How to build a elevated "deck" layout

[Chris Vernell]

It’s high enough that a fall will likely cause damage. How might i know this?

Surely not personal experience?

 

[FatherMcD]

Surely not personal experience?

Of course not! He just happened to be there when it happened on someone else's railway, and, being a proper gentlemen, is not going to identify the other party.

 

[GAP]

If your raised track will have its 'feet' sitting on gravel:
Put a small slab / tile / block-paviour, under the foot to spread the load. - Else they will settle/sink, and you will be forever making adjustments.

PhilP.

Totally agree Phil from past and present experience putting adjustable feel straight onto gravel or soil will necessitate constant adjustment as they will sink.
I used large concrete paving tiles sitting on the earth that I compacted to give a firm base.

 

[walkerart]

Id consider guard rails where appropriate. Just enough to stop / catch a tumble.
While your layout will be on nice level framework, and track work should be great, things happen. Sectional curves that dont fit ‘perfectly’, slight gaps , etc.

String-lining, points, pushing a line of cars, can all lead to derailments. It’s high enough that a fall will likely cause damage. How might i know this?

Oh no did you have a high crash….. ?
Yes I’ve been thinking of guide wires to stop a fall I could use bottle screws and wires to keep it thin xxx

 

[GAP]

I'm planning a small strip of thin ply with an embankment on the track side on mine.

 

[stevedenver]

Yes. During a lengthy remodel years back, my garden rr wasn’t running. So, i made a temporary, tiny 5x9 frr (R1) in the basement.

Occasionally, id run a stainz or forney. Long story shortened, cars can derail. If rail is close to the edge, they can topple off. All it takes, among many things, imho, is a slight rail gap. Had this happen to a forney. 3 ft down to concrete! Broke the outside frame rod cranks, nothing else, ….not much, really, but a real bummer.


Luckily for me, this was at a time that lgb parts were cheap and readily available from lgb.imho, not so simple, nor affordable anymore. Thus, my unsolicited, but well meaning, suggestion. I hate broken toys.lol

I do like the idea of wires. Ive seen these on other layouts, possibly in old LGB catalogs. They are less obtrusive and seem effective, so long as they are high and stout enough. Not giving it much thought, but a good quality elastic might be good too. Gentler regarding abrasions, possibly. Perhaps appropriate eye hook screws/?

 

[lgbmad]

In Australia some of our white ant (Termites) hills can be well over 6 foot high

View attachment 343191

Jeepers......I will never compalin about red ants in the garden ever again

 

[POLO_Train]

Well after completing two other projects that I needed to get done, I was finally able to start building the layout inside storage yard.

I did a quick design:















The trains will exit through the house where the wider insulation between the boards. I hope it will fit through! haha.

It turns out there is not a comfortable amount of clearance for the large passenger cars on the back curve section.
Also, I am going to add some 1.5" spacers between the wall and decking so that they don't get too close the concrete wall.



So I will try to update the track soon and finish adding the two remaining triangle support pieces, but after I have to clean up the mess in the other room so that the wife is happy.