Problems fixed.... again, thanks for the help!

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Well, I just wanted to say, shucks and post a thanks. I have had 2 (well 3 really…) troublesome spots of track and BAM, with some great advice from you all and hard work, they are better. They were as follows:

2 tracks coming leaving a double crossover on an incline (ugh) and a curve (double ugh) with a curved turnout diverging from the branchline track (can I say ugh any more). Well, anything bigger than an 0-6-0 would derail on the westbount mainline if going straight (at the crossover) or the branchline at the siding turnout. I lived with this for 6 months or more. It was annoying. Could not run my nice engines reliably… (my son would say “AWWW it derailed…again…”)

So yesterday, I ripped everything out between the tunnel and the crossover. (THANKS RANDY!!! I used latex caulk so I saved the $25 curved turnout!! WOOOHOOO) Anyways, I chisseled, sanded and carved (wood meets foam at this junction) the incline from 3/4" to ~3/16. I placed thin cork, built better transitions and laid the new track… (thanks for the tip about soldering flextrack to the curved turnout and THEN placing down…much smoother curve now) all in about 3 hours.

Last night I ran the new sections… THEY ALL WORK FLAWLESSLY!!! I let my 4-8-2 run for 30 minutes through the section at (gulp) TOP speed and not one derail…not one… WOWWWWWW!!!. So a few points learned:

  1. Always, ALWAYS, pre-solder flex trak on a curve BEFORE bending and laying it down.

  2. Minimize transitions near turnouts

  3. USE LATEX caulk!!! It saved my pricey Walthers Shinohara curved turnout!!!

Anways, thanks for all the help and inspiration guys (and gals!).

Brian

2

Yessss! A success story. Good to hear.

3

Glad to hear it. Probably shouldn’t use any kind of adhesive on turnouts though. Maybe just a spike or two.[2c]

4

Actually, Loathar, the latex caulk works REALLY well. It came off very easy and cleans off so it looked like new. I prefer it to spikes, because it holds very easily and no kinks. I leave about 1/2 inch on either side of the throwbar caulkless and I have never had a problem with the turnout sticking from this.

Brian