Trackwork
Gapping hand laid turnout frogs
I have recently completed track work on my small (2'× 9') switching layout. All track is hand laid and I used fast tracks jigs for the turnouts. My question is this, do I really need to gap both sides of the frog? On of the things that always drew me in with hand laid turnouts was the point rails flowing all the way to the frogs. I just think it looks better that way. Is there a real world practical reason to gap the point rails before the frog?
Electrical work for the swing gate track
I got most my wiring done on the swing gate so when it is open there isn’t any power on the gate and 18 inch’s of dead tracks off the gate. I wasn’t thinking about how many switch’s I required to do this when I was in the planning stages. As a result I currently only turn off the power on one end of the approach to the gate. I will purchase a couple more switches in the near future and complete the wiring.
Brass Tracked Turnouts in Modern NS Layout
Brass Tracked Turnouts in Modern NS Layout
This may just be a hypothetical concept, but the thought came up today as I explored some of my numerous inventory of turnouts collected over the years. There are a number of nice quality, and like new condition brass turnouts of various varieties in that collection. Are they all destined to the trash heap, or can some of them be utilized??
The Story of Chuck Baker and his River Valley Railroad
The Story of Chuck Baker and his River Valley Railroad. Starts a little slow but it is a great watch and insight into how a railroad is done.
Extruded Styrofoam-Compatible Rattle Can Paint
I've started painting my trackwork in Casper yard, which is laid on cork on pink styrofoam.
To begin I've put a general coating of brown over track, cork and foam. I'm using a Rustoleum flat brown.
I've discovered that it is not totally friendly to extruded pink styrofoam. Here's a picture of what I'm getting on the foam:
Hi-Tech Ballast Spreader?
This was in an e-mail I rec'd from the Kalmbach Hobby Store. First time I've seen a spreader that had as many bells and whistles as this one. Way more than just a cylinder with an opening. Has anyone used this before or seen one used? The text for it states it can be pulled with a loco - if so, and it works like the picture, man -o-man- the hobby is getting more and more prototypical every day!
Bitter Creek Ground Throws
I wanted to do something a bit different with my new layout. I had used Fast Tracks Bullfrog switch machines on my old layout and although they worked, they never worked great for me. I think that temperature changes in the basement might have contributed to their inconsistent performance. Plus, installation was quite difficult though that might have just been due to my inexperience with the product.
So, with my new layout I was determined not to use those again.
Up We Go: Upper deck trackwork
Work continues on completing Trackwork on the lower level. Risers are in and I have started the cork roadbed.
I put the crossover in and happily the risers did stop short of it. Guess I measured that correctly.
I hope to get all the cork down and start fitting track by weekends end.
There will be a lot of work to get the track set correctly at the swing gate and have smooth running across the gaps.
Patience required this weekend.
Tim Schwartz
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