Suspended Track

[Anonymous]

I am getting ready to start design on a suspended Track for an HO scale train. I am trying to hunt down some ideas on how I should do this for best results. I would be very greatful for any input from those of you more familiar at this than I am. this is my first time doing anything like this.

[Anonymous]

Hey Sstryder,

Welcome to the forum.
We had a thread a while ago where a guy wanted to do the same thing in his resturant. Depending upon where you want to put it you might need some saftey for people. Like a net under or a railing around so if the train does derail, it won't land on people. You have to attach something to the ceiling. You could use metal or wood as an attachment medium. Chances are that your ceiling is wood. You could screw a 2x4 flush with the ceiling and screw a series of 1x3s hanging from the flush 2x4. and screw a strip of ply wood to the hanging 1x3s. Stip of plywood so the train can run on it.
____________________Ceiling__________________________________________
__________________________________________________________2x4 attached
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
HANGING 1X3s
---------------------------------------------Stip of plywood (platform for trains)screwed to the 1x3s

Or

Screw a large bold into the ceiling like a clevis hanger bolt. Get some heavy chicken wire or light chain and attach it to the bolt and then down and around a strip of plywood. The plywood has to be flat so the train can run on it.
____________________Ceiling__________________________________________
L L L L L L L Hooks or screws to hang wires/chain
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
HANGING wires or chain
-----------------Stip of plywood (platform for trains)attached to wire or chain---------------------
Hope I could help.
Good Luck
Angelo

[Anonymous]

It wasn't supposed to be so distorted but I think you'll get the idea.

[Anonymous]

[#welcome] Sstryder To the forum.. You could do something like what is in my train room It is a 6' x 24'... soon to be expended to 6' x 48' .. Tim Mitchell

[Roger Bielen]

For suspendingt he track bed you could build trapeezes using brass rod, either fully threaded or plain with you threading the ends after cutting to size. There are different anchors that can be used to connect to the ceiling, hit Home Depot or Lowes hardware to get some ideas. The safety rail is a definite need to protect the trains, derailments happen on the best of tracks. If visibility is desired and cost is not an object you can cut Plexiglass for the bed.

Again, before finalizing any plans hit the hardware stores for ideas. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I think somebody makes a commercial plexiglas train system for hanging tracks from the ceiling. Check CTT or OGR for advertisements. I think I saw them there. Make sure you anchor your track system into something permanent in your ceiling. Find the joists and screw the anchors there. if you just get into the drywall covering you will have "pull outs" over time as drywall is made of gypsum board and cannot support loads. That is why electric junction boxes in ceilings are always mounted on a joist. If your ceiling is made of plywood you might be able to get away with screwing into it if you are not on a joist. You can't put much weight on it though or the plywood will sag over time. The weight of the track and hardware actually adds up when it is assembled. Be careful.

[FJ and G]

Pigs Eye,

That is pretty cool (photo a bit fuzzy). Looks like you used all-thread.

A guy named Dewey Togden on OGR forum did his entire layout on the ceiling around the room and it looks nice.

dav

[Anonymous]

Sstryder...Welcome to the forum. I see that you (like others)
have figured out that many things in this hobby cross scale
and gauge lines. Hope to see you here often. Neat project!

pigseye...WOW! I like your train room! How about some lay-
out pics? (Drool).

[dougdagrump]

Sst,
Send me your e-mail addy and I'll send you some photos and a synopsis of how I did mine. Unfortunately my ISP doesn't give me the ability to post photos here.
Doug

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your input and help. I am sure this is gonna turn out great. Once I get it done I will post some pics of it here on this posting.

[Buckeye Riveter]

[?][?][?][?][?][?]
Roger, I really like your idea of the threaded rods. Now, the question: What type of tools does one need to thread the rods? I'm sure I could cut the rods, but have never made threads. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Buckeye;

You can usually purchase threaded rod (allthread) through
most hardware outlets such as Lowes or Home Depot. It
comes in various lengths and diameters so you can get it
to fit your particular application. No need to purchase blank
rod stock and threading machines and dies. The all thread
runs a few cents to about a dollar a foot depending on the
size you want. Best to buy longer lengths and cut to desired
size with a hacksaw.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

[:D]Thanks for all the good comments, guys. I used 5/16 all threads and cut them to length with a hacksaw. They make a stud about 3'" long that has wood screw threads on one end and regular threads on the other. One end screws into the wood in the ceiling(not the drywall) and the other end screws into a coupling. Screw your cut pieces of rod into the coupling. The rod should be pre cut for the correct hanging distance. I put a nut and washer on top of the plywood roadbed and a washer and nut below. This way you can fine tune the roadbed for elevation. Once all is straight and level, tighten down the upper and lower nut to sandwick the plywood between. This takes all the wobble out. I used 3/4" fir plywood, 10" wide for 2 tracks. I cut some thin plexiglass 2 1/2" wide and predrilled along the edges about every 6". This is the guardrail (clear).I used Gargraves track and mounted all the track on the plywood before hanging. Then all I had to do is join the sections together with the track pins. This really made doing the curves a lot easier. As soon as I get a better digital camera , or drag out the 35mm I will post some good pictures......Tim Mitchell