supporting track on a grade

[Anonymous]

I was hoping to get some advice. We have an MTH set, O scale, with O-31 curves, and some additional MTH track. enough for a decent size layout. We are considering a cross over. but rather than using a 90 degree cross over piece of track (which we have), I have seen an O scale layout (in the recent Model Railroader Magazine) where the track climbs up and then curves around and comes back down across itself, all with trestles. This looks like an interesting layout, for an over and under run.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to best support the track as it begins to climb, and as it stays level on the turn, and then as it descends? I have seen some Lionel trestle kits, but I figure those won't work with MTH track.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[SpaceMouse]

I am making an assumption that you don't have a layout and you are just seting up track to play with it. The reason I say this is that if you have a layout you would build you risers into the scenery. This can be done with foam, "cookie-cutting" the plywood and using wood risers, or custom building tressels. I would check into a beginners book at your local library or hobby shop.

[fwright]

One way as Chip suggests is to use a jigsaw to cut the plywood table top along the edge of the track and use supports to raise the plywood along with the track. This is called "cookie-cutter" construction.

Also, consider using the Lionel trestle set with a piece of wood or metal across the top to support the MTH track.

Finally, Woodland Scenics offers some stryofoam inclines - a series of "foam" risers to lift the track. Not sure if these are strong enough, especially considering the rigidity of the MTH track.

Problems you might encounter:

1) The grade made be impracticably steep. The Lionel trestle set takes 12 track sections to climb high enough to pass over another track. And that's as steep as you should probably consider for good operation. Do you have that much track from beginning to top of grade?

2) The MTH track sections are very rigid because of the built-in roadbed. Will you have significant vertical angles at the track section joints because there is no flex in the section itself? The tubular track, particularly the O27 height, will flex to some extent to reduce sudden changes in gradient at the track section joints, which will give better operation.

3) The same rigidity will prevent you keeping the MTH track truly flat in a cross-wise direction on curves on a grade. Part of the curve will tilt one way, part will tilt the other. The same thing happens in "cookie-cutter" construction if the plywood is too rigid to twist across the track width. Don't ask me how I know this!

Another option occurred to me that might fix the second and third problems and allow easy use of the Lionel trestle set. Use the MTH joiner track to join to Lionel tubular track and use the tubular track for the elevated section. Tubular track is much cheaper anyway, and is available in both 27 and 42 inch diameter in the O27 height, and 31 and 42 inch diameter in the O height.

A more advanced option that might work nicely with the foam risers or "cookie cutter" is the Atlas flex track. You have to trim rails when you curve it, and you might have to shim and fuss with it to get smooth running where it joins the MTH track. But it would be the most realistic looking alternative.

Hope this helps.

yours in toy train tracking
Fred

[willpick]

RollTide, MTH makes a set of piers that are made to be used with MTH's Realtrax to do just what you envision. P/N is 40-1033 [24 piers,graduated from 0" to about 6"], and an 8 piece set [6" height] if you want to have a longer elevated section. MTH also has Realtrax bridges of varying lengths. Go to the MTH website : www.mth-railking.com and you should find what you are looking for----

HTH!

[Anonymous]

Thanks a ton for all the advice. i think these are all great ideas and good help. I will look into all these options.

the comments on the rigidity of the MTH track lead me to wonder if I would be better off, in the long run, switching to some three rail track other than MTH. Any thoughts? My trains are three rail. thanks.

[cwclark]

I use 1 x 4's attached to the crossmembers of L girder bench work to support my track on a plywood subroadbed on inclines and decents....your grade is measured by the % or percent of grade which basically states that for every inch of rise in a 100" run of track is the percentage of grade..so if your track rises 2" in 100" then you have a 2% grade...if it rises 3 " in a 100" section of track then it's a 3% grade and so forth...it's not recommended to build a grade over 2.5% but that's in HO..i don't know what it is for O gauge...check out my photo album at http://community.webshots.com/user/bayouman1 under "trains 1" which can give you an idea how it's done when you look at the pictures...chuck

[Anonymous]

i am in the process of elevating o27,by using 3/8" plywood 3x41/2" for a base and 2x4"cut down to 2x3"for supports.glue & screw to center of 3x4/2" base.2x3" needs to be cut to hgt. normally 1/2" per track section. base can be screwed to trainboard & track to the top of the 2/3"s.

having fun jvjsr

[Anonymous]

jvjsr

thanks. sounds like a neat idea if i understand it/ to be sure, your elevated section is all laid out on its own plywood base (tack, trestles, etc), and then THAT base is placed within the rest of the layout?