Clearance

I guess you did it right ! You have enough clearance, the engine went right through with no issue.

Clearance Clarence

Nick,

Oh, it's not over yet......now if I just put a little too much plaster on that wall I'm sure I can derail something!

Rick

A better way....

.... would be to run a track-clearance car (those that look like a porcupine on wheels) in front of the camera so you can check how much clearance is available there. They are quite easy to make: make a U-shaped clip-on attachment with black nylon bristles around, and cut the whole outside perimeter to NMRA gauge size. Install on freight car with camera following and watch the bristles, if the touch anything they will bend without causing damage.

a better way 1

Are you really gonna leave that left hand straight switch in the middle of that nice curve??

Doug

Turnout Access?

How do you plan to access the turnout that leads to future staging... will you be able to replace it someday without ripping the new scenery out?

Steve

A Better Way

Thank you for the clearance car idea - that will definitely be a great way to check things out.  I do have the NMRA gauge and I can make a template from it and attach it to one of my cars.

Rick

Straight Turnout

Doug,

The high cost of a curved turnout was the original reason that I choose a straight unit.  Since this turnout can't be seen except by my camera car I'll make sure that I edit out any frames that show it in my videos.

Rick

Turnout access

Steve,

Yes, I can reach the turnout by reaching over the foreground scenery.  I would love to have one of the "Topside Creepers" that our sponsor Micro-Mark sells as it would make it a great deal easier!

Rick

Diverging route

Rick on the hiding behind the pink foam...

The other leg of that curve going through the backdrop makes a nice little reverse curve. I'd recommend using generouse easements.

Or, got by yourself a machinsts file, some rail nippers, a few pieces of PC tie, and rail then teachyourself to build a curved turnout.

Charlie

Diverging Routes

Charlie,

Being brand new to track planning and taking the layout design as presented by the guy that drew up my plan I'm ignorant about this.  Are you saying that I'll have operation problems with this setup?  If so, I probably won't try my hand at hand laying track yet, but would spring for a curved turnout.  Thanks for your advise!

Rick

I think you're inviting Mr. Murphy to come visit....

...with that turnout for staging.  The turnout will be located in a valley, and creating the reverse like that I think is just asking for constant derailments for any train that takes that diverging route.  I wouldn't even recommend it if it was totally out in the open, but with it being obstructed, I would vote to change it to a curved turnout, OR laying a broad turnout (like a #10) where the diverging route is the main, and staging goes straight and incorporating it into the curve.  If that makes any sense as I have described it.

Great rockwork btw! Please keep us posted!

Ken L

Clearance car

If you do not want to do the bristles part you could make a frame to clip on the car with paper extensions to the NMRA template edge, but just a solid template will derail the car if it catches on anything. Remember to cut the paper from the frame to the edge as indicated for flexibility.

Whether you have a reverse curve or not depends on what is

attached to the turnout.  If you can put in a straight section as long as your longest car before curving the opposite way, you won't have a reverse curve.  If you go directly from that turnout to an opposite curve, you will.  Another solution might be to use a right hand turnout instead of the left that you have and make the diverging route to staging off of the straight and have the curve as part of the mainline.

Thank you all for your advice!

I want to thank everyone for their advice on the turnout.  I've opted to replace the straight turnout with a Walthers curved turnout that will eliminate the reverse curve for the branch going through the wall to the remote staging.  I've been running trains around the mainline in that area without problem; however, I never thought to look at the branch line or see the reverse curve.  This forum is great!

Rick

Turnouts

I agree with you using a curved turnout but I would realign the two turnouts and straight section of track we see in the first 14 secs of your video as well.  A long straight edge should do the trick.

Turnout straightening

Railmus,

Thanks for the catch - I'll put that on my list of things to do!

Rick

Easiest Way I can see to make the turnout work proper

If I were you I wouldn't use a curved turnout there. Instead replace the left hand turnout with a right hand turnout where the straight section leads off to the left and the curve portion of the turnout remains constant on the right side helping to maintain the constant flow of the curve on that portion of track through the cut your wanting to find the clearance needed for train passage This way you completely loose the reverse "S" curves and then with the short straight section heading to the left into your new staging area will help to make the tangent needed for smooth and uninterrupted operation. With the straight section headed off to the left your track beyond the turnout on the left can handle a right or left curve in the track and eliminate the need for a more expensive curved turnout.

Your really doing a fantastic job on this expansion so keep up the great work.

Very nice but

It looks very nice but I have to say seeing your mural from that angle really looks good. Better than good, your trees and scenery blend very nicely with the backdrop.

Thanks, Dan!

Thanks, Dan (and others that suggested the same)

I tried a right hand #6 Walthers by laying it on top of the left hand installed turnout and you were right!  It will work perfectly in taking out the reverse curve and I can even lay it in place on top of the Tortoise machine without modification.  Now I just have to purchase some de-soldering braid to remove the existing turnout.

Rick

Thanks, Bob

Bob,

Thanks for your kind words - I'll relate them to the artist (Linda).  She teaches art at a number of places and is inviting her students to come to my open house on October 15th to see the mural.

Rick

Got my desoldering braid - turnout switchout will begin.

Well I picked up some desoldering braid from "The Shack" today so that I can remove my existing left hand turnout and replace it with a right hand unit.  I may have to do a little track work also, but I believe in the long run it will be worth it.

Rick