Trains.com

Rack 'em up !!!

18550 views
78 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2013
  • 916 posts
Posted by PVT Kanaka on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 1:52 AM

Will do, Paul!

 

As for routine train running, yes, much like my aquariums, the more i run the trains, the more I identify and work out the trouble spots.  There is nothing worse than having an electrical gremlin the day you are entertaining!

 

Eric

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 6:39 PM

Eric, would love to see pictures of your project when you finish!

Also, really loving operating this garden railway. Smaller than the last one, but lots going on in a small space! Operating every weekend allows for " tuning" equipment, cars , couplers, track, and engines.Most sessions are flawless because of having corrected all the minor issues.

Really enjoying operating, and taking a break from construction!

Paul

  • Member since
    February 2013
  • 916 posts
Posted by PVT Kanaka on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 12:10 AM
Glad to hear to added the fail safe! The pictures are stunning, if hair raising! Sorry for my own silence on the line. We are participating in the annual for fun build challenge on Large Scale Central again this year, and that is eating up my hobby bandwidth. I'll post a condensed version of the build log here when our project is done. Oh, and I picked up a used LGB US wood side box car. I'm getting the knack for this e-Bay thing. The key is to be able to walk away, it seems! - Eric
  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Monday, January 25, 2021 5:36 PM

https://whatibedoo.shutterfly.com/#%3aemid%3dsite_sitecreated%26cid%3dSHARE3SXXXX

Haven't worked on the layout much since October, but I run the trains every weekend, usually Saturday and Sunday.I cut a gap rail 2 feet from the top end as a Fail-Safe to auto stop the train in case I'm not paying attention... I intend to purchase the back and forth circuit to automate the cog line. That's where things stand as of today.

Paul

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Thursday, July 2, 2020 10:48 PM

Also, I should add that the purpose of this transition piece was to take the grade down from 16% to a very gentle and manageable grade on the section of 180 degree LGB sectional track. This greatly minimizes the forces that would normally cause the inner rail to be much lower. It becomes manageable, with no extra correction needed.

Paul

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Thursday, July 2, 2020 7:24 AM

Hi Rex,

 the 180 of R2 is new LGB sectional track. This vertical bend transition in the picture is hand laid. And yes, the rails were pre bent. I made a block with an arch in it to bend the track.

Paul

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Arizona (high country 7k ft) USA
  • 676 posts
Posted by Rex in Pinetop on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 7:35 PM

Are you using a rail bender or just sectional track for your 180 R2 at the top? 

My helix was built with SS sectional track.  What looked pretty much like a circle turned out to have a lot of stress when laid.  I had to do a lot of work with a railbender to get the track to lay level and allow the sections to stay connected even with split jaw joiners.  If I were to do it again I would use brass or AL and set up some jigs as you have done to get the complex bends into the rail to get the "spring" out before laying it down.

Rex in Pinetop 

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, April 19, 2020 9:51 PM

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, April 19, 2020 9:46 PM

 I'm happy how this turned out. Still on hold for more supplies and materials, but I have a clear vision of how to proceed.

  • Member since
    February 2013
  • 916 posts
Posted by PVT Kanaka on Sunday, April 19, 2020 12:47 AM
Whoa....way beyond my skill level and tool set! Glad to see that I am not the only one suffering from lack of supplies. I've got a couple of projects on hold until things reopen. Eric
  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 18, 2020 7:19 PM

 The plan is to have the cog line double back and cross over itself. Then terminate at the front near the grass and transformer station at a height about 5.5 feet. This leaves open the option of someday extending an elevated line out over the grass...possibly...

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 18, 2020 7:10 PM

Extremely complex track geometry from here on. Thsee sections will be prefabricated. The ascending 180degree curve will need correction to keep the inner and outer rails somewhat level.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 18, 2020 7:03 PM

 The cog line currently terminates on a 16.5% grade. This transition will taper off the grade before going into a 180degree curve of LGB R2 track.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 18, 2020 6:56 PM

 Taking a break from painting the mural/ backdrop, at least until we get more paints. This section is a transition piece for the cog line.

  • Member since
    February 2013
  • 916 posts
Posted by PVT Kanaka on Monday, February 3, 2020 12:37 AM
Add in transoceanic shipping and the Jones act, and you can see why I used broken concrete!
  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, February 2, 2020 11:55 AM

You see rocks in nature, and you think of them as being free !!

I could buy a really nice engine for the price of those rocks !!!

Paul

  • Member since
    February 2013
  • 916 posts
Posted by PVT Kanaka on Sunday, February 2, 2020 12:46 AM
Yes, it certainly is a good start to good times in the garden! I had to chuckle inward at the rocks...I thought I was the only person that had to pay through the nose for rocks, even local rocks! I ended up salvaging broken concrete chunks and demolished lava stone features from across the neighborhood. I took a couple years to get the landscape where we wanted it, but it happened. - Eric
  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 31, 2020 8:35 PM

 I think this is the start of many fun times in the garden !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 31, 2020 8:29 PM

You can see how it wants to slant inward. This is after correcting as much as possible. It 'S a cool looking effect, though.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, January 31, 2020 8:23 PM

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
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.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
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.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
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...

  • Member since
    February 2013
  • 916 posts
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?
  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
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

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: North Coastal San Diego
  • 947 posts
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

 

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
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
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
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       

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, January 26, 2020 5:39 PM

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

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy