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2 minute informational video
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 Jon DeKeles Editor in Chief | He may seem like big bad Jon, but that’s because he’s a man of steel – born with trains and technology in his blood. No surprise he engineered the gene splice that gave birth to LSOL.com. | |
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 JD Miller Reviews Editor | The original tinkerer, JD took apart his first watch in 4th grade and now he’s having the time of his life taking apart trains to show you what’s inside. | |
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 Rick Henderson Associate Editor | Rick has more model train experience than Jon has years. He's LSOL.com's jack-of-all-trades from almost day one. He's reviewed, sold retail, and built trains, too. He's not grumpy, just focused. | |
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 Noel Widdifield Managing Editor | Since he’s a card-carrying member of the NMRA and TCA, we all yield right-of-way to Noel’s expertise when it comes to model railroading. | |
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 David Bodnar Electronics Editor | When you’re ready to “Bodnarize” your railroad, David’s the guy who puts the pedal to the metal. Our resident power ranger is all about automation and remote control. | |
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 Jo Anne Sales Manager | What’s a nice lady like her, doing with a crew like this? Joanne is the grand dame of discounts. Better yet, she’ll keep your large-scale spending on the QT from spousal units if you ask politely. | |
Bob Gentile: Bridges, love building Howe Truss Compression Bridge. One thing to keep in mind, it would be nice to have a bridge that goes with your Garden Railroad era. If you are modeling modern and running Diesels, I guess metal bridges would look nice. My choice of wood material would be redwood, cedar or cypress in that order. I have a romance with Howe Truss bridges, just something about them that catches the eye. I have built several of them will over 6 ft and with a double track main line.
Larry Bangle: I took a metal wall stud. laid it open side up,and slid a 1x4x4 block at track joints and each end. before I slid the track and 1x4's in, I attached (screwed) a 2"x6"x8" cedar block on each end for embutments. The holes in the stud let rain water drain out. the 1x4s make the track stay in the trough perfectly,as the curve on the stud grips the ties on both sides.It was supposed to be temporary,but it worked so well,I sprayed it brown and it has been in place for two years with no problems. It is not a high bridge (about 6" off the ground) but it lets all surface water run off a 10' area that otherwise would be wet area holding rain water. The cost is only the price of the metal stud and paint.
Mike Evans: Sometimes it's best to just keep it simple. I have used a simple redwood plank for the track base and then fastened 3" wide thin redwood strips to the edges; looks like a regular thru girder bridge (from over 10 ft).
Roy Powers: I made 5 bridges out of western red cedar. The planking for the ties is Popsicle sticks with the rounded ends cut off. The metal truss rods are 2-56 threaded rods.
Important Topics
Bridges
Buildings
Couplers
Getting Started
Grades
How Garden Trains Work
Live Steam
Wheels
Geran Miller: I have several live steam engines from the Ruby to a Roundhouse SR&RL and several I have built from kits or from scratch. I also run track power and battery power. My Ruby runs ok but you get what you pay for, my Roundhouse Millie is a much better runner and requires less upkeep. Try live steam if you get the chance, it is really something to watch, it's almost live the engine is alive.
Mike Evans: I've watched the Ruby on some demo layouts at shows and noticed it is hard to control and has limited pulling capacity. However, the little Shay I saw run looked to be very reliable and powerful but was a little over my price range. I am also concerned about depositing so much steam oil on my rails - how difficult would it be to clean it off to run conventionally powered trains or even battery operated? Also concerned about how to radio control the live steamer.
John Fuller: I have battery, R/C electrics that I started with and still run from time-to-time. There is just something about the working mechanics of a Live Steamer. The sound of the chuffs, the steam from the stack, the live steam whistle making everyone’s head turn. Live steamers come to life and it is a whole different experience!
Chris Wolcott: Just as some folks like steam era and some like diesel, some like battery and others like track power, Live Steam is not for every one. I got into it because I was spending $900+/- on LGB steam engines and the Ruby came out for half that. I thought I'd try the real thing thinking I could always sell it if I didn't like it. For me, I like the mechanical aspect of it. The constant tinkering and hands-on requirements is what draws me to it. I have R/C'd my Ruby, and plan to R/C my Americanized Lady Anne and Accucraft C-21 when I can.
Come see the first, the original and the best web blog dedicated to Garden Railroads. Remember: Some people talk about what they are going to do, and others actually do it. Come show people what you have done.
