Adding 3rd wire to rails

[FJ and G]

Here's some pictures of stuff I did today. Scenery is not obviously ready but the wire is getting strung for the 3rd rail and tests w/locomotive are really good.

I've included a closeup shot to show the staples I cut and use for spikes. The nail that holds the wire up is from the same 14-ga Romex wire I use. I cut the wire to form a point to press into the tie but I don't create a head for the top, just solder the wire right on the small tip.

Ties are made from lauan and stained with brownish-black latex and water. Rails are 027. Mainline is double-tracks at 2.25% grade. Spur is 0.0% grade. Various industries will be attached to the fascia atop large-block styrofoam with the ability to switch out industries in seconds as I go from the 1940s to 1970s timeperiod.

I included a scratchbuilt flatcar I made w/real blocks of stone for a future quarry I'm gonna do.

Well the hound is clammoring for rabbits so gotta go; when get back will continue fussin w/the layout.

[spankybird]

Very nice Dave. Several years ago, don’t remember if it was in CTT or OGR, there was an article on a gentleman who made his own track and only had short spikes for the center rail and he added shoes to the roller to cover two or three spikes at a time

[Anonymous]

Looks like the ultimate "Super-O." Beautiful job. After WW2 I understand Some Marklin modelers made their own 3rail too. It's good to know there's someone out there with a pioneer spirit!

[FJ and G]

Thanks, guys.

Tom,

His name is Hugo and he lives in France. He called a couple of days ago to discuss his progress. I'm attaching a picture of his stud rail module that accommodates both 2- and 3-rail trains. He's a Dane, living in France, who loves the Pennsy (go figure!).

dtpowell,

Thanks, some say it's a lot of work, but I think it's a lot of fun.

Here's Hugo's stud rail module while it was under construction (the studs are less noticeable when there's ballast).



He tried to get several of the big toy train companies to produce stud rail, the largest company's board voted 50-50 to produce the track (tie-vote), but backed out, as they didn't want to gamble.

[FJ and G]

Here is my 78 inch long crossover when it was being built last summer on the patio (which I also built). The 2nd picture is of the same crossover installed and awaiting 3rd wire.

The guard dog is BB the beagle.

In the 1st photo, you will notice that there is a very green patch of grass near the water spout. There's a story behind that. I invited my nextdoor neighbor over for a beer. I had purchased a pak of Guiness Extra Stout and thought he'd appreciate a change from his usual Miller beer. He took one sip and spit it out.

Sadly, I emptied the rest of the can near the spout. The next day, the grass had grown longer in the spot where the beer was dumped and turned extra green.