I’m building my first layout, and I need to build a “lift out” section so people dont have to duck under to get through. this section will have track as well. I have a lot of Model Railroader mags going back many years, and I am wondering if anyone knows where I can get some “how to” help on how to build this part of my layout. I will be using dcc, if that matters? I’m guessing I will want to have some sort of plug in for the track to make sure I have good current going through? Any help/advise would be very much appreciated! Thanks!
Welcome to the forums.
Go to the top of this page to Resources, then click on Index of Magazines. Search for lift out, drop down, tip up, swing gates and related wordage. It will list magazine article for you. Also, go the the search function to the right side of the page and search there, there have been many threads on these topics.
Good luck,
Adding to Cowman’s suggestion to use the Forum Search function, the useful key words are. “lift out,” “drop leaf” and “swing gate.” Any one will give page after page of interesting reading, including some working diagrams and useful links.
I had engineered a lift section like a bascule bridge to solve an access problem with my last layout, but it never got built. My wife ceded her claim to half of the double garage, so the requirement went away.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I have four lift bridges on my layout. Here is a link to a paper I wrote explaing how.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzescsbb/HO_MRR/Room%20Access%20Lift%20Bridges.pdf
I hope this helps.
Check Jeff Wilson’s book, “Basic Model Railroad Benchwork. The Complete Photo Guide”. Starting on page 87, there’s a section on duck-unders, lift-outs and swing gates. In Linn Westcott’s book, “How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork” 2nd. Edition, there is a section on tilt-up and lift-out sections starting on page 67.
Bob