Michael, You are absolutely correct on good trackwork--I wish I would
have spent a bit more time on that myself. On the other hand I can
operate my layout for several hours by myself without and derailments.
A week later I will be open for our local November tours and for the
first hour of so we (myself and usually two guest engineers) will
experience several derailments. After some time several cars have been
turned end for end making things operate well for the rest of the day.
The problem with my layout is that I used regular sheet Homosote
rather than the Homabed. The regular stuff is not totally flat or even
so I didn't discover that until sometime later. Another problem is
sagging that might occur in the benchwork, much of that due to the
questionable quality of plywood (a local guy had a layout custom built
and they used 3/4 cabinet grade plywood--$$$). The opposite of that is
when you join two sections of sub roadbed with a splice--if your trying
to do a gentle grade change that joint will resist any change in grade!
Another problem that might be somewhat unique to my layout is the
movement of the earth under the layout room. In our area in Texas homes
are built on the slab that 'floats' on the surface or with 'pier and
beam' type system. Mine is a slab style (cheaper and not adjustable).
This is not normally a problem except that the soil composition that we
have will change in size due to moisture conditions. I paid a lot of
money several years ago to help stabilize my home but it only does so
much. One time I noticed that cars in one of my 'flat' yards were
starting to drift to one end! A quick check with a 8' mason's level
determined that part of the layout was now about 3/4 inch off of level.
Three small jacks raised the layout to the proper height for the time
being, but I had to do a fair amount of track adjustments.
I read in a book on a logging railroad where it was common to chain
down cars to prevent them from drifting away. I might have to consider
that in the future!
Bob Werre
Michael A Scivoletti wrote:
>Folks,
>
>If we as "supposed" scalers, are worried about whether this car has the
>right amount of rivets or whether railroad had "xyz" cars, and do not take
>the proper time to construct a "solid" base for our trains, are we really
>"scalers"???? The 1:1 prototypes who don't take are of their track are
>loosing business like crazy, cause they can't move what business they have.
>The top haulers spend money to bring their right of ways up to top
>standards, should be doing any less with our 1/64 roads?
>Even metal trucks won't help "bad" track work.
>If you are just starting on your layout and hand laying your track, get
>several NASG track gauges, plus the 2 & 3 point gauges from Billy Wade in
>the track code your using (100 or 125). Make sure yout ties are even in
>height. Make sure your joints are even and close enough not to leave gaps,
>except just enough for rail expansion if you live in an area of wide
>temperature swings
>
>Michael In Nortwest Jersey
>
>
>
>
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