Third rail has to be installed after you paint the rail webs. On NYCT, the third rail insulators are located on every 5th tie which is longer than the others. LION of course did not make his ties longer, but set the insulator/seat outside of the tie. The insulators come from Walmart and are glass beads with a hole through them.
The third rail consists of a 3/16 square strip of wood painted brown on top to represent the protection board, and black on the sides to represent the shadow under the protection board. These are held to the seats by a thin nail, brad or track spike which of course also holds the bead in place.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
As they say at the end of the MBTA Blue Line here in Boston, "Wicked Awesome."
I love the third rail. That's something that's missing on my own subways, and my eye was constantly drawn to yours. How did you do it?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Lion:
I just discovered this circuit for generating a flash as your trains pass by. You may already be familiar with it but I thought I would pass it along in case you hadn't seen it.
http://www.metromodels.net/track_flash_instructions.jpg
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Very impressive Lion. I almost felt like I was riding the RTA heavy rail line here in Cleveland from the airport into downtown. When the time comes, I'll have to invest in one of them ride on cameras.
maxman Okay, I have sound now. Computer must have cached a muted copied which it then went back to every time. Cleaned the cache, now okay. Liked the "sound". Reminded me of the times I rode the subway. I noticed some barriers where it appears crossovers were out of service. I assume this is prototypical, but I don't understand the purpose. If the dispatcher/control system has control of the turnout operation, what is the reason for the barriers? Oh, for a moment there I thought I was watching an episode of HomeTime when the upper portion of a face appeared over the wall.
Okay, I have sound now. Computer must have cached a muted copied which it then went back to every time. Cleaned the cache, now okay.
Liked the "sound". Reminded me of the times I rode the subway.
I noticed some barriers where it appears crossovers were out of service. I assume this is prototypical, but I don't understand the purpose. If the dispatcher/control system has control of the turnout operation, what is the reason for the barriers?
Oh, for a moment there I thought I was watching an episode of HomeTime when the upper portion of a face appeared over the wall.
The crossing with the barrier... Well that is my own device. That crossing was put there because that was at one time the end of the line, before I decided how I would build the elevated line to 242nd Street. The extension to 242 was always part of the plan, but how to build it still needed some thought.
Some time after this I built the interlocking machine, and that switch was included in the machine, but as my plan evolved, I needed the levers for other purposes and so I abandoned those switches. They are permanently blocked like that because they are no longer controlled or protected by the machine. In other words they are outside of the interlocking plant, and tampering with them could cause a collision since it would set up a head-on situation that would not be protected. So not only are they spiked but the barrier was also put in place so that not track-man could even pull the spike and move the switch.
Yet a crew could go down there, remove the barrier and flag the trains by hand. So it is a stand-by option. NYCT would not do it this way since that crossing would be vital to day to day operations should the terminal become unusable for some reason. But then, they have more space on their interlocking machines, which now are all computerized anyway.
So to answer another question, I built that plant by hand. Perhaps I shall expound upon that at another time.
Hi BroadwayLion
found it
http://radleymodels.com/page/how_to_do_it
At the bottom of the page click on the picture, super bright LED might be the way to go.
looks very simple to do I take it you do get the third rail flash ocasionaly on the real subways.
regards John
Lion -
Just curious, but is your layout the largest subway in North Dakota, model or prototype?
- Harry
Lion
I said this on the diner where I first saw your video, but it bears repeating here.
Your layout is amazing!
One thing I wish somebody would come up with (and this is not a criticism of your camera work) is a method of making the camera turn into the curves so the track remains centered in the picture. Anyone?
Please keep us posted on your progress and your methods.
BroadwayLion On the Route of the Broadway Lion... It really shows up were I have lots and lots of work to do. A till camera hides lots of sins.
On the Route of the Broadway Lion... It really shows up were I have lots and lots of work to do. A till camera hides lots of sins.
Yes the camera can be very cruel but is an ideal tool for finding those bits that need attention.
Needs attention or not very impressive.
Your signal panel are the switches real 1 to 1 ones, or something that can be purchased from a very specialized model railroad electrical suppler. I rather liked the real signal box feel to the panel
Loved the natural sound reminded me of the London tube trains from far too many years ago.
Speaking of which when I remember where the link is there is a nice little electronics CCT you might find interesting.. That can reproduce the flash on the third rail but I will have to get back to you on that when I find it again.
Not may underground layouts that I know of about so please keep us posted as things progress.
Given my total ignorance on US subway systems a little more information on the full size and model would be appreciated.
Including are the trains RTR, kit or scratch build etc
Nicely done Lion! I enjoyed the trip. I think that your idea of enclosing more of your stations is a good one although open air stations are good too. I had sound all the way through and enjoyed the sound of the wheels on the rails. Your "cameo appearance" was a nice touch .
Joe
It had sound all the way through when I watched it.
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
BroadwayLion The Sound is present throughout the video. I do not need locos with sound, I get all of the sound I need.
The Sound is present throughout the video.
I do not need locos with sound, I get all of the sound I need.
I didn't mean sound from a decoder. The first time I thought that I heard wheels on rail. Now nothing. No wheels on rail, no heavy breathing, no purring. Don't think its my computer, as I get sound from other sites.
How about a direct link to youtube?
Thanks
I do not need locos with sound, I get all of the sound I need. I have been working on this layout for seven years. I went back through my photos, and found the ones where I started construction.
There are nine scale miles of mainline track, that is the ride you were just on from 242nd Stree to South Ferry and back again. There are another five miles of track for the express trains. These consist of two loops with one train running on each. The local trains run by themselves as well, but I have to dispatch the tower at 242nd Street.
That was very cool Lion!
I like the sound the passing trains made I thought it sounded like the real thing.
You have done a whole lot of work there. How long have you been working on the layout and how many metre's/feet (whatever) of track do you have.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Was there any sort of sound with the video? I thought there was when I first started watching, but I got interupted and had to pause. When I went back I heard nothing.
Thank You... You did not rub my fur the wrong way at all. The flashing was not intentional however.
I buy my LEDs around Christmas time as light sets, I keep the lamps and throw the rest away.
Having seen the video, I think I want to enclose more of my subway tracks, and will need to consider carefully how to light the tunnels for the camera. I think I will recess the lamps so that they will not make hot spots as the camera passes by.
Reading my last post it sounds kind of rude; it certainly wasn't meant that way. I thought the flickering light was a deliberate effect (it works quite well as one). Lion, if I rubbed your fur the wrong way, I apologize.
I do very much like your setup, Lion. Your trackwork is nearly spotless!
Stu
Streamlined steam, oh, what a dream!!
All electronics are scratch built, if you would call it that, In that station the LESs are in series without resistors. Bad practice, now I know why. Most other stations have them wired to a 1KΩ resistor. Lately I have been wiring them in pairs with a resistor between them so that the free legs can be connected to 12vdc without having to worry about a resistor.
Thanks for the layout tour Lion. Very nice!
http://mwcohio.blogspot.com
Love the sputtering lights in the first station. Kit work or scratchbuilt electronics?
The Lion has a smooth running layout.
Keep us posted on the progress.
BTW..That's the first subway layout I ever seen..Very nice.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
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