Garden Railway Forum

Finally had some free time yesterday to start cobbling together some track. The bridge is the layout's benchmark.

Ooh, that looks good Dwayne.

HI Dwayne,

That's looking absolutely great. I love the way the track bed sits in the landscape. I'm really looking forward to seeing this develop.

Andrew

I like the fact you can sit in the pit area and watch trains run over the bridge.

The ground certainly looks more settled now Dwayne, a new set of points (switch) too I see.
Grant

Thanks gents. Glad to finally get a start on putting together track. The weather here hasn't been cooperating.

Grant, the switch is the first curved switch I built about 3-4 years ago. The ties are in decent shape but I'm going to replace them eventually. I'm hoping that the diesel fuel/used oil treatment I'm now employing will extend the life of the wood.

Ah, knowing the speed with which you build track I thought you had just whipped up another curved switch
Grant.

Thought I didn’t get anymore on the NT Dwayne, but the Two Dogs does look very interesting. Wish I had a back yard has huge as your’s..you probably wouldn’t see me for days…..

Made some progress on the layout this weekend between other non-railway related tasks around the yard.

Track laying is going a bit slower than on the old layout simply because none of the previous track sections(other than the switches) are being reused. All the rail was stripped from the old ties and are being spiked to the new diesel/oil soaked ties. I'm also using a slightly larger nail that doesn't penetrate the ties near as easy (even though they are 1/2" long vs. 5/8" of the previous nail) which requires using a nail set to tap them down flush onto the rail foot.

Looking good Dwayne I like the shape of the layout.

Great work Dwayne - I especially like where you include bridges where you naturally need them- often in the garden we have to manufacture a reason to pop in a bridge - yours meet a need based on the lay of the land and as a result look so natural and 'right'

Some hard work going into your line Dwayne....

Hi Dwayne,

As Kevin says, the new line is an interesting shape. It's certainly providing some good views of the line. It looks like another very nice line. Once the earthworks loose the 'raw edge' it's going to look like it's been there for years. The new track construction method sounds very durable, looking forward to seeing more.

Andrew

Thanks gents. I've got about half the track in place thus far. Trying to get it completed within the next couple of weeks before higher temps and tornados arrive...

Trying to get the track all laid before WW3 breaks out and shuts down my plans and play.

I've been assembling a few feet each evening this week. Completed the west loop where Maggie is located and have now begun on the final loop where Hope is located.

I've also decided to add a short logging branch line which veers off the main near Hope. Having to snake the track around a couple of yucca plants to make it work. The temporary fence that keeps the two namesake pooches off the layout will eventually be taken down when everything fills out with plant cover.

Thats coming along nicely Dwayne.

Nice work Dwayne,

I love the fact that you adapt and add as you go, it makes for some very interesting bits of construction and some really attractive railway.

Looking forward to seeing the first train.

Andrew

Thanks gents.

I was hoping to get more track down today but my native Canada sent a blast of frigid air my way so outdoor activity was curtailed.

I know what you mean, Easter Monday and it’s lashing it down here and cold with it….

It's very organic the way your builds come together Dwayne. You mould the landscape into what you want when most of us use man made materials to create our lines.