Like this:

http://freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=3859&forum_id=5

UK OO scale

Thanks Rick,

Saw several UK garden layouts on youtube but wasn't sure as to the scale.

Garden

Instead of putting your trains outside in the dirt when you move to San Antonio, why don't you look at the San Antonio Model Railroaders Association (SAMRA) off Toepperwien Road in Live Oak.  They have a very nice building and layout.  Not entirely positive, but the Transportation museum off Wetmore Road also has a modeling group and layout as well.  Third option to look at would be the group that has a layout in the former IGN (Mopac) depot in New Braunfels.  Joining a club or getting in contact with an informal operating group has got to be better than dealing with harsh outside elements and HO scale trains. 

Outdoors HO

When we lived in Phoenix, AZ, I built an HO railroad in the side yard (10 ft x 50 ft) using the same processes I had used before when I had the luxury of a basement. The main difference was all of the wood received multiple coats of high quality exterior quality paint before fabrication. I protected the flex track and turnouts from the direct rays of the sun. The track was at 48 to 52 inches off the ground.    

It was DC but the locomotives and power supplies were kept indoors and I did not operate in the heat of the day.  But when the yard went into shade and the temperature dropped into the low 100s, the trains came out.

Hydrocal, foam, and other scenery items were not phased by the weather. I substituted water proof glue for Elmer's and when dry, the ballast did not move. I used siliconized caulk to secure the roadbed, track, and scenery foam. 

Link

You can see photos at http://www.duckdogger.us. Click on freight and passenger pages for a feel of the railroad and scenery. 

Why not ???

I think it's a good idea and i'd like to try here in Belgium...with a wet weather.

I 'm afraid about it !!!

Today we had -2 °C at 7:00 and now 10...12 °C (9:38). So I 'll wait enough a month to do some tests.

Garden HO

Interesting concept. Although G scale track is larger and heaver than HO track, both HO track and G scale track are made of the same materials. HO track being smaller than G scale track might be more sensitive to expansion and contraction from the heat of the day and cooling off period during the night.

Another option to consider, a shed or a pole building in the back yard. I've seen numerous shed layout videos from England, where the concept seems to be very popular. One of the best known shed railroads here in the USA is Bill Henderson's "Coal Belt Railroad". A shed railroad maybe something to consider instead of a outdoor railroad?   

Something I've been considering

I modeled HO scale for 20+ years, but in the last few years got into G scale outdoors. I like G scale and some of the neat things you can do with it (i.e. robotic control of doors, figures, etc.). But what I find my self missing is the vast array of rolling stock and engines that can be found in HO scale.

I've seen online some outdoor HO layouts. What worries me are the plastic ties and how well they stand up to UV light. Not sure if using UV resistant spray paint will help protect the ties. Not to mention the extreme weather differences between Winter and Summer in Minnesota.

I am currently using DCC to control my G scale trains. I only have 94' of track right now with one set of pickup wires. I soldered the wires to screws on the bottom side of the rails. All is holding up well. For my future (larger) Garden RR I will add more pickup wires. I'll run the buss wire under ground in conduit. 

Scenery wise, I have seen lots of neat looking scenery with cement used for mountains, cliffs, bridges, etc. Pink Styrofoam has also been used for the same as well as building tunnel portals, retaining walls, buildings, and more. 

Ballast I would consider granite dust from a quarry. I don't know from trial and error, but I would think that Woodland Scenics ballast would not survive outside. For holding the ballast in place I have heard of people using a thinned out mortar mix (like white glue and water) as well as wood chip mulch adhesive spray. Either way I would only spray the outside of the track, leaving the center of the track loose to free float.

I would not free float the track on the ground. HO is not as forgiving with bad track alignment as G scale is. I would install the track on support of sometime whether that would be wood, PVC, or a roadbed ladder system is up to you.

H0 and G scale track...

...are not made of the same materials! Yes both are plastic but G scale track is made of UV stabilized plastic where as Ho scale track is not! I tested a couple of pieces of HO track outside back in the eighties and the unpainted track failed so badly that after 12 months the "spikes" broke off with just fingernail pressure. The track painted with an outdoor UV paint lasted several years with no problems.

Having said that I have seen track outdoors on a small layout that lasted a long time but it was well painted and repainted every couple of years. I have also seen some N scale out doors though I am not sure how long it had been there.

G scale track

 Hi Graeme, Thanks for the info. I did not know that G scale track was made of a UV stabilized plastic. Is that true for all manufactures of G scale track or just some brands?

I am not sure..

...about things like the cheap Bachmann or similar track but I be the better brands are. 

Most G scale track is UV stabilized

Rich-

From what I've read on Garden RR forums is that most manufacturers design their track for outdoor use. The track I've used outside that has held up well is Aristocraft (brass track), USA Trains (brass track), and Sunset Valley- SVRR (stainless steel). 

Other manufactures I've heard of that are fine for outside are LGB, Accucraft/American Mainline, Piko, Train Li, Llgas Creek, Bachmann (brass track). Bachmann's steel track will rust very quick outside and fall apart, even for battery powered equipment. 

HO outdoors

​If degrading plastic ties are a problem why not do what the hand laid tracks do, use wood ties. I'm sure pressure treated wood would last a long time. Could be cut from PT lathe.