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Track to railbed

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Track to railbed
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 12, 2004 10:31 PM
Can somebody tell me if I just lay the track on the railbed? What hold the track in place?
  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: South Australia
  • 380 posts
Posted by toenailridgesl on Sunday, September 12, 2004 11:49 PM
Joe, more information needed.
What sort of railbed? If you are laying track on a ballast bed on the ground just adding more ballast wil hold the track in place but you'll need to upgrade your ballast a few times a year depending on your local climate.
If the railbed is raised on an artificial surface (wood, concrete etc) you can nail or screw the track down just like in the baby scales.
I have an article on hand-laying track on my website, including preparing the ballast trench & bed, click on the Construction page
Phil Creer, The Toenail Ridge Shortline,  Adelaide Sth Oz http://www.trainweb.org/toenailridge toparo ergo sum
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 2:25 AM
Hi Joe,

Welcome to the forum[#welcome],

Phils right, gravel is just like the real thing, the track sits there and sags a bit as the birds etc pick in it, you top it up but it goes again. Just get some track down mate & enjoy yer trains, everything else will follow on!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Virginia Beach
  • 2,150 posts
Posted by tangerine-jack on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 9:51 AM
Without trying to be funny, gravity will hold your track down, ballast (I like chicken-grit) will keep it from moving around. Your track must be free to "float" as it heats and cools and is subject to rain and weather. Every so often you have to add a bit more ballast as it settles and the critters help themselves to some of it. The ballast should be about level with the tops of the ties, I dump ballast down and then use a broom to spread it around. Good luck.[oX)]

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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