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Installation of approach leads to Walthers 130' turntable

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Installation of approach leads to Walthers 130' turntable
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 25, 2014 9:57 PM

I will give some backround information on my benchwork.  I am using a grid table design, with 3/8in plywood attached to 1x4 joists.  Over the plywood is a layer of 2" foam.  I am also using cork roadbed over the foam, with Code 83 lead and roundhouse tracks.

  My question is this:
What is the best way to adjust the level of the turntable pit/lead tracks, so that I have a smooth transition from cork roadbed to the edge of the pit? 

 

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Posted by zstripe on Monday, May 26, 2014 4:39 AM

BMMECNYC,

Might be a good idea to review this thread. You could possibly gleam some info from it:

Posted 4 days ago by Capt. Grimek
 
It's in Layouts & Layout Building.
Take Care!
Frank
 
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, May 26, 2014 4:50 AM

This is the link that Frank referred to but it isn't going to help the OP because it deals with a bridge track that rides too low.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/229844.aspx

There are some forum discussions on the issue of transitioning the approach tracks.  I will see if I can dig one up.

But, meanwhile, one solution is to place the same cork sheet under the lip of the turntable to match the height of the approach track.  That is what most of us have done.

Rich

 

 

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, May 26, 2014 4:58 AM

Here is a thread that may be helpful.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/182149/1993580.aspx#1993580

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by zstripe on Monday, May 26, 2014 5:15 AM

I did say ''gleam'' not instruct. Aside from that other posters gave info as to how they set up theirs.

Everyone has a way that worked for them.

Mine was fitting the Turntable and bridge track first and then, roundhouse and approach tracks. The beauty of using Homasote for sub-roadbed. Measure, Measure, again and a completly level area.

Take Care!

Frank

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, May 26, 2014 5:40 AM

Here is another relevant discussion. 

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/182840.aspx

Hopefully, you can gleam some useful information from it.  

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by farrellaa on Monday, May 26, 2014 7:21 AM

I put cork under the tt rim to make it even with the yard tracks. Also recommend using a 'track guide/template' similar to  the one shown to insure the bridge and approach/yard tracks are in straight alignment.

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 26, 2014 7:49 AM

Thanks for the photos and links. Im going with the cork under the lip of the pit suggestion.  Crossing my fingers that I dont have to redraw the track plan, but im starting with the roundhouse/turntable and building from there.  I figured it was a good anchor point to start with.  I drew the track plan in RR-track V.5, but it doesnt have the Walthers TT or roundhouse for size comparison. 

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, May 26, 2014 8:10 AM

BMMECNYC

Crossing my fingers that I dont have to redraw the track plan, but im starting with the roundhouse/turntable and building from there.  I figured it was a good anchor point to start with.  

 

In my experience, that is the proper way to proceed.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by farrellaa on Monday, May 26, 2014 10:30 AM

BMMECNYC

Thanks for the photos and links. Im going with the cork under the lip of the pit suggestion.  Crossing my fingers that I dont have to redraw the track plan, but im starting with the roundhouse/turntable and building from there.  I figured it was a good anchor point to start with.  I drew the track plan in RR-track V.5, but it doesnt have the Walthers TT or roundhouse for size comparison. 

 

Definately install the tt and roundhouse first and then you can 'blend' the approach tracks into your layout with flex track. I had my layout marked with Sharpie lines and adjusted for the actual track coming from the tt using a gauge to keep the first few inches straight and in alignment with the bridge. Everything worked out just fine. Good luck; the tt/roundhouse is a 'feature area' on the layout.

  -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 26, 2014 10:43 AM

Well, the pit will make it in today, and maybe the yard and lead tracks.  The roundhouse baseplates are marked out (9 stalls plus machine shop) but not assembled.

 What would be the best way to cut the inspection pits into my foam?

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 26, 2014 1:34 PM

Would and addition of .015in of styrene under the ties work for a transition from code 83 to code 100?

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Posted by farrellaa on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 8:09 AM

BMMECNYC

Would and addition of .015in of styrene under the ties work for a transition from code 83 to code 100?

 

I had to shim the tt pit with styrene to match the tie thickness of Atlas code 83 track. I don't know how thick the code 100 track is so if it is thinner than code 83 I would think you would.

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

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Posted by gerhard_k on Thursday, July 31, 2014 9:46 AM

farrellaa
farrellaa wrote the following post 2 months ago: BMMECNYC Would and addition of .015in of styrene under the ties work for a transition from code 83 to code 100?   I had to shim the tt pit with styrene to match the tie thickness of Atlas code 83 track. I don't know how thick the code 100 track is so if it is thinner than code 83 I would think you would.    -Bob

This is probably way too late to help you, but someone else may find it helpful. IIRC the Atlas Code 83 flextrack ties are 0.017" thicker than Atlas Code 100 track so that the tops of the rails will line up when both Atlas types are used together - as a result, the Atlas 83 total height is higher than other brands of Code 83, and you will have to use that 0.015" shim under the other brand if you join them.  

 

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 1, 2014 12:24 PM

Actually its not.  I havent finished that area yet.  In fact Ive only put one track in. I used Micro engineering weathered track.  I found the chemical weathering difficult to remove and therefore irritating to solder.  For the rest I had already decided to use the atlas code 83.

As for the inspection pits, anyone have any ideas?

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Posted by farrellaa on Saturday, August 2, 2014 12:37 PM

BMMECNYC

Actually its not.  I havent finished that area yet.  In fact Ive only put one track in. I used Micro engineering weathered track.  I found the chemical weathering difficult to remove and therefore irritating to solder.  For the rest I had already decided to use the atlas code 83.

As for the inspection pits, anyone have any ideas?

 

I used Atlas Code 83 flex track and removed the ties where it goes into the  roundhouse. I soldered power feeders at the end and underneath the rails. I drilled holes in the pit slot for the rail and fed the feeder wires through. I used liquid CA to hold the rail in place. Everything worked out great and it has been about 3 years since doing it.

    -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

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