I recently built a drop down bridge, to access the inside area of my layout. Which was badly needed, to get rid of the pop up access holes.
Please note this is not completely finished, I still need to finish the connecting trackwork to the two mainlines.
I had the need to install a crossover on the bridge, as my redesign on my layout, this was the only place I could place it. I use Peco switches/machines, so I had to cut small holes they drop into.
First I started with high quality cabinet grade piece of 1/2" plywood. The size of the bridge is 23" x 10". I got two nice quality hinges, that have plastic inserts in them, so there is no play in them.
To lock it into place, I got a heavy duty lag bolt system. Its easily accessible from both sides, and has a nice big handle on it.
Only because you and Rich wanted me to. Thank you for the comments. I will update this when I get the track completed and wired up. My mainline has been out of service for a few weeks now. Need to run trains!
My concern with a drop down gate is things catching on the track and other things on the gate when folks are passing it as they are entering and exiting the room.
You can’t see it in the photos. But I attached a small piece of wood that sticks out, just enough, that it catches underneath to prevent from swinging to far upward.
Also, the hinges have no play in them what so ever.
When its locked in place, its pretty solid. I’ve tried putting some body weight on it, trying to move it, and it doesn’t budge.
This weekend I’ll have the track completed. And some of the wiring also.
Yes I did finally! Its already much better now not having to crawl under the layout anymore. I still have some more trackwork to complete, with the new inside mainline. As soon as I get that done you can come over and see.
I’m using Peco switches with Peco switch machines. And they will be connected to a NCE snap-it accessory decoder. And will be controlled using my NCE throttle.
For whatever it’s worth, I’d recommend that you not ballast anything on your drop leaf until that section has gone through a couple seasonal changes. A friend of mine has a similar drop leaf and there is quite a bit of expansion and contraction that occurs between summer and winter. Part of this is due, I think, to the fact that his layout is attached to the walls of the room it’s in. As the structure expands and contracts the portions of the layout move as the walls do. So he has two sets of flex track that he inserts across the drop down end, one for winter and one for summer. You may not have the same issue, but I think it would be better to wait to see what happens.
Interesting. But the benchwork has been in place for 3 years, and I never noticed any expansion contration at all. It’s on 1.5" of foam. Also the new wood section is high quality plywood, it was expensive. The layout is in a finished basement.
If for some odd reason the track comes out of alignment, its not that big of a deal to replace some sections of track, and re-ballast.
If I were,You,I would go ahead and finish it, ballasting and all, waiting to see what happen’s, is like betting on a horse,that don’t come in… Your’e doing good…
