“Dear Alastair,
Please find enclosed two pictures of my garden railway experiment.
This project was started when I lost the control of my “Train Room” small as it was.
So I decided to try the garden after watching the wonderfull series of Garden Railway’s by Mark found.
The idea is to construct several modular base boards place them on 40mm dia pvc drain pipe and bury them into the ground.
Hopefully I will be able to source plants which will grow under the base boards to give a nice green background for the trains to run through.
Regards
Andrew”
And now on to the main event. Every now and then a jaw dropping layout comes in. Like Mark’s. Here it is:
“Hi Al. Thanks for the kind words. Here is some more info. Feel free to edit it for size and reader interest.
The layout, physically located in the Las Vegas, NV area is a freelance fictional short line RR “Sweetwater & Thunder Mountain” which shares track rights with the Union Pacific, Southern Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads. The time frame is roughly from the 30’s & 40’s which allows Steam operation through approximately the late 70’s for medium Diesel Power (depending on what I feel like running at different times) The inspiration comes from the Sierra Nevada Mt. Ranges along with the Alaska RR. Lots of tunnels, bridges, granite rock, trees, vegetation, sheer cliffs etc. It has five major towns, Sweetwater, Eagle Mt., Sheridan Yards, Thunder Mt (which is the connecting point to Dunsmuir, CA) Boyd City (hidden) and several whistle stops – Red Rock Station and Camp Carroll. There is an operating turntable and roundhouse in the SW Yards.
The layout is in an area approximately 22’ x 20’ which includes the workshop area. The construction is open grid with risers starting at 4’ and rising to 5’ for track and just over 6.5’ total for scenery. It is basically an around the wall scheme with a free standing 4’ wide peninsula which allows operators to “walk the canyon”. The scenery is all done using plaster cloth over pillows of newspaper and using real rock from my back yard along with some molded and rubber rock. There is one elongated helix and one standard helix both hidden under mountains. Our favorite saying here is “What happens in the Helix, stays in the Helix”. However, I do have emergency access. I have some guys over and we can actually run timetable operations with a full passenger service in about 6 hours Fast Clock Time or 1 hour real time.
Electrically, there are five control panels located in strategic areas so local switching can be accomplished along with mainline passenger and freight service. Nickel-silver, code 83 rail is used throughout with a minimum 18” radius (this fits the smaller wheel base equipment timeframe) All turnouts are electrically thrown using Tortoise machines and most coupling/uncoupling is done with under track magnets. Control is accomplished using North Coast Engineering, is all radio controlled DCC with hand held throttles. 98% of all motive power is DCC and Sound equipped.
One really cool feature is that the Sweetwater Yards are designed to not only function as an operating yard, but can also be used as a John Allen inspired “timesaver switching puzzle” You’d be amazed at how moving 4 boxcars around into proper locations with a stopwatch running and bring grown men to their knees with exhaustion! Model Railroading is FUN!
Cheers!
Mark”
“Hi Al.
A little update.That wheel of 3mm diode’s.comes in 30 foot wheel I paid oh I think was $3 and free shipping.You see on the strip at the end is two copper tabs. you can solder positive and negative. You can see where to cut the strip.
I cut 3 and attached wires.I used a dead 9 volt battery to power them.The other side of the strip is very sticky if you peel off the paper.I recommend sanding the copper tabs before you solder wires to it.You can cut as many as you like from the strip and also each section has its own 12 volt resistor.You can also desolder each diode off the strip to use for car headlights or other uses.How about lighting for coaches.These wheels come in many colors.
Kim”
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
Mark that is one impressive layout. Definitely in the “layout of a lifetime” category. Would love to see a track plan or an overview shot if you get a chance. Thanks for posting.
Cameron
You have produced a first class layout there Mark , your work area looks very interesting as well , well done , one of the best ..
Andrew, Do you have much trouble with “critters” causing damage to your garden layout?
Mark , That is a great layout ! Fine work!
Fitz
You did a magnificent job,
Did Kim by any chance say where he ordered the 3mm diodes rolls from? Thanks
I could swear these photos were from a real railroad system! Very realistically well done and fantastic photography too! Very commendable job, Mark!
I’m a model train enthusiast, but have not started my own yet. One of these days…. Thank you, Alastair, for faithfully sending out these e-mails. I enjoy them very much.
sorry I got them from ebay bunch of colors. and are 12 volt.
The diodes can be found on e-bay in a few different colors
Hi Andrew, please keep us updated on your garden rail project, as I am contemplating something similar on strips of UV/PVC. Your approach is very interesting. D/
Mark your layout looks amazing. I will be in Las Vegas late September amnd i would love to see it if possible. Cheers Rossco Adelaide South Australia
Just outstanding Mark! Such nice details, work of art!
Mark, VERY WELL DONE 👍
Mark, the Timesaver is not the only John Allen inspired feature. Are the canyons finished all the way to the floor? If not, that could be your next phase.
All, if you are not familiar with John Allen, read up on him and prepare to see the Holy Grail of railroading. He lived in Monterrey California, USA. It is worth your time.
Andrew,
I noticed you were using 2×4’s that look to be made of pine. If you’re going to lay them outside, on the ground or even near the ground, you should probably use pressure treated lumber
Please Kim be more specific about those diode strips. Is there a reference number, a company name, a specific size? I looked on E-bay and found a number of different strips but none that looked like the one Kim’s picture. This is a great idea and inexpensive, please share the details.
Hi Andrew, nice to see someone else trying a garden railroad, I’ve been working on my for sometime. You approach is unique, please keep us posted. Cary in KY
Hey Mark, after viewing your photos a 2nd time I noticed your backdrop includes painting the inside of your garage door- what a hoot! Amazing layout, thanks for sharing. Cary in KY
A truly great looking layout, Mark. Super detailing as well.
Jim AZ
I have seen those light wheels for $3 on WISH.
The lights are also available from Miro Mark.
Al, Todays post was super. All the layouts and ideas were really great.
Cary B
Andrew, I would like very much to see more pics of your garden layout. I don’t think I understand your plan. Will you bury the pipe to the bottom of the wooden elements of your track? If so, I would also think pressure treated lumber would be called for.
Mark, thank you for sharing the pics of your wonderful layout. I can see from your detailing you are a master of the craft! I would like to see a video of the Sweetwater & Thunder mountain railroad. Is that in the works?
And last, but certainly not least, Thank You for all you do in keeping this great website running 24/7. What would we do without you?
Mark, fantastic layout, would love to see in person, I’m in Boulder City. 661.275.8400 ext 56488, give me a ring, I’ll drop everything. Chuck
Bravo, love the country/mountainous layout Mark! Love to see a video.
Interesting projects today. Andrew, the comment about pressure treated wood or perhaps cedar or redwood is well noted, especially if dealing with dampness.
Now we know where the picture of the Santa Fe caboose comes from (we see it every time we open one of Al’s wonderful emails). Stunning work, Mark.
MN Dan
Mark………..What an impressive layout. Really good looking.
Can I ask you how long you have been working on your layout.
Magnificent
Mark, I think you have started what some of us are NOT game enough to attempt. Someone has already mentioned timber and wildlife. What about keeping tracks clean? Nicol / Silver is good but still gets dirty inside. Not sure about outside? I assume you will have a safe engine shed and wagon hideouts somewhere. Good Luck.
Great Layout!! Very well done! God Bless America!
I just wished I had this layout myself. It is the neatest thing, I have ever seen. Some day maybe I will. The only thing I would change is have more steam locomotives, especially the Berkshire, which is my favorite.
This is better than the real thing.. Some of the BEST modeling I have ever seen.
Mark:
All I can say is WOW! Is there any way to get more pictures of your layout, especially the main plan? I am a 75 year old semi retired Architect that my mom said I got my first train 6 months before I was born. Carried my trains everywhere I moved but never had time to really do a layout. Now I do.
Thanks. BG
Very nice layout..Always a pleasure to see someone use a little imagination when they take pics of there scenery and running trains….Love your station tower and some old lookin’ stuff, like your tunnel and coal shute with the work caboose nearby….Photography is an art in itself. Either you have it or you don’t..Dangerous Dave is about the best I’ve seen, but your getting there..Love your layout….
John Allen was known as “The Wizard of Monterey.” Shortly after he died, his house and railroad were destroyed in a fire. his first railroad was 4’X8. For several years in the late 1940’s, Varney, a now defunct manufacturer, used John,’s pike in his ads, which were always on the back cover of Model Railroader Magazine.
Mark, The photography is superb as is the layout.
Andrew I like the sectional support idea. Is that MDF for the road bed and the 1x2s are spaced 40mm apart? I’ve been trying to visualize something similar for a seasonal track that is not laid on the ground but elevated 5 or 6 inches just to minimize problems with drainage, squirrels, and rabbits. Not to mention problems with bark and compost. It would run Halloween to Christmas when the butterfly garden is resting. How many pipe supports per section?
Absolutly a great layout, wonderful scenery, looks like you could walk in and ride the train.
As usual I have only one complaint. With each project I would like to see a track plan, show the bench work and wiring.
Love your work Andrew.