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Tips on starting a G scale 5 inch live steam garden railroad
Harper asks readers:
“I wish to start a garden railroad by the time I have a full paying job. I have started planning ahead and already have been looking at a suitable locomotive. Layouts have also been one thing that I have been planning ahead on. My question really, though, is… Is there anything else I need to consider or start planning on?”
5 Responses to Tips on starting a G scale 5 inch live steam garden railroad
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Garden railways – now there’s a great way to get outdoors. I was lucky enough to get a real bargain after Xmas a few years ago. The local KMart had G scale train-sets for sale at $20.00 each (pre Xmas price was $80.00). I got 2 sets with diesel locos, 3 wagons of various types and a large circle of plastic gauge 1 track. Two years later similar sets appeared, and I acquired two, this time radio controlled but 2-4-0 steam outline locos, 3 wagons and more track. The only down side was the lack of points (switches).
I have set these up temporarily a few times around the garden just to run them. Recently I had a go at butchering some straight and curve pieces of track to create points. Not a real success but I now know what I need to do the make them work properly. For less than the cost of a purchased point I have 4 locos, 12 wagons and opportunity to build a rail garden railway.
I recommend that some one wanting to have a go at garden railways this is a great, inexpensive way to start. Keep an I open for the clearance sales and enjoy the ride.
Yes – it was G Gauge, not gauge 1.
Gauge 1 is Marklin 1/32 G Gauge is 1 / 22 All run in the garden
If you’re going with the Lionel style battery operated trains with the plastic track, go to their website and get on their email list. They just had a two for one sale on expansion track sets and half price on rolling stock. They don’t do it often, so be patient. Also, I bought a full Lionel train set after Christmas at Ollie’s outlet store for less than a third of list price, so look for sales, especially after the holidays.
Get a second job. That G scale can get expensive.