WM Western Lines Engineering Report

[wm3798]

While everyone is up at Hershey enjoying theyself, I toil away on the yard, lettering passenger cars, and generally cleaning up the train room.

I'm stuck on the whole RH curved c55 turnout...  Eric offered one to me, but last time I was there I forgot to put it in my pocket...  Grrr.  Oh well, we can still work part of the yard.

Back to the attic!
Lee

[sizemore]

While everyone is up at Hershey enjoying theyself, I toil away on the yard, lettering passenger cars, and generally cleaning up the train room.

I'm stuck on the whole RH curved c55 turnout...  Eric offered one to me, but last time I was there I forgot to put it in my pocket...  Grrr.  Oh well, we can still work part of the yard.

Back to the attic!
Lee

Since I am going out that way on Saturday want me to pick you up a switch?

The S.

[wm3798]

Thanks, Tim, but I finally broke down and ordered one.  Maybe it'll be here by Saturday... maybe it won't! 

Sooner or later I had to pay for SOMETHING on this damn layout!!

Lee

[wm3798]

Finished the body of the yard tonight, including replacement of the dreaded left hand switch in the east end throat.  Just waiting by the mailbox for the missing link...

Lee

[DKS]

[sizemore]

(image removed)

+1!

 ;D
The S.

[sizemore]

Thanks, Tim, but I finally broke down and ordered one.  Maybe it'll be here by Saturday... maybe it won't! 

Sooner or later I had to pay for SOMETHING on this damn layout!!

Lee

LOL cool. As an aside I'm bringing my Dad with me aka "Easy Rider", as penance I will bring some suds. He needs to see some N Scale in action and learn about DCC.

The S.

[wm3798]

I'll make room in the driveway for the Harley.  Are you driving the GPW down?

[sizemore]

HA yeah I'll get there sometime next year if I did, gotta remember the top-end on the GPW is 40-45mph, 30-35 cruising. I'll be bringing the BattleWagon (FJ). Trying to wrap up the brain transplant on the Super-Berk but it wont be painted, if I'm really lucky the lights will be complete. May have a B&Y business car for the parade depending on the Berk. Still bringing the PA's with assorted B&O/C&O power.

I think I had you at "suds" to be honest

The S.

[wm3798]

You always have me at "suds"... ;D
Andy's dying to meet the GPW.  He had a good US history class this year, and is all about killin' dirty nazzies...

[wm3798]

Here's the latest from Ridgeley Yard...
The west end is laid out, all the turnouts are functional, and the drops from the yard track are all wired in.
and now a few details:



The two stub tracks (I think they're 10 and 11) will be detailed as a piggy back ramp/auto rack reload.  The driveway will follow around to the left, cross the main switch lead, then off to a storage lot in the fifth dimension.



An overview of the new work and its juxtaposition to the rest of the terminal.  Notice how you almost don't notice the slide switch throws there to the right...



Here's a look from the east with the yard trackage now complete



...and yes, I replaced the #@$*& turnout!  And yes, it works a whole lot more smoothly.



Finally, an Alpha Jet is lined up on the A/D track, ready to head east to Lurgan and the Reading interchange...

Lee

[Scottl]

Looks great.  I agree, those slide switches nearly disappear into the background compared to the Caboose throws.  Is it a rigid wire you use to throw with the switch, or is it a more complex mechanism? 

[wm3798]

Pretty much just a wire.  Sometimes I have to bend a little spring into it, but other wise it's just a straight shot.

I found some switches on line that have just about the perfect amount of travel to throw Atlas switches.

Lee

[Scottl]

Great, thanks for the details.  I think I am going to try that in my yard as a temporary measure.  I have been using springs made of stiff wire to lock the points, but I find they can interfere with the coupler trip pins, and I also want to power my frogs.

[wm3798]

You can sort of see what I've done in this shot.  I take my Dremel and rout a channel into the plywood surface, wherein the wire is placed.  This is useful as it allows me to curve the route of the wire if needed.  I then take a piece of masking tape, cut a thin slice to put over the channel sticky side up, then cover that with another piece to hold it in place.  The sticky side up bit is to prevent the adhesive from binding up the wire should it slip out of the groove.

Anyhoo, this gives me a nominally smooth surface to put scenery material on, and keeps the scenery glue from infiltrating the channel for the wire.  I'll try to snap some close ups tonight to illustrate the process.

Lee