Rack 'em up !!!

[Postwar Paul]

Before things get serious!!

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

[Postwar Paul]

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

[Postwar Paul]

[Postwar Paul]

[Postwar Paul]

My other Swiss locomotive:

the RhB jackshaft.

[Postwar Paul]

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

 

 

At least at these lower elevations !

[Postwar Paul]

[Postwar Paul]

I have successfully attained the elevation of two feet

 

 

and I still have more track !!!

[Postwar Paul]

Moving " Big foot " into place.

 

 

 

 

Employing techniques from the ancient Egyptians....

[Postwar Paul]

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

[York1]

Are those pieces of cedar fence board you are using?

[Postwar Paul]

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.

[Postwar Paul]

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

[Postwar Paul]

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.

[Postwar Paul]

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

[Postwar Paul]

Just the tedious details remain:

reinforcing the track boards

anchoring the track

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

[Postwar Paul]

[Postwar Paul]

[Postwar Paul]

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

[Postwar Paul]

[Postwar Paul]

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

[York1]

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.

[Postwar Paul]

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

[Greg Elmassian]

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

[Postwar Paul]

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

[PVT Kanaka]

Paul, Bravo Zulu on the progress! I like your mixture of study with just digging in! How do your trip to the rockyard go?

[Postwar Paul]

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...

[Postwar Paul]

I repositioned 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.

[Postwar Paul]

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.

[Postwar Paul]