How to Quieten Noisy Track

[rckingsnorth]

Dear mrnimble,

I am afraid that the solution was way back before you used WS Trackbed on 1/2” plywood. The cause of the current noise is the vibrations transmitted to the plywood through the Trackbed. The plywood acts as a sound board, amplifying the vibration (noise).

I have not tried to retro-fit noisy track, but suggest that attempting to control the vibration of the plywood is your best bet. Adding mass to the plywood might help – perhaps using pine boards screwed to the underside of the plywood. If that helps, re-do the pine using screws and an elastic caulk like DAP Alex Plus. I suggest pine because it is a “soft wood” that should help dampen the virations.

For those following this discussion hoping to avoid mrnimble's plight, I strongly suggest a roadbed construction of cork glued on top of camper tape glued on top of plywood. What is camper tape? A relatively soft foam tape used to seal the surfaces between a camper top and the pickup bed. Buy it at the place that installs camper tops on pickups. The glue should be an elastic caulk like DAP Alex Plus. This construction has been in place on my 20' x 20' layout for 8 years and effectively damps unwanted noise and allows on board sound systems to be appreciated. This construction technique came after testing 18 different materials/combinations as described in MR's 2009 special issue “How to build realistic reliable track”. That issue appears to be out of print but is available from several on line dealers, or perhaps a friend has a copy.

Bob Kingsnorth

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

Just an after thought here. Even with the newer seamless 1/4 mile track, has anyone stood fairly close to the track when a train goes by ???   It is far from quiet.

I purposely designed my trackage so that the farthest from where most stand is the quietest, but when the trains get close to you, I didn't try to buffer the sound at all.  Also along the river, beside the mountains, I love the rumble being echoed off of them.  "Sound" (noise) is part of railroading.  Where I put my foot down is the sound equipped locos and rolling stock.  Haven't heard any of these that sounded realistic.

Johnboy out........

[MikeFF]

I have tried different roadbeds and glues and not noticed a lot of difference.  What I did notice is that the sections with hollow scenery are much noisier than those where I have not yet done scenery.  Which makes sense.  The track does transmit noise and if it has a hollow, enclosed area (think guitar body or inside a drum) it will contain and amplify the noise.  So, fill the hills with insulation and it should make a difference.  I sort of like the noise.  It is only a matter time (unless it has already happenned and I did not notice) until we get a DCC car that simulates prototype track sounds.

 

[doctorwayne]

zstripe

...The only thing I do not like..is the noise that My 10 car all-metal wheel passenger cars make...the majority of all My rolling stock have Delrin wheels....but needed the metal wheels for power pick-up.I really do not care for the noise all metal wheels make.....

Doughless

I don't thiink that any sounds coming from model train layouts sound like the real thing, with the exception of a good onboard bell, whistle, or horn.  I prefer to eliminate all noise so I can hear those better.

Is it akin to heresy if I say that I wish I could replace my scale metal wheels found on highly detailed cars with plastic wheels?  I can't even find 36 inch plastic wheels for hopper and tank cars.

 

I have to agree:  A big source of layout noise is metal wheels.  Most of my rolling stock has Delrin wheels, but a lot of newer aftermarket trucks and those on r-t-r cars have metal wheels. I  haven't found the plastic wheels to be the problem that some claim them to be regarding track cleaning, either.
As for white glue/matte medium, I've used both and there's no discernible difference other than the price, so why pay more for the latter?
With regard to unglued ballast, I can't see how you could control the dirt that eventually leads to the need for actual track cleaning, as dust is present pretty-well anywhere your layout might be located.  I vacuum the track as conditions dictate, and other than that and cleaning the rails after ballasting, I do not clean track.

I spent almost 40 years in a steel mill and am not a fan of most noise....I can put up with it for model trains and loud music, though. 

 

Wayne