1. max height and width that your rollingstock will be.
   (180mm, & 110 mm. Go for 220 high if you want to run Shays.)
   Click here to see a profile gauge I made for checking clearances under bridges, tunnels and platforms.
   (You'll see I increased the height by adding the yellow bit on.)

2. minimum radius track you will use
   (1.0m on level, 1.5m on 2% grade, 2.0m on 4% grade. If I have no other constraints I use 1500mm radius on the level and 2000m on a 2% grade.)

3. maximum gradient you will use.
   (4% on straight, 2% on 1.5m radius)

4. maximum train length you want to run (determines grades, radius and crossing loop lengths)
   (3.6m but I should have gone longer!)

5. Track centres.
   (140 on straight, 180 on 900mm radius curve - these allow for a 500mm long vehicle.)

If you're making your own vehicles, you'll also need to decide on:

1. Floor height     (45-50mm)

2. Buffer height     (35mm)

3. Coupling types and height    

4. Longest Vehicle you want to run      (550mm with bogies centres 370mm and 100mm wide)

5. Maximum Endthrow of a long vehicle      (25mm for a 110 wide, 30mm for 100mm wide)

click here for Excel spreadsheet with equations to calculate endthrow and centre overhang as a function of length and radius.

Most vehicles will get around a 600mm radius curve, but.....
There are 3 variables to consider:
The grade
How far round the curve goes. ie is it a 90 degree turn, or 180 degrees etc.
How long a train you want to run.

For a 90 degree turn you could go as low as 900mm radius, and get just about any length train around it on the level.
As a rough rule, for more than 90 degrees, the trailing train (ie excluding the locos) should be no longer than the diameter, or the wagons are likely to be pulled off the track.
I have had no problems with a 90 degree turn at 1000mm radius on level track. My worst curve at present is 200 degrees and level and 900mm radius and it will not allow trains longer than about 2m.

Laying out Track 'on the ground'

This picture shows a tool I made for measuring the radius of a curve I have laid.

This one is a little tool for setting out different gradients. It's use with a 600mm (2') long spirit level, and consists of just a number of pieces of 3-ply wood glued together in a stepped fashion.

Here's some 'common' materials that can be used on Garden railways.

*20x20mm plastic angle from the hardware store. Many uses. Use it for seats in carriages. A little pressure will bend it so the back is not at 90 degs.

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Fishing 'trace' looks like rope or wire. 0.6mm dia, nylon. From fishing stores $5/10m

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Polyethylene 'Flashing' used under window sills in house building - has a pattern something like large chequerplate. Could also be used under track, covered in ballast to keep out weeds. Hardware stores $5/10m.

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Rubber camping mattress is good for making Roads. My latest attempt uses a rubber camping mattress, about 1cm thick – see inset in picture. These are available for about $5 in bargain $2 shops. Try and get the blue coloured ones. I cut mine to the required width and length and roughened up the underside by dragging and gouging with a hacksaw blade. This gives grip for the concrete. I leveled the dirt and put down a very wet slurry of 3:1 sand/cement about 1cm thick and put the rubber road down on it and weighted it with bricks or whatever was at hand. When dry I spray painted with cheap grey paint and it’s very realistic. It forms realistic high/low points and even has a cracked surface appearance. You can walk on it, but I wouldn't recommend stilettos.

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*Glue -A really good glue is Fuller's UltraClear Water based sealant. This comes in a big tube like liquid nails etc. But it is water based, so cleaning up is easy and it can be painted over. It's water proof when dry. It's like a thick form of PVA Aquadhere (white glue).

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Cream can loads - These Party Poppers are 30 for $2. Cut the long neck off and superglue the cap back on and paint silver or grey, as shown on the right. Perfect for a wagon load. They finish up 27mm dia and 40mm high.

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Those cheap plastic garden irrigation pipes and fittings have many uses. I made a water crane from the 1" pipe and elbows (and an old gear for a valve wheel) I use the 1/2" and 1" pipe as conduit for all my buried wiring. Note that with the voltages we use, it doesn't matter if the pipe fills with water. I just use it to provide a little protection and allow me to pull more wires in in future without digging up the garden. The smaller more rigid 1/4" 'risers' are great for fence posts and telegraph poles. The little spray fittings make nice fancy finials on top, or roof ventilators. I use spruce timber for pole crossarms and little glass beads from craft shops for insulators.

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Rivets - For embossing small rivets onto card or thin styrene, buy a dressmakers tracing wheel. It's like a gear wheel with a handle. Run it along the back of the styrene/card material (laid on a thick newspaper for some 'give') and get perfectly spaced rivets. If the rivets are too close together, you could grind off every second tooth.You can get wheels with different spacings.

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