Has anyone ever taken their trains along camping for any reason? What did you do?

I've never taken mine "camping" but I do have a portable "N" scale layout that is about 3' X 6' that I have taken to shows, etc. I've taken it in my truck or 5th wheel. It is set up so that once the trains are off, the legs fold up and pretty much everything else is glued down. I have a set of wheels that clamp on one side so I can wheel it on edge. It fits easly through a 2'6" wide door.I've often though that a LGB "G" scale set up would be neat to take along, assemble the sectional track around the camper area to entertain the neighbors. Just way to much $$$ for me though.

At 7x14 ft the layout is too big to take but I would take some small building project on the road.A small N scale might be feasible however.

In my new garage(next to the MH) I built a layout for my grandson and me. Measuring 24' long by 4' wide it displays all the trains and accessories I've collected over 40 years.

I pack a Timesaver layout designed by John Allen when I travel. This can be quite challenging to someone who has never worked it before...:-)

I have an "N" scale layout that is 2 feet by 4 feet. It is inside a glass toped enclosure that serves as our dinette table top.

Any model railroader/RVers out there? | Good Sam Community

ependydad
Explorer
Dec 10, 2014
tsetsaf wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
I have an "N" scale layout that is 2 feet by 4 feet.

It is inside a glass toped enclosure that serves as our dinette table top.

Good idea! Any pictures?

Here are Dog Folk's pictures of his model train setup as his dinette in his camper:
traindriver1
Explorer
Dec 10, 2014
Don't have any experience with model railroads, but have about 2 1/2 million miles on the real things.
Geocritter
Explorer
Dec 12, 2014
Check this out http://www.trainmountain.org/
Wanderlost
Nomad II
Dec 12, 2014
Well, WLToo has looked at the photos and I can see the gears going.

One question: Do you have any problem with the plastics melting or warping in the heat? I ask because we live where it gets way hot in the summer, so he's been storing all of his N scale stuff in our air conditioned garage office, until he gets his train room built off the RV barn not yet built.

Don't want to put a train layout in the RV and have it melt when the RV is not in use.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Dec 12, 2014
Plastics melting? Sorry can't help you that. We full time so the inside is always temperature controlled.

I can't imagine they would as there are many different types of plastics inside an RV. When we were working and living in Florida, the RV sat vacant and got very hot in the summer. Never had problem..
rbturner
Explorer
Dec 13, 2014
I have seen trains melted by someone laying them in the back window of a car but I don't think they would melt just sitting in the RV stored in a reasonable manner.
Community Alumni
Dec 13, 2014
That train in the table is the neatest thing since sliced bread.

Neat Idea

jimR
Double_Rainbow
Explorer
Dec 14, 2014
I run a number of G scale locomotives including electric and live steam. I often take a locomotive, some track, a few cars, and my support equipment so I can run trains either at our site or in the club house. I use several banquet tables to support the track.

My experience is that most people are interested in this hobby and always have a number of questions. The live steam locomotives always draw attention.

I know of a resort in Tucson that has an outdoor g scale garden layout which is maintained by the tenants.

Anyone else out there running G scale?
rbturner
Explorer
Dec 14, 2014
I do not have any G scale but I have a couple of On30; fantasy sets. One is for firefighters and the other is for the Confederacy. These two sets were originally offered by the Franklin Mint or some such outfit for low low payments of $79.95 a month. I got most of them from eBay for reasonable prices. I think one of them may be a good choice to take camping since they run on HO track but are a lot larger body wise.
DaveInAL
Explorer
Dec 14, 2014
You train buffs might enjoy this park near me!

http://www.waleswest.com/

Dave