Garden Railroad

[Harlan Chinn]

Anyone install a garden railroad in your backyard? I'm planning on putting in something this spring.

[dd74]

My wife and I are big model railroad fans. Her real obsession is Dept. 56 stuff - you should see our house during Christmas.

Anyway, we've toyed with the idea of a garden railroad. What I've found is the good stuff is REALLY expensive. I've seen engines going for $4,000. Don't get and use brass engines or cars for an outside railroad (obviously), and avoid any sort of incline, as it will give the engines a very short lifespan.

There are starter kits out there - basically circles and ovals - but evidentally the transformers that come in these kits are quite strong and are able to pull the engine 50 or so yard-long layout.

Be sure and post what you come up with. It's definitely a cool idea for one's yard.

[Harlan Chinn]

Here is a picture of my new locomotive it's called the Ruby. You can get them fairly reasonably. They run on butane and distilled water, old technology which makes it fun and you don't need to wire your tracks outside.

[VaSteve]

Wow it looks like we have two interests in common. I have not the land for such fun, but one day I was going to put up some HO in the basement for the cold months. My cousin has a tight set up, I think he pays something like $300-$400 for an engine. He's got two tracks running around a 15 X 25' space in his yard, with a remote control apparatus...it's really quite cool. I'm sure if you haven't found out already, there is a ton of information out there.

[VINMAN]

I started on one, layed out some track. Man, does that stuff add up!! $$$$ I have about 5 cars and a cheap Loco. Never got anywhere with it, Decided to sell my house. But when i move i want to put a layout in the yard.

[Harlan Chinn]

Steve, Yes, there is tons of information out there but there are no shops that stock the steam stuff anyways. Much of it is bought mail order and comes in kit form. There are companies like LGB, Bachmann, USA Trains, and Aristocraft that put out fine plastic models that are electrically powered. Yes, you can spend a small fortune in the garden. But then there is a fortune spent out in the driveway. My locomotive was photographed at a friends place with lots of track. Hence, doing a small loop at home, heck why when there are guys out there that already spent the thousands putting track on their acre+ properties.

[dd74]

Harlan - how large is your friend's layout?

[VaSteve]

I know another guy that has one running in front of his townhouse. Where it crosses the sidewalk from the yard, it's jacked up like 3 inches. Total trip hazard. I don't know how he can stand it! But cool nonetheless.

[Harlan Chinn]

The layout starts under a covered shed with two parallel loops, must be 20' in diameter. Within these two loops is a yard for people to raise the steam on their locomotives and to assemble their train (cars). Once the train is under way, they can either circle under cover of the roof or go out onto the mainline that goes about forty feet out then takes a left turn and goes about 75 feet to a mountainous area where it loops around and comes back and down to the loop again. There are good size wooden trestles that elevate most of the track as well as another loop around a town scaped area with water feature. Large but not huge.
I can't find the other photographs but you can just make out some of the trestle work in the background of my photographs

[dd74]

This sounds very interesting. Is there any way you can get some wider landscape shots?

[Harlan Chinn]

I'll get some updated shots next time I'm out at the layout.

[oldE]

There's a fellow about 15 miles from my home who so liked the people-moving train at our local amusement park that he had one made. It was built in Nova Scotia by a metal fabricator. It looks like a late 1800s unit, painted dark green and has (if I'm not mistaken) a small diesel powering a hydrostatic drive. The engine and tender would get up to 12 or 14 feet. I think his track is about 20 inches between centers. He is still in the process of laying track (in the summer) and has about 600 feet down so far. Ya gotta love it, but I'll stick with my HO layout in the garage.
Les

[Harlan Chinn]

Ok, Here are some pictures of the layout at Ted's place.
The covered shed with loop track
The steam-up area
Close up of the station and town
Close up of the coal tower
A trestle scene in the country
Waterfall into a koi pond

[VaSteve]

That's pretty hard core. What kinda $ does he have tied up in all that?

[Harlan Chinn]

Don't really know how much but a good guess would be a few thousand in track, plants and structures. A lot of time... But then he doesn't keep a 911... I'm not doing anything of this magnitude. That is why you hang with the guys that have these elaborate yard layouts.

[dd74]

This is very nice. It'd be cool to see a layout that could go into the house as well. An indoor/outdoor layout. Thanks, Harlan

[VINMAN]

Thats an awsome trestle. I can imagine the hours that went into that.