Weekend Update 5/8/16

[Cajonpassfan]

Teeny bit of progress on the Summit Wye, in Code 40 flex. The tail switch needs to be scratch built, and I plan to throw it and power the tail track by a Blue Point controller; I want to avoid running a bunch of wires across the liftout wye section. The challenge now is getting the four, count them, track joints fixed in place...I seem to remember someone (maybe MC Fujiwara?) using copper tie strips across his modules. Who makes these and where can I get them?
The double crossing in the pic below is Horsethief Canyon Road, later Highway 138. It's still there, as is the tail track grade, if one knows what to look for...although I suspect the horse thieves may have gone on to stealing other things, like railroad shipments; hence the tall fences and bright lights at the new Summit and elsewhere
Fun stuff,
Otto K.

[Dave V]

Didn't do much with little trains but had fun with some big ones:

[Scottl]

Teeny bit of progress on the Summit Wye, in Code 40 flex. The tail switch needs to be scratch built, and I plan to throw it and power the tail track by a Blue Point controller; I want to avoid running a bunch of wires across the liftout wye section. The challenge now is getting the four, count them, track joints fixed in place...I seem to remember someone (maybe MC Fujiwara?) using copper tie strips across his modules. Who makes these and where can I get them?
The double crossing in the pic below is Horsethief Canyon Road, later Highway 138. It's still there, as is the tail track grade, if one knows what to look for...although I suspect the horse thieves may have gone on to stealing other things, like railroad shipments; hence the tall fences and bright lights at the new Summit and elsewhere
Fun stuff,
Otto K.

Looks good Otto.  I had a similar situation and just put in some flat-topped brass screws and soldered the rail to those.  They are invisible and very secure.

[reinhardtjh]

The challenge now is getting the four, count them, track joints fixed in place...I seem to remember someone (maybe MC Fujiwara?) using copper tie strips across his modules. Who makes these and where can I get them?

Gapmaster is what you were thinking of.

GM008:  N Standard Gauge - http://americantieandtimber.com/4.html  about halfway down the page.

[Cajonpassfan]

Gapmaster is what you were thinking of.

GM008:  N Standard Gauge - http://americantieandtimber.com/4.html  about halfway down the page.

Yes John, that's exactly what I had in mind, thank you very much.
Scott, thanks also for the suggestion. With the Gapmaster, ties can be cut diagonally across the gap which should be helpful here.
Otto

[Philip H]

Didn't do much with little trains but had fun with some big ones:

 Something about the ridde height on that locomotive seems off - there's too much daylight between the boiler and the drivers for it to be prototypical.

[milw156]

Tier one emissions????

[R L Smith]

Sorry I missed you guys! I didn't realize who you guys were until you were walking back to your car. I didn't want to run up behind you guys and startle you!

Yes! I was in the exact same boat! I got there just as you were leaving too. Sorry about that. Next time!!

Yes, we're sorry we had to run - would have enjoyed visiting with you both. We'll have to try and meet up with Adam @mu26aeh one of these days - I live 35 minutes from him. 

Ed, my wife is complaining about the real Windsor Street yard this week - she has been stopped at the crossing for a train two mornings out of three.  She said that is not normal, it's usually in the afternoon that she is cursing them... 

Ron

[eric220]

Didn't do much with little trains but had fun with some big ones:

One of these days I'll get the photos up that accompany that video.

Tier one emissions????

Tier -2 

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Gapmaster is what you were thinking of.

GM008:  N Standard Gauge - http://americantieandtimber.com/4.html  about halfway down the page.

Yup!
They're awesome: same thickness as plastic ties, very easy to GorillaGlue down across gaps & cut:



[For tracks crossing perpendicular to gaps only one is necessary--two ties on each side]

Here's the Free-moN Layout Engineering thread that shows more of the process:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=28047.msg362913#msg362913

[Blazeman]

Didn't do much with little trains but had fun with some big ones:

Always get a charge out of driving along 741 and seeing the smoke at a distance.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks MC, I'll call Wayne and order some. Good to see the diagonal install, that means I need to order more than I thought. Appreciate the advice!
Otto K