G scale Rio Grande Southern Engineering Report

[eric220]

You may want to re-visit my last post.

And make sure your mind is in the gutter when you do.

[OldEastRR]

So you are not having a tunnel? That wasn't clear. I'd still like to know how people make them for outside G gauge.

[Dave V]

So you are not having a tunnel? That wasn't clear. I'd still like to know how people make them for outside G gauge.

No...  No tunnel.  Worried about furry creatures wintering in the tunnel.  The reason I suggested you re-read my post is because you asked again about the alcove after I'd already mentioned the buried utilities there.

I tried doing a sort of kidney shape on the house side of the layout, but the geometry didn't work.  I have a ton of straights left over (I maybe used half of them) but these are all the curves I'll have for a while.  We have some vacations coming up in June and so my hobby budget is "sequestered" until then.  So, back to the oval with spur:



Through purchase and donation from Russ, I now have track from four different manufacturers and each has a different interpretation on an 8' diameter curve...     I still have some low spots under the track to be filled in, and I'm going on a soldering spree for some of the non-screwed connections.  There should be enough of the sliding-screw connections to properly account for expansion and contraction.

[davefoxx]

Dave,

I hope you don't think that I'm giving you a hard time.  Based on your responses, noting the limitations of the site and finances, I like what you've done.  Besides, this could be just phase one, because, if I recall correctly, you indicated earlier that there could be a plan to run a spur along the fence someday.  That will certainly spice up the oval.

So, have fun and get that train a-rolling.  I look forward to the addition of vegetation.  Now, bring me a shrubbery.

Sincerely,
The Knights Who Say Ni

[mcjaco]

Looks good to me Dave.  If I ever do a garden RR it'll be for roundy roundy ops anyway.  I want to eat, drink and watch trains.  Not operate them when outside. 

Are you just laying the track on the gravel, or is there a sub roadbed?  Just asking, as I used to help a local gentleman out here that built custom garden RRs, and we used to use pressure treated lumber for garden beds, screw that track to that, and then build up the "scenery" to the top, and then add the ballast. 

[Dave V]

Dave, no worries.  This is the Railwire.  We're supposed to challenge each other.  I do have some limitations for the time being that means I won't have an outdoor equivalent of the JD, bit it scratches my large scale and narrow gauge itches and there's always room to expand!

OBTW, not that I'm winning any layout design contests here, but another reason to skip the tunnel is that the real Rio Grande Southern actually never had one!  Surprising, considering the terrain it conquered, but less so considering how "temporary" its construction was.  The original plan in 1890-91 when the railroad was built was to slap it down fast and then come back and refine it.  The Silver Panic of 1893 put an end to any ROW improvement plans.  Trestles never got filled in, curves never eased, and grades were never bypassed.  It made for great modeling fodder even until its death in 1952, but it was hell to operate IRL.

In tearms of ROW, it currently sits on the raw gravel, but once it's all where I want it, I'm coming back with pea gravel and polymeric sand to ballast and lock it in place.

[nuno81291]

Dave, no worries.  This is the Railwire.  We're supposed to challenge each other.  I do have some limitations for the time being that means I won't have an outdoor equivalent of the JD, bit it scratches my large scale and narrow gauge itches and there's always room to expand!

OBTW, not that I'm winning any layout design contests here, but another reason to skip the tunnel is that the real Rio Grande Southern actually never had one!  Surprising, considering the terrain it conquered, but less so considering how "temporary" its construction was.  The original plan in 1890-91 when the railroad was built was to slap it down fast and then come back and refine it.  The Silver Panic of 1893 put an end to any ROW improvement plans.  Trestles never got filled in, curves never eased, and grades were never bypassed.  It made for great modeling fodder even until its death in 1952, but it was hell to operate IRL.

In tearms of ROW, it currently sits on the raw gravel, but once it's all where I want it, I'm coming back with pea gravel and polymeric sand to ballast and lock it in place.

Sorry Dave, but all I read in your post was peagravel. Tell me this isn't going to go anywhere near the ballast profile... you realize Pea gravel is river rock/smooth has no tooth and will not settle right? I ask because I am a landscape architect and while pea can be gorgeous I would not attribute it to "locking anything in place" with or without sand. I would find the smallest crusher run you can and use that.

YMMV.

[rswinnerton]

One method that works we'll is using "quarter minus" gravel available from the local garden store. It's basically less than quarter inch in size limestone chips. It locks together pretty well and is easy maintain. Some have been known to sprinkle cement and then wet it down, although I don't think that's a good idea.

[Dave V]

It is kinda smooth now that you mention it.  Some jagged but not much.

I can return 2 of the 3 bags but one busted open.

[nuno81291]

It is kinda smooth now that you mention it.  Some jagged but not much.

I can return 2 of the 3 bags but one busted open.

I have been working outside all my life and I would hate to see you put a lot of time into shaping/grading with the material only for it to give way or never really 'settle' as you may expect. It is a great decorative stone (in so many colors) product and could certainly be used outside the ROW to enhance colors/etc. Looking forward to more progress, keep up the good work! Excited to see some vegetation! I run a bobcat outfit as well and second the idea about getting some big rocks in there.  Maybe someone by you has a small tractor they could loan you for a 6 pack to help position some boulders. Sheer rock by the ROW = dead sexy, and when they can be real rocks.... winner winner! 

Mike

[eric220]

One method that works we'll is using "quarter minus" gravel available from the local garden store. It's basically less than quarter inch in size limestone chips. It locks together pretty well and is easy maintain. Some have been known to sprinkle cement and then wet it down, although I don't think that's a good idea.

A friend of mine who has quite an extensive backyard #1 gauge layout swears by quarter minus. The effect is really good, and I'd highly recommend it.

[davefoxx]

Maybe you can use that open bag of pea gravel for river rock in that gulch.

[Dave V]

Maybe you can use that open bag of pea gravel for river rock in that gulch.

My thought exactly.

[OldEastRR]

I guess I wasn't clear when I said tunnel, but my thought was to raise the RH side of that plot to gradually slope up to the "utilities corner" and build that part of the L- shape on grade. Thus no digging required, just piling stuff up to raise the loop you now have. Considering that scenicking outdoor layouts is the same as indoor ones -- only the top 1/16th inch is scenery -- you could use dirt (much cheaper) fill to bring up the grade, then pile the rocks on top of that to a suitable depth.
Of course I don't know what kind of grades your equipment can take, but you did mention the RGS had steep grades and sharp curves so maybe that would work out. Nor have I any idea what radius it takes, if you could get a 180 degree curve into that alcove. But I was thinking a switch at the inside elbow of the L (right near the garden hose) could swing a spur into the layout interior that would serve a mine .. a structure and some higher hill around it could hide the back loop (by the gate).
How deep a rock base/ballast is needed over the dirt for the track for G gauge anyway?

[Dave V]

It's already got a bit of a grade.  The pictures don't show it, but to get back in that alcove without another 4-5 tons of material would require grades well above the 4% ruling on the real RGS.  Couple that with me not sure if I'm staying here long haul, and I'm pretty much where I want to be RGS-wise.  I'm satisfied for now.