Track Laying beginning...
I finished removing all the old roadbed vinyl from the tracks using the Dremel tool with a coarse sanding drum. This made fast work of the process, but it still took almost four work sessions to complete it. Today, I officially started laying track.
I'm just locating the track correctly so I can mark its position and then glue down the Flexibed roadbed. I'm using two diagrams: one has the actual track dimensions on it with the lengths of cut pieces of straight track and the computed length of cut curves, and the other shows where the insulated blocks go and where the feeder tracks will have to be. In some places I'm using hot glue to temporarily hold track in position. When the roadbed goes down, I'm going to use Liquid Nails which is much tackier and stronger.
RR Track track laying software gives cut curves in degrees when you print out the layout showing track labels. I went back and captured the actual track lengths using the PROPERTIES detail box. I wrote these on the drawing. For the most part things are coming out as they should, but there are some areas, especially around the bridges on the left end, where the track configuration on the drawing is not fitting on the OSB as it should. I'm using field measurements to correct this.
Here's a progress shot. I'm about 25% done. The high-line is in and it definitely shows a dip on the up slope that I'm going to get out by putting some upward pressure on the riser below the dip and, if necessary, shimming the roadbed in that area. Even though the total slope is less than 2º, a dip can increase the slope at that point and also cause traction problems if some of the drivers bridge the dip and you don't have as many wheels in contact with the rail.
This will be the last work until after the holidays. We're heading back East to be with family and old friends.
So here's wishing everyone at the World Affairs Board Forums a very Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. I'll be back documenting every gory detail of this project next year.
I finished removing all the old roadbed vinyl from the tracks using the Dremel tool with a coarse sanding drum. This made fast work of the process, but it still took almost four work sessions to complete it. Today, I officially started laying track.
I'm just locating the track correctly so I can mark its position and then glue down the Flexibed roadbed. I'm using two diagrams: one has the actual track dimensions on it with the lengths of cut pieces of straight track and the computed length of cut curves, and the other shows where the insulated blocks go and where the feeder tracks will have to be. In some places I'm using hot glue to temporarily hold track in position. When the roadbed goes down, I'm going to use Liquid Nails which is much tackier and stronger.
RR Track track laying software gives cut curves in degrees when you print out the layout showing track labels. I went back and captured the actual track lengths using the PROPERTIES detail box. I wrote these on the drawing. For the most part things are coming out as they should, but there are some areas, especially around the bridges on the left end, where the track configuration on the drawing is not fitting on the OSB as it should. I'm using field measurements to correct this.
Here's a progress shot. I'm about 25% done. The high-line is in and it definitely shows a dip on the up slope that I'm going to get out by putting some upward pressure on the riser below the dip and, if necessary, shimming the roadbed in that area. Even though the total slope is less than 2º, a dip can increase the slope at that point and also cause traction problems if some of the drivers bridge the dip and you don't have as many wheels in contact with the rail.
This will be the last work until after the holidays. We're heading back East to be with family and old friends.
So here's wishing everyone at the World Affairs Board Forums a very Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. I'll be back documenting every gory detail of this project next year.
Comment