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Swayback rails

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  • Member since
    May 2020
  • 1,057 posts
Posted by wrench567 on Saturday, April 22, 2023 2:28 PM

  It's been about 15 years ago. I built a portable module for the club that included a small industrial siding. I used code 40 rail stripped off of N scale track with dips, humps, and side to side wiggles. With the weed cover and rotted looking ties, it looked really good. Until you saw those huge wide HO scale wheels on it. It didn't last long and replaced with code 70 rail. Still with the wiggles.

         Pete.

  • Member since
    April 2021
  • From: saskabush
  • 127 posts
Posted by wvgca on Thursday, April 20, 2023 2:49 PM

what  mean by side to side, is that one rail is slightly higher [or lower] than the other rail directly across from it  ... the train actually  leans a bit to the side  .. again not much but you can see it

  • Member since
    February 2021
  • 1,110 posts
Posted by crossthedog on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 9:45 AM

wvgca
i have that on my layout, both vertical and also side to side ...

I get the side to side action when I'm trying NOT to, and also just going through Atlas #4 switches in the yard.

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
    April 2021
  • From: saskabush
  • 127 posts
Posted by wvgca on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 8:24 AM

i have that on my layout, both vertical and also side to side ...

not a great deal, but you can see it ..

i don't have any derail issues...

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,670 posts
Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 7:21 AM

Seen it done with very little rail depresion but a lot of illusion. Trains ran great but you would swear they would not. The very small dip made all the difference.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,190 posts
Posted by mvlandsw on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 11:59 PM

Years ago Paul Mallery wrote an article about a mechanism that would actually pull the end of a rail down as a wheel passed to simulate a mud hole under the end of the rail.

Mark

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 1,162 posts
Posted by PC101 on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 9:07 PM

Sunken ties in the 'muck' at the feed mill. An illusion could be made for sunken track with the ties and rails being on ballast before and after the sunken part.  Then for the sunken part, 'muck' up to the top of the ties with just the rails showing.    

You would need to watch the track being humped or sunken in the middle if you do delayed Kadee uncoupling before that 'special' track work because the car will roll freely into the sunken or roll freely over the hump. Somewhat stiff bit flexible 'weeds' planted in between to rails may catch the cars axles and hinder it from free rolling.

I have seen pictures of PennCentral track with 'muck' oozing up over the ties. On and after rainy days when a train goes past and the rail and ties go down from the weight of the rail car and muddy water squirts up, yep no ballast there.    

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 8:11 PM

You've looking at pictures of my layout. eh?  Smile, Wink & Grin

I don't see why it couldn't be done.  It will kind of depend on how many cars you shoving in, as to the extent of your "sunken and humped" rails, assuming this would be like an industrial spur.

Mike.

  • Member since
    October 2022
  • 8 posts
Swayback rails
Posted by Dr_Bullitt on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 3:57 PM

I noticed that on old industry sidings some of the rails are swaybacked, being sunk at the rail ends and peaking in the center.

Has anybody modeled a siding like this? Would it invite derailing or uncoupling?

Thanks.

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