Wanting to create an outdoor diversion

[Horishny]

I grew up with my dad’s Lionel Girl’s train he got new as a new father present (his mother had a great sense of humor), he would set up at Christmas time, and he acquired a few extra cars when he bought someone’s track layout so he could get more track. My brother is the keeper of the train legacy; lately, I’ve learned of folks using regular sized trains outside and now I’m interested in running an appropriate looking Virginia & Truckee train and cars just for fun.

 

[Smudge617]

I grew up with my dad’s Lionel Girl’s train he got new as a new father present (his mother had a great sense of humor), he would set up at Christmas time, and he acquired a few extra cars when he bought someone’s track layout so he could get more track. My brother is the keeper of the train legacy; lately, I’ve learned of folks using regular sized trains outside and now I’m interested in running an appropriate looking Virginia & Truckee train and cars just for fun.

Sound's like a plan, and a lot of work, you'll have to share your plans picture's etc. I look forward to seeing how it goes.

 

[Iron Horseman]

I grew up with my dad’s Lionel Girl’s train he got new as a new father present (his mother had a great sense of humor), he would set up at Christmas time, and he acquired a few extra cars when he bought someone’s track layout so he could get more track. My brother is the keeper of the train legacy; lately, I’ve learned of folks using regular sized trains outside and now I’m interested in running an appropriate looking Virginia & Truckee train and cars just for fun.

I replied to the other thread, BUT if you are serious about having an outside layout you should consider going to G-gauge.

O-gauge trains outside have all sorts of issues. I speak from first hand experience. The track rusts, and bends or breaks if it is stepped on, and the fiber insulators on the tubular type track get wet and "leak" electricity. The locomotives pick up dirt onto the wheels and gears and motor. Likewise the cars pickup dirt on their wheels. The sun bakes the plastic and makes it either or all: get soft and sag or even melt, paint fade, it gets brittle to the point of crumbling. Many more headaches than it is worth.

G-gauge for Garden Gauge. It is designed to go outside in the garden. The plastics are UV resistant ( They will still fade eventually but won't melt or get brittle). Even the stations, water towers, mines, grain elevators, and other structures are made from the same UV resistant stuff.

Bachmann Spectrum line makes a wonderful 4-4-0 that is a little too "early" a model for the V&T, but it is a whole lot closer than the Lionel "General". Likewise Kalamazoo made a small (selectively compressed) 4-4-0 painted for V&T (#11 Reno) which can still be found on e-bay for not much. Virginia & Truckee #25 & #27 were 4-6-0s that Bachmann produced a semblance of in G-scale. Folks have done some wonderful things with the Bachmann Anniversary 4-6-0s (Annies for short).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224933299630?hash=item345f11c5ae:g:vCAAAOSwS-5iVNxj
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224460700374?hash=item3442e67ad6:g:f1YAAOSwvMRgnZ41
https://www.ebay.com/itm/194972254670?hash=item2d654081ce:g:6aIAAOSwdMZiVbCt
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224933350689?hash=item345f128d21:g:uHkAAOSwCAFiVOnZ

In addition the G-gauge track is designed to go outside. The ties will not melt in the sun. The LGB brand can withstand some sever punishment. Their ads used to show it being run over by BMW automobiles and walked on by elephants. One can get various brands with either brass, aluminum, or stainless steel rail.