Choosing rail for the garden railroad

Garden Railways

Rail comes in many different sizes and materials. Here’s a little background information to help you chose the one that’s right for you. Rail sizes The size of model-train rail in any scale is referred to by “code.” For instance, in large-scale railroading we commonly use code-332, code-250, or code-215 rail, although code 197 is […]

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Garden railroading/Large-scale railroading terms

Garden Railways

Annual refers to a plant that lives for only one season and must be replanted each year. Ballast is the medium, usually gravel of some sort, that provides a firm underlayment for track, helps to hold it in place, and drains water away from the ties. Battery power is another way of operating electrically powered […]

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Garden-railway etiquette for visitors

The Gateway Garden Railroad Club's modular layout

Bob Temper • Don’t arrive early. Most garden railroaders tend to work frantically up until the last minute getting their lines ready. Arriving early can be disruptive. • Don’t stay late. Our hosts are exhausted by the end of the day, so please leave by closing time. • Sign the guest book. Owners like to […]

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Carrabasset & Dead River

Name: Carrabasset & Dead River Scale: HOn2½ Size: 28 x 28 feet Prototype: free-lanced, based on Maine two-foot gauge prototypes Locale: coastal and interior Maine Period: 1941 Style: around-the-walls walkaround Minimum radius: 18″ Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the link to download a PDF […]

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Franklin & South Manchester

Name: Franklin & South Manchester RR Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 23 x 42 feet Prototype: free-lanced, based on Boston & Albany, Boston & Maine, and New York, New Haven & Hartford Locale: New England Period: 1935 Style: walkaround Minimum radius: 30″ Maximum grade: 2 percent Scenery construction: hydrocal on nylon screen over plywood forms Originally […]

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Garden railroading/Large-scale railroading terms

Garden Railways

Annual refers to a plant that lives for only one season and must be replanted each year. Ballast is the medium, usually gravel of some sort, that provides a firm underlayment for track, helps to hold it in place, and drains water away from the ties. Battery power is another way of operating electrically powered […]

Read More…

Choosing rail for the garden railroad

Garden Railways

Rail comes in many different sizes and materials. Here’s a little background information to help you chose the one that’s right for you. Rail sizes The size of model-train rail in any scale is referred to by “code.” For instance, in large-scale railroading we commonly use code-332, code-250, or code-215 rail, although code 197 is […]

Read More…

Basics of gauge-1 switches, part 2

Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz Keeping dirt and debris out of the moving points is imperative to proper operation. The author uses a stiff brush to keep things moving freely through an operating session. Kevin Strong The frog and guardrail flangeways—like the points—need to be kept clear. These areas aren’t […]

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