PlaymoFriends

General => Trains! => Topic started by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 00:22:25

Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 00:22:25
Hello, all you train enthusiasts ...

I was going to ask if we should also include LGB, but I see that Sylvia was once again two steps ahead of me ...  ;)


How many of you actually have train layouts?

How many of you have Playmobil's original electric trains?

Here's a photo of my old layout. We have since sold the house and moved.
(It was a Bavarian village at Christmas with a tunnel at the rear creating a hill for houses.)

(http://www.gardenwargaming.com/tour/images/dfm.JPG)

This is a photo of my new train table (6'X18') at our newly renovated home on Vancouver Island awaiting my arrival in the Spring ... :)

(http://www.gardenwargamer.com/images/traintable.JPG)

WOW! ... That's a BIG picture!

Sorry ...  :-[

I also want to build a garden railroad at our Canadian home.

I really like LGB's wireless Multi Train System.

So much to talk about and so much to share.

All the best,
Richard
Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Tiermann on December 11, 2005, 00:29:40
Nice of you to include a lifesize picture Richard. :D

So far I have one engine that just arrived, 9 passenger cars I got from Playmo online since they are so cheap (many to become customs), and my recent auction win that shipped out on Friday.
I used to model HO scale and still have most of my stuff up in the attic.

Perhaps a friendly mod could move my train show thread to this forum?
Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 00:46:39
Nice of you to include a lifesize picture Richard. :D

That was a bit too much (even for me) ...  :lol:
(I reduced it to a more manageable size.)


Perhaps a friendly mod could move my train show thread to this forum?

I'll bet that they could...

All the best,
Richard

Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 11, 2005, 01:20:10
Richard ~ How wide is that train table?  Is that for G-scale?
Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 02:23:07
Richard ~ How wide is that train table?  Is that for G-scale?

Yes, "Mal" ... ;) It's G-scale for Playmobil/LGB trains. And, the table is six feet wide by eighteen feet long.
Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 11, 2005, 02:39:33
Can you do a turnaround on that?  How many cars?

We're trying to work out what we'll do for our setup in the back yard, and everything we've been reading has been saying a MUCH wider area is needed.  A friend of ours wasn't sure how wide hers was (without going home and measuring).  Just estimating, I'd say it was 8 feet wide, but she said she could only get a few cars (say 3) to work on that tight a turn.
Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 04:46:38
Can you do a turnaround on that?  How many cars?

We're trying to work out what we'll do for our setup in the back yard, and everything we've been reading has been saying a MUCH wider area is needed.  A friend of ours wasn't sure how wide hers was (without going home and measuring).  Just estimating, I'd say it was 8 feet wide, but she said she could only get a few cars (say 3) to work on that tight a turn.

Hello, Serenity ...

If you're outdoors and you're setting up a garden railroad, then you definitely want to use the largest radius curves available. It will not only look more realistic, but you will also be able to run almost any G-Scale train on your track.

However indoors, a 6'x18' foot layout offers lots of possibilities. Especially if you limit your rolling stock to the older style two axle European and American trains such as Playmobil's 4122 pictured below.

(http://www.gardenwargamer.com/images/4122.jpg)


Here are some G-Scale track layout examples of what will fit on an indoor 6' x 18' table. And, if you have multi-levels with mountains and bridges, an even more extensive layout can be created.

(http://www.gardenwargamer.com/images/trackplan.png) 


Even though Playmobil electric trains have been discontinued, they can still be a lot of fun. Especially since LGB accessories present almost unlimited options.

All the best,
Richard
Title: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Psyche on December 11, 2005, 06:23:46

Perhaps a friendly mod could move my train show thread to this forum?

Your wish is my command. :)

I think this is a great idea for a board and am happy to see so many train enthusiasts here. I've only been able to create one layout and that was with my circus train (my 1st train :love: ) and I was lucky to find some assessories in the same scale: a Swiss Gondola ride and a ferris wheel (but it needs a bit of work) and a fun circus tent that is just right for the older red circus. I want to add more train cars but have only recently gotten an engine with enough power to handle the bigger load (I hope.) 

Do you guys know which engine has the most pulling capacity?
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Sylvia on December 11, 2005, 10:31:34
Hope you don't mind me splitting these posts from the original topic they were in, Richard. ;)

I felt this info and the wonderful pics you have provided warranted a separate title. 8-)

The only train layout I was ever able to make was using 1*2*3 engines and railroad pieces. I have no regular scale Playmobil train parts and am unlikely to buy any as I'm trying to cut back on the collecting side, but I have loads of 1*2*3 train stuff that I bought when my twins were little. I'm not sure if I took any photos of it before I packed it away in the loft, but if I find any I'll post them in this board. :)
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Sir Gareth on December 11, 2005, 11:44:52
Wow that's a huge table, it's nearly the size of the average garage here in the UK.

 I have almost got everything that I need to complete my future layout, I'm just short of a MISB 4121 cattle car. The layout I would like to do is going to be a lot smaller than any of the track layouts posted, it will be based on a simple oval of track around my western town. I would like to reproduce as near as possible some of the images that you can find on playmo boxes, space will be the deciding factor, I'll post a box side so you can get an idea of what I want to do.

Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 15:52:13
Do you guys know which engine has the most pulling capacity?

The BIGGEST one! ...  :lol:

(Sorry, Diana, I just couldn't resist.)

However, that's not too far from the truth. Some of the LGB engines are really HUGE and can pull a long rake. A lot depends on whether you have a flat layout or one with a grade. Even the slightest grade will make a tremendous difference in what you might need for an engine as well as a transformer (transformator).

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 15:56:53
Hope you don't mind me splitting these posts from the original topic they were in, Richard. ;)

Are you kidding? This is GREAT, Sylvia! Thank you very much!  :*)

I hadn't thought about 1.2.3., but I think that this would be the place to discuss them, as well as Playmobil's RC trains.

Thanks again, Sylvia!

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Meg on December 11, 2005, 16:04:08
Very impressive


Garry, I hope you will post photos of your western train as soon as it is running.

M
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 11, 2005, 17:44:22
Wow!  Thanks for the layouts ... my husband's going to be very excited to see those.  I'm limiting him to a 6 x 18 layout in the backyard for the time being.  The little guy is still too young to have unlimited access, and I've built up a flower bed that he can't get into.  I'll give part of that to hubby for the trains, as long as I have room enough for some veggies in the other part  (decent produce is hard to come by here). 

When the little guy is older, I'll let the boys take over the back yard with the trains if they want.

Sylvia ~ I'm not sure the train forum is a good idea, I can tell from what has already been posted, that I'm going to start coveting a Playmo western train again, and after seeing what Tim paid  :o    Y'all are gonna get me in trouble  ;) :P  ;D
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 18:27:50
Wow!  Thanks for the layouts ... my husband's going to be very excited to see those

Hello, Serenity ...

I know that Meg uses a Macintosh and I'm hoping that you do as well, because I have a great program for generating Playmobil track plans on a Mac.

Also, please meet me on my "welcome' page as I want to talk with you about this ... "I don't care, I'm still free ... You can't take the sky from me ... "

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 11, 2005, 18:44:54
Unfortunately, no, our house is all PC (not to be confused with politically correct ;) )

What's the program?  My nephew uses a mac, maybe I could talk him into learning the program.  He's the little guy's godfather, AND aspires to becoming a landscape architect.
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 11, 2005, 19:30:53
Unfortunately, no, our house is all PC (not to be confused with politically correct ;) )

What's the program?  My nephew uses a mac, maybe I could talk him into learning the program.  He's the little guy's godfather, AND aspires to becoming a landscape architect.

Hello, Serenity ...

The name of the program is RAIL MODELLER (http://www.railmodeller.com/).

(http://www.railmodeller.com/rm-logo.gif) (http://www.railmodeller.com/)
click on image above

I think that your nephew will love it. It's shareware and it's only $30.00USD if he likes it! (Might make a nice Christmas present ... ;))

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 11, 2005, 19:39:42
Thanks for the tip ... shareware is always good.  I already sent his Christmas present, but his birthday is in May  ;D

In the meantime, I forgot my brother has a Mac, and he's much closer in Santa Fe ... I may have to download it and burn it to CD for a stocking stuffer  ;D
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Tiermann on December 12, 2005, 00:36:52
Hi, Here are some links to a great site I found tht has som smaller layouts for G Scale trains.

Small layouts: http://www.thortrains.net/glaysm1.htm (http://www.thortrains.net/glaysm1.htm)

Layouts for a 6 by 8 foot space: http://www.thortrains.net/garden/gmini1a.html (http://www.thortrains.net/garden/gmini1a.html)

Layouts for under the Yule tree, 5 foot and 6 foot square spaces: http://www.thortrains.net/yule/yuleg44a.html (http://www.thortrains.net/yule/yuleg44a.html)

Additional mini-layouts: http://www.thortrains.net/trackplan/Gmini1.html (http://www.thortrains.net/trackplan/Gmini1.html)

One of the tree layouts will be doable with the track I am getting from my auction win. Gonna have to give it a try.
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 12, 2005, 01:06:19
Thanks, Tim ...

There's some really good ideas in those track plans!

I'm glad that I haven't started laying track yet!

Thanks again and all the best,,
Richard
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 12, 2005, 01:50:30
Those are great sites, thanks Tim!
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: bogol on December 12, 2005, 11:38:02
Hi Richard!

Wow, you have really amazing train stuff! I like your old layout (especially as it featured a Bavarian theme ;) ) and I'm totally overwhelmed about the sheer size of your new train table. I'm sure we'll see great things next spring! (Also the display caes beneath your old layout are fantastic!)

Unfortunately all my Playmo trains are boxed. I own most of the electric engines from geobra and also a single small LGB steam engine (which in fact started my G scale railroading before Playmobil went into trains).

My regular layout is set up only once a year and runs around our Christmas tree - two weeks to go!
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 12, 2005, 14:08:12
... I like your old layout (especially as it featured a Bavarian theme ;)

Thanks, Markus ...

Click on the image below to see some more pictures of the old PlaymoRoom ...

(http://www.gardenwargaming.com/tour/images/smdfmEntry.JPG) (http://www.gardenwargaming.com/tour/tour.html)

Are you going to post some pictures of your Christmas layout?

Thanks again for your very nice comments.

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Luis on December 12, 2005, 23:01:56
for some reason I always thought that was David's room
it was a very cool room, but I guess it'll be even better once you're done, Richard
good luck, and please post pictures of it once you've finished :D
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 13, 2005, 03:01:19
Has anyone tried to do a suspended track?  I'd really like to get into Playmo trains, but I don't have a lot of floor space, and I don't want to put them in the yard (I'd hate to see what the weather did to them!).  We saw a G-scale train suspended in the Durango-Silverton train station, and as far as I'm concerned, that could stay up all year in my house ... but I have no idea how to do it.
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 13, 2005, 03:18:01
Has anyone tried to do a suspended track?  I'd really like to get into Playmo trains, but I don't have a lot of floor space, and I don't want to put them in the yard (I'd hate to see what the weather did to them!).  We saw a G-scale train suspended in the Durango-Silverton train station, and as far as I'm concerned, that could stay up all year in my house ... but I have no idea how to do it.

Hello. Mal ...

Here's a couple of places to get you started ...

http://pages.areaguides.com/ubuild/ModelTrainIdeas.htm

http://www.highrails.com/gallery.htm

There's many more out there ...

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 13, 2005, 03:23:51
Thanks again, Richard!  You're the BEST!  :-*  8-)

Hmmmmmm ... no time for this Christmas, but I bet I'd get the "Best Wife in the World" award, if I did that for next Christmas.  I might have to contact our contractor to knock a hole or two in the walls  8}  ;D
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 13, 2005, 03:59:17
Wow, those links lead me to this site:  http://gardentexture.com/ (http://gardentexture.com/)

Oh My!  :-*
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 13, 2005, 04:30:57
Wow, those links lead me to this site:  http://gardentexture.com/ (http://gardentexture.com/)

Oh My!  :-*


Did you watch the QuickTime movie at that site?
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 13, 2005, 04:49:07
I missed it, and I'm not seeing it off the bat now ... which section is it in?
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Richard on December 13, 2005, 05:06:07
I missed it, and I'm not seeing it off the bat now ... which section is it in?

Count down nine rows of pictures and it's just below "Sand & Water Facility"
Title: Re: Train tables and layouts (with pics!)
Post by: Serenity on December 13, 2005, 05:33:20
Oooohhhh, that was lovely!  Sometimes I miss living in that kind of country, too.  I keep warning DH that we may have to retire to the Pacific Northwest.  Maybe if I show him this movie, he'll agree.  The train layout is too cool!