Track building.

Superb Nelson!

I like it a lot!  I also admire your foresight.  A pizza parlor and an old Supermarket made over into a Planet Fitness and you’ll be able to deliver the beer with Tier four GEVOs prototypically!

Keep up the great work.

Nick

I guess it's just me, Nelson,

I guess it's just me, Nelson, but I don't see any pictures, just a big blank white area.

Mike.

I had no idea you were doing

I had no idea you were doing a layout with a similar theme! I bought a used "brick factory" which will be my brewery. I also plan to eventually paint boxcars and tankers with local Maine breweries. Lucky there is over 83 as of the last time I checked a few months ago....

Getting closer. Trackwork mostly done.

This has been a major undertaking as it is my first attempt at cutting in a new siding along with a two track crossing!  Anyways here is what hase been done up to now.

This is where I started

This is where the new siding is going!  Yes across both those tracks!

So this is the proposed "new" customer that is seeking rail service. So how to get the rails to the loading dock?

Using a 3' section of flex track, I laid it on top of the existing rail from the new switch that will be installed, across the existing customers siding to get an idea on how to build the crossing.

More progress.

How to actually do this without jigs and templates! Start with a blank sheet taped in place on top of the new track.

Using a graphite stick, transfer the new rails onto the paper.

Add more reference marks from the existing rails.

Carefully remove the 3' section using care not to move the paper and fishing transferring the existing rails onto your template. Now we can start to plan on how to build this trackwork and keep everything lined up, planning where to add the PC ties and cut electrical gaps.

Added the first PC ties to the track plan I drew the other day. This is the second step in building your own custom track arraignment.

Soldering rail!

Adding the first section of rail. I am using recycled brass rail for this project.  (ok so why brass?  Why not go out and buy new NS rail?  Because I have a large bundle of old brass flex track and once you have cleaned it, it is quite reliable. Tad more work to maintain but all sidings are within arms reach so a quick pass of the eraser from time to time and it stays clean.  I don't wait till the track is dirty to clean, I just do it during track inspections)

Now the fun begins! Here will be the most tedious work, cutting, filing and bending the rails by hand. There are no "commercially available components" so everything it cut and shaped to fit the specific location. This by far will be the most complicated trackwork I have done to date.

Finished soldering!

More progress. Paint and ties!

Continuing the siding construction. Getting ready for the final coat of paint.

Final coat and all the power feeders in place.

The Brewery's 2 siding tracks.

Hand stained and cut wooden ties glued using tack glue.

Curved turnout has all of its ties placed. I may add rail spikes also for extra detail.

Nicely done

A couple questions. Do you gap after laying the track in place and solder the feeders? Out of curiosity, did you leave off the one wing rail for a reason?

@Neil

Not on purpose!  I noticed it after I had set it in place.  I actually added another wing rail after the fact so I may try to fix the one you found.

As for gapping, I did most at the bench but as fate would have it I had to do some in place.  My first attempt so still learning.  I don't have any plans to do any more of these but I will say for the most part I enjoyed building this complex track.

Complex track

Thanks Nelson. My rails are dead but wonder about gapping and powering diamonds. Since my turnouts arenoften built in place he wing rail is one of those things I often mean to get to later!

Added scratch built switch stand

I basically built this just to say I could.  Not sure if I want to fabricate more as they are way to time consuming!

Anyways, here is a short video.

Great Subject!

Nelson,

  Thanks for posting the work on your new trackage.  I have a new crossing coming up on my layout, and really enjoy seeing what you have done and are doing.  It looks great!

Gary H.

No Photos or Videos

Can not see any photos or videos in your post! Facebook links

@Logger01

Start at the first page as I have posted them there in the comments.

Slick

That switchstand is pretty slick! (Do people still use that term?) Did you take shots under construction per chance? I’m thinking it could be less difficult at twice the size.

Does it route power? 

I can only imagine

the time and skill that it took to build that!

Nelson, that’s really a beautiful gem much like an incredible piece of fine jewelry. Is the click sound made by the stand or the track? Even the sound is cool.

Amazing work,Nelson! I'm

Amazing work,Nelson!

I'm enjoying following along.

Mike

Complex Track

Outstanding track work. Very, very nice.

Wayne

Nice work...

The track gang did an excellent job. That salesman better be right about all the revenue this customer is going to generate for the railroad after all the money we just put into this new siding and complex crossing!   

Randy

Sorry Neil!

I actually had no idea on how to build this so I just went for it.  I have had to revise is along the way but now that this one works I may build another one and do a step by step so stay tuned!  

Thanks for the good comments everybody!

Unusual Crossing Construction

Moderator note: fixed photo size to 750

Could have used that 'unusual crossing construction technic' over here,...

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/the-central-midland-layout-by-john-armstrong-atlas-plan-29-12207702