lush green grass and sunshine

Sounds like a lot of fun Rick

Any photos?

It, was great time. You wouldn't believe how good O gauge equipment looks outside... in the real world.

It's amazing how an open air environment lessens maximum volume. I usually have my volume levels set really low, but yesterday... up they came. I would have loved to run multiple units but, I wasn't sure if my Z 1000 could power that size of layout with multiple units? I will have to try it, though.

It was a nice initial experiment... testing outdoor operations.

There was a lot of work that went into making that possible, though.

I didn't get any pictures or videos. I was too caught up with enjoying operating my trains. It just looked so... "right".

I tried out numerous locomotives, and tried to save the darkest colors for later in the afternoon.

I have a good sized yard, with lots of room. If I wanted to operate outdoors, I would definitely have to get alot more track etc.

Rick

Great story Rick. You experienced the most fundamental use for toy trains and enjoyed every minute of it. They say you're never too old to have a happy childhood!

TJ

Thanks, TJ.

Your mind gets to thinking about taking things a bit further... and I'm thinking that, making a good sized mound of dirt that's at least 5' long, piled to an aesthetically pleasing height... that would look great with a proper tunnel cut into it.

I'd like to see a nice multiple unit train attack something like that. Maybe, with my tunnel motor leading the charge.

Rick

Killian,

In this case... we'll have to call it grass/or lawn railroading, unless you're British. Then we could call it garden railroading. Now, all my track is in boxes and some is stacked on my indoor layout platform.

I had to take down my indoor layout, so I could use the track outside. The weathers been great here the last couple of days... perfect for outdoors action.

I was thinking... if you made a decent sized outdoor tunnel, then you'd have to block the entrances/exits... when it was not in use. All sorts of land dwelling, backyard, varmints would be casing the tunnel, thinking it would make a nice new home.

If I'm going outdoors, with the trains, I've got to find a more enjoyable means of setting up.

I've been spoiled now, nothing inside would be as good.

Rick

Great that you had a good time and good weather, Rick!

I'll stick with Large Scale for outdoor running though.  Even that takes a good bit of work, but at least the trains are designed for that use.  Over time, that does make a difference.

I know it's not the same...

but I was running trains on the glancy Modular layout for Greenfield Village's "Day Out With Thomas" today.  The Layout is set up in a building that is right across the street from the roundhouse which is also where they had the 1873 Mason bogie "Torch Lake" hooked up to the 1914 steam crane.  Of course we had all the large doors open and just feeling the breeze and hearing the real trains whistling at each other was great

Allan,

I totally get the"difference". That's why I never tried it before, but I'm glad I did.

To me, my trains, especially, my motive power, need wide open spaces to really look/and perform their best.

You're right Killian.

Rick

Sounds like you had a good time too, Jake.

Rick

Hi Rick, it sounds like you had alot of fun in the outdoors with your trains.  I took it that the 3.0 system ran a little better then 2.0. How did the 2.0 units run after they seretched their legs a little?

Hi Mario,

The first few 2.0 units experienced some "light speed moments" during their trek on the outdoor range. Then they'd settle back down.

The"3.0" SD50 was smooth the whole time. At first, I thought the new system was superior, in that setting, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Many of my "2.0" units did very well, on the outdoor layout.

It might have been that the track needed some time to settle on the grass? The track seemed to mold to the topography, after a while. It was actually a little tilted in some places... giving the train a slight lean.

Both 2.0 and 3.0 did their job. Some where just being a little temperamental. You wouldn't want any tantrums in a multiple unit situation though, especially, when light speed is involved.

Rick

Although not out side in the grass, I set up tables outside on the back porch to run trains.

http://youtu.be/PFK7TI2Wlnw

Nice setting, Flash. Now you just need to build a ramp, down to ground level.

One of the things that really impressed me about seeing my trains running in the grass was... the perspective. Seeing my locomotives operating from an overhead view really looked good. It actually improved the look of the hi-rail models...i.e., the gaps in the truck and pilot area, were less noticeable. Besides that, I just liked the aerial view... it showcased the engines better.

I'm surprised none of the O gauge manufacturers have developed an outdoors product line. Some people just prefer O scale dimensions, over G scale. I do!

Rick

Speaking of "lush green grass": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SBHtpm70Qw

"Claude Greengrass nick's the train"

Bill Maynard's character... Claude Greengrass... on the long-running British series, Heartbeat. Greengrass... is the white whiskered lad.

BTW, I actually like the show... Heartbeat.

Rick