Allegheny Eastern: Clean Slate

[kelticsylk]

New blog entry...

http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com/

Please forgive the self indulgent equipment shots. I have no new pictures on the layout construction (unless you want to see the old helix demolished). As the layout progresses, I have a more concrete idea of where the entire project is going. Many of the ideas for modifying the track plan and various locomotives were suggested by the people here on this forum. Thanks for the input and sharing your experience and ideas with me.

[kelticsylk]

You'd think I had better things to do yet here's another entry...
http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com/

[kelticsylk]

Finally some construction photos...
http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com/

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Looks awesome, but all that code 80 makes me sad.

[LKOrailroad]

You are missing 'h' on your latest link. Easy enough to figure out what it should be but can't click it the way it is.

[kelticsylk]

LKO, Thanks for catching that

Ed, Why does the code 80 make you sad?
I used it in an effort to keep the cost down. Each track in the helix is about 40 feet long. that's 160 feet or 64 30" sections of flextrack (over $300 at current prices). It was cheaper, but the cost went to nearly $5 about a week after I decided to use the code 80. At that time I only had enough sections to build a single track through the helix. Fortunately for me, I found enough to finish the helix at $1 per section in a hobby shop in Chattannoga. If that hadn't of happened there would still be just one track.

The rest of the layout is code 55. With the code 55 the wheels of my Minitrix locomotives rise up off the rails and intermittently loose electrical contact, preventing any real tests when I tweak the locomotives. Having the code 80 has given me a place to run the Trix locomotives without modifying the wheels. I'll eventually grind the flanges but in the meantime this works.

[conrail98]

Ed, Why does the code 80 make you sad?
I used it in an effort to keep the cost down. Each track in the helix is about 40 feet long. that's 160 feet or 64 30" sections of flextrack (over $300 at current prices). It was cheaper, but the cost went to nearly $5 about a week after I decided to use the code 80. At that time I only had enough sections to build a single track through the helix. Fortunately for me, I found enough to finish the helix at $1 per section in a hobby shop in Chattannoga. If that hadn't of happened there would still be just one track.

I'm with Frank on this one. Code 80 in the helix and/or in a staging area actually makes sense. Less to worry about from a perfromance stand-point, especially if the rest of the layout is code 55. It's why I never returned the code 80 the guy sold me claiming it was 55 because I know I can use it in a few places that are "hidden",

Phil

[Bsklarski]

Im with these guys. I have a huge bundle of code 80 flex and even unitrack switches I will use for staging.

[mcjaco]

I used code 80 for my first layout's staging yard.  Everything on the scenery side was 55. 

I still have all the code 80 to use for that same purpose.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ah, that makes total sense.

It just makes me sad because, well seeing code 80 makes me sad...

I'm glad it'll be nice and hidden though. I was afraid the rest of the otherwise awesome sounding layout would've been using it too, and that would've been a bummer.

I had thought about using it too when I did my staging tracks, but I decided I didn't want to deal with the "bump".

[kelticsylk]

Still more construction...I'm learning.
http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com/

[kelticsylk]

For some reason I don't get much done on the layout on weekends. Here's an entry I've been working on for a bit over the past week...
"The Other Guys"
http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com

Sorry about that...It helps if you publish the blog entry. Just did that a couple minutes ago.

[kelticsylk]

"Foobie"
http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com

[kelticsylk]

"A Little Madness"
http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com

[kelticsylk]

"Dragging My Feet"
http://kelticsylk.blogspot.com