After reading up to page 55 so far I have two take aways or tips that have helped me with my layout.
Take Away #1: From the article Tune up your layout Part One: Cleaning track and adjusting rolling stockby Paul J. Dolkos
On page 44 Paul shows the basic scheme for making your own rail cleaning car. And it is the exact same design that Kim Parker has on one he made for his display layout at the Train Buddy train shop. I know it is a variation on the original design that John Allen developed years ago, but this article has reminded me that I need to go ahead and make one of those slider track cleaning cars of my own
Take Away #2: From the article SPECIAL TRACKWORK solves layout problemsby Carl Swanson
On page 55 Carl has an excellent diagram of a before and after space saving technique for using special track to create a useable lead. I have taken this idea and updated my track plan in the passenger section and added a #6 3-way switch to the end of the track lead that extends the track another 18 inches.
My track plan before:
My track plan after the special track 3-way switch is added:
What have you “taken away” from this months issue?
About two weeks ago a friend of mine and I were discussing this same subject of track cleaning cars and he brought up the John Allen masonite cleaning car. He also said that John used to have several that he ran in regular freight service so as long as you were running trains, the track was being cleaned.
Changing it from a right turnout to a left turnout might eliminate the “s-curve” on that short yard ladder lead and turn it into a straight lead track.
P.S.: You’re absolutely right about the three-way turnout!
several years ago i made some slider cars in ho and n. i run the ho cars at my club and we haven’t had to clean the track in quite awhile. the n scale cars that i run on my home layout work well too but the pads aren’t as heavy as the ho and it takes two cars in each train to do the same as in ho. the’re easy to make and the price is $0. i’ve seen that ho modular layout in operation and is is very beautiful.
Not exactly sure how you mean to change the #4 turnout from a right to a left with the current configuration I am using, but thanks for the thought anyway!
