Garden Railway Forum

There's a potential project looming in the future for a scenic sm32 line to be built.... I've thought about this as a track plan, what are people's thoughts?

Your garden or mine?

It's ambitious - how many years have you got??

Peter Butler:92025 wrote:Your garden or mine?

Either going in my garden when I buy a house, or potentially for a local club layout....

I estimate I could build the track layout in a summer Brian. Building all the stations and scenery would be ongoing and would probably take 1-2years.

I guess a good question if it was to be a club line would be is there enough passing space for running multiple locos?

LnBmad:92028 wrote: Building all the stations and scenery would be ongoing and would probably take 1-2years.

That certainly is ambitious..... I'm retired and still couldn't achieve all of that in your timescale.
That doesn't mean I wouldn't try!

Peter Butler:92030 wrote:

LnBmad:92028 wrote: Building all the stations and scenery would be ongoing and would probably take 1-2years.

That certainly is ambitious..... I'm retired and still couldn't achieve all of that in your timescale.
 That doesn't mean I wouldn't try!

Many tricks I have learnt.... And I have a fair amount of support so wouldn't be tackling it alone

Have you calculated the size of garden required to fit it all in?
Bear in mind you might also be sharing with 1) Partner, 2) Children and toys, 3) Animals, 4) Domestic requirements etc.....

Roughly 40' x 24' using 6' radius curves as a minimum. The space in the centre leaves enough for the kids to play and to house the washing line. I could actually fit this in my current garden but don't want to do it yet as we only rent.

I think it is a brilliant plan and you should begin with the scenic structures asap. This could save you time in the future when you need to devote time to laying track. As long as you stick to your basic plan you could make many buildings during the long, dark, cold and miserable months ahead.
I hope that has cheered you up!

I may well do that Peter. First to finish is my set of carriages though.

I think you have overdone it a bit, the trains run from return loop to return loop. There isn't much space left for rustic scenes.

The Denying Dutchman:92036 wrote:I think you have overdone it a bit, the trains run from return loop to return loop. There isn't much space left for rustic scenes.

This was one of my concerns.... I want enough loops to enable running of multiple locos easily, but enough space so it's able to feel rustic.

I think I have made my case in other posts that I am not a fan of 'multiple locos' on the same line. I am not a purist and certainly not a rivet counter but multiples just dont happen on the real thing.
If movement is needed there is ample opportunity in sidings etc for train preparation.
If it is to represent a rural railway then limited and slow movement should be a must have.

LnBmad:92037 wrote:

The Denying Dutchman:92036 wrote:I think you have overdone it a bit, the trains run from return loop to return loop. There isn't much space left for rustic scenes.

This was one of my concerns.... I want enough loops to enable running of multiple locos easily, but enough space so it's able to feel rustic.

Why not using double tracks from the main station to another station, which is realistic, and then have a single track running to a small station with a return loop at the opposite part of the railway. That way you can eliminate one return loop, creating more space for rustic scenes without sacrifising the possibility of running multiple trains.

if in a garden then at least you can extend the line between stations to make it longer..
you would need a lift out section maybe 2 if nearer the house end as the rest can follow the fence layout...start getting a station or plans and materials(I am in same situation as you as we in rented place at the moment until hopefully late next year so we dont want anything permanant..
oh and buy track every now and then as once you get a place the cost wont be as much even if its just a bit of flexi track or a point once a month it spreads the cost a bit

jay1976:92061 wrote: buy track every now and then as once you get a place the cost wont be as much even if its just a bit of flexi track or a point once a month it spreads the cost a bit

Sound advice from jay... you would be amazed at the expense involved in moving home and setting up as you would like it.
Inflation will add to your budget too so what you can gather now is good investment.

Am picking bits up as and when I can.