Living in a suburb of Los Angeles County, real estate is a premium so lots
tend to be small. Trying to find a space large enough for a track was
challenging.
The first track was at ground level with a few buildings on the straights
representing a mining town in the 1890’s. It has a small radius of 2 ft
and steep grades up to 4% to get any length.
The second track was an elevated wooden track 15 by 24 feet with 2 loops
of 45mm and one inside loop of 32 mm. Better but still not able to take
trains requiring a 3 meter radius or able to run long trains.
In order to get a larger track I had to utilize another portion of the
property in the front yard. To create privacy from the street view, I
made a “garden room”. I planted bushes along the streets and was able to
get an area large enough to enclose a track of 21 X 60 feet. With the help
of Rick Parker, John Polen, Jim O’Hearn , and Brian Beckham; we installed
an Eaglewings portable track on the site.
When finally finished, it will have dual tracks with multiple passing
sidings and a double cross over on a road bed. Since the picture was
taken, the bushes have grown to a height of 3 ft above the highest end of
the track effectively hiding it from street view. - Jim Gabelich
