First Steps Outdoors...

C

ceejaydee

Big Trains
As mentioned elsewhere I have not had any track down outdoors since the mid 1980's when I first bought my Mamod SL1 set.
An LGB starter set was purchased around 1994 and has been set up outside on occasion but not for many years hence the creation of the Wohnzimmer Teppich Ovalen Bahn a couple of years back.
Recent inspiration coming from perusing some of the fine layouts on GSC has led to planning and the laying out of track.
Today I finalised the ideas I have had in my head for a while and made a start...

Overview of the site; yes my garden is small.

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Those bricks need moving.
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Sorted ;)
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Track planning in full swing..
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And more planning checking train length.
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Getting serious now..
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Earth moved!
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Bricks used to check level around track foundation.
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Getting it all level now.
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Ballasting has begun and I feel like I'm getting somewhere.
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Bit of a jump to this one :)
Ballasting finished track laid temporarily and a train being run... for testing purposes you understand :D
I know that the track will settle and local tamping may be required but not really and issue on a railway of this size.

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After a little gentle tamping the works crew gave the P-Way a better inspection in their new steed.
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I'd almost run out of ballast so the siding which will end as part of the inner passing loop on the outer circuit has yet to be laid although the earth has been removed ready.
Track needs to be taken up and re-laid using clamps and grease for electrical continuity but that can wait until tomorrow or Monday, for now the 28 year absence of rails in the garden is over and I ran the VW until it got too dark and cold to be outdoors.

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Not a bad result for a few hours enjoyable work on a Saturday ;)
 
Looks good, even though you don't have 100's of metres of track. A bit of "landscaping" a few buildings and other details and you will not recognise it....
 
The bug has bitten you again. Great work. Your hooked.
 
Oaks from acorns grow. :thumbup: Good start!
 
A trouble free track plan.... no reverse curves off the back of turnouts, well done. Look forward to progress.
 
Thanks chaps for looking and for the kind words and encouragement.

I do need some more track before I can build the outer loop in it's entirety but am happy enough now that I finally have something down and that it will flow into the larger plan without major alteration.

I have some plans for landscaping and planting and I look forward to pottering about out there now with a train running for company :)

It was fantastic this morning to wake up and look out of the window and see the track in place; it is only a simple R1/R2 loop but it has been a dream for so long that I ever wondered if it would become reality..... Very happy now :D
 
Good work, keep it going Chris you will be surprised how a little bit of landscaping hiding a route for a short while (eg trees or a few rocks) can make a small layout seem like a longer one.
 
Looking good Chris....
 
Thank you guys; looking forward to running and developing this.
Interested in the ideas for a complex layout Paul?

Only about an hour of running today due to being out for most of the afternoon and frequent rain.

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I think that this loco may be a bit of an oldie - Schoma 2060.

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Bought it second hand from Glendale Junction a couple of years back but except for one broken handrail it is in fine condition.... and the wonky front buffer &:
The wagons were new from same place when on offer/old stock but I really need to fit some metal wheels as the Marklin plastic ones are not so good.

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Hopefully next weekend will be fine and I can get some more work done ;)
 
:thumbup:welll done that man!!
 
A really nice piece of design and construction. Ruritania salutes you! :thumbup:
 
Great work Chris :)
Before you know you will have track round the whole garden , I started small with a plot at the bottom of the garden 18 ' x 14' now I have a line of over 200ft :)
 
Good work Chris ,you will have all winter to plan those little details . I have a railway hidden in the garden not a garden around a railway .
Graham Shrewsbury
 
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