Putting down the G scale outside

Joe:

You might want to consider elevating the track so you don't have to bend/crawl around to maintain it. When I was considering building outside, that was my thought on it. Easier access, your track stays cleaner, and if you use ladder style track support air circulates and keeps the track temperature even. The down side is that you may have to put in access gates (or steps over) for some walkways.

I had planned for the whole layout to be much higher. I told the basement contractor that all dirt stays on site to build an outdoor RR. He agreed. Then I caught them hauling truck loads of dirt away and stopped them. He said he couldn't figure out what I would do with all that dirt and figured I didn't know what I was doing?

 So the RR is now much lower than planned and ran a different way through the yard. Maybe someday I will put it up on shelves.

JOE -

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. YOU'RE A NAILER FROM WAY BACK SO I KNOW YOU CAN FIGURE OUT AN ELEVATED SUPPORT SYSTEM IF YOU WANT IT.

JIM STACK

Thanks Jim (and Matt). I do have an elevated 100' siding going into the storage shed. I have that upper track (3 tracks) at workbench height. I figured if I could load and unload engines and cars from tracks up there, I'd be good. Funny how much crawling around I still do.

 I may have to add more tracks at waist height for storage. The ones on the floor, I still have to get down there to switch out trains. It may be worth adding the newer KD electro-couplers to the fleet.

That's a good bit of track mileage. It looks right at home on the ground, like a real railroad. Now let's see some trains!

Thanks Ace. I ran a few MOW trains to clean the track and test signal so far. Here's one from last year showing a train:

Engineer-Joe posted:

I had planned for the whole layout to be much higher. I told the basement contractor that all dirt stays on site to build an outdoor RR. He agreed. Then I caught them hauling truck loads of dirt away and stopped them. He said he couldn't figure out what I would do with all that dirt and figured I didn't know what I was doing?

 So the RR is now much lower than planned and ran a different way through the yard. Maybe someday I will put it up on shelves.

That was nice of him to make up your mind for you.  He didn't haul it away out of the goodness in his heart.  He's making money on it.  You could have insisted that he return the truckloads he took away or his final payment would be less than he expected.  

Engineer-Joe posted:

Well I think I'm feeling my age. It took me about four times longer this year to place the track and I'm not done! I may have to leave it down soon.

So you take up your track each fall ?  Why ?  

There was a good five months of not using it planned. I did not know it would be such a mild winter. I could have ran it much longer in hind sight. There's also some security to consider. As I said, I may leave it down in the future? As I ran for about ten years in the basement, it's tough to adjust to the elements outside.

Very nice Joe.

I dragged home LGB track, 4 switches, couple circles and about 30 12 inch straights. from York.

The very small start of my small garden layout. I been thinking about a summer G scale for a long time.

Your post is motivating .  Thanks for sharing it.

Hope you don't mind if I zap you a dumb question about G scale once and a while.  

Larry

Any time. I started in the basement with a small oval of track. I just keep adding to it. I think it's been about fifteen years now? I can't get used to being outside even though it's been about four years out there.

Engineer-Joe posted:

Thanks Ace. I ran a few MOW trains to clean the track and test signal so far. Here's one from last year showing a train:

That's an impressive train, I thought it would never end! The long wide sweeping curves look terrific!

Got the mule team backed out of the shed before the MRS called me to go out for errands. Maybe another day..... ( I can up my record on # of cars!)

Hey, Joe, lookin' good.  Is that stainless steel or aluminum track?  Wish I had a yard with a long run.  Nice pics keep em commin.

Rick

Stainless and track power.

Tried to get a picture of the whole train. It's just too big to fit in the shot. For several reasons, the train didn't run well this year. I'll have to fine tune the track, couplers, and trucks to get her smoothed out. The first picture has the train split in half as it's being built.

Joe, nice job!!!

What cost more, the RR or the fence?!?!?!  I'm guessing RR

Bob ,

I'm guessing it's a close comparison, But I'm thinking  the RR is a wee bit ahead.

Joe,

I sent you a e-mail with my first dumb questions.  Please check to see if it went to your trash folder.

Thanks

Larry

Just saw it Larry. Any questions are good to ask before diving in. I have some USA engines that drew a lot of power under load in conventional (5 amps?). When run under DCS they behave much better. They now draw less than 2 amps each. I have some big bridgewerks packs.

 Keith, yes all DCS in my engines outside and in. Well, I do have some O scale TMCC too.

Bob, I got some of the fence parts on a deal that U wouldn't believe. They were returned to Home Depot and on a pallet when I walked in. The posts had some brackets with them. They were beat up. The girl asked how many I wanted and I said I had to have them all (44 posts!) Timing was perfect. A farmer friend came over with his tractor and PTO and drilled most of the holes! ($125?, 150?)

The fence sections themselves, along with all the rest of the brackets and hardware and all the work, was just too much to think about. When I got done my neighbor told me what her fence cost ($10,000). I realized how cheap I got away with doing it.

 I can't add up the price of the G scale. It would take too long and scare the shrap out of me! It is very, very expensive. Now I have to add all KD couplers and ball bearings on the axles of all cars.

When I lived in Ohio I had a small 2 loop layout around the garden pond in the back yard.  Track was left out year round, a light cleaning on the rail head hook up the power and was in business every year.  It was outside for about 10 years until I pulled it up to moved to Tennessee.

After some searching and trial and error, I found that most of the issues were from using brass clamps and stainless track. It appears that the connectors corroded enough that it caused troubles. Having picked up the track for a few years saved me the issue. I think re-laying the track and re-tightening the clamps kept them clean enough. So when they were left outside for 2 consecutive winters, it was enough to tip the scale on corrosion.

 So this year I replaced many clamps with all stainless. Seems to be good for now. The storage track is working and it's still with brass clamps. Go figure?