Some random thoughts on trackwork

[rrinker]

I'm wondering just how bad it has to be to cause problems. The reason I say this is because the other day, for soemthign different to do while workign on my layout, I put down a test section using 3 pieces of flex track and an Atlas #6, all code 83. Two pieces of the flex and the turnout are all on Woodland Scenics roadbed. The third piece of flex is attached to the diverging route and just rests on the foam tabletop. In other words - a sharp vertical grade transition. At first I was just running some 4 axle switchers and 40 foot freight cars through it, no problems. Then the tortoure test. I pushed some 80 foot Rivarossi passenger cars through as speeds faster than a locomotive would run at full throttle, no problems (and these cars are LIGHT, they need a lot more weight). Then I tried some 85 foot Walthers passenger cars (the new ones) - again, no problems. Time to try some bigger power. How about a Bowser PRR T-1? Full throttle, both ways - NO PROBLEMS. Bigger wheelbase? How about an IHC full-size GG1? Full throttle, both ways - no problems again. A string of freight cars, straight out of the box (or off the bench, as they were all kits of various makes, but have not been through my 'torture track' to ahve couplers accurately adjusted, weight adjusted, etc.). Pushing them with a loco at full throttle, no problem. Pushing them by hand even faster, no problems.
In other words - this is deliberately sloppy trackwork, just thrown together to mainly see if there is any problem if I don't immediately power the insulated frogs. Oh yeah - a pair of clip leads on on end was the ony power source, and I could operate powered locos over the entire setup at tie-counting speeds and never had a stall or power loss. Again, this is deliberately poor practice, just to see how it would work. The actual track on the layout will have power to every section of flex track, and in no cases will there be grade transitions like that. Yet some of the most finicky equipment traversed this torture test with no problems. Which is why I wonder just how sloppy trackwork has to be before it causes constant problems. It is my contention that the majority of problems aren't with the trackwork, and quality thereof, but rather other factors, such as stray grains of ballast, and out of gauge wheels.

--Randy

[dragenrider]

Try it with a #4 turnout and a #8. The longer unpowered frog on a #8 will cause problems and so will #4's sharper turn. You have discovered the best of the frogs for turnouts!

[Anonymous]

Well, you will run into problems with kinks in the track, either at the top or bottom of a grade or at a bad joint in the track; the inner rail of a curve being higher than the outside rail; out-of-gauge track will cause cars to derail; and after years of being, the track will move and change a little, and any small flaws will be emphasized. Just my thoughts.
Reed

[mcouvillion]

Randy,

I bet that you know how to lay track properly and can't do it wrong, even when you try! Did you put kinks in at the rail joints, or misalign the railjoiner? Is the turnout level and well-supported or teetering on the edge of something? There are quite a few things that can mess up trackwork; its amazing that a lot of folks can't see them.

Mark C.

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mcouvillion

Randy,

I bet that you know how to lay track properly and can't do it wrong, even when you try! Did you put kinks in at the rail joints, or misalign the railjoiner? Is the turnout level and well-supported or teetering on the edge of something? There are quite a few things that can mess up trackwork; its amazing that a lot of folks can't see them.

Mark C.

I don't think I'm THAT good. And this was REALLY a quicky job, I didn't even cut the length of WS roadbed off the roll, at the end of the track sits the rest of the roll!. The track is held in place with push pins!

--Randy

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dragenrider

Try it with a #4 turnout and a #8. The longer unpowered frog on a #8 will cause problems and so will #4's sharper turn. You have discovered the best of the frogs for turnouts!

I don;t have any #8's, but I do have some #4's. I was goign to try it with #4's next, but the only thing that will be going over #4's on my layout will be the 4-axle diesels and freight cars, none longer than 50'. Not the GG1's, or the T-1, or the full-length passenger cars. Oh yeah, #8's wouldn't be a problem as I intend to power the frogs using the contacts on the tortoise anyway.
BTW, from your name I take it you are a fan of the Dragonriders of Pern books? Read them all - until she writes more.

--Randy

[Leon Silverman]

rinker:
You said you connected flex track to a #6 frog and had a dip in the track. You never mentioned whether or not you actually "flexed" the flex track. Sounds like you kept the flex track straight (unflexed). Had you curved the flex track where it took the severe dip, I am sure your results would have been different.