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Rack 'em up !!!

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  • Member since
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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 6:39 PM

Before things get serious!!

 This holds the overall grade on this completed segment to 12.5%.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 6:44 PM

 Although, the curve is at 15%, my maximum.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 6:47 PM

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 6:51 PM

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 6:56 PM

My other Swiss locomotive:

the RhB jac kshaft.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 7:01 PM

This track support system has turned out to be quite solid.

 

 

 At least at these lower elevations !

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 7:07 PM

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 24, 2020 7:12 PM

I have successfully attained the elevation of two feet

 

 

 and I still have more track !!!

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, January 25, 2020 6:45 PM

Moving " Big foot " into place.

 

 

 

 

Employing technique s from the ancient Egyptians....

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, January 25, 2020 6:51 PM

 Getting there. A lot of small details to clean up. New ties for the end track piece, also.

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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Saturday, January 25, 2020 6:53 PM

Are those pieces of cedar fence board you are using?

York1 John       

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, January 25, 2020 6:58 PM

Yes. They will be reinforced to prevent warping. Also, I need to find a way to fasten the track to the roadbed. The screw holes are under the rack rails, and would lift the rack.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, January 25, 2020 7:00 PM

 End of track is 48 inches off the ground. 14% grade averaged throughout.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, January 25, 2020 7:07 PM

 I will build a platform at end of track for a Piko or Pola European style station. And put a Swiss flag on the roof.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:09 PM

 One week off from work, and my track is complete through end of track.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:16 PM

Just the tedious details remain:

reinforcing the track boards

anchoring the track

 maybe adding an " outrigger " to the end of track support.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:20 PM

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:24 PM

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:29 PM

 I have limited space, so my scenery will probably be artificial in nature.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:34 PM

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:39 PM

 It's been a tough climb, but I've enjoyed the challenge!!

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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:44 PM

Postwar Paul
It's been a tough climb, but I've enjoyed the challenge!!

 

You've done a good job!  You and others have almost convinced me that this is the direction I may want to go.  Not yet, but almost.

York1 John       

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 7:31 PM

Thank You !

The direction comes from within. 

This hobby can be whatever you want it to be.

That's the beautiful thing about it !!

Paul

  • Member since
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  • From: North Coastal San Diego
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Posted by Greg Elmassian on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 2:21 PM

I see the boards are starting to sag, which is normal. You might add a metal wire, turnbuckle and a center spacer so you can compensate for the sag.

 

you can see the block in the center of the span in the open area, and a turnbuckle for adjusting the tightness. You can use a smaller block and turnbuckle, this is a 2x4 and handles heavy locos

Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.

 Click here for Greg's web site

 

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 10:12 PM

Thanks Greg !!

sharing tips and info is what it's all about ! My current line of thinking is to add a 1/2 X 1/2 aluminum angle to the outer edges of the boards for stiffness, but the truss concept makes a lot of sense !

I'm finding out that I have many compound curves at work in the track geometry:

for example, if a train is going up hill at 15%, and there is a curve at the top, the tendency is for the curve to be slanted at the same angle, and not at level. Many forces at work, and tweaking to at least get it close to what I'm looking for.

I'm still making adjustments!!

Thanks again!

Paul

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Posted by PVT Kanaka on Friday, January 31, 2020 1:25 AM
Paul, Bravo Zulu on the progress! I like your mixture of study with just digging in! How do your trip to the rockyard go?
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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 31, 2020 8:08 PM

As it turns out...

 

Rocks are expensive !!

 Who knew? This is one of the cheaper lots, $200 a ton. The man says this is a ton and a half...I would need 4 palates to do what I want. I need to think of another way...

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 31, 2020 8:14 PM

I reposition ed the 2 end posts, this took out most of the bow. I'll work on reinforcing, and adding an "outrigger" to the very end post. This structure weathered extremely high winds this week, no trouble.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 31, 2020 8:19 PM

 You actually have to induce a twist in the track and boards to level the track going into and out of curves on a steep grade.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 31, 2020 8:23 PM

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