So while in not really into the whole Christmas thing, my 3 year old is. I've been kicking around recently the idea of a small train, but I only have one place I could really put it, and it's not level.
I'd like to loop one around the pellet stove, the problem is that black steel plate is about 2 inches above the concrete in the back.
Are there some stand ups or something I could use to make the track go around the stove?
I don't have anything picked out at all, but I've been seeing some nice ish small sets for like $50-60 and that sounds reasonable.
You can get trestle kits for most size hobby trains. Make sure you keep the track off the carpet unless it has a solid base. It will get wound up it the wheels and make a mess.
Something like this riser?
Also, poke around walthers.com just for the awesome array of train stuff...
In reply to RevRico :
The most forgiving track I’ve worked with is Lionel Flex track. A loop of that, and a couple scraps of plywood to smooth the transition and you should be good.
Cut a oval out of scrap wood 2-3 inches bigger than the width of your track. (Not sure what scale you plan on.) Cut out the center of the oval. Cut the Oval to form 2 Cs. Lay first part on the carpet. Butt second part up to the first and add blocks, 2 or 3, of wood and shims to fill in the gap on the backside and make it level. Glue or screw the blocks to the C. Lay your track on top and enjoy. All but the heaviest G scale trains will do fine
Certainly there are trestle kits, but they can be kind of fiddly, especially for little people. Level is quite important. You could support the track on most anything, books, 2x4, etc.
I would vote O-gauge Lionel stuff, although it can get pricey. Little hands do better with the bigger trains.
My kids had a ton of fun for many years as wee ones with the wooden railways, which offer an endless array of layouts and also accommodate battery-powered engines.
I'm thinking small oval, not even planning any scenes, yet, just a loop around the stove.
I'm not even sure if I still have my train from when I was a kid, but I'm going to look for it.
2 big C's of plywood should work nicely though to get around the stove, better than just laying track on the steel plate will at least.
Thanks all for the links to the risers though, that will help immensely.
Ransom said:
...poke around walthers.com just for the awesome array of train stuff...
Careful, mate. That's a deep rabbit hole
In reply to RevRico :
The risers are foam and I don’t know how well they’d hold up to kids and being on the floor. Mounting the track to plywood and shimming up the low end with scrap ply should do well enough for playing with.
Torkel
New Reader
11/21/18 7:10 a.m.
Model trains are like breasts... meant for small children, but mostly, it's grown men who play with them.
NickD
UberDork
11/21/18 7:19 a.m.
Torkel said:
Model trains are like breasts... meant for small children, but mostly, it's grown men who play with them.
That's berkeleying gold, right there.
In reply to RevRico :
Check your Email. Sent you some info.
