Questions
My
Suggestions
On
Planning A Outdoor Railroad
If
you are thinking, or already planning on
building
your own Outdoor Railroad, I have listed
a
few things that I would suggest you need to think
about,
before you buy the first piece of track,
rolling
stock, or engine.
First
off, let me say, These are my own observations
and
experiances, after spending 3 years of time
building
my
Desert
Springs &
Rattler Gap
Outdoor
Railroad!
What
worked for me, may not be the best way
for
you to build your railroad!
[It
will be 4 years come Feb. 2001]
#1.
Do you want to have trains run in loop,
or
run point to point, or loop to loop?
I
have my railroad set up to run as a point to point,
operations
type Railroad. But I did build it so I can let
the
trains run in one big circle, when visitors are here.
*
#2.
Do you want to operate your railroad, as in
delivering
goods and making switching moves?
*
#3.
Do you want steam, and or diesel power?
This
will set the mood and era for the Railroad
*
#4.
How much land can you aquire for the Railroad?
Obviously,
the more land you can aquire the better!!
Does
the wife have any inerest in the trains?
Try
and get her to join in on the planning, construction, and
all
other phases.
*
#5.
Now that you have the land, can you use large
radius
curves?
I
built my track with 5 foot radius curves!
Wish
I had used some 10 foot radius, As larger curves are best!
*
#6.
Do you want to have your railroad raised 18"
or
more, for ease of maintenance, and viewing?
They
do look better up closer to eye level, plus it helps as
we
get a bit older, it is better on the back.
But
the down side, it is more work in beginning.
My
railroad varies from ground level to 2 feet off the ground.
*
#7.
Do you have a drainage problem in the area
in
which you have land rights, when it rains hard?
You
don't want water to collect and cause wash-outs!
This
might be where you put a pond or other water feature
to
catch rain run off!
*
#8.
Will you want to power the trains with
the
age old transformer, or with batteries and
Radio
Control?
Your
decision to this question will be one of the hardest!
I
went with battery and RC, and have not been sorry I did so!
*
#9.
Will you want to hand lay your track?
I
went with manufactured track but scratch build my switches.
There
are several manufactured switches to be bought.
*
#10.
Do you have children that will be part of
the
management of the railroad?
This
may influence the type of equipment
that
is bought.
My
first suggestion, would be to take time
in
your planning! Ask questions of local outdoor
railroaders,
members of clubs. If possible, visit
other
outdoor railroads to get Ideas and see
first
hand how things are done. If your spouse
and
kids, like gardening, making small buildings,
or
carving figures, ask he/she/them, for help and/or
suggestions
in planning the railroad. Make it a
family
hobby if you can.
~
To
help find some answers to these and many
other
questions that will arise. Come visit other
large
scale railroaders on the web site of
"Largescale
Central"
&
"Finescale"
links
are provided from the Switching
Yard
There
are many very talented people that
are
regulars on these sites. They are more then
willing
to answer questions, give opinions on
products,
and share their fixes to problems,
large
and small, that arise in this hobby .
Just
remember,
that
the only dumb question,
is
the one NOT asked!!
A
note on
Largescale
Central
and
Finescale
This
web sites are Family sites!
The
workshop forums are open all the time!
The
chats are open 24 hours, but most people do not get
online,
till after 6 PM PST
To the Switch Yard
To
The Index Page
