Modeling cities sucks

[Ed Kapuscinski]

definitely don't see the tracks elevated 4 feet above above the street in those pictures

Right? That's my big problem!

Now, part of that IS that, currently, that's all essentially "branchline" trackage. In my situation, it'd be a secondary mainline.

But even back in the day when it was a PRR passenger line, it still didn't look any different.

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[chuck geiger]

Ed, it was you that told me to spackle it up on little 2x4 years ago and it brought the terrain up to the tracks. When this was
started the track was on Midwest cork roadbed and I raised everything.

[mmagliaro]

Don't use that cork roadbed under the track.  It is too high.  It just makes that much more work to raise things up, or slope the road intersections up to that height.

[dem34]

I have to say, yeah. If sound isn't a huge concern, and the underlayment is relatively stable. Why not forgo the cork altogether, at least in that area?
Never really saw any major problems when my last semi complete 2x4 had the track attached to .20 styrene sheet. (Handlaid so let me work on it + ballast on my desk then placed on layout later :not worth   )

[peteski]

Don't use that cork roadbed under the track.  It is too high.  It just makes that much more work to raise things up, or slope the road intersections up to that height.

That was what  I was thinking too.  My friends layout has some track age directly over Lauan plywood base and noise does not seem to be a problem.

[mmagliaro]

You can always use something thinner, like strips of craft foam that are about 1/16" thick.  It still lets you get a little "profile" to the ballast, but not so extreme, and it does take the edge off the noise.

[chuck geiger]

Oh crap Boomer has a video on how he built up between the tracks with balsa.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Lol, well, in my own situation, things are already up on cork, so it's too late from that perspective...

I've thought about not using it, but I like the difference that cork vs not cork makes, but I also think it's far too extreme. Makes me miss using N scale cork in HO.

But yeah, thanks for the suggestions guys. I think my plan is just going to be to keep executing my old game plan of using craft foam and other filler materials to solve the issue like I have.

It's still annoying AF though!

[wm3798]

It's still annoying AF though!

Think of it as Karma. Give a little, get a little back!

Lee