Constructing a Series of Diamond Crossings

[zstripe]

Mike,

He already is in the ‘‘rubber room’’,He’s in the one next to mine…[:P]

Cheers, [D]

Frank

[BATMAN]

Mike,

He already is in the ‘‘rubber room’’,He’s in the one next to mine…

Cheers,

Frank

I was wondering who the new guy was. [swg]

[mlehman]

Mike,

He already is in the ‘‘rubber room’’,He’s in the one next to mine…

Cheers,

Frank

I was wondering who the new guy was.

Heh, heh.[:)]

They keep telling me I’m not, but why are the walls so spongy?[swg]

[_JaBear]

Scheesh Rich, you’re going to to require a lot of patience and possibly all of these

to get that done!!! Looking forward to the photos. [swg]

Seriously GOOD LUCK.

Cheers, the Bear.

PS. asparagus quickly grilled on the barbecue and lightly drizzled with balsamic vinegar is quite yum.

[richhotrain]

Given the need for a puzzle palace, here’s my method:

• Look at photos of crossings to see how the rails are supported on non-standard ties at odd angles. If you have photos of that specific area, so much the better.

Chuck, that is great advice, and I will hold onto your reply.

Here is a photo of the diamonds at Alton Junction. The photo is taken at a slightly different angle than the track diagram.

Those two tracks crossing the diamonds are the “live” tracks on my Dream Layout.

Rich

[richhotrain]

If it was me, I’d give consideration to how it would look with one less set of tracks through it. That would still make a heck of an impression, while limiting the chance they’ll have to haul you off to the rubber room.

Never!

Blasphemy !

Gotta have that 4-track C&WI mainline running through Alton Junction.

To do otherwise would be like drinking an Old Fashioned without the cherry. [D]

Rich

[richhotrain]

Forget Fast tracks, they build a set angle and None of those is going to be a set angle.

I see at least two options.

1. Draw it all out in place. Lay all the ties for all the routes. Spike down the rails for the dummy routes through the crossings. Mark the locations of the red rails on the tops of the dummy tracks. Notch about halfway down into the rails on the dummy tracks. Take the red rails and notch about halfway up from the base at the locations it crosses the dummy rails. Spike the red rails in place. Add guard rails.

2. Lay the red route and then butt the dummy tracks up to the red rails, filing them off at angles. and spike down.

Dave, thanks for the advice.

I think that Option 2 is the way to go,

Rich

[zstripe]

DUH!!!

Cheers, [D]

Frankie

[richhotrain]

Here is a closeup of a typical crossing.

[zstripe]

YUP!! Piece of cake,After the Red line is in,the only problem,I see,is finding,the nut & bolt,detail…If you want it…You cut the Red line track,to create the crossing,just not all the way,through both rails…With one of the wider Dremel cut off disc’s…You will hear the clickty,clack,that way…

Cheers,

Frank

[richhotrain]

the only problem,I see,is finding,the nut & bolt,detail…

Details West has Code 83 fish plates.

Rich

[zstripe]

There you go,hopefully,they are not,too expensive,12 per crossing,maybe…

Cheers, [D]

Frank

[richhotrain]

There you go,hopefully,they are not,too expensive,12 per crossing,maybe…

Should be able to purchase a 12-pack of 3-bolt fish plates for around $2.25.

Rich

[mobilman44]

I wonder about butting the tracks up to the crossing and making them dummies…

Kind of reminds me of a static museum diorama - like the one with the General that was written up here on the Forum some time ago.

With a good Dremel, and rail and the proper soldering iron, you could make your own crossings and keep it all “live” !!!

After all, it is a DREAM layout, so lets do it right!

[dehusman]

I think that Option 2 is the way to go,

A lot of it depends on how detailed the crossing need to be and whether you are going to solder all the frogs together.

Personally I would do option #1. The toughest part will be getting all the curves in and parallel. The red tracks are straight lines, they are easy to cut. Plus if you put in the red line last, since its on top you could have a continuous running surface if you liked, but you’ll probably want to notch it to get the clickety clack going across the diamonds.

The other way would be to find the commercial crossings that best fit the angles and then trim them up close to the diamonds and connect all the curves with flex track. Might not be as pretty or the angles might differ from the pictures, but would be quicker.

[richhotrain]

I wonder about butting the tracks up to the crossing and making them dummies…

Kind of reminds me of a static museum diorama - like the one with the General that was written up here on the Forum some time ago.

With a good Dremel, and rail and the proper soldering iron, you could make your own crossings and keep it all “live” !!!

After all, it is a DREAM layout, so lets do it right!

No need to make the “dummy” tracks live because they would lead to nowhere on the Dream Layout.

On that section of the layout, only the red colored tracks would be live wired because that route leads to other parts of the layout whereas the unpowered tracks are simply there to reflect the prototype.

Rich

[richhotrain]

I think that Option 2 is the way to go,

A lot of it depends on how detailed the crossing need to be and whether you are going to solder all the frogs together.

Personally I would do option #1. The toughest part will be getting all the curves in and parallel. The red tracks are straight lines, they are easy to cut. Plus if you put in the red line last, since its on top you could have a continuous running surface if you liked, but you’ll probably want to notch it to get the clickety clack going across the diamonds.

The other way would be to find the commercial crossings that best fit the angles and then trim them up close to the diamonds and connect all the curves with flex track. Might not be as pretty or the angles might differ from the pictures, but would be quicker.

You raise good points, Dave.

My one hesitation about Option 1 would be my questioned ability to cut out pieces of rail precisely so I don’t cause derailments when passing over the diamonds.

As far as commercial crossings are concerned, I might be able to find something close, but I worry about the cost, considering that I would need 20 of them.

Rich

[mobilman44]

But dummy tracks would not be a proper representation of the real thing! It would be sooo cool to have it all working as the prototype, with trains going thru the diamonds in all 4 directions!

[richhotrain]

But dummy tracks would not be a proper representation of the real thing! It would be sooo cool to have it all working as the prototype, with trains going thru the diamonds in all 4 directions!

Well, I’ll tell you what, Mr. Mobilman.

What say you build a completely operational 20-diamond crossing and take a video or two for us, [8o|]

Rich

[dehusman]

My one hesitation about Option 1 would be my questioned ability to cut out pieces of rail precisely so I don’t cause derailments when passing over the diamonds.

I think you misunderstood Option 1. Except for guardrails the shortest piece of rail you have to use in Option 1 is 3 feet and that’s because you can’t buy longer rail. You could actually incorporate the guardrails into that and not cut any short pieces (although it wouldn’t be as prototypical looking.

Option 2 is the one that uses a gazillion little pieces of rail.