Greetings from High Point, North Carolina, US

DriveDog_

DriveDog_

Registered
David here, retired from healthcare analytics (most recently). Have been thinking about what I want to build for years, now ready to begin. Will be dead rail, web server within the loco, interaction over wifi. I've been looking for inexpensive ways to make or acquire track, maybe 150 feet (~46m). Hope to build a recharging area in the shed. Engineers and passengers will need to take care to avoid the enormous Poodle monsters.

Have a great weekend, all.
 
Hi David, and welcome to the Forum! Cheap(er) rail has inspired several attempts over the years, many using rectangular section metal held in tight rebates/rabbets/grooves cut into hardwood sleepers. There is also 'kit' form track where you buy separate rail, chairs and sleepers, and then assemble it yourself. Secondhand rail is cheaper, but holds its price remarkably well; sometimes you can get a bargain, sometimes not...
If you are opting for dead rail, the metal used will be less important; but I would recommend getting it all the same 'code' (height of the rail measured in thousandths of an inch): LGB rail is Code 332.
 
Welcome to the forum David DriveDog_ DriveDog_ . Dead rail is a good plan, but you may be disappointed with the range of a WiFi option. There are better systems available Stateside that will give you decent range. You also talk about recharge area in the Shed, do you mean via the track? If so you will need to find a way to make the wheels ‘dead’ when away from that charging track as your battery will be feeding into the track at all times with potential shorts if you hand make track with no insulation or even have reverse loops or a wye.

As for track, shame you are not in UK, I am currently dismantling a garden railway for a friend that has gone into care, lots of cheep LGB track will be available!
 
Welcome to the forum David.

Look around for 2nd hand track from LGB, Aristocraft and USA Trains as it can be quite cheap and will last for eons.

I have track from LGB that is easily 30+ years old....
 
Hi David and welcome. I don't have any poodle monsters. But I have had (and still have) one or two cat supervisors. Cats can't tell the difference between track ballast and kitty litter by the way. Max

The ever obstreperous Ezzie. Services delayed, wrong sort of cat on the line.

Cat sat on the track 003.jpg
 
Welcome to the forum, David. Check out G Scale Graphics for your dead rail control system.

www.gscalegraphics.net

G-Scale Graphics

Custom Vinyl Lettering and Electronics for Garden Railroading
www.gscalegraphics.net
 
Greetings from tiddly-tiny land, you sound like a man with a plan which is a good thing to have right from the outset. It's just that we need photos, no photographic evidence and it never happened. :giggle:
 
dunnyrail said:
Dead rail is a good plan, but you may be disappointed with the range of a WiFi option.
Click to expand...
WiFi repeaters are surprisingly cheap these days - more powerful too.
 
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