Good morning ! from Indiana.
12-28-06
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Slappy,
7.5% is pretty steep. Go to http://www.nmra.org/standards/consist.html#module and see what they reccomend for standards. Normally a 2% grade is the max for a layout. That's 2" of climb over a 100" run. I'm running several Mantua steam locomotives and at a 2% grade on my last layout I had issues with them barley making the transition. If you need to lift a train over 2" you might want to look at constructing a helix with a 1.5% grade. It sounds like the transition from level grade to 7.5 and back to zero is too great for your locomotives and cars.
I hope your feeling better.
Lee
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Morning all!
I hope this morning finds you all well.
Man, whats for breakfast, I'm starving!
Chloe, what do you have back there on the grill? Oh I don't care, just bring me a little of it, would you please? Thanks! And here,......here's a nice tip. You work so hard serving all of us, you deserve it!
Slappy, I tried experiments with steep grades too at one point. It's too hard to make it work, isn't it? I tried everything, but it just wasn't happening. I think you'll find that a shelf layout with lighter grades will be less of a headache. Any reason you're using the 1" thinck plywood? I mean, if it's free then go for it. If you're paying for it you could save some money by going lighter. BTW, what are you modeling? Any particular road? And I'm not a big Mickey D's fan either. I think it because I worked for their corporate for 9 years and now I just don't care for it.
What are the dimensions for your shelves? HO scale? My last layout I used 1/4" plywood, but I built 2 x 4 and 1 x 4 open framing for them. This layout is 1/2" with 1 x 4 open framing. A helix is a tricky thing to build and build correctly. I would find someone with past experiance to help you along.
LSWrr wrote: My last layout I used 1/4" plywood, but I built 2 x 4 and 1 x 4 open framing for them. This layout is 1/2" with 1 x 4 open framing.
My last layout I used 1/4" plywood, but I built 2 x 4 and 1 x 4 open framing for them. This layout is 1/2" with 1 x 4 open framing.
Not to steal this thread, but why did you switch plywood? My last layout was 1/4 inch on 12" centers with 1/4 inch foam and it did well enough that I'll be using it again. I model N scale though, so maybe train weight would be a factor.
A helix is a tricky thing to build and build correctly. I would find someone with past experiance to help you along.
It's a very tricky thing to build. If I remember right, didn't Brunton just build one? I think he titled the thread "monster helix" or something like that. One could probably do a forum search for it.
EDIT: OK, I found it. Slappy, maybe you could pick Brunton's brain and get some ideas on how to do a helix right. Here's the thread: http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/960326/ShowPost.aspx
We now return to our regularly scheduled program...............
PC: OPPS!! i ment 1/4", lol. im modling my fictinal shortline(3 geusses what the name is)in HO.
LEE:i saw an ad im MR for a prebuilt helix, i might just buy that. the framing is goina be 1x4 open rame with lighting for staging and cheap panel from loews that looks like brick as the fasia.
Slappy, 1/4" will work as long as you add crossbrace supports every 12" or so. I tried 14" supports but it wasn't enough. I used 1x2's for my crossbraces, so it's pretty cheap, and lightweight. To give you an idea, this is a pic of a piece of my last layout (the staging area). It's leaning against the wall in my new garage, thats why the funny angle. It was standing for two years in Indiana weather (i.e. humidity) and note how there is no sag in the track that is elevated.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/N%20Scale%20Trains/Salvage/Picture030.jpg
Here's a pic from the other side.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/N%20Scale%20Trains/Salvage/Picture026.jpg
As long as you support it well you can have some very lightweight and thin subroadbed.
Good morning all!
Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Mine was ok; nothing too spectacular, but just right. Ex and her son gave me a $50 gc to Barnes and Noble, and a $100 to Home Depot, along with some smaller items. Mom and Dad gave me a ‘bed in a bag' set and the new 5pc suit I got for my brother's wedding back in August. I still have another ‘Christmas' to go through with the rest of my family on the 13th of January, so I'll be getting more gifts then.
Anyway, here are some press releases from the past few months regarding railroading in the area:
Release Date: October 19, 2006
State DOT and DeFrancisco Announce $120,000 For Rail Upgrades
Infrastructure Improvements To Support Key Central New York Industrial Park
https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/news/press-releases/2006/2006-10-19
And another -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:December 15, 2006
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $60 MILLION IN STATEWIDE RAIL FUNDING
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/06/1215061.html
Well all, I guess this does it for now. Time for me to get back to work and accomplish something today!
Take care!
//signed// John Powell President / CEO CNY Transportation Corp (fictional)
http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/nuts4sports34/
Hunter - When we met in January of 2000, you were just a 6 week old pup who walked his way into this heart of mine as the only runt in the litter who would come over to me. And today, I sit here and tell you I am sorry we had to put you down. It was the best thing for you and also the right thing to do. May you now rest in peace and comfort. Love, Dad. 8 June 2010
I love you and miss you Mom. Say hi to everyone up there for me. Rest in peace and comfort. Love, John. 29 March 2017
JPowell wrote: Well all, I guess this does it for now. Time for me to get back to work and accomplish something today!
Now what on earth would make you want to go and do something crazy like that? Have you taken leave of your sences man? I suppose that next you're going to start thinking or something, huh?
pcarrell wrote: JPowell wrote: Well all, I guess this does it for now. Time for me to get back to work and accomplish something today!Now what on earth would make you want to go and do something crazy like that? Have you taken leave of your sences man? I suppose that next you're going to start thinking or something, huh?
PC -
That's a scary thought...me and thinking are not made for each other! lol
Anyways, I came back in for a quick second so I could post the link to the Fire Dept I belong to. About 1/3 of the way down the homepage, is the link to the story about our new Truck coming early summer (late June) 2007.
http://www.fayettevillefd.org/index.php
Good Morning All,
Late start here on the forum, but not at home. Got up this am and the heat didn't work. Pilot light wouldn't stay lit and had to call the contractor. That was the easy part. When I was granted my 12 x 12 layout space in the basement, I had to move my water heater (gas heat) and cut in around the furnace. Of course I built over the access panel for the furnace. A mad scramble ensued to a) clean the train room b) clean the construction area and storage behind the train room so the workers could actually reach the furnace c) cut the access panel (aluminum diamond plate) so we could access the controls for the furnace without doing contortions. Got done just as the workmen arrived. Quickly found a bad thermocouple and replaced it fixing the furnace. Was thanked for having the work area cleaned and adequately lit. Was complemented on the cool train set. WHEW. Now off to work after i put the wall back together. Moral to the story - like wearing clean underwear incase you have a car crash and have to be hospitalised, better to keep your rec area debris free (safer that way too) in case you need to have a service call. It was a close call for the perpetually sloppy. CUL,J.R.
Hi Gang: Just a short note to lett you all know that we got home all right. Got in about 7:45 last night. It was a long drive but once again we survived. I'll be back in later after I can catch up on what's been going on.
OK. It's on Me. Have at it.
Afternoon all, just coffee Zoe,
Got a call from JERRY, he's home and may try to stop by laters today.
Nothin going on here to talk about, never is really, so catch ya'll laters
inch
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
'afternoon everyone
I'll have a cup of coffee and a donut.
I've nearly finished the modifications to my locos and rolling stock. Almost all KD's now - have 4 more horn hooks to replace, and 2 more pilots to add KD's to. That #13 set Kadee has was a real treat.
Problem with the locos:
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
Greetings all! Its taken two days, but I have finally caught up on the 12 pages of missed posts! Wow, talk about an active forum!
Well its finally cooling here in MD, hopefully winter is on its way.
Ne06874: How many couplers have you replaced total?
Dave Loman
My site: The Rusty Spike
"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"
Good afternoon everyone, I see things are slowly getting back to normal after Christmas, but for those in Denver area, ROUND 2 is beginning....more snow, about 2 feet worth. We have cloudy skies here today, sort of milky white, temp is 39F (4C), RH=60%, DP=34F (1C), and winds are 7 MPH out of the SW as another front approaches.
This afternoon I'm going to add a couple of liftouts to the backside of the layout, on the wall side. This side of my layout has two (2) 4x8 sheets of plywood along the wall and a 30" piece of plywood at the end, making the total length 18.5'. I had spaced the tables 16" away from the wall so that I could walk behind the tables to construct scenery, tracks, etc, however, I know see that I am able to fit in that space nicely, so I want to add three lift-out section that can be reached from either side of the lift out. Of course this means that I would have to go under the tables to get to the space behind the tables, but at 5'-9" and 185#, I have no trouble gaining entrance. ( I just don't eat that much in the CS , lol )
I meant to ask yesterday, did any of you guys who wanted a new Digital camera, get one for Christmas????
Dave: I dunno - probably about 20 or so.
I have had to replace the rear/tender couplers on 4 of my 5 locos, and have added pilot couplers to three of them. So thats 7 right there....and then, of my 9 (non-tank) cars, 2 are intermediaries, and the rest have Kadees on both ends.
maybe I'll be able to get the the LHS next week and pick up the stuff I need to finish the swap-over.
hey all. chloe, ill have a big juicey t bone steak, 2 king crab legs, and 1/4 gallon of hot chocolate with a shot of irish cream. ok, i looked for the premade helix copany, no dice, so i need to find some one that has built one in the past, or can someone find that company form me? thnaks!!
ModelTrainLover wrote:Hi guys! Anyone miss me? I got most of the things I wanted for Christmass. I made out perity well how about you guys?
Na where you gone ?
Just kidding welcome back glad you had a good Christmas I did too. Hows everything going ? I don't know if you where around when I got my B&M in its an old GP-9 from 62 been wanting another for years finally got one again its a 2359 lionel has magnatraction .
well all take care time to go do the bi-weekly walley world trip for groceries and all.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
PA Belt wrote: ok, i looked for the premade helix copany, no dice, so i need to find some one that has built one in the past, or can someone find that company form me? thnaks!!
ok, i looked for the premade helix copany, no dice, so i need to find some one that has built one in the past, or can someone find that company form me? thnaks!!
I found some info that might help.
http://www.eldoradosoft.com/helix_design.htm
http://www.fourthray.com/Peter/Layouts/PCRR3/HE.htm
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=78803&highlight=gleiswendel
Couldn't find the kits. If I remember, they were real expensive anyways.
JERRY: Good to see you back buddy!!! Lets hope you have a great New Year and the health of a 21 year old.
I was just watching the nightly news on channel 4 out of Boston, and this poor guy cannot get occupancy to his new home he built in Attleboro, Ma. All his outlets, and anything that is metal in the house is electrified with about 20 volts. His house is located right beside a 345KV High Voltage line...the large steel tower type with mulitple lines. National Grid claims that he built on their property, he says that he has a civil engineer that can prove he didn't. His house look very close to the lines, and I mean close. I don't know why he woulf want to build THAT close to 345KV lines anyway.