Tunnel access? Discuss?

[Jetrock]

On my dad's layout, the tunnels were located above open-frame benchwork so they were accessible from underneath the mountain. He used cast-plaster tunnel walls (made by pouring plaster over an old Pringles can with tinfoil molded over it) that could be lifted up from underneath the mountain to get at derailed trains. A bit involved, but no access holes visible from above the layout were needed, and the tunnel walls prevented Murphy operating in the other direction by having derails plummet from the tunnel to the ground...

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tpaulsen

cut a heavy wall plastic water line (like the kind used by water departments for laying line into subdivisions). in half. bend one half to fit around the roadbed through the tunnel, lay the track in the pipe, then glue the top half of the pipe in place. when something comes off the track in the tunnel, simply take a high pressure airline and some type of plug to go around the airline and fit just inside the tunnel opening. give it a blast of 250 psi air. anything in the tunnel should come out just a shittin and gittin. you could use an old fish net, like the kind used in small boats, to catch the debris as it exits the "tunnel".

Your joking right? Just wondering what kind of compressor you have
that will produce 250 PSI.


Another way is to only build tunnels close to the edges of you layout,
that will give you a flat vertical wall. I simply cut a square hole in the back
and replace the cut-out to seal it. If anything gets stuck, just reach in and
get it.

[Anonymous]

cut a heavy wall plastic water line (like the kind used by water departments for laying line into subdivisions). in half. bend one half to fit around the roadbed through the tunnel, lay the track in the pipe, then glue the top half of the pipe in place. when something comes off the track in the tunnel, simply take a high pressure airline and some type of plug to go around the airline and fit just inside the tunnel opening. give it a blast of 250 psi air. anything in the tunnel should come out just a shittin and gittin. you could use an old fish net, like the kind used in small boats, to catch the debris as it exits the "tunnel".

[Big_Boy_4005]

Good access should not be limited to tunnels. Every place that has anything that moves, trains or accessories, should be within easy reach. If it isn't, you are just asking for trouble (Murphy's Law).

Removable tops or access holes are one way, but it can be difficult to hide the seam. Access from below is another option, but means crawling under the layout, and twisting into a pretzel, if the space is small. There's always using a long stick, but it takes a light touch to not cause damage.

But maybe the best solution, is to not build where it can't be reached. An ounce of prevention...........

[bluepuma]

Seem to see too many tunnels without any real access to get
the trains out if derailed. No one seems to show that in
the plan since Atlas N scale RR layout.

Can't pick it up and shake it!

My puma paws are too big to get them in, that leaves hiding tunnel
access as the real problem. How?

I think I'm going to open top my hills, or partial.

Discuss?