that is almost a must. Currently, the rain has forced a colony of ants from the ground to the building, looking foreward to finishing the “ramp lead”, will post pictures soon.
I like the name of your railroad, CL. Keep up the good work.
Steve
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/clbee/_forumfiles/10211-1.jpg)
The white mable walkway is gone, it taught me that using a weed fabric is a very good idea, also the pond’s evolution is ongoing. The current idea is to dig a drainpipe out to drain the during the winter and any time a large rainstorm is approaching the area. Currently, the pond is around 4" deep. The plan also calls for the bottom and walls to be made of concrete.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/clbee/_forumfiles/10211-2.jpg)
As noted eariler, I learned to use weed fabric. All 10 posts have been placed and decided to use bricks instead of the plastic border. Mulch will cover the black fabric, and 1"x6" boards will be placed on the 4"x4"s, track will be placed on top of that. The longest span between posts roughly 46", the rest are 31" or less. The tallest post measures 9.75" from the ground and about 8" in the ground.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/clbee/_forumfiles/IMAG3912-1-1.jpg)
Temporary rock wall to separate the mulch and ballast in the section where the track transitions from the ground to the ramp. This section is temporary as in the future the mainline will run through, but that expansion isn’t plan to take place until at the earliest the spring. The ramp lead and pond are the focus projects for now. This rock wall concept may be used permanently in other places so I am soliciting opinions, thoughts, suggestions, etc.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6059/6335346871_3c54a29daa.jpg)
Close-up of the train testing on the ramp, parts of the ramp need to be adjusted in height and steepness to keep the wheels are slipping.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/6336108280_32a68da894.jpg)
The “trains only door”, not the most glamorous entry hole ever but it does the job. Made of 1/2 treated plywood.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6226/6335350509_57f8a5c033.jpg)
The ramp is made of 4"x4" and 5/4"x6" treated boards, post #3-5 need shims to adjust the grade. The long straight is nearly level while the start of curve to the left is really steep, the 0-4-0 has a hard time with that section.
You have the right idea…run em right out of the shed
Ralph