Oh no! I'm Having THOSE Kinds of Thoughts Again!

[davefoxx]

Don't place an order for rail.  I have enough shards and damaged flex c55 track to choke a horse.  Just have to figure out how to get it to you conveniently...  Maybe I can hire a courier stork that might already have your house on the manifest in the coming weeks...

Lee

That'd be great!  I was looking at ordering some flextrack from MBK, but it looks as if one must order 25 pieces when being shipped.  I know you can buy them by the stick in the store, but that's a couple hours' round trip.  At the same time, I won't need 25 pieces for at least a few months.

I wouldn't mind the rails in about 15-18" lengths, so you could cut the longer pieces down, if that would help with shipping.  Obviously, I'm willing to pay for shipping.  By the way, the stork is due to arrive in about one month.  YIKES!

DFF

[davefoxx]

It's about as hard as using Railwire. You post pics one place, text another, and tie 'em together as needed. That's about it. Sound doable?

Sure.  If successful, I can be the posterchild for blogging: "So easy, a doofus can do it."

[davefoxx]

I tweaked the plan, based on earlier discussion.  But, this plan only needs one curved turnout.  Looks like it should be about a #8 with a 16" outer and 12" inner radii.  A template for that size turnout is available for download from the Fast Tracks site.  Nice.

[DKS]

Dave, can you move the switch for the two sidings at Doswell from the passing siding to the "loop"? I think this would allow the sidings to be just a scratch longer by shifting them to the left of the road.

[davefoxx]

I don't think so, because the loop has a fairly tight curve that the curved side of a turnout won't even come close to matching.  Although the software doesn't allow it, I can cut approximately 2" off of the point end of Atlas #5 turnouts, which will save a lot of space.  I butchered quite a few #5s on the Virginia Central to squeeze things in.  By trimming all three #5s in the Doswell siding, I think I'll be able to lengthen those two stub tracks a bit.  Worst case scenario, if things don't fit as well on the layout, will be to only put one stub siding in

DFF

[M.C. Fujiwara]

The plan's lookin' groovy.
As for the curved turnout, you don't need to spike down the rail (though if it makes you feel better...)
Just place a small piece of solder between the rail and pcboard tie and hold the rail with your fingers while soldering.
If you haven't checked out Evert's "How to Build a Custom Curved Turnout" video tutorial, you should.
http://www.youtube.com/thebige61#g/c/39AF9D2D08FCF4EA

He takes you through every step (and I mean every step, whether you want to or not), and you just ignore the part where he lays out the turnout on the computer and substitute the Fast Tracks template.

There's little to compare to the satisfaction of watching your trains roll through a custom curved turnout that you built yourself.
(the birth of your child will be a close second )

Anyway, I encourage you to try it out a couple times.
The first will probably not be the most glorious piece of work, but the second or third will be groovy.
Good luck!

[MichaelWinicki]

The C&O interchange track looks kind of short.  Maybe you could throw a curved switch in there and run a longer interchange track along the main, towards the bridge/water where it would stub-end.

[davefoxx]

The C&O interchange track looks kind of short.  Maybe you could throw a curved switch in there and run a longer interchange track along the main, towards the bridge/water where it would stub-end.

Thanks for responding, Michael.  Actually, as best as I can tell, that track didn't seem to be used much, at least for handing off cars.  North of the crossing on the real RF&P was a small yard, so most, if not all, cars interchanged through that yard and went around the track that is represented by the "loop" on my layout.

DFF

[wm3798]

A little something to slobber over.  This is located down at Cape Charles, VA.


I've got that rail bundled up.  Just need a shipping address and/or a place to make the drop.

Lee

[davefoxx]

A little something to slobber over.  This is located down at Cape Charles, VA.

Splurt! 

I've got that rail bundled up.  Just need a shipping address and/or a place to make the drop.

Check your PM.  Thanks!

[Bob Bufkin]

Wheels Of Time should run down there and measure that car.