Connecting track across two portable 4x6 boards

[Anonymous]

Can anyone advise how best to connect or break apart Lionel track across two portable 4x6 plywood boards? I want to leave the track permanently attached to the two boards and I want to be able to connect or disconnect the track without having to remove long stretches of track to get enough slack to pull the track apart. How is the connection made with a Lionel Bascule Bridge for example?
Thanks for any suggestions,
Frank

[csxt30]

[#welcome] to the forum, flp dream! To connect 2 ply wood boards with track, I believe you would just need to fit the wood up to each other & supply track voltage to both sides, say with electrical connectors that plug into each other. You might look up modular layouts for some info. I forgot to save that web-site.I think the track just has to fit close to each other so the train doesn't derail at that joint. Should be the same idea with a bascule bridge. It would have to line up & need power to both sides. Hope this helps some. Thanks, John

[Frank53]

I would build a sturdy wooden bridge on which that track would lie. As John stated, you would have to power both ends and teh center "bridge" section. I would connect that track to both tables with a very positive method, perhaps carriage bolts, that psotioned teh track in exactly the right place to avoid derailment. In this way, every time you conect that bridge with track attached, your track would be in teh right spot, and it would have power - you just discoonnect the bridge and lift it up and out.

Another option is to put a turnout on each of the 4x6's - each leading to the connector bridge. That way, you would have teh option of runing these independently. I am considering doing this on a layout with a removable duck under section. I can have reversing loops at each end of the layout and put a turnout on each one. When I feel like installing the connector, I can swicth the turnouts to allow the train to go over the connecting area, instead of continuing through the reversing loop. It would then connect to teh turnout on teh opposing loop.

[FJ and G]

http://www.trainweb.org/NationalCapitalTrackers/NCTStandards.htm

[SPFan]

If you are using tubular track you can get some Gargraves "Fit-Up blades" which look like metal shirt collar stays. They allow you to install a piece of bridge track from the top after the modules have been clamped together. Much easier than trying to mate pins as you try and line up the two modules. Cut your module tracks 2-3 inches short of the edge , then use a bridge track to mate the two.

Pete

[lionelsoni]

I just put a track joint at the table joint and leave one of the tracks unfastened for about a foot from the joint.

[tmcc man]

I have a portable layout on a door, and i am going to buy another one so I can add on. I am not going to put a bridge in, but leave one piece of track on each side unscrewed so i can take it apart easily. If you live in PA i will be at the Morris Arboreuteum in Chestnut hill on August 11 for train enthusiasts night from 6-8 PM.

[Anonymous]

i remeber my dad had a bridge that raised or lowered as we entired our "train shed". he simply did as your other responders have mentioned with power to both sides then had some nails that he used for pins on the down side and spread the tin type rail on the bridge. we never had a derailment