Hi… I have a question on building an outdoor layout . I’ve been a model railroader for many years now, have two rooms in the basement pretty much filled with my layout, and now I 'd like to start building outdoors. I have some ponds in the backyard that I’d just love to see the trains winding their way around. I just retired too, so I have lots of time on my hands now for this project!
The question I have is does anyone model outdoors in HO? I was at a garden supply store that has G models running around ponds on display, I mentioned HO and he said it wouldn’t work, yet I read that in the UK they run OO outdoors and have for years.
I figure I’ll set up a test track around part of my ponds and see how it fairs before going all out on it. Just wondering what others think of this?
Besides the many issues of UV in sunlight, waterproofing engines and structures and the myriad of other things that go with going outdoors, one thing you will find is that that great big G scale train gets suprisingly small looking once you get it outside.
Another bit of the visual view is that you can find real plants that actually look like trees! In you neck of the woods, dwarf trees such as Alberta Spruce thrive on the railroad and look way more realistic than anything I can model.
Welcome to the forum[8D]
Garry
welcome to this forum.
You can try anything outside, but even in G gauge there is goods and bad with what will work and what won’t outside.
Personally i sold all my other scales about the 2 nd year of G. The challenge of the great outdoors took hold. You do need to like to be out doors, it makes it easier on the body.
The out doors even in a small space is so different from indoors, and the abiltiy to with stand the elements of nature on the RR is a rewarding challenge.
The cry for some of us is ,KEEP the line open.
Last years snow fall was perfect and with NO ice before hand. Above the Aristo plow and two Sd45s clears the siding for the grain company.
Even the pacific had to use the plow while heading south out of tunnel #2.
Marty,
I just love seeing the snow pics. I sure hope next winter starts with a light snow instead of the rain and ice pellets we got this time. Gonna’ try an Aristo plow for my first time out. Later eh…Brian.
Yeah mate I wouldn’t do it in any case real men only have "G"scale.
Ian
Thanks guys for your info. Never really thought much about bugs and leaves getting in the way of the trains before, guess you learn something new everyday! Those pics of the snow plough at work are just great. My interest in getting started on my project has really been stoked. Now I just need to visit a nearby garden center that carries a large selection of garden railway supplies and get some ideas and prices…and then most likely go home and sulk. lol
The next thing is to convince my wife that in the end it will all be worth what ever it is I have to spend. What the heck, it worked in getting the ponds built and she is quite proud of them!
rr
Don’t limit your thinking to “going around the ponds”. Find the right spot and a bridge can really accent a well landscaped pond if you keep the bridge in the backgroud.
I love building bridges and there are Arch Bridge kits available to span up to 85". If you scratch build the only limit is the size of your work bench. Look up some of Marty Cozad’s bridges. His bridges would kind of overwhelm a pond but they prove that size isn’t a limit.
One word of caution though, when building outside structures you need to use different techniques and different wood then you would use inside.
This is the first winter for my railroad . We are trying out different materials and seeing how they hold up . This year should be a real test as we had temperatures at 62 degrees on wednesday and rain and today ,saturday it’s 4 degrees outside. The ground is heaving as I type this . One of the materials I am testing is tile mortar for my roads . I went out there yesterday and noticed a lot of cracks in the road . Maybe come spring i’ll try filling the cracks with a thin bead of tar . Just like the real thing !Thats one of the things that is apealing to me about outdoor garden trains . You have to fight the elements like the real railroads do .Trains outside just look better cuz of the sunlite . Anyway heres a picture of my steam engine out back . 
Mike
Thats some good thoughts. I’ve been testing for 14 years now and still don’t have many answers. I use alot of conrete and 3/8" rebar for support. Anything to thin will crack. I don’t have hardly any heaving going on cause i try to keep the moisture out of the ground under things. Its been so dry here for so long that shincking is more of a problem and things sink.
Is that MTH Challenger?
Marty , we’ll find out in a few months how it all held up . I’m hoping I don’t have to re-do the whole road system but if I do oh well . The layout should settle pritty good this winter and spring . All the hard landscape work is done now so scenery is will be the major undertaking this year . Can’t wait to start . Yes that is a MTH challenger . Got it a few months ago. Real fun engine to run with their proto 2.0 system and it don’t look out of scale with my other rolling stock . I will be using it mostly with my USA streamline cars .
Mike, I can’t wait to see those cars behind her.