Roadbed sound reduction?

[rrebell]

SouthPenn

Liquatex is available from Amazon.

South Penn

 

 

You linked to the gel, not the liquid.

[doctorwayne]

I've used both matte medium and white glue for ballasting.  The only difference I've noticed is that white glue is cheaper.

Wayne

[SouthPenn]

rrebell

 

SouthPenn

Liquatex is available from Amazon.

South Penn

 

 

 

 

 

You linked to the gel, not the liquid.

 

 

 

Any flavor you want.   http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Darts-crafts&field-keywords=Liquitex+Professional+Matte

South Penn

 

 

 

 

[SouthPenn]

After my experiance earlier, I have been paying more attention the noise on my railroad. In this case, a train went from a non-ballasted section of track to a ballasted section of track with no change in the noise level. If anything the ballasted section might have been a little quieter. The ballast was installed with white glue, but, the ties are wood. Hmmm...

South Penn

[rrebell]

You want less noise, try open air, the train makes almost no noise on my high steel trestle.

[selector]

rrebell

You want less noise, try open air, the train makes almost no noise on my high steel trestle.

 

Bingo!  I have posted my own supporting observation a number of times on threads where train noise is being discussed.  My bridges, no matter what type, plastic, metal, scale timber trestle...makes no never mind...as soon as the loco begins to run on a bridge on my layout all the noise stops.

I have been ballasting my beach sand (AKA cheap) ballast with yellow glue diluted to run into it easily.  The glue does a good job, and doesn't seem to make the ballast look shiny.  But, it makes a great sounding medium.

I found, eight years ago when I had to dismantle my very first layout so that we could lay carpet in the newly finished basement, that drywall strips are amazingly quiet.  I set up a small switching layout to get me by while we finished the basement, and I used scraps of drywall for roadbed.  It was whisper quiet.  Takes track nails really well, too.

-Crandell

[semafore]

Hi from Semafore, site member. If I may interject, there is a track conditioning treatment by the title of 'Gleam'; beyond the great reduction in drag, increase in steady traction and electrical pickup, this method also significantly reduces roadbed noise. Who knew?? The rail noise diminishes so much you can hear the whirr of the motor in the loco, and distinct click-clack of wheels. And best of all, minimal maintenance, time, and expense.
Please search forum for 'gleam' to garner more info. My original post in 2006 will explain proper simple method; hope your elbows are good!
Sincerely, Semafore

[pirate]

While using matte medium instead of white glue for the ballast, is one good idea, I think you need to skip the cork and go with foam roadbed, like Woodland Scenics sells.  You want to isolate your trains from the wood and walls.

[Graffen]

The more solid the subframe is, the lesser the noise will be.

To really get a quiet roadbed, use the 1/8" thick sheets of black rubber/bitumen that are used by the car sound crowd.

Place it between the subroadbed and the cork for good effect. Do not let the ballast go past the rubber sheet, or the sound will be transferred to the subroadbed!

[rrebell]

If you want no sound transmision, fill the underside of the layout, not very practical but works. One can design the layout using modules and have it so a foam sheet can fit the bottom.

[larak]

a good source for matte medium and other supplies:

http://www.dickblick.com/search/?q=matte+medium&x=0&y=0&sp_cs=UTF-8