This is a little layout mostly for my 7/8's scale trains. It will be mostly plants with maybe 1 or 2 structures. Its in a sunnier, more open part of the yard so I can use a wider variety of plants I can't use on my main layout. The layout itself is a simple loop to loop folded in on itself with just two sidings. The main grade is a bit steep at 3-4% but the trains will be short, industrial types. The smaller inner loop is 8 foot diameter. All will be battery powered. The layout is mostly raised using Tufboard ladder.

 

Pics of the progress -

 

Planning -

 

 

Turf removed with tractor and I invited the boys of the train club over to learn about ladder support -

 

 

 

Ladder is in -

 

 

 

and back filled with gravel -

 

Rocks and topsoil/compost added. Now, its ready for planting and track laying!

 

 

more to come soon!

 

-Brian

Its tough to see the grade in those pics. The whole lower level (boths sides) is at the same grade as the area closer to the fence (there's a bit of a slope to the yard). There could potentially be a problem but then again it could make for some fun swampin'. I hoping with the layout being heavily planted it won't be a problem. If it is, I already thought about putting a little dry well in the middle of the lower loop.

 

-Brian

Dude looks great!

Send you and those guys to my house so I can get a building built and track on the ground again!

Toad

Excellent Brian, You have come a long way since we saw it early last summer.  Once you get the landscaping in there, it will be great. Hopefully the ICC won't take it out. You probably figured that out already, right?

Paul

 

Yes, there has been a flurry of the activity in the past few weeks. I'm determined to get it done and have some trains running on it by Thanksgiving. There's a small Southern Magnolia about 10 feet behind the layout and that's another 10 feet inside the new boundary line (though we have yet to settle with those stupid mf'ers in the State Highway Administration a year and a half later ).

-Brian

Wow, Brian, you are going to have a super highway less than 50 feet from your layout and back yard. Hopefully they will put up some of those nice walls to blot out the sights and sounds from the roadway.  Then you can landscape, er lay track, up to the wall.

Its looking great.

Paul

 

Thanks Web. Its almost 25 feet long and 16 or so feet deep. The lower inner loop is the only measured curve at 8 foot diameter and that would make the outer loop around 14 feet diameter.

 

-Brian

Update - Initial planting is in and mulched and track is laid out ready to install (if I ever get done cleaning up all these leaves! )

A few pics -

 

 

 

 

-Brian

Nice work. And fast too!  I like your "ladder" system. How about a few closeups with an explanation of how you did it.

 

Very nice.

 

Paul H