Track for first layout

C

Cyclone

Registered
Hi,

Im very new to garden railways, but this summer Im going to build my first layout. Im not even sure of the correct terminology yet.

Anyway, I have a little playmobil RC 0-4-0 loco (the battery powered "steam" one) which I believe is 45mm gauge.
I want some initial advice/recommendation on which track to use, I believe there are two rail sizes and several manufactures. Unfortunately I dont have a nearby model shop so cant go and look at them.
If my work is successful I intend to expand my rolling stock with more realistic locos etc and maybe even live steam one day.
Budget isnt limited and the initial layout will be only about 10-15m to start with, a simple run with passing loops at each end and/or a loop.

So some basic recommendations on which track size, which manufactures and whether to use flexi or preformed.


Cheers for any help.
 
- Don't buy R1 curves and switches, you'll regret it in the future.

- LGB and PIKO make good track, PIKO is a bit cheaper

- Track Radius is confusing:
LGB R3 = PIKO R5
LGB R1 and R2 are parallel tracks, R2 and R3 are not!
LGB has R1, R2, R3 and R5, R4 doesn't exist.

- PIKO track geometry is great, compared to the mess LGB made of it....

- Flex track is good, but it's very hard to adjust it to the right angle/curve
 
As well as PIKO and LGB as refered to by DB in the previous post, you could consider Aristgraft and USA Trains track. As this is all of the 'code 332' size, you can easily mix and match.

PECO make their track as code 250 for G, or code 200, for G1. It has a lower rail profile, so looks more realistic to some, but it isn't as 'bomb proof' as the code 332 track which will take a lot of punishment in the garden enviroment. However, it is good track, but needs to be fixed to blocks or boards.

My advice would be to find out who on this forum is in your area, and arrange a visit to them, as there are many more answers to your question, and at the end of the day, it will be down to your pocket, as much as your preference....
 
Deutsche Reichsbahn said:
- Don't buy R1 curves and switches, you'll regret it in the future.
Click to expand...
Bit of a sweeping statement? I HAD to use radius 1 curves and points when I started, it was the only way I could fit a G scale railway into the space I had available. If you are only going to run small locos and stock (max 6 wheel locos, mostly 4 wheel stock) as I do, it's not a problem.

Having said that, you should go for the largest radius curves and points that will fit in the space you have available, especially if you plan to use larger locos and stock in the future and particularly if you are thinking of going down the live steam road. Biggest problem will be cost - track tends to be the most expensive aspect of our hobby and the larger radius stuff is generally more expensive than small radius.
 
Gizzy said:
My advice would be to find out who on this forum is in your area, and arrange a visit to them, as there are many more answers to your question, and at the end of the day, it will be down to your pocket, as much as your preference....
Click to expand...
Excellent advice from Gizzy. So much easier to discuss this face to face than via the forum. There's almost certain to be an existing railway near you.

Oh and welcome to the forum BTW :bigsmile:.
 
As others have said, welcome to the forum and to a totally absorbing (and wallet-draining!) hobby...... ;)

The simplest advice on track I could give is: you need 45mm gauge, and code 332 rail.
Oh, and go for brass track - there is some steel track around that is really only suitable for indoor use.

As Gizzy said, there are makes with lower rail profile (Peco, Tenmille etc) but if you stick to 332 then you can happily mix and match track brands without any real problems. If you can get to any of the major Garden railway shops then they often have bundles of second-hand track at some saving (you'll never get CHEAP track unless it's really knackered, but you can save a few quid and still get decent stuff - even rails that look heavily weathered will clean up well). If you're having to buy by mailorder, then give Jeremy at Dragon G-Scale a look - he gives 5% discount to all members of this forum!

Best,

Jon.
 
Cyclone said:
Hi,

Im very new to garden railways, but this summer Im going to build my first layout. Im not even sure of the correct terminology yet.

Anyway, I have a little playmobil RC 0-4-0 loco (the battery powered "steam" one) which I believe is 45mm gauge.
I want some initial advice/recommendation on which track to use, I believe there are two rail sizes and several manufactures. Unfortunately I dont have a nearby model shop so cant go and look at them.
If my work is successful I intend to expand my rolling stock with more realistic locos etc and maybe even live steam one day.
Budget isnt limited and the initial layout will be only about 10-15m to start with, a simple run with passing loops at each end and/or a loop.

So some basic recommendations on which track size, which manufactures and whether to use flexi or preformed.


Cheers for any help.
Click to expand...
Can i just add most of what you see on here is "G" gauge 45mm wide track, The scale of your railway can alter depending on what you what to run on it,
Some of us run Aristocraft or Marklin 1 which on 45mm track is approx real scale mainline ish,
Some run LGB most of which (not all) is narrow gauge european measured with an elastic ruler, ( this includes your playmobile)
some run Bachmann Big hauler which is LGB size but american stlye
And some run Bachmann Spectrum or some of the British makers which is as near to UK narrow gauge as you can get on 45mm track
You can of course run a mixture of all of the above (which lots of us do) and is known as Rule 8 which means "its my railway if you dont like it............"

All of the above is a rough guide and there are overlaps between makers if your looking for perfect reproduction scale your in the wrong place if you want to play trains welcome aboard
As Gizzy says all G gauge 45mm 332 profile track is compatable LGB, Bachmann, Aristo craft, PIKO, GRS, etc etc.
Now you have to decide, big rad sweeping bends and long straights for a mainline look or wiggly rad 1 bends for a Narrow gauge feel
Tony
 
Let me also issue a welcome to you Cyclone and add my 2p worth. Nobody has yet asked how much room you have (or may have) and what you intend to run. If you only have limited space available, then R1 curves/ points of 600mm radius are perfectly respectable, particularly for running small locos and 300mm long wagons (LGB standard length). If you think you'll have a paddock and intend running long trains with long coaches, then you probably should start with larger radius curves. As an aside, I run long trains and coaches but use R1 curves at the extremities of the line. It all works just fine.

As to types of track and height, if you intend running Playmobil and or its larger "G" scale cousins, brass track in 45mm gauge to the standard code 332 height (rail is 332 thousands of an inch high) is realistically the only way to go. There are numerous suppliers - check out http://www.dragon-gscale.co.uk/ for various ranges. You can get second hand track at reasonable prices compared to new, but postage tends to be an issue, bearing in mind that track is darned heavy.

The advice to visit other peoples' layouts is the best you can have. Seeing is understanding! If you are anywhere within spitting distance of Malvern, you're very welcome to have a look at mine.

Good luck! :thumbup:
 
Cyclone said:
Wow, speedy replies.

Thanks very much, just the info I needed. Now to have a search round for some.
Thanks again
Click to expand...

Cyclone - Welcome to the forum :)

Where in the country - or even which country are you in?

I have a "fair" amount of 2nd hand LGB track available - If you can get to the outskirts of Preston (Lancashire) - You could pop in, do a deal and save on postage - Track is HEAVY

Again - Welcome

Cheers

Ian S
 
Cheers.
Im just North of Birmingham.
I have a basic "L" shape planned, about 7m each side, with possible to loops either end. Im limited for space at the ends as Im running through raised borders.
Im gonna just lay track and see what happens. I know I should plan it properly but I find if I plan a large ornate layout, I only get half way and then get fed up.
There is also something about building a narrow gauge railway in sections that makes it feel more real, I grew up with the preserved railways always being incomplete.

Its been an ambition of mine to have an outdoor layout since a boy, so its about time i did it.
 
Cyclone said:
Cheers.
Im just North of Birmingham.
I have a basic "L" shape planned, about 7m each side, with possible to loops either end. Im limited for space at the ends as Im running through raised borders.
Im gonna just lay track and see what happens. I know I should plan it properly but I find if I plan a large ornate layout, I only get half way and then get fed up.
There is also something about building a narrow gauge railway in sections that makes it feel more real, I grew up with the preserved railways always being incomplete.

Its been an ambition of mine to have an outdoor layout since a boy, so its about time i did it.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a pretty good philosophy to me. There are loads of G scale railways within an hours drive from you ;).
 
Stick around here for a few days - you'll pick up a lot of imformation on everything - not just railways. Some of it may be rubbish but you will soon realise what. In a short time you will have gained a lot of knowledge.
As said above - visit someone. Talk to Ian_S (use the PM s) he has loads of second hand track and cant be trusted.:rolf: See, I told you some information was rubbish.
 
Welcome Cyclone. I think as others have said the best investment you can make is to visit some railways, even if it means a little bit of travel. A picture may speak a thousand works, a visit speaks a million. :)
(I'm probably just a bit to far away to visit though:thinking:!)
 
Cyclone said:
Cheers.
Im just North of Birmingham.
I have a basic "L" shape planned, about 7m each side, with possible to loops either end. Im limited for space at the ends as Im running through raised borders.
Im gonna just lay track and see what happens. I know I should plan it properly but I find if I plan a large ornate layout, I only get half way and then get fed up.
There is also something about building a narrow gauge railway in sections that makes it feel more real, I grew up with the preserved railways always being incomplete.

Its been an ambition of mine to have an outdoor layout since a boy, so its about time i did it.
Click to expand...

I know you've said that you have an R/C battery loco at the moment - are you planning to always stick with battery power (which is not a bad idea, of course - it removes most of the track cleaning chores), or are you ever going to go for track-powered stuff as well? The reason I ask is that if you're planning to lay a line with reverse loops at the ends, then you'll need to give some thought as to how to wire these up should you ever want to electrify the track. Of course if you're always going to have "dead" track and run exclusively battery locos then the problem does not arise.

Jon.
 
Welcome Cyclone ,

As Mel says there are a fair few of us around the Midland and transportation of track can often me done through members who travel around the country.
I am to the east of Birmingham :thumbup:
43229bc8cede4697abd15b2b46062fda.jpg
 
Steve said:
Welcome Cyclone ,

As Mel says there are a fair few of us around the Midland and transportation of track can often me done through members who travel around the country.
I am to the east of Birmingham :thumbup:
images
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...................................... and far from sanity?
 
You say the sweetest things Fred :kiss:
 
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