I’ve been working with my trains in the garage this winter. I’ve set up a “test track” on several workbenches that are 3’ off the floor. It’s actually turned out to be more of a switching layout than a test track. After two months of interacting with the trains and other elements of the layout, I can’t imagine ever again laying track at ground level. I’m pretty tall. 6’2", so a track height of 42" might even be better for me, I’ll have to try it.
My point is this, if you’ve never had elevated trackwork you should try it, it’s so much more satisfying than looking down and only seeing the tops of all your beautiful trains.
You are quite right Walt.Half of mine is raised and half a ground level due to a sloping garden.Easier to work on and put the trains on.Plus there is no stooping for the bottle when the beer train goes by.
Seriously though.It stays cleaner too.
Troy
Walt, since I put my HO up at 48" it has been so much easier.
Also the last two garden layout that I saw, both were raised. 1 40" block and dirt layout, 1 was on the ground but the bridges were 6’ off the ground due to slope. Awesome.
Walt, I’m for elevated as well or aleast part of mine, 6’ 3" of me with a once broken back ( remember John Belushi Animal house that was me[censored][D)]) doesn’t want me bent over laying down trying to put cars on the track.
Walt,
I need to send you some photos of my latest addition to my indoor line. I built cabinets for storage that also double as a base for my layout. Really it’s the other way around. [;)] Anyhow, I know what you mean by how elevating changes everything. I like the height a LOT better than the 6" my Garden line is raised. Later eh…Brian. [tup]
Live steamers are rabid about raised track, they all use it due to the need to be able to reach the controls but I have seen a few raised platform layouts for sparkies too. Kinda like doing an indoor layout in the outdoors only you better use pressure treated lumber or else.
Hi grndpopswalt
My line is 9" above the O" mark and really too low
The planned 1/2 started extension has a 1in 64 grade to try and get the rest of what I propose doing at something geting close to a reasonable hight
I am a bit shorter than you and at a guess from your user name younger but
would sugest to any one starting fre***o get it up at a comfertable hight and remember that age catches us all in the end and its suposed to be a lif time hobbie so plan it that way.
regards John
I’ll second everybody about having a raised R.O.W. I built my garden railroad at 16" above grade. That was fine ten years ago, I could get up and down easily then. Now I can’t, and boy, do I wi***hat the railroad was higher! But I couldn’t afford the materials then, and I can’t now.
Moral: plan ahead! You WILL get old and creaky sooner or later!
SandyR
At three feet off the floor on benches, my guess is that you won’t be setting much up in the way of live plants. That’s the primary reason I switched over to garden trains in th first place. Maybe someday when I’m older and can’t bend over anymore, I’ll consider moving to benchwork but for right now, give me a set of knee pads, gloves and some diggin’ tools and let me have at it.[;)][:D]
I agree that plants and flowers are essential to a garden railroad, hence the name.
I plan to rebuild using a combination of raised platforms and earth filled “islands” connected by raised earth and stone roadbed. The platforms are where yards, depots, and industries will be located. If a few trees and or flowers are needed, they can be grown in containers positioned with the pots below grade. The islands are where towns or industries are located and would be fully cultivated. The roadbed would have vegetation placed all around it just as though it were at ground level.
Over the years I’ve seen many examples of fine garden railroads whose elevated roadbed was tastefully integrated into the garden, it just takes a little more work and some careful planning.
Hi markperr
its all in the way it gets done track on a stick bench work or raised garden beds or even slate embankments like the Ffestiniog (spelling) railway
regards John
Walt
In the February issue of GR Eric Lloyd had his Nantlais Valley Railway raised around the perimeter of his yard. It looks neat. I certainly wish I had done something like that. I’m about your height and maybe about your age. When I work on the part of my lay out at ground level I sit on a dove stool. It’s close to the ground, comfortable and the legs stradle the track. The part of my layout that is elevated runs between “islands” similar to what you are contemplating for yours. Unfortunately, mine is only about twenty inches off the ground. Good luck on your new outdoor construction.
Bob
Walt, good idea. I have a couple of depressions in one of my concrete mountians that I’ve been telling myself for two years now to plant some sort of low groundcover in. Possibly an ivy of some sort so that it can flow down the mountainside. Post pics when you do it. I’d like to see it.
I’ll certainly share whatever progress I make in this venture. But let me warn you ahead of time, I’m much better (and faster) at planning than I am at actually doing things. Hopefully I’ll have something to show before you start collecting social security.
Ok, rank newbie here. The concept of a “raised garden railway” seems way off to me. I understand raising the grade of the road bed via some block or ties. But actually raising the grade via benchwork (ala HO or N), seems odd. Would someone grace me with some pictures of what your talking about.
I don’t have photos to share but maybe a brief description might help. imagine building a “table” 16’ X 4’ and three feet high. The table is made of pressure treated lumber. The surface is composed of 1’ X 8" PTL boards (or some other weather proof material). The track is attached to the 1X8’s. The area in between the boards can be covered with screening and some sort of mulch or even earth can be placed on it. If trees or plants are wanted, they can be placed in containers whose tops are flush with the surface. A number of folks spread cement over the screening to simulate mountains, valleys, etc.
The advantage to using “platforms” is that you get a large, flat area without having to import tons of fill and construct heavy retaining walls (both of which are expensive and time consuming).
The construction of Mr. Loyd’s elevated right-of-way is exactly what I have in mind for the “islands” I’ve refered to, only I plan on 4’ width where his is 2’. I envision the ROW between the islands and the platforms to be about 1’ wide at the top with the sides sloping outward (no retaining walls).
Walt
Have you ever considered going to a craft store such as Michaels and buying a bunch of plastic plants and flowers for the part of your railway in your garage? Then you would have an indoor railroad which is a model of an outdoor railroad. There could be some advantages to such a set up. One would be that if you ever spilled a drink you would never kill any plants. Another would be that in dead of winter you could put on a pair of Bermuda shorts, a Hawiian shirt , some shades, and sit on a beach chair and pretend that you were in the middle of the summer.
Bob