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4 minute informational video
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Photos update every 5 minutes
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Important Things I've Learned from my Garden Railroad
Lowell Dietz: 1. Code 332 is definitely sturdier. 2. Stainless is very hard to bend. 3. I’ve never had a problem with ballast on code 250 rail. 4. Code 332 rail is too big (a little over 10.5 inches standard gauge and a little over 6.5 inches narrow gauge). 5. Aluminum rail is shiny and looks funny. 6. Nickel-Silver looks the best from a color standpoint. 7. Sunset Valley ties look funny. 8. Sunset Valley has no scale narrow gauge ties. 9. Llagas Creek ties fit too tightly with the rail.
Rick Henderson: Good track work is about the most important part of building a Garden Railroad if you want reliable operation of your Garden Trains. Before a person starts out to even design their layout on paper, they should take time to learn about track grades, easements into grades and curves, reverse curves, turnout sizes, how best to place them and clearances. If you take your time to understand what is necessary for reliable operation and stick with the minimum standards you establish, the track you lay will last and not need to be replaced when some new item comes along. There is no need to replace what you have if it works until you ware it out. Jon D. Miller: Poor operation of garden trains on a layout, in the end, always leads back to bad trackwork, no matter the type rail used. Just like a building, if the foundation is not done correctly, that which follows will always develop or give problems. Mike Evans: We (our club) rebuilt using Aristo brass with large radius curves and mostly 5' sections. What an improvement! First each joint has those neat stainless steel screws and an expansion slot. Using conductive grease, we had no continuity problems in over 600' of track with only two track feeders. In our area, temperatures range from 115 in the summer to 20 in the winter. The built-in expansion of each joint spread this over the entire system so that there wall almost no situation with track expanding off the roadbed or shrinking on curves. We avoided fastening the track except across bridges so it could float freely as much as possible. |
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Running Live Steam Engines in the Garden.
David Clapper: Live steam has been running through my blood stream since I was a young boy back in the 1940s. I had a stationary steam engine that I used to power Erector Set projects. (Wish I still had them!!!) As an "older boy" I have a Mamod steam tractor and a live steam locomotive. I don't run them as often as I should, it does take a bit of effort to prepare them for running. The loco will pull a light 2 axle car for 20-30 minutes. Love the chuff sound and the steam exhaust!
Geran Miller: I have several live steam engines from the Ruby to a Roundhouse SR&RL and several I have built from kits or from scratch. I also run track power and battery power. My Ruby runs ok but you get what you pay for, my Roundhouse Millie is a much better runner and requires less upkeep. Try live steam if you get the chance, it is really something to watch, it's almost live the engine is alive. Mike Evans: I've watched the Ruby on some demo layouts at shows and noticed it is hard to control and has limited pulling capacity. However, the little Shay I saw run looked to be very reliable and powerful but was a little over my price range. I am also concerned about depositing so much steam oil on my rails - how difficult would it be to clean it off to run conventionally powered trains or even battery operated? Also concerned about how to radio control the live steamer. John Fuller: I have battery, R/C electrics that I started with and still run from time-to-time. There is just something about the working mechanics of a Live Steamer. The sound of the chuffs, the steam from the stack, the live steam whistle making everyone’s head turn. Live steamers come to life and it is a whole different experience! Chris Wolcott: Just as some folks like steam era and some like diesel, some like battery and others like track power, Live Steam is not for every one. I got into it because I was spending $900+/- on LGB steam engines and the Ruby came out for half that. I thought I'd try the real thing thinking I could always sell it if I didn't like it. For me, I like the mechanical aspect of it. The constant tinkering and hands-on requirements is what draws me to it. I have R/C'd my Ruby, and plan to R/C my Americanized Lady Anne and Accucraft C-21 when I can. |
Garden Railroad Builder's Logs There is no better way to share your railroad than with a GRBLOGS. Garden Railroad Builder's Logs is a new blog service of LSOL.com. You can post information in an easy-to-use blog format as often as you like to keep people updated on the developments of your Garden Railroad. Keep your projects organized online in individual projects and show your photos, videos and more online for the whole world to see. Plus you can read other blogs and comment on all the exciting GRBLOGS that others have posted at the site. Come see the first, the original and the best web blog dedicated to Garden Railroads. Remember: Some people talk about what they are going to do, and others actually do it. Come show people what you have done.
Important Topics Bridges Buildings Couplers Getting Started Grades How Garden Trains Work Live Steam Wheels |
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