Scottish Garden Railways

Large scale trains in YOUR garden or home

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Building your own Garden Railway

Last goods delivered to this station 12 October 2020

(Sound on this page is of Ex LNER B1 No.61264 leaving Perth)

I am often asked about starting a large scale railway. This is a very big subject and other people have described most aspects of the hobby in several books, magazine articles and even a TV program. What I have tried to do is give some basic ideas based on what I have been asked, railways I have seen built and my own experience.

This is an open document. If you want to add, correct, improve or challenge anything I will be pleased to consider what you say and add any of your pictures. Hopefully in this way some useful information will be available for anyone thinking about joining us by building a large scale railway of their own. One of the best ways is to join the G scale society, get four excellent magazines per year, meet fellow enthusiasts in your area and see what they have done - Check out G-Scale society

Starting out in the garden

There are several reasons why you might want to build a G scale railway in your garden.

* You have in most cases more space than you could ever find in a modern house

* In G scale The trains are bigger, run more like real trains and are easier to see and model

* You are building a "real" railway in real countryside and have to tackle all the problems real railway builders faced. Then you have to contend with your local wldlife. Not just cats and dogs but rabbits, moles and badgers. Oh and hedghogs love nice quiet tunnels for hibernation.

^^^An example of what you can achieve in the garden

Only in the Garden?

Does it have to be in the garden? (Obviously not).

If you have a spare hallway, ideal for G scale. More likely though would be an attic or basement ^^^

What is G scale?

G is garden, G is Gross as in Lehmann-Gross-Bahn, G is 1:22.5= European metre gauge, G is Bachmann American 1:20.2 or 1:22.5, G is Aristo-craft 1:29 or sometimes 1:24, G is American 3 foot narrow gauge, sometimes standard gauge and sometimes even 2 foot gauge.

So G is a lot of scales all running on 45mm gauge (wide) track using 0-22volts DC on the rails unless you have a digital system like LGB MTS (multi train system) which run with 18volts constant AC on the rails.

Massoth systems run up to 24volts.

ROCO Z21 will run all of your scale and gauge DCC railways but for larger G scale setups you may need a more powerful transformer

Very confusing, but if you like the trains then it's your railway, you built it, you run what you want.

^^^There must be an ideal picture for this spot but this will have to do for now - LGB Starter set

Setting?

Your railway can be set in a separate area of the garden - maybe where you have removed a garage or shed or a set aside area. This will give what I think of as the model railway board.

While this might suit some people I think they might be loosing out on some of the fun of a garden railway. So, become a railway buider, follow the contours of the ground, build viaducts, bridges and embankments over depressions and streams. When you reach a hill dig a cutting or bore a tunnel.

It is also worth trying to run your railway into and/or through a shed, garage, lean-to building of some kind, basement, conservatory or even your living rooom. This will allow you to store your trains between running sessions without lifting them every time.

A corner of your garden to set your railway^^^

An example?

Trasform your garden from this...

Just an example of the change a railway can make - plus work in progress^^^

Track?

Track for G scale trains is Gauge 1 - 45mm. between the inside edges of the rails. LGB and Aristo-craft track are solid brass and so do not corrode. Sleepers are plastic but will not be affected by long exposure to light or indeed weather. Track is availabe in set lengths from 300mm/1 foot to 1200mm/4 feet (LGB/PIKO/Bachmann brass) . Points are made in several radii. Flexi track components can be used and there is a range of crossings, short track pieces and special track parts.

Diameter of track curves is important and should be considered at the railway planning stage. This is because some locomotives and rolling stock will not go round curves below a certain minimum. Most starter sets come with 4 foot diameter curves and these are great for European style layouts using small locomotives coaches and wagons. It is true that all LGB trains will negotiate this small diameter track but the larger units will never look right. In the case of the bigger Aristo engines and most Bachmann Spectrum stock they just need wider bends.

So, if you are ever going to build a US style railway it is worth starting with as wide curves as you can fit in. LGB go up o 16foot diameter. With flexi track you can decide your own.

Some LGB track in place (this time on decking squares)^^^

Track laying

Track for G scale can be layed and relayed inside - ideal for a childrens train set.

When you want to go outside you can decide to lay your track on wood, metal, stone, straight on to ballast or a combination of any of these.

Joints should be sparingly filled with some kind of conductive paste (grease). LGB make their own. This MUST not get on to the running surface.

Some people recommend electrically connecting each joint. You could use ready made rail clamps or solder across between the end of each piece of rail. While this is obviously going to give you very good connections I know of railways which have been laid for many years with just push on joints. These give very little trouble given regular maitenance and the fact they were layed with care at the start.

Track base should be drained and protected from weed growth by a layer of special material (available in garden centres but can't remember the name). Then layers of rubble, sharp stones and ballast. Locally in Scotland we have 6mm granite available from builders merchants but you might have something different in your local area.

Established LGB track layed onto scale ballast^^^

Power supplies/Controllers?

Rule 1 in the garden is to keep mains power inside.

You can run G scale trains using electricity (0-24volts) DC, AC or battery power or even run live steam.

Electricity supply can be from the mains, batteries on the ground or on board.

Most common is DC power - analogue systems. Starter sets come with the 1 amp controller transformer which will be OK for one or maybe two small locomotives. Soon though you will need more amps to drive biger trains. You can get 5 amp supplies from LGB PIKO and Gaugemaster.

Larger controllers and transformers tend to be separate units allowing the transformer to be left inside.

AC power drives digital systems. ROCO Z21, Massoth, PIKO and LGB. Digital control involves a constant AC voltage of about 18 - 24 volts on the track all the time (basically just two wires to the track). Handsets send signals to individual locomotives, points (switches) and accessories allowing them to operate.

Batteries can power G trains. Either car style batteries connected to fixed controllers or on board cells either in locomotives or a control coach or box car. Also on-board you can fit radio control recievers and servos. Thes can obviously be activated by normal raodio control gear.

Live steam locomotives mostly have insulated wheels and can run on G scale track using manual or radio remote control.

Engines?

Steam, diesel and electric locomotives.

(Clockwise from top left)

LGB US starter set 2-4-0

LGB DB 2-6-2T

Aristo-craft SD45 diesel

Aristo-craft Mikado 2-8-2

LGB Swiss electric

PIKO and bachmann also do interesing ranges

Note that Aristocraft have now gone and only secondhand examples of these locos can be found

Buildings/people/animals?

Others produce figures like NOCH and Preisser have a nice line in 1:22.5 people and animals .

sandy@gardentrains.co.uk

Setting off on your new railway >>>

Contact me by phone (+44) (0)1786 464193 OR (+44) (0)7914347473 e-mail sandy@gardentrains.co.uk

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