Starting your Garden Railway John's 10 year view

After nearly 8 years all is working fine. My early videos showed me experimenting with these construction methods and track laying techniques. Having loose laid track reduces joint expansion problems. Exposed tanalised fence timber show no sign of rot. It is raised from the ground. It gets wet, it dries out. No sealing in of moisture.
Here it is 8 years ago • Garden Railway, a star...
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[@rodholman9633]

Awesome track layout

[@bikerides]

I have kept it simple. Thank you for your kind comment.

[@user-vv4dl7ku5x]

That’s so much for sharing this information. Just beautiful 😊😊😊

[@bikerides]

Thank you for the kind comment. If you have any specific interests or questing just ask. It may take me a while...

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

A very nice layout indeed with great views

[@bikerides]

Thank you. Not a scenic railway as such but great fun.

[@daletully7104]

Can't believe it's been 10 years.. Still looking strong too!

[@bikerides]

Yes Dale. Just about, but much was done later and over a long period of time with the larger loop and double track added in later years.

[@bikerides]

Ooops - only 8 years!

[@fabrizioviscardi40]

Great, old layout! I like it very well, cheers, Fabrizio

[@bikerides]

Yes Fabrizio, I have had a lot of enjoyment from it so far. Thank you for your kind comment, John

[@fabrizioviscardi40]

@@bikerides Hi dear John, it is so, great enjoyment of course... Thanks for sharing, cheers, Fabrizio

[@bz3248]

I really like your layout, I'd like to do one similar. Thanks for the many pointers you mentioned. I think the recessed track in the step is so cool. I hope to get started with my layout in the next month or so. Too hot in Southern Nevada now. Thank you for sharing this video. I'll check out some of your other ones.🚂🚃🚃🚃

[@bikerides]

It will be really interesting to see your progress. There are things I would change and you will find some different solutions to suit your environs. Posting to the Facebook forum gets some interesting suggestions. cheers, John

[@Crepello100]

10 years? Aha mine goes up to 11. Or whatever it is - it started running in 2012. It's a bit different to your's as it's OO and nearer the ground and there's lots of weeds and so on but like on your's the track is free resting. There's several reasons I don't attach it, the main one being that as long as there's curves along it one can forget about expansion. I can therefore solder over the rail joiners which in turn eliminates voltage drop and the need for outdoor jumper wires. Another reason is the wildlife here regularly kicks the track. Also, soldered track hums like the real thing. One can hear the trains when they're far away and out of sight which is very useful if something goes wrong.

[@bikerides]

That sounds like a very sensible layout. As you say, with lose laid track, expansion is not a problem. I need to pin my flexitrack to maintain the curve.

[@alannewman85]

The talanised fence timber you refer to - Would it also be known as pressure treated timber??

[@bikerides]

Yes. that is right.

[@robbiesmodeltrainsinoo6459]

Hi John, Can you please advise me what modern day O guage track is compatible with my old Hornby clockwork locos and rolling stock with fairly deep flanges? Regards Bobby.

[@bikerides]

Hi Bobby, modern track is made to fine scale. Do not look at O gauge track. Have a look at SM32 coarse scale track. Your old hornby clockwork should run on that. Best regards John

[@robbiesmodeltrainsinoo6459]

@@bikerides Hi John, Thank you.Robbie.

[@robertmartinez1228]

a bit flat actually. but nice.

[@bikerides]

I have one or two low cost live steam locos that require a level track. Not easy with the slope in my garden. It is a very simple layout, basically a loop. Cheers, John

[@AllSortsOfStuff58]

Crikey, time flies doesn't it? I'm ten years older, hmm...

[@bikerides]

Yes David, I was a young fit person when I started!

[@bikerides]

Ooops - only 8 years!

[@pauldoe1628]

Hello. Very nice. What size track is this please?

[@bikerides]

Hi Paul. This is G scale 45mm track, the larger 'code' 380 I think from various manufacturers. All brass rail with plastic sleepers. What gauge are you interested in? Enjoy building your railway. Cheers, John

[@pauldoe1628]

@@bikerides thank you for your help. I thought it was G Scale so I bought a section of it for a Back To The Future 3 project.

[@bikerides]

@@pauldoe1628 great idea. Post a video.

[@santhosh5796]

Is it possible to remove the g scale rails from the sleepers easily? Are g scale rails flexible or straight?

[@bikerides]

Depends on manufacturer. LGB and some track has fish plates that are crimped on. Individual lengths of rail are available. Some flexi track is actually 'springy' and will not hold a curve unless pinned. You need a rail bender and some non-springy track. If you are discarding the sleepers you can just rip them off and 'uncurl' the fishplate or rail joiners from the track.

[@santhosh5796]

@@bikerides Sir my minimum radius is 20 feet. Then it is possible to slightly bend the rail or not. I will make my own sleepers by taking the measurements of Indian Railway sleepers. Then reduce the scale and then place the g scale rails on them.

[@bikerides]

@@santhosh5796 Yes, absolutely. You will have no problem with such large radius. You have see all the curves in my track, all of it done by bending the rails.

[@bikerides]

@@santhosh5796 www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/lgb-flexible-rail-section-20-pack/?exchange_rate=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw29CRBhCUARIsAOboZbK96VNcfSzs_PcqQVcYHmiCKxA1CB-hTFUFOaogdV0mMWhsj-Z982kaAhdeEALw_wcB but I found it easier to buy second hand track, say 3ft lengths. You get two lengths of track that way. What power source are you using because you can buy aluminium, steel and Brad track

[@santhosh5796]

@@bikerides These g scale rails are too costly. Second hand rails are more than enough. Because there is nothing to do with the new rails. How can I buy this in India? Any option?

[@bikerides]

Ooops Feb 2014 is when I started kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4i4c6WLobWMf9U