Track silhouettes

This is a crude concept drawing of the track layout I had in mind.

I am not aware of any track templates that are still available, but there is a nice track planning program for Windows that is free. It's called SCARM and many folks here use it and are very good with it if you should happen to need a little assistance to get going, unfortunately I am not one of them as I already had another program when SCARM was released.

The SCARM author also posts here and is open to suggestions and additions. He also provides some help occasionally. If you do a search for SCARM you will find many threads about it with a lot of information.

Here is a link to the SCARM website if you  would like to try it.

HI THERE 

For Track you will need  ATLAS O Track or Gargraves  STAINLESS STEEL TRACK !  For OUTDOOR LAYOUTS !  THIS IS FYI !  

GOOD LUCK !  KEEP US POSTED ! 

WRGMILW posted:

HI THERE 

For Track you will need  ATLAS O Track or Gargraves  STAINLESS STEEL TRACK !  For OUTDOOR LAYOUTS !  THIS IS FYI !  

GOOD LUCK !  KEEP US POSTED ! 

It will be awhile before the ground work is even laid, right now it's in the concept and planning phase, but most definitely will keep the group posted.

i had heard or read somewhere that a nickel/silver rail was better suited for an outdoor layout.  Is stainless a better choice?  

SCARM can print 1:1. The entire layout or just a section. You need to use 2 pieces of paper at least in 8.5 x 11 on a home printer. Then cut out and tape together for one curve.

O track is named by the diameter of a circle for the curves and segments of curves for the sectional pieces and switches.

If you provide the dimensions of the area that you want to use, we can put together the plan for you. The software is much easier than making templates.

The Atlas O should work well for your climate. It's nickel-silver rail and the plastic for ties has been used on outdoor layouts in harsher climates.

You can actually do it with some string, two nails (landscape tie nail or a gutter nail) and a tape measure.

Place a nail for the center of one of the figure 8's Loop the string around it. Now pull the string to where you want the outside of the figure 8. Wrap the string around the second nail. Now scribe a circle in the ground using the second nail.

measure the length of the string from nail head to nail head. The is the radius of the circle. 2r=Diameter= O track curve size that will fit.

You are looking at 15 switches and 2 crosses plus track . I don't think you want that many switches outside. The switch motors are the weak links. You can go over/under figure 8's and manual switches to cut the switch count and cost. The over/unders are attractive for a garden railway.

Search outdoor layouts on the forum or the web and also garden layouts for ideas and videos.

if I can find the links, I'll post them for a few of my favorite outdoor layouts.

Let us know what you need. Oh, almost forgot, WELCOME to the OGR Forum!

Moonman posted:

SCARM can print 1:1. The entire layout or just a section. You need to use 2 pieces of paper at least in 8.5 x 11 on a home printer. Then cut out and tape together for one curve.

O track is named by the diameter of a circle for the curves and segments of curves for the sectional pieces and switches.

If you provide the dimensions of the area that you want to use, we can put together the plan for you. The software is much easier than making templates.

The Atlas O should work well for your climate. It's nickel-silver rail and the plastic for ties has been used on outdoor layouts in harsher climates.

You can actually do it with some string, two nails (landscape tie nail or a gutter nail) and a tape measure.

Place a nail for the center of one of the figure 8's Loop the string around it. Now pull the string to where you want the outside of the figure 8. Wrap the string around the second nail. Now scribe a circle in the ground using the second nail.

measure the length of the string from nail head to nail head. The is the radius of the circle. 2r=Diameter= O track curve size that will fit.

You are looking at 15 switches and 2 crosses plus track . I don't think you want that many switches outside. The switch motors are the weak links. You can go over/under figure 8's and manual switches to cut the switch count and cost. The over/unders are attractive for a garden railway.

Search outdoor layouts on the forum or the web and also garden layouts for ideas and videos.

if I can find the links, I'll post them for a few of my favorite outdoor layouts.

Let us know what you need. Oh, almost forgot, WELCOME to the OGR Forum!

Thanks for the info, I've tried SCARM, Easy Rail and Atlas, but I just can't get it right.  I attempt to "draw" one figure 8 but can't get beyond one half due to things not lining up, then I get frustrated, put it away for awhile then try again with the same results.

i can envision the layout every time I look at the area, but getting very ticked that I can't get past the design phase.  Heck I've even gone as far as to contact local clubs and offered food AND beverage ( adult if preferred) for some help designing this concept, but no takers yet.

Tankmech posted:

WRGMILW posted:

HI THERE 

For Track you will need  ATLAS O Track or Gargraves  STAINLESS STEEL TRACK !  For OUTDOOR LAYOUTS !  THIS IS FYI !  

GOOD LUCK !  KEEP US POSTED ! 

It will be awhile before the ground work is even laid, right now it's in the concept and planning phase, but most definitely will keep the group posted.

i had heard or read somewhere that a nickel/silver rail was better suited for an outdoor layout.  Is stainless a better choice?  

I saw an outdoor O scale layout built using Gargraves stainless track with the UV plastic ties. It had been there several years with no problems.

Tankmech,

Sorry about your frustration. Sketch the teardrop space on a piece of paper and then outline the area (such as a rectangle or square, etc.) and lable that with the actual dimensions of the area that want to use for the track. Take a photo of the sketch and post it.

I 'll draw it up for you in SCARM and then you can download the file to use.

Tankmech posted:

Thanks for the info, I've tried SCARM, Easy Rail and Atlas, but I just can't get it right.  I attempt to "draw" one figure 8 but can't get beyond one half due to things not lining up, then I get frustrated, put it away for awhile then try again with the same results.

i can envision the layout every time I look at the area, but getting very ticked that I can't get past the design phase.  Heck I've even gone as far as to contact local clubs and offered food AND beverage ( adult if preferred) for some help designing this concept, but no takers yet. 

If your SCARM file has the dimensions of the space outlined, etc., you can post that and someone will help get things lined up. It doesn't matter that the tracks don't join, the important thing is to define the dimensions of the space you have and the location of any obstructions; trees, bushes, etc.

I also agree that turnouts are the Achilles heel to any layout, but even more so for outdoor layouts. And while there have been and are successful outdoor O scale layouts, others have tried and given up or switched the G scale. I can only imagine what ice and snow is going to do to the track, so stable roadbed is going to be very important.

Here's a link to some questions and answers regarding garden layouts. It's about O scale, but most applies to any scale and there's a question near the end about stainless track.

Since dimensions of the area are above my pay grade, here's a guess. A 22' x 20' area with 2 figure 8's using Atlas O 0108 and a Ross 11° crossover. No elevated track and no switches, yet.

You could add the ladder to a side, join the 8's, etc. 

SCARM file is attached. Right-click the file, select "save target as", drop it on your computer and open it with SCARM, not the Atlas version. (It doesn't have the other libraries.)

Moonman posted:

Since dimensions of the area are above my pay grade, here's a guess. A 22' x 20' area with 2 figure 8's using Atlas O 0108 and a Ross 11° crossover. No elevated track and no switches, yet.

You could add the ladder to a side, join the 8's, etc. 

SCARM file is attached. Right-click the file, select "save target as", drop it on your computer and open it with SCARM, not the Atlas version. (It doesn't have the other libraries.)

Thanks MoonMan, got it loaded.  I will try to get exact measurements of the area here this weekend.  I know based on your design help that the ladders can extended more than i originally thought between the two 8,s.  The teardrop is approximately 100ft long by 32ft at its widest  

Now I know that i don't want the outer edge of the track/layout right up against the edge, since we use the driveway on a daily basis.  I was thinking 2 1/2 to 3 feet in from the outer most edges, is that enough?  So if my math is correct( mind you I STINK at math) over all approximate dimensions is 95ft max by 27 ft max; that should accommodate for  2 1/2 ft indent.

yes, the dimensions are helpful. I was guesstimating scaling the stone drive at 5'.

Will you surround the area with a paver wall or stone wall or something like that?

perhaps just a raised area? 

Are you going to detail it like a garden or sitting area?

I ask because an orientation more length wise may suit it better than a lateral orientation.

Forum member Engineer Joe has G scale in the perimeter of his backyard and has posted some nice pics and videos. Davy Mac has an on going post where he made a masonry and stone garden sitting area with the layout designed into it.

It's important to envision the end project before more track design work time is spent.

I have seen massive outdoor layouts that are up on poles with 2" x 10"  for the deck.

There's another tiered garden layout in a back yard where the layout is on raised roadbed at ground level.

Here's the point - the track plan that you thinking of here would require a sub-roadbed raised above ground level. One still has to build like a real railroad and keeps you tracks out the water and snow and such.

So, you would need a retaining wall surround the track and fill to raise the ground level.

Where you headin' with this?

Here's a link to a thread about a nice outdoor layout. Up on posts. Note that the layout gets covered for the winter and switches get covered in other seasons.

I still think that you need a track plan to limit the number of switches.

I'll find Engineer Joe's layout pics in a post so that you can see the perimeter style on the ground on an elevated roadbed.

here's a garden project by a forum member from Scotland.

here's engineer joe's outdoor layout in G scale

I hope these give you some ideas.

You may find some helpful information here.  It's an o-scale layout near Seattle and it provides details on how the roadbed was prepared for the track.  There are also videos etc.  Good luck and please share your progress once you break ground.

Moonman posted:

yes, the dimensions are helpful. I was guesstimating scaling the stone drive at 5'.

Will you surround the area with a paver wall or stone wall or something like that?

perhaps just a raised area? 

Are you going to detail it like a garden or sitting area?

I ask because an orientation more length wise may suit it better than a lateral orientation.

Forum member Engineer Joe has G scale in the perimeter of his backyard and has posted some nice pics and videos. Davy Mac has an on going post where he made a masonry and stone garden sitting area with the layout designed into it.

It's important to envision the end project before more track design work time is spent.

I have seen massive outdoor layouts that are up on poles with 2" x 10"  for the deck.

There's another tiered garden layout in a back yard where the layout is on raised roadbed at ground level.

Here's the point - the track plan that you thinking of here would require a sub-roadbed raised above ground level. One still has to build like a real railroad and keeps you tracks out the water and snow and such.

So, you would need a retaining wall surround the track and fill to raise the ground level.

Where you headin' with this?

Thanks for the info and help, sorry haven't been able to post till now, due to work, kids, and kids needing computer for school.  but I haven't  been idle.  I've been watching how we enter our driveway and the garage. 
Keeping the 2 1/2 ft stand off in mind, I've decided to set a 2'x2' paver border, with that decision i can place the outer edge of the track 1/2 ft from the inner edge of the pavers.  As of right now I'm contemplating a slightly raised ladder style road bed.  The main reason for this is we are still in negotiations with our landlord for the possible sale of this house to us.  So if their final decision is not to sell, I can relatively easily pull the track out, but leave the garden and seating area in place.  If they do sell, I can set a more permanent roadbed later.   We already have permission to put in the garden.  The ladder sections of the layout can be removed or rearranged to accommodate a small central seating area.

I understand everyone's concerns about the amount of turn-outs, my thought process is to utilize remote turn-outs for the common area's i.e. the sections of track that will be utilized most-- mainline and one by-pass loop, and manual ones for the area's less frequented, the yard area and lower ladders.