2 Years Later and is my OO Gauge Garden Railway still working?!

[@TheButters5000]

Looking forward to seeing this again, with just 1 month to go until another anniversary!

[@ModelMinutes]

Lol sadly i've not had much time to get out in the garden recently but maybe i will be able to make a video on it at some point

[@halpadgett3166]

That steel track is exactly what I have on my outdoor layout. I like the look. My engines run off battery power and the track doesn’t need to be cleaned.

[@Bonzoguy66]

Remember my HO indoor fleischman , had a Shell wagon, with a spunge underneath, and some rense petrol in the tank . Then your train just cleansed the track, while dragging that little tank wagon along 😊

[@ModelMinutes]

Nice!

[@paulellam6926]

Was wondering about the outside railway a few weeks ago, as a house near me has a larger gauge one in the front garden, that too probably has not run for a year or so, it reminded me of the lockdown days when you constructed yours. Your outdoor track is in my 'lockdown' memory bank, as I guess we all have some things that remind us of those days. Great to see it back up and running again, made me smile, many thanks chief!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! Yes, sadly I had much more time back then to do this sort of thing . . maybe in the future i might get more time to once again get more things done in the garden

[@Simon_Nonymous]

I am sure a man of your calibre could make a small device to hold the track cleaning rubber so a loco could tow it around, and let it do the work for you. Good old PECO - I remember going to their place at Beer as a kid over 40 years ago now.

[@ModelMinutes]

Hmmm that is an interesting idea

[@damien5748]

@@ModelMinutes hi Mat.im not surprised at all because you did it RIGHT in the 1st place.....well done

[@julianmhall]

@@ModelMinutes a slight modification to Simon's suggestion.. perhaps 3D print something to clamp to the /front/ of a loco so it runs over the track it just cleaned? The resistance of the cleaner might be an issue though.

[@epicforger12345]

@@ModelMinutes I would like to see that

[@MrNajibrazak]

probably not with a cleaning rubber considering the friction and the motor needed to power the train. how about some kind of chemical mixture. design a tanker carriage to hold the chems to wash with a wiping mechanism attached to it.

[@paulwilson3083]

It's good to see 00 in the garden, I started my project in 2008, I've got a complete double track circuit but it's a long way from being finished, I have a good heavy track cleaning car which I use at the start of a new year and provided it's pushed with a soaking of electrical contact spray and a strong loco 2 laps will make the track suitable to use without problems, another good tip is to put electrical contact grease in and around the fishplates, you could save space on corners by relaying your track to streamline spacing which is more prototypical and would give you space for signals and accessories, for 50p you can buy a peco track spacer which also gives you a set track option too, I'm sorry to have gone on as if I'm Mr Perfect but I have found the methods I have used have given year to year good service but in this hobby there is always something new to learn and it took a few mistakes before I found this successful way of going on, good luck and thank you for showing the doubters that 00 guage IS suitable for outside use.

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks for the tips!

[@epicforger12345]

When I was a kid I always wanted to make a model railway and put a camera on the train, yours looks very good

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks!

[@wadejustanamerican1201]

Definitely would like to see more. Really a good job, I've had difficulties just keeping our indoor train running.

[@ModelMinutes]

These locos can be a bit temperamental at times 😂

[@VC27]

We are moving to our new home shortly. This inspires me to build something similar in the small garden that we will have. Must unbox the locos and check them soon.

[@ModelMinutes]

Hope it works out for you!

[@DartsideScenics]

I have always wondered how much maintenance would be required on a garden railway. It’s amazing it still worked so well after such a long time. Thanks for posting 😁

[@ModelMinutes]

Totally agree! It's actually not been that bad to maintain, I think that if I used it more the maintenance would be easier though

[@robsmithracing]

@@ModelMinutes with mine I used wet and dry paper to rub the rust off the rails then I sprayed wd40 onto a rag and wiped it across the track to repel any water.

[@choppercam01]

I put one in my garden last yr or so. Unfortunately I had to remove it to move the pond and I've never put it back. So now it's all sat in the cupboard doing nothing

[@ModelMinutes]

sad times :(

[@geordieceltic2]

Looking good. I have had a layout in garden for 25 years and it still runs well once I have cleaned the track. I change a small number of fishplates and have a number of electrical feeds. Tried all sorts of track cleaning but the slog of rubber on track is the only really successful cleaning method for me, which is a complete pain. I also find that my old Lima and Hornby stock runs a lot better than my more modern/technically advanced stock. Good luck and enjoy those running sessions.

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks for the info! I might have to change some of my fishplates in the next few years

[@crazylocha2515]

Yes am surprised it's doing so well with such little effort. Glad you didn't have to completely rebuild it 👍 Looks like a fantastic spot for morning coffee ☕

[@ModelMinutes]

It is quite a nice garden… when it’s not raining 😂

[@WillJamesRailways]

Pretty great it didn’t take that much work! Makes me keen to get something going outdoors!

[@ModelMinutes]

Go for it!

[@a.r.productions]

It just goes to show! After the initial construction all you need is some infrequent maintenance, perhaps a once a monthly track clean is all one would need 😀

[@ModelMinutes]

Yeah, i'd still like to look at the gradients and improve them so that I can run longer trains . . . the garden is on a bit of a slope and they don't really like that

[@adrianandkatrinadove203]

very good to see....i have had g scale in the garden for many yrs and the nature of the garden i have,with oak trees overhanging it,its an absolute nightmare maintaining it in winter...spent 6 hours leaf clearing today,than there`s the tracvk cleaning..it goes on and on..Every yr i think is it worth the effort...Huge work for relatively few opportunities to actually run trains..But when visitors come round in summer and it runs well,i think...yes,its worth the effort.My other interest is OO gauge Triang trains..in a spare bedroom....Bit easier that one !!

[@ModelMinutes]

I'd like to have some trains in the house, but sadly a lack of space prevents that for the time being

[@adrianandkatrinadove203]

My Son and friend run a business called "Suitcase Trains".....They make some lovely small N gauge layouts in vintage suitcases...They appeal to folks with no real space whatsoever....N gauge is a bit too small for me.I did build a OO gauge layout using Triang super 4 track in a space of four feet long by just over 2.5 feet wide i think it was...Did it as part of a Challenge for "Budget Model Railways" and ended up taking it to an exhibition with them...I still have it,but it requires much TLC !!

[@Sairaj1stjan1977]

You are a real nature lover sir ❤️ It's a very creative garden 🏡 I love it 🥰

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! I’d like to do more with this soon

[@GW-jw9vs]

Looks great. I am going to start building one next week.

[@ModelMinutes]

Good luck!

[@lxtechmangood9503]

I think there are rolling stock with track cleaning pads / attachments on them available. Or you can make something up maybe?

[@ModelMinutes]

I've got a couple of those axle mounted pads that I use whilst the trains are running, but they don't seem particularly effective

[@lxtechmangood9503]

@@ModelMinutes I have seen some stock with a cleaning rubber or just some form of soft wood on a mounting the middle of the underside with some spring like fixtures which allow it to put enough pressure on the track to clean it but allow it to ride with any bumps etc

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

GOOD RAILWAY OUT SIDE THANKS LEE

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks 😊

[@epicforger12345]

I wonder if they do any flatbeds you can attach to the train and put a small 1:72 tank on the back?

[@ModelMinutes]

yeah, that is indeed a thing :D

[@foszasty]

It would be nice to see a more modern locomotive there.

[@ModelMinutes]

Yeah, I don't think i have anything recent to run on this

[@ja37d-34]

Really cool, I want to see more of this.

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! I'd like to be able to do some running sessions where I show the different locos and rolling stock I have - i think the track needs a little work before that though

[@ja37d-34]

@@ModelMinutes But it is nice to see it whatever it is. Just fascinating.

[@sheepFP5]

Piko make a battery powered track cleaning loco that has abrasive pads specifically for cleaning garden railways. It's expensive though... You could probably convert an old loco using a lithium pack and some sanding blocks to do the same thing!

[@ModelMinutes]

yeah, I had heard of that - i could probably design something that needed 3d printing that does something similar

[@sheepFP5]

@@ModelMinutes the chassis of an old loco rewired to run off a 3s LiPo RC battery, and a 3d printed body with sanding and buffing blocks that sit at track level forward and rear should work with minimal effort. Plus it would be a cool showpiece to have the track maintenance train run around before the rest of the sets go out for the day!

[@SullysScaleModels]

Really cool dude!!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@robertpatterson-wc2od]

That is why we need battery operated. Great layout.

[@ModelMinutes]

Yes, that would make running it much easier

[@hanssmidt12]

Again the Bridges, sadly you cant use the track much i wish i had a lay out but i have no Space

[@ModelMinutes]

Lol, always having trouble with that bridge 😂 I think in the future I’d like a more permanent railway, around a raised bed or something

[@stevecutts5450]

Hi,I'm about to start my own oo gauge garden railway. You mentioned about not using steel track so what sort of track should I use? I'll need some flexi track as well.

[@ModelMinutes]

Nickel silver is the better quality track

[@DeCalDemz]

Hi, what did you use as apposed to steel track? Thanks

[@ModelMinutes]

Pretty sure I talk about that, I used nickel silver (which most modern companies make)

[@TFM1976]

i have a cargo car that was going to be cut for scrap parts, i re-used it to put a sponge at the bottom and bam, i have a track cleaner. that easy.

[@ModelMinutes]

good idea!

[@valborchardt3596]

Hmmm Matt, its nice to see it working again but you do need to put in some scenery…….overgrown foliage doesnt count for me…..thanks for the update. Take care from South Africa

[@ModelMinutes]

Yeah I thought I might print some things

[@rob235ioa1]

why oh why do people put track right to the edge of baseboard and with no guard rail at the sides 1 blade of grass or something and crash down to the ground 1 expensive model in pieces

[@isf1984]

Could you use a DCC system on your layout ?

[@ModelMinutes]

Probably with no issues, might even help make the locos run better. The benefit of multiple trains on the same track wouldn’t be used though seeing as it’s just 2 loops

[@jsgaming3248]

What guage/scale is your garden railway?

[@ModelMinutes]

OO gauge

[@duncanling2127]

I am big train guy myself but wow :) 👍

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@criticalthinker7822]

Amazing

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks 😊

[@modelkitboi3925]

We need you to upload again

[@ModelMinutes]

More videos are coming soon :)

[@modelkitboi3925]

@@ModelMinutes thanks

[@danshobbies13]

I am surprised. Maybe I’ll do HO outside instead of G. It’s much cheaper

[@ModelMinutes]

And you'd get more running in the same space :)