I am new to the garden railway, but not that much of a newbie to the train scene for witch i own an O gauge train set that goes around my living room that i did. my first post was in the wrong forms category but some good ideas. I had asked what was the best diameter to use that would run mostly all trains, but i was mostly going to use the diesel type loco’s with some traditional steam loco’s. I was told that the 10’ diameter would work best. My first design was going to be an oval track that was going to be in a “C” style run where the track ran along the back walls of my yard and at both ends is where the loop was going to be, making the track run up back along beside it self[:D]. Now with more planning I want to add a switch track to one of the loops and have the tracks run to the front of my house using only maybe about 1/4 or less of the front yard only for the track to loop back around by the front door and go back to the backyard. Now the track that I am using is USA Track and i was thinking about using there number 6 switch track but I could not remember where I read it but I think that someone else said that LGB or Aristo Craft have the better switch tracks. If that is the case does anyone know witch one it is, or should i just stay with the USA track. but i need a switch track that would help incorperate the 10’ diameter, for I will be extending the loop to fit the switch track and that is why I was think of going with the number 6 switch track from USA trains. I am almost finished with putting my layout on the comupter, I did everything by hand first and now I have it in Illustrator and tracing it. so sometime soon I will be posting my layout design with the new addition if anyone might need some more idea’s to how and what i am talking about.
thanks for reading[8D]
E-man[}:)]
Eric;
First, Welcome to GR! I would like to make two quick points. I’ve only been in GR almost 2 years now, but I took a lot of advice form old posts on this forum.
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After two years of reading before I purchased anything, The overwhelming vocals here will tell you to stay with LGB switches for reliability, and durability.
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Depending upon where you live you might NOT want to advetise that you have a RR in the yard. It’s a vandalism thing.
On the other hand, if you can get some of the neighborhood kids to help build it, they have a vested interest in helping keep it vandal free!
Most execelent point Capt Bob!
I stand corrected.
thank you for that input. I like the idea of having neighborhood kids getting involed. On the postive side my house is at the end of a coldasack (bad speller)[:O] and the only way to see the train (where I want to put it,) or my front door is to get out and walk up to it. You can not see it from the street. So thanks again and thanks ttrigg for reminding me that it was LGB to us and Capt. bob for the idea with kids.
Eman