Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Woodland Scenic Risers

3482 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Chicago IL.
  • 28 posts
Woodland Scenic Risers
Posted by Steel Man on Thursday, November 19, 2009 8:19 AM
Two Questions: 1) I have two mainlines running next to each other. The recommend centering of the track by NMRA for HO is 2" , yet when you but two risers together and center them 2" apart they don't seem to be on the center of the risers. Can anyone help me as to what I am doing wrong or doesn't it matter 2)Because I am running curves that come back on itself using a bridge the inner circle does not match the outer circle height at any one point due to the distance around the circumference being shorter (obviously). However this puts the heights of the risers at different levels at the same spot, does anyone have an any help as to how to solve these two issues. Thanks for you help Steel Man
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,670 posts
Posted by rrebell on Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:09 AM

Best way is to use just one incline in the center and add material to each side ( just attach a 1" strip down each side even with the surface).

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Ridgeville,South Carolina
  • 1,294 posts
Posted by willy6 on Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:20 PM

WS's risers/inclines are 2.5 inches wide. If you put 2 together, you have 5", plenty of room to get 2 tracks 2" at centerline. As far as a curve using risers, just cut out small pieces on the inside one, if it's an incline you can do the same on the inside piece as long as they have some distance between the pieces you cut out.

Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,670 posts
Posted by rrebell on Friday, November 20, 2009 10:23 AM

you can't change the radius of a Woodland Scenics riser without changing the height, therefore you can't run them side by side without stretching one (which doesn't usually work) and get the same height at the end.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Friday, November 20, 2009 11:33 AM

Unless your curves are of fairly broad radius, 2" track-to-track may not be enough clearance in any case. The NMRA recommended practice notes different (and wider) track-to-track spacings for tighter curves and longer equipment.

As noted, it may be challenging to make the out-of-the-box WS risers work well in this situation.

Byron

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Friday, November 20, 2009 6:45 PM

The wider your track radius, the better the WS risers will work side by side.  BUT--you are always going to have the problem of the outer set of risers ending up a little 'under' the same height as the inner, possibly about 1/4 of an inch.  The solution is to either build up height under the outer radius risers, or use an extra 'starting' riser on top until you've brought the tracks up to the same level. 

I had that problem laying a parallel outer passing track on one portion of my layout.  My inner radius is 34", the outer radius is 36".   By the time I had both sets of 2% risers laid in to the level I wanted, there was about a 1/4" difference in height.  I simply built the outer riser level up to the inner with a section of 2% 'starter' riser.  It worked.   Yes, the parallel tracks are at a different elevation for part of the curve, but that's hardly un-prototypical on real railroads. 

Here's the curve, building up to the 4" height I wanted.   Make sure that you've got at LEAST a 2" separation between track centers.  Even more would be better.  Mine's about a 3", and even then it can be a tricky proposition running a train around the outer passing track if I'm holding a train on the inner.  Especially if it involves cars over 50' in length. 

Parallel curves on WS grades do work, but you have to do a little 'fudging'. 

Tom Smile

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Chicago IL.
  • 28 posts
Posted by Steel Man on Friday, November 20, 2009 7:22 PM
Thanks to everyone who answered my questions. It was quite helpful and I was successful today and setting up the risers with the proper height and spacing. Thanks Again.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • 394 posts
Posted by ham99 on Saturday, November 21, 2009 12:14 PM

 

If you have access to a woodworking shop, it is easy to make your own risers from foam.  Then you can build them to any grade or width you need.  I made my own from [pink] foam. 
  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: East Haddam, CT
  • 3,272 posts
Posted by CTValleyRR on Sunday, November 22, 2009 10:56 AM

ham99

 

If you have access to a woodworking shop, it is easy to make your own risers from foam.  Then you can build them to any grade or width you need.  I made my own from [pink] foam. 

Why do you need access to a woodworking shop?  I have been very successful using a speed square, a metal straight edge, and a hacksaw blade.

Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford

"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!