3.5 in the garden

[andrewtoplis]

Hi Chaps,
We are moving house soon and finally have a little bit of a garden. My girlfriend and I have been talking about how to do the place up and I am set on eventually having some rails in the garden, which got me thinking...

I have limited space and funds, so am thinking of a smaller gauge...3.5" to be precise.

It also would have to be as unobtrusive as possible, so how practical is it to have a ground level oval track in this small gauge?
Also, if one went for an elevated oval, how high would it need to be off the ground? The lower the better obviously.

Anyone got any thoughts or had experience that might help?

Many Thanks,
Andy

[alanstepney]

I used to have 3 1/2" ground level track in my garden.
Quite practical, although the dust + oil can play havoc with bearings etc. so a good cleaning is essential.

Not the most comfortable riding position, but one that is OK provided you are young or fit or both.

[Shawki Shlemon]

I have seen small and large private tracks . Work/cost to pleasure ratio compared to a club it comes second best unless you have a lot of money to get things done by others . Personally and that is strictly personal choice I think playing trains with other people is more enjoyable .But again we are all different thank GOD . I think to get a good idea you should visit few clubs and have a chat with those involved in laying tracks and get real good advice .

[andrewtoplis]

Thanks Shawki,
Its not meant to replace a club track by any means, just to have a little plaything in the garden for those odd afternoons that we shift workers get during the week while the wife is at work!

Looking at the new house again the other night has made me wonder if an oval is possible, might have to be a straight up-and-down, which makes elevated a better proposition.

[Nexuas]

3 1/2" ground level would be OK if you are looking at Narrow Gauge prototypes, Hunslette, Mountaineer, Lilla, Conway etc... They are pretty much the same as 5" gauge standard gauge. With the exception of Mountaineer the other 0-4-0's will negotiate fair tight radius bends, not sure what you would get down to, but I am guessing not too large?

I had considered laying some 3 1/2" track in my garden, but was not sure that RUSSELL would negotiate the bends required, now PALMERSTON is coming along I am starting to think it maybe an option for this engine as the wheel base is only 9" an so may negotiate the require radius to get a complete oval in my long but narrow garden...

[andrewtoplis]

There is a formula Shawki mentioned for the minimum radius...I THINK its wheelbase x 25 (?) Dont quote that though...

[Shawki Shlemon]

The greater the better but X20 will be OK at slow speeds .

[dscott]

I had 5" in my parents garden in Cornwall and we got a Castle round a 40 foot rad curve,
if in doubt I increaced the gauge slightly on the curve, it was 1 in 40 as well, good to see the engines work.
Gemma loved it.

David.