Erosion Control and Weeds
While digging in the railway corner to repair some wiring, I left a hole in the dirt that I didn't fill. One giant rainstorm later and I had trouble. Dirt quickly pooled and flowed out the bottom. The water also caused the dirt to overflow the ballast and track, buring it in mud.
So, I had to buy more dirt and really tamp it in the hole to fill it up. And I also added more of a dirt dam outside the corner along the ground. Several rainstorms later has confirmed it works.
But, I am getting a lot of weeds and maple tree saplings growing from those spinners that came down. I shouldn't have left the dirt so open and inviting for them. As a result, Harrison and I are constantly pulling out weeds. I hate weeding, but weeding a railroad isn't so bad.
So, I bought a couple of bags of brown wood mulch and spread them out on the dirt. It won't last forever, but it will stop the weeds until whatever plants we add have time to grow and spread out. And it will stop the mud from splashing.
Track Power and Radio Control
First, track power requires... wires. At first, I used a cheap HO scale transformer connected to the track with a pair of wires with a long extension cord to provide power. It worked, but it was clunky looking and a tripping hazard. So, I purchased a 24v adjustable DC power supply and ran a pair of landscaping wires from it (which was plugged into an exterior outlet on the deck) underground to the layout. (I made sure to take a picture so I would remember where they are in the future)
Then, I built a simple controller box with a motor controller circuit and a DPDT switch to control direction and plugged it in via an exterior weatherproof outlet box mounted to the corner of the layout. Just flip open the box, plug in the controller (and the DC power supply, which comes inside when not in us) and run trains. That worked great, but Harrison and the dog snagged the wires a couple of times where the controller plugged in.
So I went wireless. Aristocraft made a great system which varied the voltage applied to the track but it hasn't really been made in years. So I posted online for advice. It turns out that G Scale Graphics makes a set for about $220 that uses a car key fob to control the trains. I am familiar with the company as I use one of their other products to R/C control some battery-powered G scale trains I converted. And Piko now offers a G scale system for about $375 (ouch) that does the same thing. All would work, but I wanted something cheap.
Finally, someone pointed me to a simple $25 system on Amazon that works okay but makes an annoying beeping noise every time a button is pressed (to acknowledge receipt of the command). Harrison hasn't quite learned how to use it, but when I just want the train to run and don't need to adjust the speed or direction often it is perfect.
Will I keep this system? I don't know, but it works for what it is.
Stone Dust is Not Good Ballast
Despite reading reviews online of people calling for stone dust for ballast, it hasn't worked for me. When it gets wet it turns into a sticky mess that drains poorly and washes onto the ties and rails. It does hold the track well, but that is all it is good for. Truth be told, had there been a slightly larger option at the store down the road I would have used it. My local live steam club's G scale track uses larger rock, but I didn't want to drive all the way out to buy it.
As a result, Harrison and I are constantly doing track maintenance.
But, after attending the Amherst Railway Society's garden railway weekend festival over Father's Day weekend I talked with some people who maintain their garden railroad, and they recommended "Chip Stone". When I got back home I went to a nearby stone quarry at the Port of Albany (which I had passed dozens of times without registering what it was!) and found that they sold exactly what I needed for $3 a 5-gallon pail. Sold! It was called size "1A".
I came home and redid the ballast. First, I pried up the track with a prybar and slid some wooden dowels underneath to keep it elevated.
Then, I used the back of a metal brush to whack the track enough for the old stone dust to fall off. It came off in large chunks.
Finally, I held the track up about 3/4" above the ground and poured the new stone in. I just poured it over the track until it was buried, and then used a brush to clean up inside the rails and along the ties. Then, it all got wet down with a hose.
Hopefully, the larger stone will do a better job of allowing the water to drain away whilst holding the track in place.
All in all, though, I am really enjoying the layout.
