Hello Mike,
i am really intrigued with your new outdoor layout. I don't need yet another segment of the toy train hobby to distract me, but I have always enjoyed seeing what has been accomplished in the realm of garden railroading. Your compact, raised level layout might be just the ticket.
We live in western Oregon with all of what that entails: wet, soggy winters, fir trees dropping something to the ground year round, chance of rain any time of year and squirrels.
Nevertheless, my wife puts out her ground level "fairy" garden display every Spring. She sprays it with deer repellant in a running battle with the squirrels and such. At her suggestion, I even bought a G gauge trolley to try to incorporate into her annual display. No further progress on that front.
At our age, a raised platform is appealing and getting more so every day. In our climate, we don't have long hard freezes or long periods under feet of snow, but neither do we have long stretches of sunny dry days. What advice do you have for this novice and what steps have you taken with this layout with respect to climate and weather proofing?
I was thinking my platform should be constructed of pressure treated wood. I notice you put plastic sheeting inside the platform. Do you have any way for water to drain out? I already have one swimming pool (a hole in the ground that I pour money into!) in the backyard, so I don't need another one.
I realize you are using live steam, and what I do will likely be conventional electric, but any thoughts or hints you can share about model railroading outdoors in a raised box will be appreciated greatly.
And please keep posting your progress notes and pix.
Cheers!
Alan
