Our modular club has experienced problems in getting the track between modules to lay flat. This problem results in longer cars i.e. auto racks, Superliners, & TOFCs separating at the module joiners. We have tried nailing the track down, adjusting the leg screws, and smoothing the road bed but the trains still separate. It seems to be a never ending problem to get the modules leveled and I am wondering if anyone else here has found an easier fix to the problem. I am wondering if the problem could be resolved in the couplers of the rolling stock by some means other than glueing them together. Most of use are using K-D couplers while a few are using the less forgiving McHenrys.
Our club was having the same types of problems
that your having. We used 6 inch jumpers. we did
away with them. We added 3 inch straights to each
module and the butt the modules togheter and there
is no need for railjoiners. Leveling is also less
of a problem doing it this way. Another problem
could also be if there are different types of
road beds being used. One of our club members put
some old dummy couplers on his passenger cars and
they work fine. I have also noticed that it will
run fine at home but not on the module. So I try
to make it run to what the modules need because
I’m sure it will work at home. Good Luck
My club has had the same problem. First a little background, We have HO on one side and then we have O gauge on the other, IT IS UNIQUE. I am guessing that you are using Atlas 9" sections to bridge the gaps. You may need to trim the ends of your tracks as the track grows with temp. creating a hump. What I do is keep some flex track and make jumpers every show to see if the expansion is bad. I have successfully operate 30 car trains of autoracks with helpers on the rear with no problem. And check those cars too!
Inadequate support/bracing in the module’s framing, allowing the “field” of the module’s surface to become very slightly concave, is often the cause of such a problem. Check with a long straight-edge to make sure the roadbed is perfectly level end to end. In addition, check to be absolutely sure that the sides of your module’s frame is perfectly square as stresses at the sides when clamping out-of-square modules together will also create this problem. Always see that there is a very slight clearance or expansion gap (1/64" or so) at each end of your 9" bridge track so that the module tracks don’t butt too solidly against with it when clamped tight.
There is no real reason for the problem you describe to occur on properly built, level modules. My group of 6-8 individuals operates a 24x36 foot portable HO modular layout which we can set up in just 90 minutes and the problem virtually never occurs since we used great care in the framing of each module.
Our modular club has also had problems with long cars. The modules were built with foam as a base to save weight. We have found that when some of the members constructed them that they used adhesives with solvents in them that, over a long period of time, caused the foam to slowly desolve. This resulted in what we call a “ski jump” at the joint. While the joint itself may line up, the track goes slightly down hill as you progress toward the center of the module. We are having to rebuild these modules to eliminate this problem. Keep in mind that many of these modules are over ten years old.
Check that your tracks are flat for a distance on both sides of the joint.
Most of your problems are due to the construction
of the table; build a good table and these problems will disappear. Also try using 4" sections between tables.
Our problems were not from poor construction. The problem occurs as a result of using a solvent based adhesive on the foam. The foam slowly desolves as a result of the solvent, causing it to become thinner. Our track is lain directly on the foam. We do not use bridge tracks. The rails are lain right up to the end of the module.
The modules built that did not use solvent based foam have not presented a problem. Do NOT use solvent based adhesives with foam construction.