Illinois Central/Canadian National in N scale

[cv_acr]

I don't see any power feeds to any of the tracks. Did you add any? That is a fair bit of track you have there and there should probably be some feeders. Having never built one of these things, I don't know about the best practices. Just a thought.

Best practices are basically the same as any other trackage.

At my club we've taken to soldering a feeder to every physical piece of rail to really make absolutely sure that dead spots don't happen. Rail joiners can sometimes loosen, or have glue infiltrate during ballasting and cause minor dead spots, especialy in yard areas around switches with lots of short pieces of rail and lots of joiners.

Otherwise, get at minimum one or two pairs per turn, to make sure power distribution is good.

[nscalemike]

On the finished portion of the layout I am doing one per rail piece.  However, I am not soldering all the rail joints on that portion and have turnouts contend with etc.  On the helix I am putting them one per level.  This is due to all the joints being soldered, inside and out, and no turnouts, gaps, or any locos standing still taking up power.  Maybe not the best practice but since I have 8 tracks per level that would be a lot of wiring to do and I haven't found a difference between the two options.  I have the first few installed, they are on the back wall and not visible here though. 

[cv_acr]

On the finished portion of the layout I am doing one per rail piece.  However, I am not soldering all the rail joints on that portion and have turnouts contend with etc.  On the helix I am putting them one per level.  This is due to all the joints being soldered, inside and out, and no turnouts, gaps, or any locos standing still taking up power.  Maybe not the best practice but since I have 8 tracks per level that would be a lot of wiring to do and I haven't found a difference between the two options.  I have the first few installed, they are on the back wall and not visible here though.

If you are soldering the rail joints on the helix that's sufficient. The key is to have a solid soldered connection of some form (joint or direct feeder) rather than simply relying on the mechanical connection of the rail joiners. 9 times out of 10 you'll not have an issue with the connection at a given rail joiner, but better to connect everything properly than go back later and fix it. Especially in hidden areas that might not be easy to get into.

[nscalemike]

Well 12 days after ripping my helix out to its framework, I have it reinstalled and up to the second level!  It took 10 days of aggressive trackwork to get to this point.  This 'point' is about 15" worth of elevation and 53 pieces of flex track!  I'm very happy how this attempt has turned out.  I've ran my 24 car coal train up and down with only some minor coupler issues between the factory kato engine couplers and the factory kato car couplers.  I think I am going to work on changing the couplers out soon, something that might be a little more reliable.  I've also ran my stack train up and down several times.  This is the longest/heaviest train I think I'll even run, it's nearly 12' long and weighs a ton.  It's gone up both the outside and inside tracks without a problem.



I also installed the backdrop separating the helix from the finished section to the right.  I cut an opening so I could slide the hardboard over the first level main line, installed it, and then cut the opening for the second level main exactly where I needed it at.  This allowed both openings to be as small as possible and hopefully they will be easier to disguise when I start the scenery.  Here is a pic of a local emerging from the helix and onto the main:


With the helix high enough now, I also started installing the spline roadbed on the country side of the second level.  I am gluing 7 layers of 1/8" hardboard to form my splines.  This photo I have 4 glued together.  I'll get the last few glued up tomorrow hopefully and then will be able to start prepping for track up to the branch line turnout. 


looking left


looking right

That's it for now, thanks for reading!

Mike

[conrail98]

That looks great Mike. A quick question for you (and anyone else). I'm debating on sub-roadbed at this point between spline, just like you're doing, or 1/2" plywood. For industrial/siding areas, are you making all of those things spline or are you doing them as a mixture, where the "main" is spline and everything else sits on something else (ply or foam)? Thanks,

Phil

[cv_acr]

Our club does all our track on spline as well. (We rip 1/4" strips from 1x4 pine dimensional lumber to make our splines.) Some areas with multiple tracks, all the tracks are on splines as well, but large yards and some areas with rather complicated trackwork are laid on plywood.

All the tracks in this photo are on spline, except the spur on the side closest to the backdrop (with the silver reefer parked on it) and in the distant background, it transitions into the main yard area, which is on 3/4" plywood:
http://www.wrmrc.ca/coppercliff03.html

This mine is on plywood:
http://www.wrmrc.ca/creanhill02.html

As are these crossovers at a junction of two major routes:
http://www.wrmrc.ca/construction46.html
(Where the tracks end at left will eventually transition into spline roadbed to continue the mainline eastwards. This area is also on top of a major helix, so clearance below is an issue.)

[nscalemike]

That looks great Mike. A quick question for you (and anyone else). I'm debating on sub-roadbed at this point between spline, just like you're doing, or 1/2" plywood. For industrial/siding areas, are you making all of those things spline or are you doing them as a mixture, where the "main" is spline and everything else sits on something else (ply or foam)? Thanks,

Phil

Thanks a lot Phil!  I was thinking about this question last night as I was installing some of the subroadbed.  I've never used the spline method before but always thought it looked like a very good way to lay track, so I decided to try it with this layout.  I will never go back.  I feel that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, including the fact that splines help to create natural curve easements, you can avoid sharp vertical curves, the track sits on its exact footprint so it's easier to scenic around, you can add a turnout simply by adding additional splines.  Once you cut the splines, which I believe I cut half a 4x8 sheet of hardboard into 3/4" strips, there is really no additional cutting, so I can work on this at night without making noise.  It's easy and fast to install as well.  Also, it's really cheap! 

The disadvantages I've found include the fact that it drips glue everywhere! Put plastic under where you are installing the splines!! Also, you can't really plan trackwork on the fly.  You can, but you at least need to know where you will put the turnouts so you can incorporate them into the spline if possible.  The thing I never liked about plywood is I never could cut smooth curves and keep it close to the track footprint.  This is fine in yard areas but real mainlines are always elevated.  I've see some people who could do this but I cant.  Also with plywood you have to cut the pieces as you go, which would really slow my work down as I really only work on this after work when my wife's asleep.  I've also used Styrofoam before but I think it really amplifies the sound.  My last layout I tried three layers of various roadbeds over the Styrofoam and it helped, but again a lot of work, I feel the hardboard is quieter. 

If I haven't sold you on it yet, to answer your question the only thing that is not spline on my layout is the yard, which is homosote, and the helix, which is plywood.  Everything else is spline.  I also think I will be doing the small yard on level two with spline as well, but it is only 4 tracks wide, and I may separate them slightly.  The future staging will also be homosote. 

Thanks,
Mike

[reinhardtjh]

For another example of a layout done with splines check Jim Reising's Oakville Sub The constructions photos show the splines.  The construction thread is also at the Trainboard site. The New Oakville Sub Some of the older pictures are missing but the text is still there.

 John H. Reinhardt

[DKS]

Well 12 days after ripping my helix out to its framework, I have it reinstalled and up to the second level!  It took 10 days of aggressive trackwork to get to this point.  This 'point' is about 15" worth of elevation and 53 pieces of flex track!  I'm very happy how this attempt has turned out.  I've ran my 24 car coal train up and down with only some minor coupler issues between the factory kato engine couplers and the factory kato car couplers.  I think I am going to work on changing the couplers out soon, something that might be a little more reliable.  I've also ran my stack train up and down several times.  This is the longest/heaviest train I think I'll even run, it's nearly 12' long and weighs a ton.  It's gone up both the outside and inside tracks without a problem.

I also installed the backdrop separating the helix from the finished section to the right.  I cut an opening so I could slide the hardboard over the first level main line, installed it, and then cut the opening for the second level main exactly where I needed it at.  This allowed both openings to be as small as possible and hopefully they will be easier to disguise when I start the scenery.

With the helix high enough now, I also started installing the spline roadbed on the country side of the second level.  I am gluing 7 layers of 1/8" hardboard to form my splines.  This photo I have 4 glued together.  I'll get the last few glued up tomorrow hopefully and then will be able to start prepping for track up to the branch line turnout. 

That's it for now, thanks for reading!

Mike

Looking really good. It's exciting to see it all coming together.

[nscalemike]

I am currently progressing around the second level of the layout now.  I have the spline roadbed in to the end curve area, and the branch line in through the backdrop.  The cork is down on the finished spline and I've installed the mainline track from the helix to the branch turnout, and the branch line to the backdrop.  Next up is to start working on the town side spline work.  I had a question about the trackwork on that side.  I am superelevating all of my curves using the masking tape layering method.  Since I have two curved turnouts on my mainline, would you continue the superelevation through them or not?  Would the prototype superelevate a curved turnout?  The two I'm specifically referring to I've marked on David's plan below:


I was wondering is this is even possible and still have reliable operation, and if so, would it typically be seen in this type of application of a turnout.  Keep in mind that the main is actually proceeding through the diverging route on each of these turnouts, so the outside route if you can superelevate would be higher then the main would be. 

The second option is to end the superelevation before each turnout and keep the entire town area flat.  This may be the prototypical way to do it, but I don't really know.

Thanks, Mike

[nscalemike]

Wow, I haven't put an update on here since June 25th!!  I can't believe its been that long, but I had a very busy July with other projects and didn't start making any more layout progress untill about the 29th or 30th.  Things have been moving pretty steady since then. 

I've completed the main line most of the way around the second level.  I also completed my interchange yard in my junction town.  I still need to add the switch lead and the spur to the industries.  Today, I picked up the last three turnouts to get that installed, and hope to start work on it this weekend.  I had the camera out tonight, not great quality pictures but you can get the idea a little bit.


This is the staging lead for CSX, my interchanging railroad.  I will have 2 maybe 3 staging tracks, there will be a local to drop off/pick up cars, and a through train or two.


A shot of a portion of the yard.  The plastics hoppers are sitting on the CN track waiting to be delivered to industry, which is not yet installed.  The boxcars have been set out by last nights CN job and waiting for that CSX local to come pick them up. 


Looking down the yard, in the distance you can see the opening for the staging yard,  The left track is the main, next is a passing track, the two yard tracks.  Along the back drop I'll have three industries, similiar to David's plan, just not quite as open.  I put an opening between the yard and the main, I think I'm going to model an abandoned line in there, and, if operations determine its needed, I can put one more track in down the road.

Finally, tonight I shifted gears a little bit.  Started cutting foam for my river scene.  Nothing is glued down yet, I wanted to share some pics with all you to see what you think.  I'm going for a midwestern type stream look.  For reference, I believe the bridge was 150' long.  The base of the river is 50-70' wide, and the bridge is about 30' above the river bed right now.  The square foam on the left side of the bridge will be a retaining wall to hold the slide switch for the turnout.  It will end in the back corner.  I think I will put a mirror along the base to extend it a bit and hide the edges with trees. 


Low view


Elevated view

Thanks for your time,
Mike

[DKS]

Looking really good. It's great seeing it coming together.

[GaryHinshaw]

Looking really good. It's great seeing it coming together.

+1. 

You may have mentioned this before, but how are you planning to illuminate the lower decks?

Cheers,
Gary

Edit - disregard the question.  I see it in this post.

[packers#1]

I really like the flow of that river, I'm guessing you took full advantage of prototype pics? 
The yard looks like it'll be fun to run as well. However, you shoulda picked NS for interchange 

[nscalemike]

I'm looking for some of you guys thoughts on future scenery options.  I have everything ready to install my industry tracks behind the interchange yard.  Davids original plan for this area has much more depth then what I actually had.   I'm torn between what I see as three options.

1,  put the industry track right next to the yard tracks.  That gives me about 60 scale feet between the track and the backdrop.  I'm not sure if that would give enough room to put a road and anything behind it.

2, put the track in the center or the area.  Most options as to track placement, but how do I tie the scenery in??  Street running?

3,  put the track all the way to the back.  Not many postives with this at all that I can see.

Like I said before I'm going for a midwesternly/I'LL type feel.  I'm really happy with how this is coming together and I want the scenery here to help enforce that this is the signature scene.   Anyone have any thoughts or ideas i'd love to hear them.  You can kinda see where I'm talking about in the long shot in my last post, its the area all the way to the right next to the backdrop.

Thanks, mike

Ps, gary, ill post some photos of my lighting this week.