Hello from South Central Pennsylvania

[Ellworth O]

Greetings from South Central Pennsylvania, USA, near Harrisburg. We've had a 14'X16' ground level G-scale loop layout and are looking to elevate the entire layout to a height of approximately 32" to make running and maintenance easier. We retired seniors are finding ground level maintenance more challenging than we wish. Any suggestions?

 

[Gizzy]

Welcome to the forum Sir.

Please be aware that we are mostly Brits with an odd sense of humour....

 

[railaddict]

Welcome to the Forum. I came to the same conclusion, but it is a bit too late to start all over again.

However I am sure you will find an answer to your question.

 

[Ellworth O]

Welcome to the forum Sir.

Please be aware that we are mostly Brits with an odd sense of humour....

Thank you and I'm really not too concerned as my wife lived in the UK for four years and established close relations with a couple of families, who are now very good friends of mine. Looking forward to learning and perhaps even sharing ideas as time goes on. Again, great to make your acquaintance.

 

[maxi-model]

Welcome to the forum. I'm another finding it harder to maintain my line due to age and encroaching decrepitude. There are a number of solutions, it just depends on how much money you want to throw at it and who is going to do the work. The simplest solution is setting posts in the ground then laying boards on top to provide the path for the layout, then add basic weatherproofing. Materials used will depend of your preferences and local climate, both wood and recycled composites are are available to do this. Then you could go the whole hog with some clever landscaping and planting to disguise your work or even raise the garden's levels where needed. I know one member, of my local garden railway society goup, who has used decorative brick "planters" to carry the trackbed at the front face of his large garden layout.

Me, I have a compromise. I took out the slope that existed in my 12' x 24' garden and lowered the paths at the front face. At least I have a "staging area" at a reasonable working height. It's just the rest at the back of the garden that is still a bit of a faff. Simplifying a layout can make a big difference, that's my next step, loose a loop.

Hopefully this will give an idea of what I got up to. Some before the track was laid.

 

[dunnyrail]

Welcome to the forum, take heed of Gizzie’s warning about the humour, very different each side of the pond.

 

[Paul M]

Welcome to the forum. The easiest way is as Maxi-model says, wooden posts and boards. Many, many people have very successfully used this method, and its not too difficult to change your plans. Hard landscaping using bricks etc, look fantastic, but changing anything can be difficult. Composite boards are know to expand in heat, but as long as you don't fix the track too solidly it should be OK.

 

[Madman]

Welcome aboard Ellsworth. I am in Southeast Pennsylvania, just to the Northwest Of Philly. I know the feeling of working on a ground level layout, especially at my age. Good luck with your project of raising your layout to a manageable level. We are a group of Know-It-Alls, but don't take any of us too seriously.....

 

[Chris Vernell]

We are a group of Know-It-Alls,

When I was a child, I knew everything. Approaching my second childhood, I know nothing. My wife will confirm this.
However:

Roughly 24 inches above ground at the north end. As you see, I am using PT lumber trestles. Others have built raised garden beds to maintain the appearance of track in the ground while easing the strain on their backs and knees.


But the ground rises sharply and the south end is in a cut(ting) at the top of the slope, just to the right of this shot.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Yeah, I'm not too into raised lines - probably just worth getting some work trousers with inserts for knee pads

As for getting up afterwards, .................. phwoar, it's getting tougher, but I'll keep my ground level line I think.

 

[Chris Vernell]

Yeah, I'm not too into raised lines - probably just worth getting some work trousers with inserts for knee pads

As for getting up afterwards, .................. phwoar, it's getting tougher, but I'll keep my ground level line I think.

Mrs Rhino has been looking in garage equipment listings for a light crane.
Or a couple of likely lads from the local rugger team.
Laugh not: I just stumbled and fell flat backwards while mowing the backyard. Fortunately, my bum landed first and while the back of my head touched a flat rock, the contact was so light I barely noticed it.
GS3 is here and could have helped me up if I needed the help, but SW could never do it, nor can I lift her.
Oh well, most of the jungle has been reduced to savanna. It has been a lovely day; what summer should be like if I had my druthers.

 

[Northsider]

Hi Ellworth, and welcome to the Forum! I am still young and spry enough to enjoy a ground-level line, but am fortunate in that my garden has a three-foot drop in it which a previous owner had landscaped from a slope to a step. So the roundy-roundy bit of line is on the ground, but the terminus station (which also gets used as a steam-up area) is around waist height. The ground level section runs on a mix of poured concrete sections, breeze blocks (@Madman may be able to translate these into US English; Celcon?) and timber. The raised section is all pressure-treated timber.