I’ve finished my first section of spline subroadbed, about 24’, and will be laying track and wiring it soon. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for methods of protecting test locos and cars? Until the scenery shell is built, a derailment could produce a 4’ fall to the concrete. Is stapling nylon screen to the benchwork a good idea?
If you mean stapling the nylon screen to the subgrade in (very) rough approximation of the eventual scenery, that’s one possible approach. Here are a couple of others which won’t get in your way as you do your wiring:
- Staple temporary cardstock fences to the edges of the subgrade. Mine extend about 25mm (1 inch) above the railheads. (If the track is to be hidden, the fences can be glued on and left in place.)
- Rig an old bedsheet to one edge of the benchwork, then (when test trains are to be run) stretch it under the benchwork and secure it to the opposite edge. When not in use, it can be kept reefed along the one edge, out of the way but ready for quick deployment.
I have used both techniques successfully - but the best safety feature of all is absolutely bulletproof trackwork.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I stapled nylon window screen to the undersides of my layout for 2 reasons: to prevent expensive locos from falling to the floor and to keep my curious cat from crawling up under the upper level of my layout. Of course, I only staple it every couple of feet. You’re ALWAYS going to need access to the underside of your layout (wiring, replacing switch machines, etc.)
I prefer stapling corrugated cardboard strips to the sub roadbed extending approx. an inch or more above the rail head (higher on the inside of curves) is a good idea. It’s cheap, easy to remove, can be used later for scenery support (if woven strips is one of the methods you’re using), keeps rolling stock from hitting benchwork on the way down to the safety net, and when the rolling stock hit the safety net they can get damaged further from sliding and banging into each other. Cut the cardboard strips so the corrugation is vertical (running up and down) so it is less likely fold over and conform to the curves of the sub roadbed.
I wish I had been as careful as I should have been. Instead, an IHC Mike took a swan dive. I had not troubled myself to use something like a temporary screen and I paid for my laziness and haste.
I hope my story can be of use to you. [V]
-Crandell
I have tried them all, including bouncing them off the floor. Do what is easy to apply and remove later.
The nylon screening has worked well at my club for the protection. It doesn’t need that many staples to hold in place. Many of thesse pieces have been reused numerous times or saved for new benchwork once the scenery has been completed.
Long or large areas that are impractical to cover completly w/ screening are done with masonite or MDF temperary guard rails. Lexan guard rails in tunnels and staging and are permanant.
Thanks for all of the feedback. I like the idea of the cardboard fence. Especially that it could eventually double as an anchor for the lattice scenery shell.
As Chuck mentions, good trackwork is your best guarantee, along with careful operation. I have about 40’ of 2.5% grade that winds around the outer edge of a peninsula, with the drop to the concrete varying from 48" to 58". Since the track currently dead-ends at the top of the grade, trains using it need to be backed down the hill. I’ve had success with trains in excess of 70 cars, and several 60 car trains with mid-train and/or rear helpers, too. I’ve also run heavy coal trains here, with “live” loads. Currently, there’s no scenery in the centre of the loop, so there’s a drop on both sides of the track.
Wayne
After our club had an accident that sent some equipment to the floor, we went with the nylon screen. We soon discovered that sometimes the screen causes more damage than hitting the floor would have, not to mention the constant taking it down and putting it back when we needed to work on the underside. It wasn’t too long before the netting came down and we went with the fences along the rail.
Wayne,
In some of the photos you showed, it looks as though the scenery slopes down and away from the track. Do you plan to put some type of permanent barrier up in these areas when the scenery is completed? For example, trees, bushes or buildings to keep derailed equipment from rolling down the slope and onto the floor. If this isn’t possible, then a Plexiglass barrier might serve to protect the equipment from a fall in the event of an accident.
Bob
Bob, you’re correct that some of the scenery slopes down from the tracks, and much of this track is 2’’ or less from the edge. However, the trackwork is pretty simple here, with no turnouts, and I try to keep wheels in gauge, etc., so there’s not too much that’ll cause derailments other than poor train handling. The speed limit for upbound passenger trains is 45 (35 for freights), but most are hard-pressed to come within 15 mph of the limit, mainly due to the severe grade. Downbound trains are restricted to 20 mph for passenger and 15 mph for freight, with a further 5 mph reduction for the bridge seen in the second photo above, which is part of a horseshoe curve. Train control is DC, with walk-around controllers, so operators are “with” the train for the entire ascent. When the scenery is done, there should be lots of good angles for photos at trackside.
Wayne
Better the IHC than one of those PCMs…
The best bet is good trackwork. Screening will snag details like you wouldn’t believe (been there). What I’ve done in areas of concern is to simply slide large pieces of cardboard under the track bed to avoid the 4 foot canyon fall… But, Again, smooth trackwork is your better bet (and keep clumsy hands away from the trains, been there too)…
Here’s a photo from a previous layout…
here’s the current incarnation of that same bridge…
Good luck…