New Layout- Pointers

[surlyknuckle]

I've been a model railroader my entire life, but I've never had a layout beyond the 4x8 tabletop I had at my parents and later Kato Unitrack "Carpet Subdivisions" I'd put up when time allowed as an adult. A good friend of mine has decided to build an HO layout along the walls of his garage, and wants to make it a project for both of us to build an enjoy. Neither one of us has built anything "permanent", so I need some pointers.

He's already built the benchwork, mostly with 1x2s and 2x4s with a plywood table top. My question now is more to do with track laying than anything else. A third friend has donated his unused flex track. What's the best way to secure the track considering the temperature swings the garage is subjected to? Would laying the track onto the roadbed using thinly-spread silicone do anything to mitigate expansion/contraction? What's the preferred method here? Lots and lots of track spikes?

Any hints would be useful. -Jeffrey

[Deleted]

I believe that the bigger issue is that the wood that the layout is on will expand and contract, causing more issues than the expansion of metal rail will. My suggestion is to use a layer of insulating foam over plywood to minimize how much your track moves, and secure your track to that. Every so often (I've heard every 3 pieces of flex track) leave the joints unsoldered, to allow for track expansion. Otherwise just some caulk to keep everything down should work fine.

Good luck!

[selector]

If the plywood is decent, it should be quite stable over time and changes in humidity. Open frame layouts and the risers made from milled lumber it relies on to support the sub-roadbed doesn't do so well with changes in humidity. This, and not temperature, will be the source of trouble with tracks in a garage. But, on plywood, you should be okay. Let the track elements squirm just a bit by using DAP Alex Plus with silicon to adhere the elements to the plywood. Use small amounts spread thinly.

[lvrr325]

can always seal it with a deck stain. Maybe you can find a goof gallon for a cheap price. What range of temperatures do you expect to see with it?

[steveturner]

If the garage is insulated and has finished walls and an insulated garage door that would be a plus starter . You didn't mention your climate I don't think. I assume all wood is basically dry as in normal dry. All the benchwork and wood should be primed /sealed with a primer, oil preferred. This will prevent absorption of moisture from atmosphere etc in garage. This is the best you can do to protect the layout from track buckleing etc. I'm a wood guy so I'm not mentioning foam. I only use foam for scenery . I use cork roadbed nailed so I can make changes and the track is nailed .Track work and roadbed all sprayed with Krylon Camo brown, good starting color and its all sealed. All attempts to keep extreme temperatures out of garage a huge plus. That's cold and hot. Good luck.Steve

[timmie]

I would say to prepare your layout area properly, as in do all you can to insulate and if possible add a source of heat to the space..even if minimal.
Possibly extend a heating duct into the garage. Another question..you said around the walls, is this a single or double car garage? And is the open area in the middle remaining open for use?
If not, and is intended for future use as railroad space... perhaps weatherproof the door opening to keep out unwanted drafts etc. Once you have a stable comfortable room in which to construct your layout then discuss the layout construction.
If you rush into the layout without giving your space proper thought and preparations...you'll regret it!
Trust me.
The club I belong to has had two layouts housed in transport truck trailers.
First one was in a 45' fiberglass reinforced plywood side trailer and we rushed into construction without giving the space proper thought.
If the temps dropped to the freezing mark the three 240volt baseboard heaters couldn't keep up...so needless to say winter time operations were more less non-existent.
Our second trailer is a 53' aluminum side trailer. We learned from the first one and fully insulated floor walls and ceiling..now the baseboard heaters can easily maintain temp even with the coldest of temps outside. No issues with bench work or track.

Good luck my friend.

[grahamline]

In a garage, there's going to be some movement no matter what steps you take. I would suggest leaving about a thumbnail's thickness gap between each section of rail and let the track float in the sliding joiners. Make sure there is a feeder wire from your power buss to each segment of rail,and you should not have problems.

With track laying on any layout of any size, it's important to have a tester (either a meter, or just a lightbulb/LED with alligator clip leads) and check each section as you wire it up. Much simpler to debug track step by step than to lay the transcontinental line and then go back to find the faults.