7mm Along the lines of an U.S. O Scale loft layout... (previously 'making U.S. track & switches')

[mickoo]

Suitable lessons in comedy tracklaying approriate to the teeming line are available at the Back of the Class - hopefully Jordan (@Jordan) shall not disappoint.

regards, Graham

That would be handy, something like this befits Jordans track.





I am planning to add some grades, all flat switching isn't for me, real 1:1 US industrial lines usually follow the lay of the land and it is quite common to see sidings at a lower elevation to the main, nothing too drastic like the above as you'd be laughed at but more subtle like below.

 

[mickoo]

Hi Mick, the baseboards are Knauf extruded foam slabs, B&Q used to sell them for a while, they are 19inch wide. I just added fillets at the corners glued on with No More Nails.
Switches are #6. Except the curved one which is 3ft & 4ft inner & outer radii. I did print out a #8 when planning, but concluded it was too long, even for the one end of the siding (passing loop) - it would've shortened the car capacity.
#6 switches don't look too bad from low viewpoints -
View attachment 160211
Photo taken during ballasting!

That #6 looks huge , I've opted for 48" nominal baseboard height, due to grades it might rise to 52" in places, your boards look wider than 19" to be honest, perhaps the low angle helps there as well.

That's in my bunker but if exhibited then it'd be set a bit lower, depends on what trestles I use/opt for really.

 

[Dog Star]

That would be handy, something like this befits Jordans track.

View attachment 160218

Pleasing to see that there is a warning sign for those who ride bicycles in the vicinity of Jordan's work.

View attachment 160216

View attachment 160213

Given the grade could either of these images help to provide access from the main line to the virtual warehouse?

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Thanks both, for the thoughts & inspiring photos. There isn't a lot of space in this yard. The end building will stay low relief, although I might add a smidgen of depth to it, and it needs some border trim to define it a bit more.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

It's nothing drastic, but these two spurs do dip a bit into the yard. Enough to initiate a bit of fly switching if cars are free-rolling enough and 'delay uncoupled' before the switch.


There is also a difference in levels between the siding, the main & the branch at the Interchange.

 

[richard carr]

Mick

Those are great photos and are the kind of thing I have in mind for mine.

Richard

 

[mickoo]

It's nothing drastic, but these two spurs do dip a bit into the yard. Enough to initiate a bit of fly switching if cars are free-rolling enough and 'delay uncoupled' before the switch.
View attachment 160224

There is also a difference in levels between the siding, the main & the branch at the Interchange.
View attachment 160225

Those grades look pretty much like most industrial lines I've found pictures of, even really flat lines, are not

 

[mickoo]

Alpha Bakery in Chicago IL is by far the steepest switch job I've found, I think it's still switched three times a week.



DL in Scranton PA has a short and steep switch.

DL 2452 Laurel Line job, Scranton Products, Scranton, Pa2_ by John Leopard, on Flickr

Finally, Allied Plastics in Newark NJ has a nice little compact switch job, the line runs slightly downgrade from the right and then dips even steeper into the industry on the left. Anyone who thinks these switch jobs are the remit of B truck units can think again, the consist engine here is a SD40-2 paired with the lead GP40-2.

The Manufacturers Branch by Russell Sullivan, on Flickr

I've more than enough photos showing bigger engines on even shorter switch jobs, but if you did that to the masses you'd be ridiculed.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

I've more than enough photos showing bigger engines on even shorter switch jobs, but if you did that to the masses you'd be ridiculed.

That's why, when you exhibit a layout like that, you take prints of the photos with you, to wave in their faces.
Although, I tend to find that people ready to ridicule 'foreign' layouts don't give them a second glance anyway.

The only real issues with modelling gradients on spurs is the lack of working brakes on cars, and rigid suspension trucks on diesels, 6 axle ones in particular.

 

[mickoo]

The only real issues with modelling gradients on spurs is the lack of working brakes on cars, and rigid suspension trucks on diesels, 6 axle ones in particular.

That's a good point but from what I have seen, most industries are flat, even if it is just the few car lengths where they are spotted, it's the grade in and out of the industry that can be impressive. Granted if the main or your run around is graded then it's hard to spot cars there for switching in and out of industries.

You could top and tail your consist, not common but not unheard of, maybe designate one car with a DCC encoder and servo output as a braked vehicle, or grade the holding area and run around as a sag in the track.

Six axle trucks would be an issue if your vertical curvature is excessive, there will be a calculation/factor of curvature to enable smooth running with a rigid three axle truck, much less than the real thing but you should still be able to get quite a steep grade over a reasonable distance.

Hopefully by end of play tomorrow I'll have the remaining layout carcass up and enough temporarily boarded to enable some flexi track to be laid and check how much hog and sag you can get away with, even if it is just track laid on different thickness blocks of scrap wood. I think hogging will be the worst and if there is lateral curvature as well then the depth of the wheel rim will be the over-riding factor. I think the Atlas SD35 and some box cars are going to get a bit of a work out tomorrow

 

[JasonD]

Old memory: in years gone by, industries built alongside rail lines would have to choose lower-level sites to prevent runaways onto existing main lines. And brake wheels were up high, not easy for customer staff if cars started to creep = level track? Did higher-up spurs attach directly to the main, or was there a compulsory 'head-shunt' (? sorry, my American's not that rootin'-tootin').

Trackwork: so interesting in O. Pic 1 wow and missing right-hand check-rail(?), pic 3 what's that rail under the cov'd hopper? Rerailer? No, just an obscured turnout, behind that big plow on the Geep ... probably. Great pics.

Jason

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Did higher-up spurs attach directly to the main, or was there a compulsory 'head-shunt' (? sorry, my American's not that rootin'-tootin').

Switch lead is the term I've seen used as the UK equivalent of headshunt.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Pic 1 wow and missing right-hand check-rail(?)

No, it's a self-guarding frog, check rails not required. (So I don't know why there IS a left hand one!!)
My cobbled-together attempts at a representation of them:-
The frog almost looks "backwards". Raised outer edges guide the wheel rim, hence no check rails.


'Bare bones' switch soldered to pcb strip.


Close up of frog in place on layout.


"Look Ma, no check rails!!"

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

This photo caught the dip from the main to the siding at my interchange yard. Telephoto lenses help with all these sort of pictures.

 

[mickoo]

This photo caught the dip from the main to the siding at my interchange yard. Telephoto lenses help with all these sort of pictures.
View attachment 160327

Spot on that is

 

[mickoo]

Jordan,

Can you tell me by chance what size the Peco IL-13 spike is, specifically the spiky bit diameter, I've managed to only find 2 bags available and they're on their way and I may not even use them if those from the US are a better shape. I've looked at Right O Way and Fast Tracks and both are 0.6 mm diameter that seems a big ole spike to go in these tie plates.

Everyone seems to do only 4 hole plates, I'd prefer 6 and 8 hole for more modern track.



Round holes (0.5 mm on this test) seem to print better and do not appear as big on the final print, I suppose I could model a couple of spikes in the flange holes here and there but most prototypical plates only seem to have one or two spikes at the rail edge.

I very much doubt 3D printed ones are more economical/cost effective to be honest, good job a fair bit of my track is likely to be covered, either with roadway or dirt.

 

[richard carr]

Mick
I just bought a load of the Right O way spikes, the thing that bothers me is that they are 8mm long, so they need to go right through the sleeper and into the baseboard top !

Richard

 

[Bill Campbell]

Jordan,

Can you tell me by chance what size the Peco IL-13 spike is, specifically the spiky bit diameter, I've managed to only find 2 bags available and they're on their way and I may not even use them if those from the US are a better shape. I've looked at Right O Way and Fast Tracks and both are 0.6 mm diameter that seems a big ole spike to go in these tie plates.

Just measured some Peco spikes - fairly consistent at 0.7mm across the flats of the shaft. Length is about 13mm overall.

Regards.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

The Peco IL-13 spikes are a bit large to my mind, I used them early on for my spurs and they look almost like chaired rail to me!! I changed to Peco SL-14 track pins. Nice thin spike, of course the head is round, but no more 'wrong' than the head of the IL-14
Not sure if they're very visible in this photo, but the rear tracks (code 100) use IL-13 spikes with brown card tie plates, the front track (code 125) uses the SL-13.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Mick
I just bought a load of the Right O way spikes, the thing that bothers me is that they are 8mm long, so they need to go right through the sleeper and into the baseboard top !

Richard

No problem with that - your rails won't be going anywhere!!