Im currently building a 12ft by 2 ft switching layout with a double track main up front for possible future expansion. My question is, should I use cork under the track in the switch yard portion of the layout? The double track main will have cork roadbed, but is it more realistic to transition from the corked main to the lower lying switch yard. Or should I cork the entire thing for quiter and smoother operation.
Looking for any tips / prior experiences / or info…
Thanks
I plan on using N scale cork roadbed under my yard. Because it is narrower, you have to add about 1/4 inch in the middle. You can buy sheet cork in different thicknesses. Because it has a lower profile, your track will be lower than the mainline and like the prototype, your idle/staged cars will not roll across and foul your turnouts.
I used sheet cork the same thickness as my N scale cork roadbed in the yard.
I would use sheek cork–much cheaper and easier to lay on an entire yard that pre-cut–of a thickness slightly less than what you use on your main. This will give you a prototypical height differentiation and still get the sound deadening qualities of the cork. My local lumber yard carries sheet cork in 1/8" and 3/16" thicknesses.
Ron
Thanks for this tips… sounds like I should order up some thin cork sheeting
I don’t use cork at all. I think it looks way to high for most of the track I see. I prefer to buy a sheet of damaged paneling and rip it in 1" wide strips. One sheet for $3-4.00 can yield 47 8’ lengths. I then stack them on edge and rip slots in them every 1/2" or so so it can bend. It takes spikes well because it is soft wood. I don’t know what the price of cork is these days but I know you can’t get 350’+ of it for $4.00. Also from what I have seen most yards are slightly lower than mainlines. I suppose the mainlines get better maintenance and eventually get higher. also the yards need to be relatively flat for the crewmen to be able to walk there. In my yards I just transition off the paneling (1/8") into the yard which is on the flat.
I used sheet cork as well in the yards, but I laid the track for industrial siding right on the foam. This way my mains sit the highest, the yard is a bit lower on the sheet cork, and the siding slant down to no grade for industries.
PS> Sheet cork, as mentioned above, is cheaper and really easy to use to cover large areas. Elmer’s wood glue bonds it to foam w/ no problem at all!
Stores like walmart and michael’s also carry a craft foam with an adhesive backing called foamies that you can use if you really want a low grade. It comes in different colors will adhere to foam board and can be ballasted on…
Use thinner cork in the yards. That’s what I do.