Leveling out the mainline on my outdoor Atlas system.
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That's quite an undertaking, what is the size of that track plan?
@gunrunnerjohn posted:That's quite an undertaking, what is the size of that track plan?
The footprint is 14' x 30' by 20" high
Amazing!
I admire your skill to attempt something like that.....really cool!
Looking forward to seeing more pics!
Peter
@FatBoy posted:The footprint is 14' x 30' by 20" high
That's going to be a nice layout, can't wait to see the progress on this one. 
I’ve wondered if I should replace my outdoor Garden layout with three rail. Seeing what you are doing, convinces me it is a doable project. I already have an elevated garden layout, replacing with three rail track, using the same wiring as that for the garden trails would not be difficult. A late summer project I think. Thanks for the pictures and idea. Except I will need about 750 feet of Atlas to replace the G track!
Just need a place to drive the trains out of the weather.
How do you keep the gravel from shifting under the weight of the locomotives?
Looks great. Make sure to put some ballast in between the ties. It will help hold the track in place.
I would wonder about rock dust getting up in the motors.
That is serious tamping.
I was expecting something about ballast on an indoor layout.
Looks great
@Putnam Division posted:Amazing!
I admire your skill to attempt something like that.....really cool!
Looking forward to seeing more pics!
Peter
Thank you Peter!
@Rich N. posted:I’ve wondered if I should replace my outdoor Garden layout with three rail. Seeing what you are doing, convinces me it is a doable project. I already have an elevated garden layout, replacing with three rail track, using the same wiring as that for the garden trails would not be difficult. A late summer project I think. Thanks for the pictures and idea. Except I will need about 750 feet of Atlas to replace the G track!
Rich, I've always wanted an outdoor layout. When I tore my large Atlas layout down and bought another home, I went to HO Marklin. I had about 1000' feet of Atlas and decided to go with it. The loco's will be battery operated. There is a company called 'Dead Rail" that I'm looking into that uses a 14.9 V lithium battery to operate 0 gauge, 3 rail trains.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Just need a place to drive the trains out of the weather.
That is still in the works, haha!
@NJCJOE posted:Looks great. Make sure to put some ballast in between the ties. It will help hold the track in place.
Thanks Joe! I found these anchors at Lowes that fit perfectly in the screw holes. The gravel is compact so you need to hammer them in. The gravel is a little too big to get between the ties correctly.
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@Bigboyrich posted:I would wonder about rock dust getting up in the motors.
No rock dust, has all washed away.
Thought you might like to see a 12” to the foot tamper in action. Those four paddles that go down into the ballast vibrate, which causes the ballast to fall into all the empty spaces under and between the ties.
I love the idea, but I wonder about the after affects of the winter season, such as frost heaving on the tracks.
Ray
@Rayin"S" posted:I love the idea, but I wonder about the after affects of the winter season, such as frost heaving on the tracks.
Ray
Ray, I left a bunch of track out during the winter season. As soon as the sun hit the rails, it melted. I wont have to worry about cleaning the rail as I intend to go Lithium powered loco's.
@Rich Melvin posted:Thought you might like to see a 12” to the foot tamper in action. Those four paddles that go down into the ballast vibrate, which causes the ballast to fall into all the empty spaces under and between the ties.
Thank you for sharing that, wish they had one for 0 gauge!
@FatBoy posted:Thank you for sharing that, wish they had one for 0 gauge!
They do....not sure how effective it would be though......
Seriously though, I love what you're doing. Having the track elevated above the surrounding grade will prevent most water problems. Dead rail is a home run too!
Bob
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@RSJB18 posted:They do....not sure how effective it would be though......
Seriously though, I love what you're doing. Having the track elevated above the surrounding grade will prevent most water problems. Dead rail is a home run too!
Bob
Thanks! Haha, I think that figure has long retired by now 😂
Bob, the entire pit is filled in with gravel. All water will seep through it.
