In an attempt to get rid of all the too sharp 24" radius curves, in the main layout room. I'm reworking the mainline. Since I've cut out the entire middle section of this area, for easier access, and broader curves.
The right side area, had way too curves, because having the crossover on the right side there. Now that I've relocated the crossover, to the drop down access bridge. I replaced it with a LH curved switch.
This outside main curve along the right side is a nice broad curve now. Its around 38" radius.
Before (this is an old photo, you can see the tight trackwork here)
After:
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Nice fearless approach to improving your railroad! I have seen too many people lose interest because they get "stuck" on a concept. Not only will your mainline be more interesting to run, you have also given yourself the gift of improved scenery potential.
Don H.
Michael:
Those big modern diesels and long freight cars (not to mention your steam and passenger trains) will look much better on those curves,and the open access will make life easier...but I know it's hard to start tearin' things up!
Mike
Edit: Michael,since the crossover on the access bridge is in the same direction(outside to inside when going counter-clockwise) as the left hand curved switch,would a right hand curved switch running back the other way give you more operational options? You'd be able to crossover from either track in either direction... I'm assuming the curved switch will be part of a crossover,too? If not,and you're just going from 2 to 3 tracks at the curved switch,ignore all this...
Aaaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhh !!!!!! Not another "hands on " modeling thread ,heck,and by another Michael.
Well done Sir.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
A nice improvement, and I think you will see many advantages from an operating standpoint as well as visually. I tried to be disciplined with sticking to my 38" minimum radius on my layout (the temptation is to go lower to make room for sidings and other features) and was able to be so, including the use of easement curves into that 38" minimum. The temptations were always there however -- "gee if I made this curve tighter I'd have more room for a siding" and that sort of thing.
I did however find that in some places some of the features I wanted were getting too crowded out by the big curves, so in select places I was able to make use of the Peco "large radius" curved turnouts. I think the large curve on the Peco is 60" radius which in some applications fit nicely with my easement curves. While I prefer "normal" turnouts the Peco curved turnouts, the large radius ones, did open up some planning options that otherwise would not be there.
Dave Nelson
Michael,
That's a great improvement in appearance. 38" radius is good for operations, too.
I thought my own layout was substantially finished a few years back. But I've found operating it gives you ideas about what can be improved. If you didn't squeeze everything in super tight to begin with, it's pretty satisfying to find out that reconfiguring track arrangements is usually possible.
One thing I've found that helps for me to alter track locations and works if you use matte medium for binding ballast down is 91% alcohol in a mister and a flat paint scraper. Remove the spikes as best possible. Hose down the ballast with the 91%, let it soak for a minute or so, then slip the blade of the scraper under the track and gently lift. I've been able to slid track as much as an inch sideways like this. Done carefully, most of the ballast even stays in place and just needs touch-up. You may have to cut some grooves for you power feeders to lay in once shifted sideways if you don't take it up all the way and redrill the holes for the feeders. If you take up the piece of track, use a vacuum when the ballast is still wet and most of it will come right off, making track reuse a lot easier, too.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks everybody for all the suggestions and comment, much appreciated.
Sorry I forgot the track plan for this area. I wanted all scenery along that back wall, and have an Ethanol Plant there lower left. And the farm will be on the lower right side.
I'm also replacing the backdrop soon. With mountains and flat farmfields in the valley foreground.
Got the scenery almost done in the corner there. Next will be tracks need ballast now.
I left the corner alone for now. I'm gonna create some hills, and a bunch of trees to hide the hole in the wall.
Micahel,
It's looking better and better.
Thanks Mike!
I also replaced the section of foam were the creek was. Oh boy was this a difficult task. The Magic Water I used had fused to the wood base. It took me an hour with the hammer claw. I didn't that that stuff was so hard.
The new river will be carved out, to the left of this about 14". The two crossing tracks will be here.
This is what it looked like before.
Looking Great Michael. What a long way you have come from where you started,
Keep us posted with photos. Derek
Thanks Derek!
Got the ballast completed on the two tracks there in the corner. Now its time to start laying the inside tracks.
Looking better and better.
So whatcha got planned for that corner? Obviously not the Moffat Tunnel...
Michael, Untill now I didn't realize how intense this project is.You are doing a really great job, it will be really nice, & rewarding when you run those units through there again!
Thanks for Sharing!
Thanks guys, its been a lot of work, but I'm getting there.
Mike, I'm gonna build up some small hills in the corner, and plant a bunch of trees to hide the hole in the wall.
I just ordered the new backdrops. Its two 24" x 12' continuous scene photos. Mountains with flat farmfields valley in the foreground.
What I want to know is when are you gonna get back to work on the extension room portion of the layout?
Huh, huh, huh?
Rich
P.S. Great work so far on the main room portion of the layout. You must have someone doing the work for you.
Alton Junction
Thanks Rich. I will start working on the extension room as soon as I get all this trackwork done in the main room. I hired some elves to help me.
We've heard that before, Michael.
Now I'm working on the inside two mainline tracks. Working it out to see if it everything fits ok.
The middle straight track will have an ME 160' Girder bridge spanning the river. And the inside curved track nearest the edge, will have a wood curved deck bridge.
And today the delivery man brought me this. The Vollmer truss bridge, to replace the Atlas truss bridge.
Michael, I've been following this rework and I think it is coming along very nicely. Having that big operating pit is a great idea for accessibility and you'll get better scene separations too. Change presents opportunity...and with your skills at making scenery, I think its going to look great.
- Douglas
Michael, that is looking great, but help us out here a little.
In your most recent reply, you mentioned that the middle straight track will have an ME 160' Girder bridge spanning the river. And the inside curved track nearest the edge, will have a wood curved deck bridge. The Vollmer truss bridge will replace the Atlas truss bridge.
Which bridge is that in the background, and will it stay?
Why are you replacing the Atlas truss bridge?
Yes the bridge in the background you see in the photo, against the wall, is the Atlas bridge. I just wanted a better bridge there.
I removed the Atlas bridge, and now test fitting the Vollmer bridge. Damn it looks better already.
I also re-painted the bridge abutments and weathered them with powders. Then I flared them out, and used light weight sparkling to fill it in.
Geez, that looks good, Michael. You are really picking up the slack.
No slackin here, been going at it for several days, non stop.
Got the river carved out.
Looking great so far. I do like the new bridge better. Keep up the great work and keep us posted with pics.
Derek
Michael.
I agree. Replacing that bridge with a better looking one is a great upgrade. It makes that scene, so a better bridge makes that scene better.
While I will agree that the new Vollmer bridge looks darn good, I didn't see anything wrong with the Atlas bridge. Both are pretty good looking bridges.
Rich,
The Atlas is not a bad bridge, in fact it may even be to scale (I've not seen that particular bridge up close, so not sure). It's just that the Vollmer bridge has a more delicate look to it that pleases my eye better.
Mike, I agree with you on that. And, I am sure that is the reason that Michael replaced the Atlas bridge with the Vollmer bridge.
But, being from Shi-caw-ga, we like our bridges built outta blood and iron up here, not that pansy steel work being installed in the Denver area.