End of April - More track installed

As we hit the end of April, the track laying has continued. I've started my fourth box of flex track, so that translates to over 250' of flex track used on the main level. I haven't counted the turnouts yet, but have a lot of empty packages. I am pleased with the Atlas N scale rail joiners and I am ordering more as I see my inventory drying up in May.

I've completed laying track in three areas and will continue heading in each direction until I run out of benchwork. The first is area between Tweedy and the egress peninsula. This has switching on both sides of the main and services the egress peninsula as well. 

In the photo we see the east end of the area in the foreground. The mainline is heading railroad east to Tweedy. That is compass west. For those who may not know, San Francisco was the West end of the Southern Pacific. From Los Angeles you go west toward San Francisco. 

Next we see the overall area. from the east end. The main track is the second line from the wall. This area has turned out the be pretty wide.

To the left is the opposite end, railroad west. You can see the push pins helping to hold the turnout in place as the caulk cures.

Below is the last photo of the area. You can see the west end and the track that wraps around to the egress peninsula.

Heading west, we get to the egress peninsula. I need a better name for the area. In the photo below, the two spurs on the left hand side connect to the photo above where the reefer is.

Below is another view. The main track is from left to right in the back. I had planned to use Peco #7 curved turnouts. However, the Peco turnout is too broad and I ended up using a Walthers turnout. The downside is that I'll need to add a ground throw later for that turnout. And, the tie spacing on the Walthers turnout is different than the Peco. It's not too bad, but I do notice it. Oh well...

The photo above shows the competed egress peninsula. The two tracks that run to the end are storage tracks for the Santa Ana Branch. The may influence what I decide to name it. 

In the picture above, you will see the main track and the siding continue to the right and you can see them come together in the pictures below. That is the end of progress going railroad west.

The third area completed is my version of Tweedy, which is railroad east of the first area completed. Tweedy serves a GM plant as well as other industries. Again, switching on both sides of the main.

Above is the east end of Tweedy. The track will proceed east toward Dolores Yard in the photos below.

 And some photos of the roadbed and laying out the switches. 

Lastly are the beginnings of laying out Dolores.

As you can see in the picture above, it's time to continue adding benchwork. I'm at the end of the line. I'll need more sub-roadbed added in order to complete Dolores. That will likely be in the next update. 

One of the other things I did since the last update was to head to Priddy, Texas to participate in live steam ops on the Comanche & Indian Gap railroad. This is a private railroad and they host an annual ops event every year. I've been going for a number of years and it is always a great time. This year the weather was on the colder side. Much better than the normal baking in the sun!

After a day of Yardmaster-ing the Comanche Yard, I went for a joy ride on a stack train.

The other two days I worked as an engineer, conductor and brakeman on a local freight crew. We rotated jobs among the crew of four on our train. 

After my last update I received a note asking about details on the railroad. Here are some of the details:

Era: 1979-1984

Heights

- Main Level: 42"

- Upper Level: 60"

- Lower Staging Level: 28"

Main track radius: 37-39"

Helix radii - to be determined, but likely 38.5 & 41" There will be two helices to lower staging. They will be double track. The third helix will be single track from the main level to the upper level.

All code 83 track - Peco for all exposed track and Atlas flex track for staging yards. A few Walthers curved turnouts. Mainline turnouts are #6 & #8 depending on location. The remaining are a mix of #5 & #6s. 

The expected train lengths is 25-30 cars. 

That's it for this update.

To the right is the railroad east end. That is compass west. For those who may not know, San Francisco was the West end of the Southern Pacific. From Los Angeles you go west toward San Francisco. 

 

Track Laying continues

I finally got around to laying track on the main level as highlighted in my last post. Track laying continues in this one. 

As I continue to lay track, I have learned a few characteristics of Peco 83 track. 

1) it is not necessary to cut back the last tie on each leg of a turnout. They have a small notch where the rail joiner slips just under the rail at the tie. 

2) Peco flex has enough tie movement that you do not need to remove a tie on a straight section of track in many cases. 

3) Using Atlas Code 80 N Scale rail joiners is the way to go. I was given that advice 'after' I bought a truck load of Peco joiners. However, I'm very impressed with the N Scale joiners. They look really good and are very subtle. 

I decided is was time to expand the test train. Out came the autoracks and 86' boxcars. One of which has body mounted couplers. 

You will notice in may of the pictures, the jar of petroleum jelly. I put on the back of all throw bars prior to installation. The theory being that will help in having problems later when ballasting, more specifically the glue. I did this on the Exeter Branch as well. 

At the end of last update, I showed the next section of benchwork that was painted and ready. To the right is the same section with the main track roadbed installed. Long, straight sections are fast! 

To the left, you can see the turnouts filled in with drywall mud. I'm able to contour the surface and the transition to the transition roadbed. Another benefit is rather than trying to piece in homabed, the mud fills the gap quickly. The downside is that the drywall mud shrinks as it dries. So two coats are needed. Once the mud is dry and painted, track can be installed. 

The first box and 75' of track complete. Time to break into box two!

I am working on two to three sections at a time. Meaning that roadbed is installed in one section. Drywall mud and paint on another. And laying track in between.

I'm moving in each direction in laying the track. My preference is to continue adding track in each direction. That way I'm not trying to connect between sections. It saves some work and allows me to be more precise. Thus far, this style has been working well. 

As you can see, progress is being made. I've also made some adjustments to the track plan as I go. New industries have been identified as well. I finished up the second box of track tonight. That's 150' of flex track and counting.