You are correct Phillip, This is the east leg of the wye, there will be a west leg on the adjoining module. Also It would not be to far out of the realm of
our clubs humor to name a wye that wasn't, a wye, but this is a wye. The official name is the Ballard Why. You'd have to spend more time in Seattle to get the Ballard joke
We also have a set of oNe trak junctions called O.K. Why? and Why Not? Inside joke, but not a very good one. I will try to spell it wye when referring to the actual track, and Why when referring to the modules.
Just to make sure everyone pays attention.
Mike, thanks for the offer, I may take you up on that. I'm not far from you, north of 183rd, west of I-5, I'll let you know.
To go back to the beginning, it took a whole bunch of discussion to arrive at the need for, and the plan to replace the Ballard Why.
1) The frame and sub roadbed are showing almost 20 years of travel.
2) The 12"r 2.5% grade to the Green Line have been an operational problem for years. One oops and trains stringline in the tunnel. We usually find 1 or 2 cars in the tunnel after a show.
3) The shallow angle of the crossings from the Red, Yellow and Blue lines have always been our biggest issue. A few years ago we installed hand laid movable point diamonds. This was a vast improvement over
the Peco crossings that were fiddled with and replaced several times. The new movable point crossings solved one problem, but because the plywood sub roadbed was no longer flat, it created new problems.
So the new plan became:
1) New frame and sub roadbed using the best materials, and hopefully, the best methods of construction possible.
2) Eliminate the loops and tunnels up to and down from the Green Line.
3) Replace the shallow diamonds with Peco Double Slip Switches, there by eliminating several switches in the process.
4) The old modules must remain available until the new ones are complete, meaning all new components and scenery.
It was decided that instead of dimensional lumber for the frame, that we would use commercial grade 3/4" plywood for the frame. One of our members had access to 3/4"-13 ply sanded Birch at wholesale cost
and access to a panel saw to rip the plywood into 5 1/2" X 8' strips. SO.....
On Easter Sunday at 9:00 am, a 55 Chevy Nomad pulled up in my driveway and dropped off the plywood.
As soon as I had the chance, a few days later, I made this
The original Why Modules were 6' long and 36" wide. Since the loops to the Green line have been designed out, the new modules only needed to be 24" wide, except where they enter the yard.
Having a wide bench top at the yard allows for a wide radius both from the lower main lines and the Green Line.
We agreed that the frame will be "L" shaped, and to add strength and rigidity, the frame will be slot jointed at the leg of the "L".
This is the 6" back of the frame and the 3" leg of the "L"
The joints were glued in the slots and glue blocks were used to keep the corners square.
Here is the joint with the 2" X 2" glue blocks in place.
I used corner clamps to hold the corners in place while gluing and screwing the corners of the frame.
These are cheap ones from Harbor Freight. I use them quite a bit and the really help. Better than a third hand.
Another picture of the frame assembly using the corner clamps. This cross member was located so as not to interfere with the switch machines.
I checked first!
The next pic shows the completed frame.
Notice that one of the glue blocks was placed on what would be the outside of the frame.
Proof that even I make mistakes
Stay tuned, more to follow......
Greg O.
