The first step to anything for me is to plan. So I am going to plan every aspect of my railroad out, from the track-plan, down to where I am going to sit and watch. So let me explain my area that I can work with:
The area is a hexagonal shape that is bordered by three trees, and there is a bush near the center. I have already installed the pond, and right in the center too! the length and width is about 16 feet by 14 feet. Definatly not a big area for a garden train. I do, however, only have small equipment, two engines, and five switches, so it isn't like I am running a Challenger.
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| Though it is a little hard to tell, if you look closely, or expand the image, you should be able to make out the perimeter of roughly half of the railroad. |
Then, I assessed the area to be the railroad. I placed the pond where I thought it would look best, and began to shape things in my head. With what I wanted to see in my head, I began to move around a little dirt to test the soil and level it somewhat. I found out later that the soil was actually sand, mixed with run off top soil from other areas. In fact, the area was a child's sand box. This clued me to two things:
- The area, which is surrounded by fields, is prone to runoff. Runoff can bring chemicals, and that could wash into the pond. So the placement of the pond, and the waterfall is important.
- The run off carries soil and sand from the garden railroad too. So I will have to terrace the area somewhat. I will need to install shallow retaining walls and back fill the area with a lot of dirt.
Next, I made out a list of things I want to include in the railway:
- I want to have a run-a-round plus a siding to take cars on and off. I don't plan to have too much operation though, so it must be simple.
- I'll keep that bush, as I found out that it can be used to separate the layout, dividing it into two parts. One view from the east, the other from the west.
- Because most of what I have for rolling stock is logging cars, the layout will be based on logging.
- A logging layout needs trees, and I want to include a few dwarf spruce, conifer, or junipers
- Though I don't want to do too much nighttime operation/ running, I should still install lighting. I found out that on top of the four outside lights I already have, there is a few left from the old garden which still work. So I'll use these too.
- I want a good place to sit and watch the trains, so I want at least two places where I can have level ground. I found some old paver bricks, which may come in handy!
- I also want a maintenance path going through the railroad, but it should be blened in perfectly with the railroad.
- And finally, I want it to not be an eyesore, so that means mulch, a good looking right-of-way, and no weeds. Luckily, there were few weeds to begin with.
After that, I made another list, this time for things I don't want on the railroad:
- A tunnel. Though I don't mind tunnels on model railroads, the maintenance in a garden railroad is pretty hard. At most, I will tolerate a 18" long tunnel, but no more.
- A switching yard. I love switching yards in an enclosed environment, but in the garden, it is difficult to keep track, especially brass track, from oxidizing. So this will be a running train layout with light switching.
- A dog. I love my dogs a lot, but I don't like to have them run all over the railroad. This calls for a little fence!
And after that... I made a list of things I need to get so I prepare the site:
- Find tools required to build a light fence, install retaining walls, and install bricks.
- Find a source for gravel, dirt, mulch, and crushed rock for ballast.
- Find a source for small trees and bushes.
- Learn how to care for bushes and plants
- Find a level, and compacter so that I can level dirt.
- Find a shovel that is spaded and another that is chisel headed for moving dirt.
- Locate rocks for use on the railway. I also need to find interesting pieces of drift wood, petrified wood, and rocks so that I can make a "rock garden."
- Locate materials to build a small fence. I.E... fence posts, and a couple panels.
Also, I began to contemplate track ideas.
Now that I know what I want and need, I can start the design of my track-plan, and the rest of the railroad on the next page.
