Baton Rouge Southern - Chapter 2

[Philip H]

Eric,
The scenery is already mostly set on a shelf that runs the full width of Elkins.  So the pink land forms stand as laid.  Once I'm happy with my alignment I'll do a little more carving in the existing scenery to give the "headwaters" a bit more room.

Dave,
I'll have to look at that idea.  i didn't want to get the curve going too early, so I sort of let the track dictate my curvature by where it wanted to bend.

None of this stuff is permanent - the flex is just tacked in with T pins.

[davefoxx]

If it were me, I would solder the rail joints between the flextrack and that turnout at left.  Since that turnout is a left hand turnout, the curve can begin immediately at the turnout and the curve is merely an extension of the curved side of that turnout.  That will ease the flow through the S-turn into Elkins.  Again, I'm not even sure this is necessary, since that S-curve doesn't appear all that severe in your picture.

Your plan is pretty much what I had in mind when I suggested it.  I hope it works well for you.

DFF

[DKS]

I think the curves look good. I've also found it useful to let flexy-flex track indicate where it wants to go naturally.

I'm a tad concerned about that crossover, however. What are those, #3 switches? Looks like potential trouble.

[Philip H]

I think the curves look good. I've also found it useful to let flexy-flex track indicate where it wants to go naturally.

I'm a tad concerned about that crossover, however. What are those, #3 switches? Looks like potential trouble.

They are Peco "Short" turnouts.  Not sure what the actual number is.  They were cheap at Bedford.  I have a couple of Atlas #5's I could throw in, I was just concerned about spacing to get through the crossover before the curve started.

[wm3798]

If you've got the room, I'd use at least Peco mediums.  You'll have quite a nasty S curve there.

[sizemore]

I agree with above points that crossover looks treacherous. If anything move it down a bit. Yeah you'll lose some car lengths but you'll gain some operational interest.

The S.

[Philip H]

SO based on running my Atlas Whale tanker through it coupled to a variety of tank cars it works ok for truck mounted couplers.  Body mounts - not so much.

Anyone got a pair of LH #5s they'd be willing to part with?

[davefoxx]

SO based on running my Atlas Whale tanker through it coupled to a variety of tank cars it works ok for truck mounted couplers.  Body mounts - not so much.

Anyone got a pair of LH #5s they'd be willing to part with?

Philip,

I may be able to help out.  I just removed and revised some crossovers from the yard trackage on my layout.  Let me check to see what I have left and their condition, e.g., they will likely have the throwbar cut off from one side and may have been cut down in length.  I will try to remember to check tonight when I get home.

DFF

[Bob Bufkin]

I've got some  new Peco curved turnouts laying around.  Don't think they would work for what you want and desides that, they are code 80s.

[DKS]

I still think you're better off moving the crossover away from the Elkins module, where you have more room to make something smoother. I'm not certain, but it looks as if two regular right-hand switches might work--

[Bob Bufkin]

Looking at this again, I'm curious on why you have 2 left hand switches so close together.  Wouldn't the switch on the right be a right hand switch?

[Philip H]

Philip,

I may be able to help out.  I just removed and revised some crossovers from the yard trackage on my layout.  Let me check to see what I have left and their condition, e.g., they will likely have the throwbar cut off from one side and may have been cut down in length.  I will try to remember to check tonight when I get home.

DFF

Dave,
Chopped is fine.  As long as I can drill a hole for a throwbar linkage somewhere I'm good.

I still think you're better off moving the crossover away from the Elkins module, where you have more room to make something smoother. I'm not certain, but it looks as if two regular right-hand switches might work--

David,
It does look good, but I want to have some MC Fujiwara-esque trestles over Bufkin's bayou about where you have the crossing. I'm also not sure of the track geometry - though it looks like aRH and a LH would work.

Looking at this again, I'm curious on why you have 2 left hand switches so close together.  Wouldn't the switch on the right be a right hand switch?

Bob,
Not sure which switches you are referring to.

[Bob Bufkin]

Last photo David posted show 2 sets of crossovers (both left handed).  However, looking at the photo Dave (too damn many Daves here) only shows one to the right of the photo.  Now I'm not sure which your using.  Anyhow, is your using 2 switches, why are they both left handed.  The one shown on the right hand side could be a right handed switch.  Hope this helps because now I'm becoming confused.

[DKS]

Last photo David posted show 2 sets of crossovers (both left handed).  However, looking at the photo Dave (too damn many Daves here) only shows one to the right of the photo.

Sorry Bob, I didn't bother to 'shop out the short crossover to the right in the image I posted. I just roughed in two right-hand switches, with the curved leg of each switch following the curve of the existing flex tracks.

The one shown on the right hand side could be a right handed switch.  Hope this helps because now I'm becoming confused.

Now I'm confused. This makes no sense to me at all. Oh, well...

...I want to have some MC Fujiwara-esque trestles over Bufkin's bayou about where you have the crossing.

Not much swamp between the prototype refinery and the KCS yard in Baton Rouge - it's all been filled in.

Well, make up your fracking mind!

[Philip H]

David,
I'm making a scenic concession to Bob.  Plus it gives me an excuse to start working out how to model cypress in N scale.