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 | The First Major Expansion. (4-14-01)
With the event of my first Steam-Up
on the DC&H railway, I am really fired up to start work on the first big
expansion to the layout. I know what your thinking, "The first
section isn't done". True, but I only have  one
section of track and 3 turns to put in then all that is left is
landscape. Since I don't have the track, I figure I can start on the
expansion.
 The
pool and the 16' x 16' deck cover about 1,250 sq/ft. The plan is to
take down the deck, remove the pool, build a 8' x 10' observation deck by
the fence, put in a small pond and continue expanding the empire.
The current section of the layout will tie into this expansion with a main
line running around the end of the flow beds. (see
rough diagram to the right) Then the main loop
will run around the outside of this area and be about 150 +/- feet of
track. Then as time and money allow, I will continue adding to the
interior of this area.
Well, the rain has stopped, time to get back at it.
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| Guess I had better get started.
(3-1-00)
Well, besides just waiting on Ruby to get here I have ordered
the plans for a few other things to supplement the new layout. Plans
are on their way for a Wayside Depot and a Covered Bridge from
Garden-Texture. (As if I don't have enough to do
already!) I'll be sure to review them here and
let you know how it goes.
To add to that, I also ordered some aluminum rail to try my hand at making
my own track. You should see an how-to article on my site letting you
know what I find out from this experience also.
Johnny F.
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| Ruby. Live Steam on the
way! (2-19-00)
For about the last 6 months I have been looking and reading about Live Steam
"G" scale locomotives. It was one of those things where you
go, "Wow, that would be nice!", but when you see the price
you say WOW again! Then I read a short article in "Steam
in the Garden" magazine about a new loco from Accucraft
called the Ruby. A small 0-4-0 switcher type that promised good
quality and a price down with it's electric cousins.
Then it appeared in the February 2000 issue of Garden
Railways Magazine. They gave it a pretty good review and with a
street price between $350 and $380 it looked like a great way to get into
Steam. It turns out that everyone who has posted in the forums are
pretty pleased with theirs. I decided it was time to get one only to
find that everyone who sells them are keeping a back order list. After
about 4 places I found a dealer out west who had 4 coming in and only 2
backorders. With any luck I should have mine by 2-25-00. I'll be
sure to post my first steam up experience on this site.
Johnny F.
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| Projects on the way. (2-19-00)
Well it wouldn't be a hobby if you didn't always have
something to do. The list contains a Truss-Rod Bridge, some scratch
built railway service flat cars and some more 1/25 scale automobile models.
That's a pretty tall order considering that I don't even have any track
setup yet. OUCH. I'm hoping that in April I can get a start on
the layout part of this hobby.
Johnny F.
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| What Christmas had to offer.
(2-19-00)
 Well,
I guess Santa knew just what the Garden Train Hobbyist needed. A flat
car, a gondola and one box car from the Hartland Colorado Collection.
Detailed for the "Uintah Railway", pronounced you-in-tah.
Two undecorated Hartland gondolas from a friend and 12 pieces of Hartland
aluminum track. Aluminum because I want to go live steam and R/C on my
layout. And last but not least, a 1/25 scale 1920s Texaco gas pump for
those necessary details.
Not bad taste for Santa and her helpers!
Johnny F.
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