Trains.com

78 inch long 027 handlayed crossover step by step

1701 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
78 inch long 027 handlayed crossover step by step
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 8:43 AM
I've got the pictures and will post instructions in a little while.

Pls check back in an hour or so.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Rolesville, NC
  • 15,416 posts
Posted by ChiefEagles on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:07 AM












 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:07 AM
Thanks Chief!!!!!!!

I'll begin posting instructions for each picture shortly.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:13 AM
Photo #1

Masonite base.

Outline track w/pencil or pen

Cut lauan ties on table saw

stain ties w/diluted latex or black coffee

place and glue w/wood glue

spread ballast w/brush (I use scale gravel from gravel spills)

spray wood glue/water/ w/bit of soap and/or alcohol to affix gravel ballast

(btw, I built the patio as well)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Willoughby, Ohio
  • 5,231 posts
Posted by spankybird on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:15 AM
Thanks Dave,

It looks great.

[tup][8D]

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:18 AM
Photo 2

Pry 027 rails out of metal ties with chisel

Paint sides of rails rust color

Lay stock (outside rails) to ties

Use bench grinder, dremel or file to sharpen points of frog

Spike rails to ties (every 4th tie) with needle-nose pliers and linemen's pliers.

I prefer lineman's as lauan is harder to punch thru than balsa or basswood but is cheaper & has a nice wood cross grain to it.

For spikes, I use HO spike or make my own w/ordinary small nails

I used a homemade wood gauge for rail spacing but BB the beagle ate the gauge so I simply run a truck along the track

If my gauge is out of whack, I simply pull spikes & reposition

3-rail trains are forgiving

use eye protection
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:22 AM
Photo 3

Add closure rails. SImply bend rails by hand

You can see some of the tools I previously mentioned

I didn't photograph filling in the frog but you would fill in the frog one of 3 ways:

a. Use JB Weld
b. Use car body filler
c. Use solder on copper base

I used the first 2 methods and found JB Weld superior, if not more expensive.

You should stick some tape around the frog as the weld will oooooze out

Let dry about 4 hours
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:24 AM
Photo 4

Grind a flangeway thru the frog w/dremel or hacksaw blade

Pull a train thru to see if it is smooth

There's more an art than a science to doing this

If you mess up, simply refill the flange; no problemo
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:25 AM
Photo 5

Running a test train. I custom-painted the entire train and scratchbuilt the flat car

Re-spike or refill frog and repeat steps if train running not smooth
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:28 AM
Photo 6

Grind down your point rails and solder to a switch rod made from 12 gauge copper wire; 10 ga will do fine too.

For the pivot of the points, I simply put a couple of spikes at the points end facing the frog.

Run trains thru. You may need to respike the outside rails if the point rails make the track gauge too narrow. Again, easy to pull and respike. Don't sweat it.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 9:32 AM
Photo 7

Finally, time to add 3rd rail.

I didn't do it yet for the crossover because I got fixated on a screenplay I'm writing so I'm substituting a previously done turnout to illustrate.

For every 3rd or 4th tie, insert a copper roofing nail with lineman's pliers. The nails were too long so I cut them w/lineman's pliers, making a diagonal cut

Next, lay 14 gauge copper wire on the nail heads and solder. You may need to file if you are a messy solderer. I got my copper wire out of Romex which is dirt cheap at Home depot. You can use the other wires inside the plastic for layout wiring. I use a razor to cut away the Romex lining to expose the wires.

That's it. Pretty easy and fun.

That's how you make a hi-rail layout using toy train rails.

If you enjoy being the engineer on your railway, you might find you enjoy gandydancing as well.

Dave Vergun
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Friday, August 27, 2004 11:01 AM
Pretty cool Dave, how long did that take to do? It's nice to see you're working on the railroad again. I take it you have a place for that to go on your layout.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, August 27, 2004 11:09 AM
Took a couple of evenings. Maybe 8 hours. Goes faster w/practice.

Putting on shelf layout. Workers on strike, however. May need arbitration or judges order to get workers back on track.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Friday, August 27, 2004 11:32 AM
That's not that long to do all that. At least there's hope for your workers. It sounds like the NHL season is going to be over before it starts. That will give me a lot more time to work on the layout, because I have season tickets to the Wild.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month