The most enjoyable aspect of model railroading , for me , has always been dreaming , conceptualizing , and then building the layout .... not so much with operating it . Sharing moments with friends , neighbors , and relatives with running trains has always been fun , but the big interest has been developing the "empire" .
After moving back to Estes Park from Crestone , my sister and I purchased a house together .The yard was small and negotiations immediately started for a garden railroad location . Even though she lives in Ft. Collins most of the time, my sister had her own plans for the yard which didn't include much space for trains . What evolved was a narrow strip of space along a 6'-8' high cedar plank fence , running approximately 75' . The "eureka moment" came with the decision to support the tracks on wood braces cantilevered off the fence . This has evolved into a triple stack of tracks ,approximately 4', 5' , and 6' off the ground . Hinged ramps allow trains to ascend and descend between various levels . While most of the track is G Ga. , the 4' level has an O Ga. line too . Also on that level are reversing loops at both ends . An 8'x24' shed has been built into a fence corner for large shop tools and trackage for both gauges where trains can be parked out of the weather .
Nestled under an upper level deck reposes a hot tub where I spend some time on most days , often reflecting on what future direction that my railroad might be heading . This last westward extension envisioned soars up a ridiculously steep ramp to the 8' level and follows the edges of the deck to a meandering " 3 sidings " yard . In the process , it manages to use up every foot of track in my collection and brings a finality to my 468' of expansion.
In the process of developing this last railroad , something moderately surprising has taken place ; I have developed a new interest in running trains ! I enjoy standing up and viewing the movements of the cars and locomotives from their profiles rather than their rooftops ... and my back is thankful too. Trackside "plantings" brush against the trains and provide a faux lushness ; faux because they originated from deconstructed thrift store "trees and plants" . Good -bye to plant trimming and cleanup ; there's plenty of that on the ground 4' under the nearest tracks . Being a life-long visual artist and having a more than passing interest in environmental and conceptual art , I have come to view my railroad "project" in terms of art elements and design principles . Ideas have been developed thinking about line , form , shape , texture ,movement , balance , repetition , and time . I'm currently developing a scenario which moves me into the area of performance art .
After moving back to Estes Park from Crestone , my sister and I purchased a house together .The yard was small and negotiations immediately started for a garden railroad location . Even though she lives in Ft. Collins most of the time, my sister had her own plans for the yard which didn't include much space for trains . What evolved was a narrow strip of space along a 6'-8' high cedar plank fence , running approximately 75' . The "eureka moment" came with the decision to support the tracks on wood braces cantilevered off the fence . This has evolved into a triple stack of tracks ,approximately 4', 5' , and 6' off the ground . Hinged ramps allow trains to ascend and descend between various levels . While most of the track is G Ga. , the 4' level has an O Ga. line too . Also on that level are reversing loops at both ends . An 8'x24' shed has been built into a fence corner for large shop tools and trackage for both gauges where trains can be parked out of the weather .
Nestled under an upper level deck reposes a hot tub where I spend some time on most days , often reflecting on what future direction that my railroad might be heading . This last westward extension envisioned soars up a ridiculously steep ramp to the 8' level and follows the edges of the deck to a meandering " 3 sidings " yard . In the process , it manages to use up every foot of track in my collection and brings a finality to my 468' of expansion.
In the process of developing this last railroad , something moderately surprising has taken place ; I have developed a new interest in running trains ! I enjoy standing up and viewing the movements of the cars and locomotives from their profiles rather than their rooftops ... and my back is thankful too. Trackside "plantings" brush against the trains and provide a faux lushness ; faux because they originated from deconstructed thrift store "trees and plants" . Good -bye to plant trimming and cleanup ; there's plenty of that on the ground 4' under the nearest tracks . Being a life-long visual artist and having a more than passing interest in environmental and conceptual art , I have come to view my railroad "project" in terms of art elements and design principles . Ideas have been developed thinking about line , form , shape , texture ,movement , balance , repetition , and time . I'm currently developing a scenario which moves me into the area of performance art .
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July 12th, 2014 Open House. Video by Kevin Kirsch.
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Goose descends infamous ramp to 6' level ; G Ga. on 5' level & O / G Ga. on 4' level . "Dream station"/hot tub steps to left ; reversing loops for G & O Ga. in background .
G Ga.train outside the 8'x24' train shed , with O Ga. reversing loop in foreground . The shed wall displays old steam locomotive hardware .
This shows the "feathered" track section which eases the transition from the "drawbridge" section to the level track
This shows the wood block being inserted in place to hold up the "drawbridge" track section , after train has been lowered to next level.
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Inside the 8'x24' train shed , showing
some yard trackage with O Ga. trains in foreground and G Ga. train in
background .
Goose moves down drawbridge from 5' to 4' level track
O&G Ga. trains On 5' &4' levels ; shed in background
This shows the "ramp" , three stacks of track ,with the 18'x24' train shed in the background .
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