Dan Griffin Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 with the completion of anothe raised flowerbed, using sleepers to raise the beds. the first lengths of track have been layed. and tested. the first train, austerity saddle tank, brakvan and a 117 centre car. the signal is a dublo one, that will stay outdoors all the time. 40106 testing the new rails. the end of the line, for now. D 7672 stands at the buffers awaiting more track!! track is code 100 so that i can run anything outside. including some of my 'stored' older lima and Hornby stuff that isnt chipped. power is dc ill leave dcc for indoors. more pics as and when i get time for the build, have the track but havnt the time!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 more info as promised. the loop is complete and trains have been running. now this is a lesson for all those who want a 'garden railway' but think that they cannot afford it. i built mine for around £60. broken down below. the whole purpose of me building this was, a, i wanted a layout outside, b, prove it could be done with ease, and c prove it could be done 'on the cheap'. the layout is deliberatly train set like, with tight (ish) curves, but they will accomodate a Bachmann class 40 and a railroad 9f. the costs were thus, track:- 15 lengths peco code 100, around £40 if bought from toy fairs/ second hand. £40 wood:- weather proof quarter inch exterior ply, a 4 foot by 2 foot sheet. £6 peco track pins/ rail joiners £4 weather proof wood for the 'legs' £5 one tin of cuprinol wood stain, 100ml tin from B&Q £3 wire £2.50 total:- £56.50 A:- Gravel on raised bed hides sides of plywood trackbase. B:- Weather proof wood used for legs that are sunk into the ground for supporting track base ply. C:- Plywood trackbase stained with cuprinol dark oak woodstain, weather proof and leveled out. D:- soil that is in the raised bed, the legs help keep the track bed level. unorthodox, yes and may have people screeming into thier screens, but IT WORKS, and has given me somthing that would have otherwise been out of reach. may not be as permanent as some outdoor projects, but if we ever move then i can take it up and rehome it. all railjoins are connected with peco rail joiners, with wire soldered across the joints, to help with electric conduct. power is supplied by an old Hornby analouge controller i had in the attic, using the tried and tested Hornby power clip, and the controller is taken indoors when the train set is not in use. so it is a two wire outdoors train set to be played with. LNER k3 takes a train around the garden, the honour of the first train fell to a br balck pannier tank and 3 marron mk1's. D7672 works the first diesel train around the garden. the gravel makes it look like snow, so the snow plough s are fitting! the entire train set, 17ft by 3 and a half, may not be everyones cup of tea, but i like it. well it works, and its does for me. more pics of other trains running, i can now break out all my 'lofted' steam locos, and early Hornby/lima stuff thats not dcc fitted. they havnt ran for 5 or more years, so they'll be able to stretch thier legs outside. i hope you like it, any comments please feel free to add. ill be interested to hear your feedback. bye for now, dan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a98087 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Very impressive, the trains look so much better in natural light. It also shows garden railways dont have to be huge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Neat timing for a summer time thread........ this looks great. You cannot beat the outdoors. It's where trains should be. As a side issue, i never realised how good the Bachmann K3 looks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted August 27, 2011 Author Share Posted August 27, 2011 the garden has grown a bit in the last couple of months, the plants having to be cut back from the lineside. anyway a few pics of my M7 enjoyng the sunshine with a local service. that box really needs leveling!! ill try and get some different things running, including my Bachmann james, that i bought for my son. looks good in the garden. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Hilton Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Looks great - good to see 4mm in the garden - shame it's not really possible (or sensible) to ballast! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 having not ran a great deal outdoors due to weather, yesterday the rails were cleaned in readiness for snowfall!! foolish maybe, but today i have a 20, 25, 31 and a 37 ploughing with thier miniture snow ploughs out doors in -1!! most of the snow was cleaned off with a small spade but i left just enough for the trains to plough. the locos worked fine, the 31 getting stuck i a drift once or twice, as it was the first one arounf the loop. pics below, some may think im crazy, but its all good fun! the 31 after the first loop in the snow, made it (just) all the way around! 20217 ploughing in the other direction, this has fast become my fave pic! D7672 comes to a drift ( the snow has fallen from a tree). 20217 still ploughing, this loco didnt stall once whilst running and gathering the snow. brand new,(as in yesterday!) 37428 had its very first run around the garden ploughing, having caught some snow that fell from the tree in front of it! all in all great, but cold, fun for february! cheers, dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debs. Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Judging by the top of the telegraph pole cross-bar: ground level must`ve been massively raised in your garden. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Hilton Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 That's very brave! The big LGB stuff is sealed (from water) for use in snow and rain - but I suspect a slow drying out on a towel in the airing cupboard will be fine for these models Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted July 13, 2012 Author Share Posted July 13, 2012 you can now see a clip of my garden railway in action on the following link...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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