Ok, the time has come. I have a main line section that is annoying. The curve leading to the hill was supposed to be evenly about 30" radius and the hill was supposed to be smooth.
Somehow I have created a tighter radius on one side of the curve. My Heavy Mtn.s don't like it. And the transition from gradient to flat top on the hill has a bump that uncouples cars from long frame locos.
Darn. At least I don't have any ballast down and no scenery there to speak of.
So I am going to take up about two lengths of flex track, take a sander to the cork roadbed on the hill. I use a cordless dremel to cut the rails so here goes.
If your track is less than perfect, then you are absolutely doing the right thing by ripping it up and re-doing it. Don't be afraid to go a bit further down the line if you have to.
A template is a good idea. Big Steam is as fussy as it is beautiful, and when you're laying track for it, you need all the help you can get.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
David's idea is a really good one. I did the same when I was laying my 34" and 36" curves on the Yuba River Sub. I had Bachmann wide-radius EZ track, and using the same type of template, I was able to get curves with flex-track that have been absolutely fool-proof. In fact, on one portion with pretty sheer cliffs to the concrete floor, I just used the Bachmann Wide-radius EZ track (36") entirely. Again, foolproof. It's been there for seven years and never a derailment. And it's 6 actual feet above the garage floor. A NASTY drop if I'd gotten a kink.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!