What if you had . . .

[bkbates]

Gentle Nuts,

The house that I hope to close on in Texas, Monday, has a bit of yard that measures roughly 20' X 50". So, the question is, "What would your garden railroad look like if you had a plot 20' X 50' to start with?

It's an interesting idea that I am already pondering. Yes, there are several sketches in my sketch book.

B2

[Emettman]

Gentle Nuts,

The house that I hope to close on in Texas, Monday, has a bit of yard that measures roughly 20' X 50". So, the question is, "What would your garden railroad look like if you had a plot 20' X 50' to start with?

I'm assuming the first size is a mis-quote?  Or is it the second? 
The first would be more of a challenge... I will think on both!

Chris.

[Tommy Two Strikes]

From Colorado to Texas... big change! Where about in Texas will ya possibly be moving?

I haven't any ideas for a layout but I'd sure like to see the contents of your sketch book :)

[rickdartist]

Having seen a lot of your sketches, I can guess what you have in that little sketch book of yours.

[bkbates]

HI Folks,

OK, Emetman, the genuine measurements are 21 feet by 48 feet. There are other design considerations in existing mature shrubbery ( all of these are old enough to have their canopy above head level.  So, for this exercise, assume a 3' easement around the perimeter. My initial design points are an oval for live steam - big radius curves. Then, there is a lot of room for a railroad of a tighter radius, say 2 foot radius, as in the smallest LGB or Aristo track. This line could wander off through the rest of the garden, not in this area. So let you imaginations run wild and see what you can dream up. Oh, there is also the probably of a water feature to be incorporated into the design.

[rickdartist]

Bruce,
Are you thinking about an elevated line or ground level? From the pictures you posted it looks like you have several options. I like the idea of a meandering line where the trains disappear than reappear. It's always nice to start with a clean slate and see what develops. Have fun and post pics when the construction begins. I've been doing some sketches myself for the first of my lines. I"m going out and move some more brick and dirt so that I can start laying track. Oh, and I'll start building the kits.

[Emettman]

OK, you asked, and I said I would...  but I am AWNUTS, remember.

The brief: a live-steam line with as gentle curves as possible, plus another line that can go right down to 2ft radius.
Absolute size 21ft by 48ft, reduced by 3ft all round, to give 15ft by 42ft.

I allowed a minimum radius of 6ft for the steam line (including the inside curve of double track)
and planned on that being dead level, or as near as can be engineered.

Top picture: single track steam line (green)
I'd better explain my thinking!
It runs as an oval or a figure of eight, with a lay-by loop for a second train in which ever section is not being used.
top straight track is 20', next line in has 15' clear from turnout to diamond.
I think there should be room for two reasonable loops around the bottom of the "dogbone" ends, or a massive one parallel to the top straight.  Sidings to taste.
I've kept the steam servicing track to the front, whether that's to be a single line or a whole terminus or depot.
Now, the pink industrial/branch line...
There's room for a spiral rising line gradually dropping in radius from 5', 4', 3'... but no tighter except for using 2ft radiius turnouts.   The run-rounds top and bottom have about 5' clear length.
There is a connection between the two lines (optional ) for little battery locos.

I brought the lower pink terminus to the front for space and access.  One of the two sidings could obviously turn into a line wandering further abroad.
You might be hard-placed  to get a water feature (though it could be spectacular) in the same end of the dogbone as the mine/quarry/ scenic tourist line..., but the other end is completely free.

The double track:
Tight: a couple of feet longer, or slightly tighter radii, would ease it a lot.
The essential turnouts are all grouped together for effect and access.
The two crossing lines turn  trains to give easy correct running on either line, and let trains return easily to the steam preparation track/terminus/depot.
Sidings mainly there I suspect, though the inside of the big loops has plenty of room for them in one or both.
But what of the little pink line?  You don't really want that cutting across a double-track, so it could
1) curve around outside the lower right main-line till it had enough height to cross, and then do something similar to the first pink line,
2) start higher-up in the first place and do essentially the same, (turning the pink/green diamond crossing into a bridge) but losing any easy connection with the steam line
3) stay outside the main line and wander away somewhere else.

There we have it: I may have got totally the wrong end of the stick... but I offer it for what it's worth.
(The pencil lines were smoother and reasonably accurate, (for a sketch)  before I drew over them in felt-tip.)

For Bruce, from Chris.

[bkbates]

EM,

Thanks for your imagination and drawings. Certainly some things to consider.

B2

[Emettman]

My brain is now irrevocably committed: it won't stop gnawing at this for a while.

What are your plans about height and access?  Any paths/gates/doors to allow for?
Hopes for train length for the main and small lines?

Having sketched a bit more, I'm really surprised how much difference there is between 5ft ruling radius and 6 ft in this space. 
With the former there are many more options for the basic track-plan,  and potential for more natural winding (but relatively sharp) curves.

edit: and I've already seen a significantly better tuning for both of those two basic ideas. 
Sleeping on things can do that!
And it's fun.

[bkbates]

Gentlenuts,

TO pour just a bit of gasoline into your imagination, here is the properties plot plan. Ergo the original area in context.

As to any restrictions, there are mature trees and shrubs. These shrubs have their canopies above 6' - very established.

My railroads have been raised for many years. I find that the optimal height for me is about 18" from the deck.

Note the gazebo. More possibilities. (Oh the humanity!) Not to mention the perimeter areas around the pool.

OK, that's enough gasoline for today. Remember, the thread is "What if YOU had. . ."

Have fun!
B2

[dmaynard]

Gee 20 by 50 along the side of the house. since one side will be along the fence or house I could build that side up. I see a meandering track along the bottom , a folded dog-bone kind of thing, or 2 reverse loops and single track main like I have now, and switchbacks climbing the summit, maybe with one of the switchback tails on a long trestle over a loop of the dog-bone.

But then my mind is stuck on narrow gauge and logging engines and railroads occupy a soft spot in my heart, or maybe in my head, either way.

[Emettman]

...Remember, the thread is "What if YOU had. . ."

Have fun!
B2

Understood, I think...

Anyway, I had fun playing with the single track idea above, and it went rather more flowing while keeping the 6ft curves, and comes with quite a few options.

The basic oval mainline is still there, or figure 8, with room to use the two rear tracks alternately as lay-bys.  There is room for an additional long loop at the rear/top.  The second reverse loop giving the figure of 8 option "x-x" is not essential, and could be omitted.  The other is more useful as it gives easy return to the yard.

This could be of any configuration, developing from the single turnout on the bottom right, but options shown there include a run-round on the bottom two tracks or extending them into running loops via a bridge across the access area.
If this is adopted then the section"y-y" may not be wanted.

The tight-curved branch line, still holding 3ft minimum apart from the points now spaces itself out inside both mainline loops while allowing more scenic room in the right hand one.
There is room for an an additional passing loop at the top of the spiral, and at the top station the line is high enough to bridge the steam line and go a-wandering.

The yellow access area: if you don't want the work of raising the whole track a minimum 18", one slightly less conventional idea, though I've seen it done, would be to make this smaller operating area a sunken path, 18" to 2' down.  (You might need a bilge pump)
The NUTS idea that followed from that was that, while you would almost certainbly not want to operate from there regularly, it would still work for maintenance access, in wellie boots or waders, if you made it a flat-bottomed water feature!  (something for a stream or two to pour into.)

But what would I do for me, rather than what would I do to match the BB brief?
For the railway I'd do something like the outline sketch below, which is essentially what I have, but with three extra sidings and with the curves and station lengths opened out.

It's enough to keep my interest though it's not for steam, as it has appreciable gradients to increase the visual separation of the lines.  When designing the terrain and hills I'd keep in mind the possibility of adding a high level steam oval later, essentially on valley-spanning viaducts.

The main thing I'd do in the space, though, would be to go to town on the water features.
A mountain stream and waterfall, a working watermill, a working water-powered cliff railway(funicular) and a canal, aiming at at least one working lock and moving canal boats.

[Ferd]

The sunken idea is very cool and easily overlooked - will have to keep that in mind when I plan my line.

cheers Ferd

[bkbates]

Fellow Conspirators,

The sunken idea has merit for higher elevations. Houston has a very high water table. All the houses are slab type construction. If you drain your pool at the wrong time of the year, it will pop out of the ground like a cork.

So, the pits, I'm afraid, would become just that- pits. probably class "A" mosquito breeders unless a serious system of drains are installed to keep the water at bay.

Great idea, pits, but they won't work in Houston. 

B2

[Ferd]

Wow so I guess no basement either.  Some of our area has a high water table (called building in the valley or wet land up here, swamp in Florida  )  We are lucky in that our ground is sand below us and no  water. The sand is actually casting sand/