Allegheny Eastern: Clean Slate

[kelticsylk]

The good news is track 4 is done. I was able to run some equipment over the entire eastbound main. Here's an L1s at Spruce Creek...

The bad news is that there a bunch of track glitches to fix, particularly in the helix. Most of the problems involve the code 80. All the code 55 track seems fine with few if any rough spots. Makes me wish I had used code 55 in the helix.

I was able to get my straights sections looking the way they should using that 8 foot straightedge...

[kelticsylk]

So I woke up this morning thinking I was gonna tear down the damn helix and start over (just on the helix). Then it occurred to me that there are three other tracks on the helix...I know, it IS kinda obvious, probably why I didn't think of it sooner 

So I went into the garage and rerouted track 4 to the helix track 3. Voila! Works fine. Notice the "Note to Self" written on the roadbed...

Track needs cleaning, but the only place the L1s derailed was at the top and that was an easy fix...

I was also able to run a couple of test trains in both directions with no problems other than dirty track...

Happy Thanksgiving,
Frank Musick

[kelticsylk]

Now that mainline track is being laid I'm trying another thing that I wanted to incorporate into the layout. Pennsy standards required that the two inside tracks on a four track segment of right of way should be elevated above the two outer tracks. This was to facilitate drainage without having to create a ditch between every track. On the Allegheny Eastern I used 2mm thick foam inserted under the foam ballast strip hoping to represent this. Not sure what I think about it yet. I took some photos of the tracks west of Spruce Creek

As far as the problem track in the helix, it seems as though track 4 is the only culprit. Fortunately it's also the outermost track so it won't be as much work to repair. I'm thinking I should solder the rail joints and keep the track lined up.

Regards,
Frank Musick

[Hyperion]

Re: your center track elevation -- do you have anything thinner than the 2mm foam?

The Penny standard was just a few inches, something like 3-4" as I recall.  And, at 2mm you're elevating a full scale foot -- that's almost 4 times what it should be.  Sometimes we exaggerate for the purposes of modeling, but I think with that amount of difference, your 4-track main will look a bit too pyramid shaped and the outside tracks too much like sidings.

[kelticsylk]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm looking at 1 mm foam now. That's about a scale 6". I think any less than that and I might as well leave all four tracks the same level. I don't think the difference would be noticeable.

Good thing about tacky glue. It holds stuff down, but you can still pull things up if you change your mind.

Frank

[kelticsylk]

Before pulling up the ballast strip I made a mockup of two different track profiles. The current one uses 6mm foam ballast strip and 2mm foam "spacers"...

I wanted to see if lowering the spacers to 1mm would result in a more prototypical appearance and still be noticeable to the eye...

The answer is yes, but I'm still wondering if it's worth doing.

Regards,
Frank Musick

[MichaelWinicki]

Hey Frank, it's your layout... Go with what makes you happy.

But I wouldn't bother if it were me. 

I looked at several pics of the curve this morning, and if I wasn't specifically looking for a difference in elevation between the tracks... I wouldn't have noticed. 

The only one that will notice on your pike– is you.

[Hyperion]

It definitely looks better shorter.  But it's not terribly noticeable.

If it were me, and it was only going to take a few more minutes putting some foam down I'd probably do it.  If nothing else, because you'll always know it's there and it's 'right'.  Not doing it may bug you in the future.  But if it were a pain for some reason, I'd just skip it.  Put that effort into superelevating the curves or something that's more noticeable.

But it's your railroad.

[kelticsylk]

I took the section I photographed earlier (east of Spruce Creek) and did two things. First I laid down a siding next to the main. Sidings and yard tracks get nailed directly to the roadbed without ballast strip. Second I superelevated the tracks in the curve. I only show the eastbound mains, the westbound aren't started yet...

There is still 2mm of foam under the inner track. I should have laid down a little ballast to get a better idea of the final effect.

Not sure why the guy who built the L1s (I bought this one second hand) decided it needed two number plates.

Regards,
Frank Musick

[kelticsylk]

More progress at Spruce Creek. Now that track 4 is a complete loop. I'm laying the other three tracks from the bottom of the helix (the 'eastern' end of the layout) working west...Track presently extends to Antis, maybe ten feet or so. Looking east towards the tunnels...

The portals aren't in place yet and there is supposed to be a set of stone arch bridges somewhere along this stretch.

I painted this section of track with a Model Masters color called leather. The dust you see is left over from an aborted attempt to try ballasting the track. I couldn't get the look of well maintained ballast I wanted so I cleaned it up. Ballast strip doesn't quite line up with the track spacing and will need to be trimmed to suit.

I also decided to keep the two center tracks above the outer two. There's about 1mm difference in height. Cabin car on westbound main seems to have derailed...

I couldn't find any readily available 1mm foam so I improvised. I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a tablet of 128# artist stock, about 1 mm in thickness...

There are ten sheets. I cut each one into 2 1/4" strips, wide enough to raise the two center tracks, and glue them to the roadbed before i lay down the ballast strip...

I'm also superelevating the curves, but moved the support strip to the outer ends of the ties. It was under the outer rail, but seemed too high...

I really wish I had checked that N-5 before I took these photos.


I also played around with a better way to transition from code 80 to code 55. After a bunch of experiments, I settled on using a plain old code 80 rail joiner on the code 80 rail. I then solder the code 55 to the top of that joiner. It's simple and easy to do and it works out to be the correct height. Need to polish my soldering skills a tad or two. Fortunately these joints will be inside the tunnel...

Regards,
Frank Musick

[Philip H]

Frank,
Those joints don't look half bad.  Perhaps a tad of paste flux and a hotter iron (with heat sinks cloder in) will make them perfect looking if that's what you are going for.

[wazzou]

Be sure to pay close attention to those track nails also.  You will narrow up the gauge of the track by driving them too far.

[kelticsylk]

Since the solder joints at both ends of the helix are hidden, I think I'll leave well enough alone.

I try to make sure the nails don't bend the ties. If they do I pull them back out a tad.

Track is beyond Antis now and into East Altoona. I painted the track a little darker by adding some black to the "leather". I took some staged shots of Spruce Creek tunnels and the curve just to the "west". No scenery, but you may get an idea of what I'm aiming at...

The tunnels are a lot closer together than originally planned. I had to make space for the helper loop in Gallitzin, so this area isn't as wide as I originally planned. I had hoped to show both ends of the tunnel, but that was before I added the helix. Now I'm using a great deal of artistic license to create an overall "impression". I needed an exit for the helix, and Spruce Creek are the only tunnels east of Altoona.

The two stone arch bridges will be placed just a few yards west of the portals.

Still need to trim up those ballast strips. I think it'll be a lot easier to create a ballast profile once I get them in shape.

Regards,
Frank Musick

[kelticsylk]

Note to self: Cut roadbed and install bridges BEFORE laying track...

Tracks 2 and 3 got damaged during the procedure and have to be replaced.

Ce la vie 

Frank Musick

[DKS]

Maybe it's just an illusion, but Track 4 (furthest back) looks compromised as well, specifically the rear rail near the right end of the bridge.