I've officially gone Nuts! ...just consider my new track plan

[vsmith]

I havent decided what I'm going to do for subgrade support, it will NOT be the OSB board in the pics, I considered it but it wouldnt last a year even if drowned in preservative before being put down. Maybe i could use something like TREX or similar, or concrete or a mix of both depending on the location. Of course since I'm planning to use stone wall supports I could concievably build up my stone 'faces' with a platform for the track and just float the track on that.

I will be using the OSB boards like in the pics as a template to guide the stone wall construction. I can set the grades and ROWs and then build all the mountains and cliffs around it.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

I'm not quite sure on what the problem is but i'd defenatly use steel supports for the risers, be there forever. and for the transitions id get a roll pipe bender and rachet away, a little expensive but for a perfict curve evry time, I'll take the cost, and you can bend almost evrything (including fingers)

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

I like it big grades, small stock, I can see it now......  

                                          (warning BS story comming)

                   ...... The headlines of the Borracho News (the paper) Engeneer fired for spilling coffie!!  Will "can do" Tomelson was fired yesterday after taking the owner of the (incert RR name here) railroad in his private inspection car and traveling up the spectacular five persent grades the new coffie machene fell over and sailed out the back wall. It was later recovered but not before old Mr. Tomelson had lost his olny job. Forentally this event has caused an uproar in the local union and undoubtly this will be setteled peacifully.   

Now wasn't that a good story?

[dwbeckett]

look's good so far BUT

---

I hope you are not planing to use chip board outside it will NOT last long. I am currently replacing 15/32" chip board with 3/4" ply ( leftover's from some built-in projects ). post some more Pix when you have some.

[vsmith]

Just a couple of pics of the torture track. This is the worst grade on the layout, so far I've found a couple engines I'll need to add weight to for better traction. The last pics shows the kerfed rails on the easment section from grade to level, theres another corved easement at the bottom going into a reverse S curve, I wont have any but I figure thats a great way to test my engines

[dwbeckett]

That is a very aggressive track plan. I would use 1x6 ceader fence boards for track support with side elevation on the turns. to help with the transitions attach all sub-sections to each other, such as a complete loop starting and ending with a strate. wet down the wood and start adding spacers till you get the hight you need, then repeat .weting the ceader will allow it to bend.try it you will like the results.

 

 

[underworld]

Looks like you are coming right along!!!

underworld

[vsmith]

Plan updated, more detail with grades shown.
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/HOUSE-Outdoor%20Layout%2002-07-07.pdf

[vsmith]

Testing reveals a few (not so) surprises.

I built a "test rig" consisting of a full circle of R1 track that simply ends above where it begins, with an elevated straight track on the up side and a curve off at the bottom. Its based on a plywood deck,w/ 1x legs cut to size and layed on the concrete floor of the garage, its a perfect torture rack to test my stock.

While I can run all of my 4 wheeled and geared type locos over the kink created when level track turns to the grade, my rod engines will require some sort of transitional easement. I'll have to try bend a straight or a curve to get about a 1/2" vertical transition on each one and see just how hard that is. My other option is to simply buy short sectional peices, LGB sells shorts where 4 short peices will make up a 12" straight or R1 curve. That way I just let the small amount of vertical flex at the joints create my transitional easement. More to come on this.

My Buddy L engine is going for sale if anyone's interested. It was a crapper that always needed perfect dead level track or the drivers would get lifted off the track by the pilot and trailing wheels. By you should see it flail on the torture rack! It was OK enough for my original flat dogbone, but on this it will be worthless, it doesnt even like the R1 curves - so off it goes!

Tested the 4-4-0 and all it looks like it will need is a transitional easement of about 1/2 inch verticaly curved from level to grade to allow the pilot wheels to track. If I get the 4-4-0 to run trouble free then the Annie should also be OK, but I'll double check. I figure the Annie will be the biggest rod loco to run on the layout. Otherwise so far what I've tested passes the worst kink test.

Next thing to "BIG" issue to consider, to keep everything "on the bubble" I'm going to need some sort of stringer support under the track to hold grade and level issues in check, now what to use is th $64 dollar question. I'm going to need a "stringer and post" system to support the track, I dont think concrete would be practical given the twist and grades of my line. I like the plywood underlayment on my torture rack, its cut to shape easily connected and the 1x legs under would be a great way to anchor the track into the ground, I was thinking of simply adding another 1x stringer under the plywood between the legs, coating the whole thing in wood preservative before installation. I dont know how many years of use I'd get out of it.

I'm too tight radiuswise to consider a ladder system, do you want to try bending even 3/4" wood to a 24"R ? Neither do I. Too bad the track systems like Mainline Enterprises all seam to have gone under, I might have considered that....

Try to post some pics of the torture rack.

[vsmith]

Hi all,

I've just been testing items in my 5%+ test track, I need to add a transition piece ffrom level to grade and test my larger stock on it, I might need to fabricate a verticly curved transition peice. Anyway, as I said, I'm in no hurry, so testing continues....

John, R2s would increase the layout by 20%, and I just dont have the real estate.

[Railfan1]

[underworld]

How is the project coming along???

 

underworld

[Railfan1]

  I've gone nuts!

It happens

[John Busby]

Hi Vic

Is it possible to do it with a min radius of R2 instead of R1.

You might consider some of these in 45mm gauge 

http://www.ipengineering.co.uk/page85.html 

regards John

[Anonymous]

I am with you on that one Tom, and I cannot stress enough the importance of getting your camber correct particularly with regard to points (switches).

Rgds ian

[ttrigg]

Vic;

Like I said, that plan is going to be a challenge to build.  Keeping the rails level with all those curving slopes.  But after construction and tweaking it a bit, it should be tons of fun to run.

Now get out there (after the rain passes) and start playing in the mud!

[underworld]

I've always liked the Darjeeling....that pic of the Cass looks more like a shot of a roller coaster!!!

underworld

[Anonymous]

Ah well, good luck anyway.

Rgds Ian

[vsmith]

Just so you all understand just what my vision is...maybe these will help

Darjeeling RR

http://www.dhr.in/PHOTO%20GALLERY/SOME%20PHOTOGRAPHS%20OF%20DHR/loop3.jpg

http://www.dhr.in/PHOTO%20GALLERY/SOME%20PHOTOGRAPHS%20OF%20DHR/batasia.jpg

Uintah RR

http://home.bresnan.net/~bpratt15/images/UintahMoroCastle.jpg

Mt  Tam Scenic RR

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/mrtama01.jpg

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/mrtama04.jpg

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/mrtama03.jpg

Cass Scenic RR

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7dc20b3127cce816fe3e10f7400000016109QZOXDhs4U

Gilpin RR

http://www.gilpintram.com/images/gilpin-tram-5.jpg

http://www.gilpintram.com/images/castleton%20mone%20and%20castle%20rock.jpg

Arizona Copper Co. RR

http://www.vintagephoto.com/reference/coppercreekarticle/cc3.jpg

http://www.vintagephoto.com/reference/coppercreekarticle/cc2.jpg

 

[vsmith]

Tom mate.

I am not going to lambaste you because i don't fully know what it means but i have a fair idea though.

I still would advise against it, not just the grades and the curves but to have a dozen sets of points in that area would be a nightmare, really good expensive points will alleviate the situation some though but it will still be trouble.

Vic you Americans have invented a type of layout called a double or folded dog bone and it is the best you can have for a small layout; i have one in my area 3 and it has its problems but basically it works well.

If you are interested i will get a set of pics posted for you top ahve a look at. 60 m track in 21 m2 and it looks good. I can also advise of the page in the bible where it is drawn up.

Rgds Ian

[vsmith]

I figure given the short consists I plan to use I should be OK, but next up will be full sized mock ups of a couple of the worst spots and then experiments with various stock, we'll see how that goes. I'm not going to rush this layout.

Vic;
Nice to see your plan, but you got me in trouble.  I printed it and was looking at during the commercials on the tube last night.  The wife wanted a look, and then asked "Why doesn't ours go all twisty and turney like this?"  To which I replied "It could but that would mean filling in the Koi Pond!"  She responded "NO you don't, but maybe we could find some ground over on the other side of the patio."  THANKS A WHOLE BUNCH, VIC!  As it is it will take me another 3~4 years to finish the current plan, and now she wants to add more!  Again THANKS A WHOLE BUNCH!


But she did say she would look into getting a "cog"/rack engine in the near future after I told her that LGB had discontinued production of their rack drive engine. 

This is a historic first here....someone's wife wants to expand the layout and he's complaining about it..LMAO

[Anonymous]

Tom mate.

I am not going to lambaste you because i don't fully know what it means but i have a fair idea though.

I still would advise against it, not just the grades and the curves but to have a dozen sets of points in that area would be a nightmare, really good expensive points will alleviate the situation some though but it will still be trouble.

Vic you Americans have invented a type of layout called a double or folded dog bone and it is the best you can have for a small layout; i have one in my area 3 and it has its problems but basically it works well.

If you are interested i will get a set of pics posted for you top ahve a look at. 60 m track in 21 m2 and it looks good. I can also advise of the page in the bible where it is drawn up.

Rgds Ian

[underworld]

The cog railway should be a lot of fun!!!

 

underworld

[ttrigg]

I figure given the short consists I plan to use I should be OK, but next up will be full sized mock ups of a couple of the worst spots and then experiments with various stock, we'll see how that goes. I'm not going to rush this layout.

Vic;
Nice to see your plan, but you got me in trouble.  I printed it and was looking at during the commercials on the tube last night.  The wife wanted a look, and then asked "Why doesn't ours go all twisty and turney like this?"  To which I replied "It could but that would mean filling in the Koi Pond!"  She responded "NO you don't, but maybe we could find some ground over on the other side of the patio."  THANKS A WHOLE BUNCH, VIC!  As it is it will take me another 3~4 years to finish the current plan, and now she wants to add more!  Again THANKS A WHOLE BUNCH!


But she did say she would look into getting a "cog"/rack engine in the near future after I told her that LGB had discontinued production of their rack drive engine. 

[underworld]

For the steep grades you might consider a cog railway.

 

 

underworld

[MTCarpenter]

The voices are correct.  The voices are ALWAYS correct :)

Looks like a cool challenge.  I say go for it and PLEASE post pics as you go along.

[vsmith]

I figure given the short consists i plan to use I should be OK, but next up will be full sized mock ups of a couple of the worst spots and then experiments with various stock, we'll see how that goes. I'm not going to rush this layout.

[underworld]

It does look cool on paper....I'm not sure about the grades.

underworld

[ttrigg]

Upon closer examination of the plans, I would ask one question. Is that the rusting carcass of an old engine I see down in the distance at Salt Canyon near Bridge 1?