The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[Blazeman]

Dave, when you serve the industry on that branch line spur, the train is stopping on the incline. What is your plan to keep the rest of the train from rolling away? If you are concerned with the reach to throw the switch, the same problem has to be facing you in so far as uncoupling and "braking" the train.

[davefoxx]

Great question, @Blazeman.  On the v2.0, there was a spot where some cars wouldn't roll away.  I don't think I'll be that lucky on the v3.0, so I'll probably end up installing a Tortoise horizontally to raise a rod to "grab" an axle and hold the train.

The challenge will be uncoupling/coupling on the siding.  But, I bought a new 16" footstool last night, and that gave me good access to install the track.  It should work to get in there during ops, and it's not exactly a high traffic area.

Thanks,
DFF

[milw12]

Will the branch line cross the main like the Seaboard 2.0? Did a quick search but couldn't find the track plan other than the magazine copies that show one. I ask because your skewed trestle on the last one was a thing a beauty, hopefully we'll see it in HO.

Especially now with all the bolt heads and other assorted details that are usually too small for N scale
I kid of course, liking the progress.

-Lucas

[davefoxx]

@milw12,

Thanks, that is the plan.  There is just enough room behind the entry door to the layout room for a small three-foot long shelf with two three tracks.  Here's hoping I can create a destination for A&R trains.  I haven't decided what kind of bridge is going in.  A wood trestle is a good possibility, and, if I do, it will just have to have nut-bolt-washer details that were lacking on my N scale version.

DFF

[Blazeman]

I'll probably end up installing a Tortoise horizontally to raise a rod to "grab" an axle and hold the train.
DFF

Slick.

[davefoxx]

Tonight, I ran a six-car train up the hill, which allowed a few positive findings.  First, this confirms that Sergent Engineering couplers allow these 50'+ cars to still negotiate an 18" radius curve with zero issues, i.e., the curve at the bottom of the hill just behind the caboose in the photo below.  Second, the 2.68% grade is no match for a single Geep and a half-dozen cars.  This train length easily exceeds what can occur in ops, as there will only be room for three to four car trains on the A&R line, considering the short triple-track double-ended yard planned for the top of the hill.



DFF

[davefoxx]

With the receipt of electrical parts and wire from MBK, I was able to continue dropping feeders.  The siding on the A&R line is now powered, and, as seen here, the customer took its first delivery. 



DFF

[davefoxx]

I spent a few hours this afternoon uploading photos and fixing 99% of the broken photo links in this thread, thanks to f***ing Photobucket.   The good news is that all of the photos, with the few exceptions of screenshots of track plans, are restored.  I'll get those last several links fixed at some point.  I just have to convert the .png files to .jpg files.  Apparently, TRW software does not accept .png files.  No biggie.  While this was a huge pain in the butt, it was only made possible by .  Thanks, @tom mann!

DFF

[tom mann]

Group hug!

[wcfn100]

png's work fine for me.

 

Jason

[davefoxx]

png's work fine for me.

 

Jason

I think something is wrong with the files.  I was unsuccessful converting them to .jpgs online, too. 

DFF

[soo]

Dave,
You have a real nice project going on..Keep up the great work!!

Y-it

[Chris333]

Dave, you should think about some sort of selector plate at the top of the hill. Either a slider plate or a pivot plate. This way you won't waste space with a turnout ladder.

[davefoxx]

Dave, you should think about some sort of selector plate at the top of the hill. Either a slider plate or a pivot plate. This way you won't waste space with a turnout ladder.

I thought about doing that, like MR did on their On30 Olympia project layout.  But, I want to be able to run the power around the train.  I'll have to use two Peco Code 100 three-way turnouts to do it, but I think I can get a triple-track yard that will hold three or four cars each.  That should be sufficient for my purposes.  Or, I can just keep going and block the entry door to the room with an extended branch around the corner.   

DFF

[davefoxx]

Dave,
You have a real nice project going on..Keep up the great work!!

Y-it

Thank you, Wyatt!

DFF