New garden layout

That body of water to the right of the paddling pool, for reference purposes, I'll call it lake Rick, is that what you will be bridging? Nothing says railroading quite like a great span over the water.

Actually, there are a lot of things that "says railroading...", but it was a handy phrase to use, at the time.

I was wondering if those small stone chips and all(stone dust), when the weathers warmer and things dry out..., would that foul the O gauge equipments gears etc.? G gauge equipment manufacturers probably take that into consideration, when they build their models; but, probably not the O gauge firms.

Say hi to your next door downhill neighbors, Ian and Margret, for me. Tell them... Rick from Canada says hi.

Cheers lad,

Rick

Hi Guys,

          Rick, no I'm no bridgin "Lake Rick" (anyway in Scotland it would be Loch Rick! ha ha ). See the left corner among those tree at the back of the paddling pool ?. well theres water runs down a small waterfall and very short stream and tumbles into "Loch Rick". I'll be bridgin that wee stream. As for the ballasting,aye I will need to be carefull but I will make sure to vacuum the whole shebang to make sure that any stones that haven't taken to the cement are removed. Should be OK. Glad you are enjoying the thread Christopher. Oh well, weather's to be OK for the next few days apparently so hopefully we'll get some good progress tomorrow . Cheers  DAVY

If that's Scotland's way... Loch Rick it shall be. Loch Rick... it kind of has a ring to it.

Re: the fine dust, maybe some kind of a clear spray sealant, would keep things tight and dust free.

Rick

Good morning Davy,

I'm heading off to bed in a minute, but I thought I'd mention this -

Even if you vacuum well... there will probably still be some fine dust lying around your track area. The elements will see to that. Ongoing erosion of the surface layer is a given, and that will release the fine particles.

I'm thinking a dry lubricant would work best, for those kinds of conditions. Something that doesn't catch and hold the dust/dirt, like wet lubricants do.

BTW, I'm guessing you have yourself a fine kilt, with all the trimmings... sporn and all?

Rick

Hi Guys, oh well heres the latest. The paddling pond surround is approaching completion. I've also attached a couple of photos of the G scale bridges and track over the stream both of which will be getting lifted and removed right after I post this. The O scale replacement bridge will be a double track single span methinks and will be slighlty higher I'd reckon. 

 As for dust and stuff Rick,I don't enviseage a huge problem. But well see. Scotland has a generally damp climate so dust isn't often an issue. As for a kilt ,I have 3 and everything that goes with them. I'm often asked by women if theres anything worn under my kilt ,I always respond " No madam, nothing worn under my kilt, its all working fine would you like to try it !"  ha ha.Incidentally the new right-of-way for the O scale trains will go right thru where that plastic bag of gravel is sitting left of the paddling pool in the last picture here.  Anyway guys,away to get on with things as its a good forecast today and wet tomorrow .So I better go and make hay ! Cheers  DAVY   

The O gauge locomotives I have, have their idlers gears exposed. Similar to real trains, when O gauge equipment passes over track, small fine particles of stuff gets airborne. The rail equipments body-mass disturbs the still air, as it passes over the track, and that swirling vortex of air can pick up small lose particles/debris... in it's path. 

Are ya paying attention, lad? Are ya getting this...

A tech from one of the manufactures actually suggested that, I shouldn't use anything that could trap contaminants in the idler gears; because trapped contaminants can cause impaired operation... including binding and ultimately, the truck(s) can seize up.

I actually had to replace a seized up truck, once. I tried everything I could think of..., but I just couldn't get the wheels to budge.... and turn again.

BTW, hair, especially longer hair, can really foul up a truck... if it gets caught up and  wound in tight.

 Re Kilts:

A while back, I did some research on the famous Scottish rigs(kilts); and the good ones... are quite dear(expensive). There's also a wee bit of protocol that goes along with it...

I wouldn't mind sporting a big bad beard and a kilt one day, me son. I might have to resort to borrowing one of me mom's old plaid frocks though, if the official route becomes too challenging and expensive.

An idea:

When you finally complete this great new O gauge layout of yours... don one of you favorite kilts, strap on the bagpipes and have a proper opening ceremony. You might want to make a video of the occasion and post it here, as well.

Your a good lad, Davy.

Cheers to ya,

Rick

Better yet. Submit this article to garden railways magazine, they are part of the Kalmbach company, if it gets published they you pay for it.

Hi Guys,well another day's work . Had a mini disaster this morning, laid a good few stones and pointed them then disturbed the whole thing by accident and had to start again !,oh well never mind,just had to do it again. Well guys as you can see the bulk of the paddling pool stonework is complete, most of the rear and sides now planted with the small trees and rockery plants.The double track right of way will be to the left though not as far down in that hollow because the track bed will be up a good bit higher. Next job is to bring in a load of crushed rock and make a new patio and edge the right of way etc., but not tomorrow because the wetaher's to break and I have other things to do. Post a video ?., aye well Rick maybe I will. ha ha ! As for the track dust ,I'll be carefull.  As for posting with Kalmbach George, its an idea ??.

Anyway guys here's the days work.  Catch you in a couple fo days.  Cheers  DAVY 

Davy really like what your doing there in the garden. This is off topic but I noticed from a previous post that you play the accordion. I also play "Scottish" accordion and have a question for you concerning the music. If you have the time and feel inclined please email. 

 jwsj@bellsouth.net. Thanks John

Hi John,

          Glad you like the garden efforts.I will email you about the accordion. Cheers Davy

I have only one bridge on my outdoor line to rebuild and I have been holding off using this thread as an excuse, but more accurately to reassess the "engineering" behind it, or more accurately again, what the roadbed consists of. Thanks for taking the time to walk us through the paces, which is an invaluable guide to what seems to be a more than viable alternative to a floating track bed. My concern is that in my experience, using LGB rail makes for a pretty bullet proof system in terms of the thickness of the rail resisting being bent by an intentional or unintentional footfall on it. Does Peco have this sort of integral strength?..It"appears" to be less robust..in regard to this. I know that your roadbed makes up for any deflection from above ( I would think)..any thoughts, observations toward these concerns? Could Peco be used in a floating roadbed in terms of it's strength?

Aye lad,

I'm enjoying meself yakking with ya, here. It's almost seems like were pirates... with our phrasing of our words, and all.

A decent subject(your layout) + some fun...

I'm thinking you should have been some sort of a mason or rock worker... you seem to fit it, nicely. You're a machine with the rock and cement.

BTW, is there much of a difference with the Midlothian accent... from yours?

Me best,

Rick

Hi Guys, Electroliner (Bruce?) ...as for the Peco track.Are you refering to G scale 45mm?. Peco do G45 track and the ties (sleepers in UK speak) are very strong. But they are really meant to represent Narrow gauge track and the tie-spacing is wide for standard gauge trains of 1/29th or 1/32nd scale. Ideal though for Bachmann Big Haulers etc.,etc., 1/24th scale and suchlike. Though I used it for my 1/29th. I honestly wouldn't touch LGB or Aristoctraft trackwork with a bargepole,especially brass. Peco is way the better product in my opinion. I hate LGB and Aristocraft switches (points as we call them) Peco is way better in that department that I can assure you from experience. They also now do Gauge 1 track which is also 45mm but meant for 1/32nd standard gauge trains.They didn't do when I got into G scale so I used the G45. Now as for walking on it on a floating road bed, all I can say is that Peco G track is tough stuff. But the rail section is finer than LGB or Aristocraft/USA trains. But I reckon it would take as much punishment .having said that,I would never put any track on a floating roadbed. Especially in gravel. When I say gravel I mean as in smooth rounded river bed/sea bed gravel because it rolls on itself. Ever tried walking on gravel on a beach ? However machine crushed rock is a different kettle of fish because it locks on itself. Thats the same reason they don't use gravel on real railways. Round stones roll,sharp stones lock. I have plenty Peco G45 track-cuts so I can send you a piece to have a look at if you like ?. Anyway if you want a bit of it send me your adress .My email is david.cormack3@btinternet.com

 Rick,.... my accent is West Central Scotland/Glasgow,Midlothian is quite different.As for working with stone. I love it. Natural stone has a way of just looking right somehow. Maybe thats the Highland bit in me eh ? ha ha  Cheers  DAVY   

"Quite different" ya say... as in the Midlothian accent sounders a wee bit kewler?

I tried to find some good examples on youtube, but I didn't find much.

Re: construction materials used... I personally favor materials that possess a sort-of visual tactile quality. Stuff you can almost touch with your eyes. Wood, iron and definitely stone, fit into this category. With their aging qualities being the most appealing. Nothing says old quite like mold, mildew, rot, discoloration and rust; and iron, stone and wood take on these appearances tres bien(with a grave accent over the "e"). That's French, Davy.

When I first got into O, I used a product called Sakrete(a fine ready-mix concrete without the larger aggregate mixed in) for many structures... including, some buildings. I even used copper and brass. I like it's patina that appears over time.

Rick

BTW, Sakrete makes great looking stucco. I've used both... yellow wood glue or wet paint, as a bonding agent. The sakcrete bonds well, using glue or paint, and  produces a nice, realistic appearance.

Davy, have ya got any Pict in your genes?

Rick

 All right, if this thread is motivating, I'd better prove it.

  Where did you get the energy??? You must have an army working with you.

Maybe next year some track. I'm going back inside!

Hi Joe, thats a great lookin bit of ground you have there. Loads of potential. You could get a fantastic layout in that space. I am quite lucky in that where I live its fairly easy to obtain rocks and boulders and stuff. Some of that rubble for example I've used is broken brick from a house across the street from me which is having an extension built on and some old walls have been knocked out so I got the rubble from the workmen. I always keep my eyes open for anything that folk are discarding that can be used to build stuff. As for where I get the energy ,don't know,but I do everything myself. Keeps ye fit ! As for that plot of yours,I don't know what your intention is but I can picture how I'd tackle it . But at the end of the day it all comes down to budget,what materials are available to you and what time you have on your hands. And without being cheeky it also depends on how used you are to manual labour. But, in my minds eye I can enviseage a cracking layout on that plot of yours.Not being cheeky but can I ask why you've left those tree stumps so high ? My family were woodcutters (lumberjacks) for generations and I'm quite nifty with a chainsaw and axe myself.....just wondered if you have a purpose in leaving the stumps like that.??

 As for my project, I've been three days away from it because of bad weather and work commitments but I'm having a day at it today.  All the best   DAVY

I have just run across this thread and am really enjoying it.  Thank you.  What struck me from the beginning is the landscaping of your garden.  All of the different types of rock, weathered wood, and greenery really add to the outdoor feeling of the track.  You do not seem to be concerned about uniformity, mixing colors and shapes freely.  That really enhances the natural look in my opinion, not to mention making it very visually pleasing.  Also I expect you have been adding and modifying for years - it has been put together in successive projects, with different objectives which lends a rustic and aged feel. At least that is how it strikes me.

I was wondering where all of those materials came from, and I think you just explained that you have kept your eye out for materials for a lot of years.  I also see a lot of bags of materials that you must purchase from various supply stores.  A river nearby too. 

There looks to be a lot of heavy lifting, digging etc.  Not for the weak at heart - not to mention back.

Thanks again - wonderful stuff.

Hi Guys, thanks for the compliments "Colorado",I'll call you that seeing as I can't find a name for you if thats OK. I am always on the lookout for stuff thats getting thrown away by folks. Most folk a see an abandoned pile of rubble and rubbish , yours truly sees free infill or building material. Its amazing what folk throw away. as a rule of thumb,natural materials unworked by human hand always have a way of looking right. Like river smoothed stones. Many of the stones I've used do have worked faces/sides to them because they have come from old stone built houses that have been demolished,I always use the unworked sides where possible. Once things are in place for a couple fo years the weather gets to work along with moss and stuff , and before you know it it takes on that "been there forever" kinda look. I detest brick and uniform finishes etc. I see so many garden layouts that just look terrible to my eye.

Don't look natural at all.But ,everybody to their own.One man's food another man's poison eh ?.  Anyway,sunshine today so I'm pushing on with things. I wasn't going to re-install a turntable especially with me having built a "Y" but steam locos without turntables is like hot-dogs without ketchup,(or haggis without neeps(turnip) if you're Scottish ha ha !) Anyway my G scale truntable was 3ft 6" ft long but it was too big for O ,so I took it to the local blacksmith and got him to chop it down to 2ft 6". I got it made years ago from an old bus water pump pulley assembly I got from a scrap-yard. Just a metal bridge welded onto the pulley top.The rest of the mechanics get bedded in cement and the bridge turns sweet as honey. I use a washing machine drive belt stretched over a turning handle to turn the table manually. Anyway here';s the method so far. Simply suspend and level the assembly in position then fill the hole with concrete. Now I need to wait for the concrete to cure then I can start to build the turntable well. Anyway pictures speak a thousand words so heres the pics of things so far. I'm not doing a multi track roundhouse style layout just an "end of line" style turntable one or two off roads only. I'm goin to bring the sidings off the Y. Anyway all shall be revealed. I fancy a 2 or 3 road engine servicing facility with coal dock and water colums. Anyway guys back to the toil..... Davy. (Oh and PS Rick,if you are reading this, as you probably know "Scot" land took its name from an Irish Gaelic tribe,but the main bloodstock of Scotland was Pictish .So aye like most Scots I probably have a whole load of Pictish blood in my veins and genetics).

 I was thinking of using the one tree stump  with the pointed edge for a homemade mountain base. I wood carve it and add metal chicken wire. Then some concrete and rock? The train would go around a mountain edge and enter a tunnel. It's actual purpose is to protect the track there from a neighbor's berry tree.

 Halfway down the train would leave the mountain and tunnel and cross a waterfall pond area? I have big dreams but low resources. My back is shot! Time to call in some machinery.

Hi Joe, well, don't know what to say about your sore back and I don't know what its like around where you live for finding appropriate material that won't cost you an arm and a leg. As for ponds and waterfalls ,I can keep you right on that because I've built umpteen ponds for folk and am a dab hand at waterfalls and stuff. Even put in a pond for my sister in law who lives in Ontario ,Canada a few years back and its still there to this day. There is a waterfall and small stream feature in my garden which will be getting attention in the next few days. I've had to stop progress on the paddling pool because the rain of the last few days has raised the local river level a good couple of feet and where I was on dry land collecting those flat stones last week is now underwater !. Oh well,plenty other stuff to be doin till the river water level goes down again. Anyway,heres another couple of pictures of the turntable progress. I have started to fill in around the table and am making a wee channel for the pulley cable that turns it. This will get covered over and the pulley cable will be out of sight when everything is complete.The picture looking along the turntable bridge is actually kinda deceiving. There is plenty room to take  a couple of loco servicing sidings off the "Y" and onto the table.   Cheers  DAVY

Good day to ya Davy,

When I was learning about my Scottish roots... I wondered if the Picts and I were family? I liked reading how those tough little lads fought off being conquered by the Romans.

Being from Currie, which is not all that far from the Scottish/English border, I've wondered if any Pictish blood flows in me? Obviously, you're much more, genetically speaking, than just your fathers name(your surname)... blood-wise. Genes from many different Scottish families contributed to my DNA, plus some French and English.

Re: your layout. I love the part about going to the local Blacksmith...

BTW, check out my thread "lush green grass and sunshine" in the main forum(the 3-rail forum... a few pages back).

There's a unique charm to this thread of yours, Davy.

Take care,

Rick

Davy, For your pond do you use a pvc liner or a plastic tub? I see you have a pond off to the side of the wading pool , the pool looks plastic or fiberglass.

Hi Guys,

          George, the wee paddling or wading pool as you call it is preformed fibre glass. It was actually a water-plant demonstration tray I got second hand and painted up. The big fish pond is lined with top quality butyl-rubber liner. By far the best to work with but more expensive than PVC. PVC is OK but I much prefer butyl-rubber. The paddling pool is meant to look what it is ,a kiddie's paddling pool. But for a natural look the biggest mistake folk make when building "natural" ponds is to have liner showing above the water line. If you want a pond to look "right" NEVER have liner showing because no matter how well landscaped it might be it simply never looks right with liner showing. So the way you egde a pond is all important. Its easy enough to do ,but there are ways of doing it .

  Rick, back in the time of the Romans a "Scot" was a Gaelic Irishman ,indeed the Romans refered to Ireland as Scotia long before what is now Scotland was known as such,later on A Scot could be of Pictish, Briton, ,Saxon,Viking or various other ethnic groups all mixed in. The Gaelic name for Scotland to this day is "Alba" , same root word as "albion" meaning the whole mainland of Britain.However these days the name Alba as used in Gaelic refers only to Scotland. England is refered to as Sassena and the English the "Sassenach",meaning "saxons" The Irish Gaels (Scots) spoke a different strain of Celtic language from the Picts and Caledonians and the other Brythonic celtic tribes like the Welsh. However its a story too long for the telling here. Suffice to say that this island is NOT all "England".England isn't an island its just part of this island as my favourite road signs in the world prove..... see attached  Cheers  DAVY   

Oh well last pic of the day guys. Cement pretty much cured so first loco to sit on the turntable,my weaver  L&N USRA light pacific. Cheers  DAVY

Ya, it's not like you get a nice clean definitive answer... when ya go gene hunting.

One of the reasons I like this thread is... it contains ingenuity. Using words like blacksmith doesn't hurt, either.

Carry on lad, you're doing a fine job.

BTW, the weather here's been great lately... beautiful time to be outdoors.

Rick

Hi Guys,well sun's out and things are moving again. Laying the track bed  for the engine servicing and  turntable area .This time for speed I used concrete blocks laid on sand .I'll fix the track timber usin the usual "nails in cement"method.

Oh well back to the job. Couple of pics attached and the last pic shows  two of my grand-daughters,Caitlin and Rebecca, impatient for grandpa to finish the paddling pool . Oh well better go and get weavin !    Davy

I am amazed by the amount of hardscape! You have put in, your sure not a stone mason as your gifted in that area.  Is that a Koi/Goldfish pond next on the right?

That's Loch Rick, George. Nessie's home.

If ya get a few hot days in a row, Davy, you'll raise the outside temperature of Scotland, with all that stone and cement holding in the heat.

Looks like you've already used a few tons of scenery/building materials. Seems like you've got a good handle on things. It's just a matter of marching on and getting it done.

Have you taken into account how your backyard is going to drain itself, now that you've significantly changed the surface area of your backyard? Ian and Margaret, just might be getting a new waterfall?

BTW, I hope there's no chance of electrical current finding it's way to the paddling pool?

Cheers,

Rick

I wouldn't mind being you neighbor Davy!  That old G scale was superb.  I've always wanted to run outside in the snow.

Your new project is very exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress. 

Thanks for taking the time to post.  It's a great lesson in building a model railroad outside.

Hi Guys, well, pics  attached of todays progress around what will be the loco servicing area. Thats one area that will be having no compromise to a garden. It will be ALL  lovely filthy black oil and sooty and grimy around the tracks typical of steam loco servicing areas all over the world.  Not quite there yet though. Well my grandaughters finally got their way today and I filled up the paddling pool for them rubble or no rubble,seeing as the weather was so good,so of course their friends had to get in on the act too. So meet (left to right)Caitlin,Rebecca, and their friends Freya,Brogan,Niamh,and Emily. I also topped up the fish pond today. There are also frogs and Newts in it. Don't know if you get Newts in the states??. (Kinda small lizards,and a protected species in the UK.) Not back in action yet is the waterfall and stream in the far left corner,I'll have it up and running again soon. Anyway guys glad you're enjoying the thread. Cheers  DAVY     

Hi Guys, well Rick,here's a couple of pics for you (and any of you guys who are from South of the Mason Dixon line). Was practising my pipes for a while and got a couple of pics taken for a friend of mine in the states who likes things confederate. Its supposed to be apparently ??  that the confederate flag was based on the St Andrews cross of Scotland (diagonal white cross on blue background )and the St Patricks cross of Ireland (diagonal red cross on white),because its supposed to be that the caucasian population of the Southern states at that time of the American civil war were predominantly of Scots and Irish descent, they took the two old countries flags and reversed the colours and added the stars of the confederate states.Now whether that is fact or fiction I don't know but I've been told that story by various Americans. Anyway,with all due respect to the stars and stripes the old CSA flag is a beauty and is my favourite American flag. (And by the way guys,I am not pro the KKK and am making no political statement,I just like the flag,so no offense to my Yankee or African American friends, I honestly don't care what race creed or religion you all are), The bonnet I'm wearing Rick is called a Balmoral here in Scotland and was also the type worn by many confederate troops of Scots descent. Cheers  DAVY 

 Hey Davy it's really looking great.  Granddaughters have a way of making their Papa's do anything they want them to do.  I have 3 beautiful granddaughters and 5 grandsons and I love being around all of them.  This picture was taken on Mothers Day.  Thats Kalena and Xanden two of my son's 4 kids.  Xanden is Mr. Thomas the Train nut.

BTW I finally located a dealer who can get me the code 143, Peco track flat bottom track.  But of course it won't be in until June 15th.  I think I'll be limiting the amount of switches at $80.00 a piece.  Keep up the great work.

Chuck

Davy... Davy... Davy, what am I going to do with ya, lad? A quick glimpse...  I see the Rebel flag hanging off your bagpipes. Whoa!

I didn't get a chance to read your post, because I had things to do. In the meantime, I'm thinking... this is going to be awkward. Recently, I learned that Scotland had participated in the slave trade, and that didn't sit well with me. Nothing I'd be proud of.

When I finally got a chance to read your post, I was glad to see what you wrote.

You've got the look of mischief meson... in those pictures. A real Jock-the-lad.

BTW, you look like a fairly young grandfather. How old are you?

I'm just about 58.

Take care, lad

Rick

Davy,

Ya sound like a good guy, lad. I'm enjoying getting to know ya.

I hope you're still considering the full rig video, when you've completed your layout?

Looks like we're a couple of sons from the same era.

BTW, what did the kids think of your layout?

see ya,

Rick

Hi Rick, the girls are more interested in the paddling pool !.However as I hadn't run the G scale trains for a long time they don't remember the trains running.So it will be interesting to see their reaction when I get some trains moving again. Also my grandson who is approaching two years old I'm hoping gets into the trains wi his papa,mind you as he is now he'd probably wreck them because he's a baby bull and wrecking machine so you have to watch him like a hawk because he gets up to all sorts.

Chuck, aye like yourself I get a great buzz out of the grandkids or "weans" (pronounced as in John  "Wayne"). Not sure of this Scots word for a child. Might be a combination of wee-yins (little ones) or maybe it comes from the verb to "wean" ,but whatever in Scotland we talk about "the weans".   Cheers and goodnight guys.   DAVY 

Well I guess I've got both you and Rick beat, I'm only 57 and still have two kids that aren't married yet.  So I'm sure there will be more "wee-yins" later down the road.  Actually Davy the young lad in the picture is only 2 years old.  When he came over on Mothers Day all he kept saying was "Trains Papa, Trains".  What do you think was on his mind in this picture?  "I want to touch the caboose".

Chuck,

I'm still wearing number 57. Once half the year has passed, I start using the next number. So I might be the young'un, here... of us three?

I'm still calling Davy lad, though.

Goodnight guys,

Rick

Hi Guys, working tonight so I need to scoot. Got the turntable more or less finished on the groundwork side and mechanically.  mechanism couldn't be simpler but it works beautifully. Also got the waterfall/water feature back in operation today. I'll let the pics do the explaining guys. Need to scoot. Cheers  DAVY     

Nice job on the turntable, Davy. The roadway leading to it... looks good, too.

How many revolutions of the hand crank, produces one complete rotation of the turntable?

I'm surprised by how large Loch Rick actually is. I like the scene with the falls flowing down into the loch.

Are mosquitoes a problem in your area? Is there enough movement of the water, to prevent those critters from setting up camp?

She's looking good... going to be a nice place to spend some time.

Take care,

Rick