Some of the best and most elaborate G-scale layouts can be found in Las Vegas, Nevada -- home to one of the largest garden-railroad clubs in the US.
In this segment, Chris Chianelli visits Steve Cobb, an avid enthusiast who has created a elaborate garden railroading layouts. Cobb, who has been active in the hobby since 1992, has specialized in creating terraced outdoor landscapes using Windsor blocks.
- Sections of the yard have been built up and landscaped into multi-level areas by using Windsor blocks, then filled in using "reject sand" -- i.e., sand that has impurities that make it unsuitable for building construction, but it's fine for this purpose. So far, Cobb has used 52 tons of reject sand in his railroad layout.
- The top two inches of the substrate is covered in pea gravel (figure A) which offers good drainage.
- The tracks are laid out on the blocks (figure B) and attached using expanding anchors and screws.
- Once the tracks are laid out, and the gravel layer is filled in and built up to the appropriate level, a mixture of glue and water is used to help solidify it and hold the gravel in place.
- Pieces of flex-track (figure C) are used to create bends and curves in the track layout.
- In addition to the tracks mounted on the cement blocks, some have been built onto an elaborate system of tall trestles (figure D).
- These intricately made trestles are constructed from 1/2-inch bass wood and brad nails (figure E), and were all hand-made by Cobb.
- The train engines and cars are housed in an indoor hobby room that connects to the outside track system (figure F) to protect them when they are not in use.
RESOURCES :
The Large-Scale Model Railroading Handbook
Model: 0801982294
Author: Robert Schleicher:
Scenery for Model Railroads, Miniatures and Dioramas
Model: 0873417097
Author: Robert Schleicher
303 Tips for Detailing Model Railroad Scenery and Structures
Model: 0890242437
Author: Dave Frary
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Getting Started in Garden Railroading
Model: 0873492323
Author: Allan W. Miller
How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery
Model: 0890241244
Author: Dave Frary
Scenery for Your Model Railroad: From Backdrop to Tabletop
Model: 0890243239
Kalmbach Publishing Company
Garden Train Association
Garden Train Association
Columbus, OH 43229
Fax: 614-436-3501
Website: www.gardentrains.org
Garden Railways Magazine
Garden Railways Magazine
Waukesha, WI 53187
Fax: 262-796-1615
Website: www.trains.com
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