Laying track directly on foamboard--noise levels

[Mister Mikado]

If I mount my HO track directly to foamboard with no sort of roadbed, how quiet will trains run compared to track on WS foam roadbed on plywood?  Thanks all.

[UNCLEBUTCH]

My foam is glued right to the framwork,no plywood under it. My track [HO] is glued/caulked right to the foam.

I can't compare to roadbed, WS, or anything else, never used any of it, 4th layout.

I still do not hear this unbearable noise every one is crying about.

[mbinsewi]

UNCLEBUTCH

I still do not hear this unbearable noise every one is crying about.

I don't understand the noise issue either.  Back in the "plywood central" days, I had track nailed right to the plywood, and I didn't notice any objectional noise.

Mike.

[SPSOT fan]

Well a recent poll on this forum revealed that most people run their trains quite slowly. If you run slowly like most modelers do then the noise should be low irregarless of whether or not you use foam or roadbed or whatever. Now if you run your train at top speed (as little kids tend to like to do) then you are going to get noise anyway, but homosote, foam, and roadbed could help prevent that.

Anyway what I'm trying to say is it doesn't really matter that much, is you run slow noise will be low, if you run fast, noise will always be present anyway.

[BroadwayLion]

The more support under the table the quieter it will run

 

Instead of foam, use Homasote or other brand of floor underlayment. Makes a much nicer table

 

ROAR

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

My 4'x8' HO pike consists of an open frame sitting directly on a bed with 1/4-inch plywood, 1-inch blue foam and Woodland Scenics foam roadbed. ("She who must be obeyed" mandated that the pike be removable so the bed can be used by guests.)

I use the roadbed for a prototypical appearance. I chose foam over cork because of my previous experience with cork drying out. (Add pro/con comments for foam vs. cork here...and- -GO!)

It is ballasted with natural material that I harvested adhered with Plastic Resin Glue. This glue comes in a powder. I mix 1 part glue powder and 4 parts ballast.

The wetting agent is 91% isopropyl alcohol (that's just what I have on hand) and a few drop of India ink to cut the sheen of the glue. This is applied with a small spray bottle.

I would not say it is completely "silent running" but there seem to be no amplification of track noise.

Hope this helps.

[kasskaboose]

Noise issue aside, does your layout look realistic not having a sub-roadbed on the mainline?

[Midwest Northern R.R]

Mister Mikado

If I mount my HO track directly to foamboard with no sort of roadbed, how quiet will trains run compared to track on WS foam roadbed on plywood?

 

In order for this too work, you would have to put some sort of plywood support underneath the foam.

I still mount my track directly on top of the plywood, I haven't heard any significant noise levels. This might be different from how you use track, I put track down loosely without nails. You might nail track on, but who am I to judge whether or not to use nails.

I would suppose that roadbed would add a little bit more style to your layout. I suggest it.

 

My grandfather once said,"You should avoid getting old."

[eaglescout]

Prototype, prototype, prototype!  Everyone talks keeping a layout as close to prototype as possible until it comes to sound.  Then they want it to be as quiet as a baby's bedroom.  I love the sound of my DC trains running and is the least of my concerns in layout design.

[gregc]

Isn't track laid on ballast putting it above the surrounding terrain?

i (titebond) glued a subroadbed between the foam and ties.

  

[ef3 yellowjacket]

Some time ago, I had decided to go this route. Foam is stable, impervious to moisture-generally, unless you decide to dump a keg over it, doesn't 'work' like most organics (wood, etc)-and in general, will leave you alone. As my turnout 'machines' are servo motors, it is fairly easy to cut my turnouts into the layout using a kitchen knife (your wife's new ones...) and a jab saw. One thing I did-largely to provide an easy way to do yard trackage, was to do a layer of cork (found at craft stores-cheap), and then cut around this for turnouts, etc.

[ricktrains4824]

While you can lay the track directly on the foam, a prototypical mainline would indeed be elevated, hence the reason most of us use some sort of roadbed material, be it foam, cork, homosote or other material. 

A side benefit is that this helps lessen noise to a degree, but the big thing is prototypical look, not so much the noise level.

[bearman]

From the bottom up, I use sheet plywood, insulation foam, WS foam roadbed glued to the insulation, and track glued to the roadbed, both with adhesive caulking.  Never used track nails, just a scrap piece of 1X4 and a couple or three bricks.  I have not noticed any irritating noise, and in fact, I have always wondered what those who complain about noise are complaining about.

One more thing is that there are any number of structures where the loading/unloading areas are at ground level, so all of my spurs come off the main and then slope down to the insulation foam without roadbed with the exception of one set of cattle loading corrals.