You probably think I’m nuts, but I moved about 10 years ago and had to tear apart my basement layout. My present location has no indoor space for a layout. After missing the hobby for so long, I decided last spring to build an HO layout around the wooden fence in my backyard. To test the theory, I built about 40 linear feet of benchwork about 1-1/2 feet wide along the fence. Total usable length around the fence is about 160 linear feet. I used 1/2" exterior plywood ( painted) and then topped it with 1/2" asphalt impregnated fiberboard which I also painted. I laid track on it and have since let is withstand the elements for about 10 months now. It seems to be holding up pretty well.
I eventually plan to construct a small roof over the layout cantilevered from the top of the fence.
I know this seems extreme, so am I totally nuts or is anyone aware of this being done before?
I recall an outdoor HO layout in southern California mentioned in a letter to MR about 40 years ago (the author mentioned 28 degrees as cold, the ed. inserted “around here, 28 is warm!”) so the idea isn’t new. I believe that someone in the British Isles was running a garden railroad in either OO or HO-OO during that same time period.
I originally planned to build my new layout outdoors. Three plus months of temperatures above 105 plus a sun strong enough to melt an Athearn box car decided me to move under cover! The garage isn’t that much cooler, but at least the sun doesn’t shine in.
I have a mid-70’s issue of Railroad Modeling magazine which shows an N scale outdoor model of an open-pit copper mine. It was in Southern California - and if I reall correctly was badly damaged by rare rain a week or so after completion. But it is certainly feasible. Biggest issue I see if power pickup - a common thing in G scale is on-board rechargeable batteries and radio control, this the abiity of the track to conduct electricty to the loco is not an issue. In smaller scales such a thing is harder to do, there just isn’t enough room on-board.
I would look at it as a challenge, not you being nuts…although you may, in fact BE nuts. [:o)]
If you continue with your disciplined and methodical approach, I don’t see why you should not be successful eventually. Leaving aside frequent cleaning of the right of way for obvious reasons, if you shelter your equipment (controllers and machines, including locos) when they are not in use, and can count on the odd freek wind to stay away, your fence-mounted railroad should be a real pleasure. If you persist, I hope you will post some pix.
Big issues to overcome as you probably know, and others have mentioned:
keeping track clean
drainage of rain and dew
deterioration of paint and plastic in sunlight - happens a lot faster than one would think, depending on location.
I have read the various articles cited, but nobody ever revisits after a few years to see if the extra maintenance became overwhelming or the creator stuck with it.
Never really got into the idea of building a layout of any scale outdoors. It gets cold here in PA in the winter. It’s literally 10 degrees Fahrenheit here right this minute. Even during the warm weather the idea of scooping and scraping animal poop off the tracks never appealed to me. Still if you can make it work good for you especially in HO.
Thanks for all of the good input everyone. I have read the article referenced and I’m still not discouraged. I’m a semi-retired architect, so I’m pretty aware of what the elements can do to the railroad, so I’m planning to take it slow and methodical. As I said, I’m semi-retired, so I should have the time to experiment a little, use the methods that work and tear out the ones that don’t.
Again, thanks and any more input is certainly welcome.
Dirtyd79 made a good point about animal poop - I know there are plenty of ‘critters’ in Central Tennessee (I used to live in Ashland City) and very few of them are housebroken.
You might want to think about some kind of ‘indoor-outdoor’ arrangement - mounted on the fence, as you’ve started, roofed over, with some kind of front cover to keep four-legged visitors at bay (transparent, or hinged panels if opaque.)
One other thing - avoid using anything even remotely edible for scenery unless you want ants to represent passengers.
I have not done this concept personally, and wish you great success!
As far as track maintenance regarding the elements, please check my profile page for ‘GLEAM’ posts and replies. You may find this interesting…[2c]