After reading many track laying how-to books and many model railroader magazines, I have noticed that many modelers lay track differently. I have noticed that there are modelers that lay track directly on top of plywood with no cork or foam roadbed. I am aware of a sound difference, using cork or foam is quieter, but is there a benefit to laying track directly on to plywood?
Using cork or other roadbed on plywood makes your layout look more prototypical, real trains run on tracks that are usually above the surrounding terrain. Such places as yards, where travel is slower you will find things much more on the level. Many modelers lower their track for sidings and yards with the main line up on a roadbed. I believe looks is the primary reason for raising it. If you are using foam it is quite easy to make below track elevation scenery, however, if you can also have your subroadbed (plywood) on risers and can do below track scenery. To me that seems like a little more work, but it has worked well for many years.
Have fun,
Hello. Yes, there is less work (if that is important for some reason), less cost in that you probably won't be purchasing roadbed cork or whatever....certainly you won't have to cut and form splines. The part that many of us wouldn't accept is that the typical railroad track is raised for drainage, and that means a proper sub-roadbed preparation, roadbed, and then the tracks, later ballasted to look like raised, drained, and ballasted tracks.
Depending on the method of fixing the track elements to the plywood or cookie-cutter shaped wood roadbed, it may be noisier...probably so. If you use a thin layer of acrylic latex caulk to stick the track elements into place directly on the wood, that will help to reduce the noise.
However, for yards and sidings, they are often much closer set to the ground, even in the mud since they are not travelled at high speeds. Also, for safety, the sidings are kept lower than the mains running beside them so that free-rolling cars can't roll through the turnouts at either end and foul the main.
Does that help?
-Crandell
The other place you'll see track laid directly on plywood is track that will be hidden, especially where vertical clearance is an issue.
broseberry After reading many track laying how-to books and many model railroader magazines, I have noticed that many modelers lay track differently. I have noticed that there are modelers that lay track directly on top of plywood with no cork or foam roadbed. I am aware of a sound difference, using cork or foam is quieter, but is there a benefit to laying track directly on to plywood?
We have been condition to believe we need to use cork or foam roadbed but,this isn't exactly true in some cases.
There's another side of the coin that is quite often overlooked and that is the type of track we want to model..
And seeing track is a model to here is some examples:
Modeling a urban industrial branch there will be very little raised roadbed like you would see on a main line..
A small yard area wouldn't have any raised roadbed.
Tracks going into a industry,around loading/unloading areas wouldn't have raised roadbed.
Around engine service areas,engine houses,team tracks etc.
One one can lay track directly on the plywood/board-and I've done that several times- I think its better if we use homasote or foam insulation sheets on top of the plywood/board..
BTW..The color of the ballast should be dark gray or better mixed with dirt and grass and lightly applied.
Once can mixed dark gray ballast with cinders,dirt and grass as well.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIEThere's another side of the coin that is quite often overlooked and that is the type of track we want to model.. And seeing track is a model to here is some examples: Modeling a urban industrial branch there will be very little raised roadbed like you would see on a main line.. A small yard area wouldn't have any raised roadbed. Tracks going into a industry,around loading/unloading areas wouldn't have raised roadbed. Around engine service areas,engine houses,team tracks etc.
And on small shortlines too...the track on my layout that was "recently rebuilt" has roadbed, but the track that has "been in disrepair since we bought the line from Guilford in 1983" is laid right on the foam and is built to look like it's in bad shape.
In addition to being cheaper, it's quicker and easier to lay and wire the track. This was covered in one of the MRP issues as minimalist model railroading. If you're not particularly interested in scenery and want to try out different types of layouts and operations, it's an approach that may work well for you.
Enjoy
Paul
In my experience track on the 2" foam seemed much noisier compared to track on the foam roadbed glued to plywood was nice and quiet. The noise seems to bug me I guess
The major benefit of layered subroadbed, roadbed and track is noise reduction. Either plywood or unsupported foam can resonate like a drumhead if used alone. The two together, or either with any of the other materials named (and some not named, like steel studs laid rail gutter fashion to support hidden tangent track) will suppress the unwanted noise so you can get the full benefit of locomotive sound (or the clickety-clack of wheels passing over rail joints.)
My own 'mix' is:
Some (most) of my locomotives have open-frame power-hog motors and noisy brass-on-brass gearing. Running on my present layout, they're a lot easier to live with. The few newer locos with can motors and nylon gears approach stealth in noise production.
Hope this has been helpful.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Thank you to everyone who replied. The replies I have read have been very helpful. Thank you.
See the 8th page, of 22 pages with tons of pictures, of Building a Traction Layout at the 2 Guyz & Sum Trains Forums.
Sometimes in a traction layout, there is no prototype need for a high roadbed profile where there's is an extensive need for rock-solid anchoring of overhead poles plus a ton of turnout attachment concerns. Foam is used here only for scenic-carving. Also note the use of plaster for street trackage/rail paving, or as a foam/cover base, for this interurban layout.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956