ThinkerT
Alaska
Foreman
Posts:203
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 | | 01/07/2008 11:13 PM |
| This is why you always test and test and test again before you fix down any track or start any scener
And now we get into the main reason why I ended up tearing up and rebuilding part of my layout - though I tried rebuilding the benchwork and tweaking the trackplan before knocking a very large hole through the wall. At one point I had a 'S' curve with a unrelocatable switch at the transistional top of a 4% curved grade (R2 curve, and not R1). It was workable...but only marginally so. That marginalness, combined with the lack of space to include other things I wanted to have in that part of the layout was why I did what I did.
Hopefully, you won't have to rebuild or significantly add onto your benchwork. | | | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 01/08/2008 8:38 AM |
| T this is why I said test test test before fixing the track, and dont fall in love with your ideas or one will never find the will to make the decisions needed to finish it. So I'm reworking the track, I'll figure out the rest of the layout later.
I've already moved the track at Agony Point, I just need to scrap together a couple more 6" sections, and move the track at the other side. I only have to rework one upper level support so thats not going to be a problem either. I cleaned out a bunch of plastic track at San Val and I am slowly replacing the brass storage track inside the house, I will use this good like new track out on the layout.
One the plus side, my Aristo bricked Shaykirk geared locomotive thingie will easily drag 4 cars to the top of Agony Point. Its only the reverse S issue messing with the link and pin couplers, and the BuddyLBachmann incompatability that have been the biggest hangups. | |
 Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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todd55whit
1st Class Member
Lunenburg Mass
Brakeman
Posts:49
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| | 01/08/2008 7:05 PM |
| Vic,
I wouldn't say your nuts. I'm in the same spot. I'm trying to get 6'5 diameter to work. Probably will end up with a R3 curve. Learning to thing smaller than outdoors. Thanks for the info..... | |
Burrage & Longwood Railroad | |
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ThinkerT
Alaska
Foreman
Posts:203
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| | 01/08/2008 7:13 PM |
| I wouldn't say your nuts. I'm in the same spot. I'm trying to get 6'5 diameter to work. Probably will end up with a R3 curve. Learning to thing smaller than outdoors. Thanks for the info.....
I thought R3 was 6.5 diameter? Is this curve on a grade? Good luck regard;ess. | | | |
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aceinspp
1st Class Member
Conductor
Posts:702
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| | 01/16/2008 6:47 AM |
| | Looking good. i don't know if I could handle the tight curves tho. Later RJD | |
RJD Chief Engr D & S RR | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 01/16/2008 8:51 AM |
| You guys should see those Superliner cars going aroung them curves...just like a Lionel!
Hehehe | |
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Robert
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:95
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| | 01/17/2008 7:29 AM |
| Vic Can you tell me what your final width was on the left piece of benchwork at Agony I think. I like your design and my looking a generally stealing it with a minor change if I can make it work in my reasonably limited space. Robert | | | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 01/17/2008 8:28 AM |
| Robert on CAD it was drawn at 5' deep, but in construction, I cut it down to about 4'-8" deep.
Be advised, track at Agony Point is restrictive operation wise, you had better know that before jumping into it. I'm already looking at adding additional weight to various slippery engines and will likely be selling off a couple if I cannot modify them, and you will be limited on the lenth of trains. But hey, thats half the fun right? | |
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Robert
1st Class Member
Brakeman
Posts:95
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| | 01/18/2008 9:17 AM |
| Thank you Vic. Yes I had previously read your concerns at Agony and will start out trying to add some lenght to remove the "S" curve and maybe gain just a tiny bit of length to reduce the downhill grade. My space is a rather limited area above my garage. Your design really appealled to me for its simplicity yet level of action available in a fairly small space.
Robert | | | |
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blackburn49
1st Class Member
Copper Center, Alaska
Engineer
Posts:1855
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| | 01/19/2008 2:44 PM |
| Posted By ThinkerT on 01/03/2008 12:46 AM
. . . you reached the point yet where you get to staring at one part or another of the layout and start muttering to yourself...'if I could just get past this, then I could send spur into this whole new part of the garage. That would give me the space I need to incliude this or this...'
I sure know THAT feeling. I had to revise my overhead a couple of times to make it function properly with the features I wanted to include. I am probably going to be making a few more changes before it is all over--and the original was laid in place ten years ago! | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 02/07/2008 9:12 AM |
| Updating from entries made on the old forum during the "troubles'
2/4/08
An progress update!
Slowly and steadily working on the layout, I got all the track down, all the blocks wired, all the wires run, the powerpack installed, the BTE wired into it so I figure I've got all the pices in place to give it a try, turn on the pack, put an engine on the track and started presing buttons and got..
nothin'
not a sausage!  check the wires, nothin', checked the block controls, nothin', a quick check of the BTE controller revealed the problem:
Dead battery 
...and after a search of the house, there are not any spares or ones to cannibalis in the house, Grrrr
Oh well, looks like tommorow
2/5/08
Found a battery, fixed a small wiring glitch, got it running this AM
yippie!
Test running, my stock Bug Mauler pulled two full size boxcars and caboose around in both directions, some slipping on the grade, just like the real thing only i dont have any sand to lay down, but it didnt stop. I take that as a success! I was more worried about derails on the transition sections but so far A-OK.
Thinker T wrote:
About like my results when I did something like that; my Annie managed to pull itself, the tender, three full sized gondola's and a bobber caboose up a grade like that with only very slight slippage...but it were on an R2 curve, not R1 like yours. I found that with just a little bit of weight it could do the same with four full sized cars. I think the tighter radi really restrict the climbing ability.
Reply
Thinker, Yeap, the R1s are tight, but given how small my layout actually is, that train I ran looked really long in relation to the rest of the layout.
Thinker T wrote:
And that was with the equivilent of a standard issue Bachmann starter set size train! (Annie or Big Hauler, tender, and three full sized cars)
When you start running trains of say...six or eight full sized cars, the old layout really starts looking smaller; you start getting into the absurd situation where the caboose is just leaving the one town while the locomotive is almost at the next. I did come up with a legit trackwork solution to this...but it restricts me down to a total train length of about eight or nine cars.
Last update on the old forum:
I wired up the last siding this AM. Its ready to rock and roll!
..after I clean the track | |
Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 02/07/2008 9:22 AM |
| Update to today,
Been running the Bug Mauler around the layout dragging the track cleaner over the mainline, it manages to drag that lump up and over in both directions, tested the wifes Bloody L circus engine again, it can pull itself and the bobber caboose up and over but is too light for additional cars. Surgury time, going to drill a hole in those great big air tanks on the sides and fill'em with buckshot. That should help alot, I also plan to add some self adhesive weights insiide my Bug Maulers boilers and probably, to all my smaller engines.
I now know for sure my transitions are correct, if that stupid Bloody L can make it around, all the rest will no trouble as that was the only engine that ran like crap by derailing or lifting the drivers off the rails if the track wasnt near perfect. Cleaning up right now, sheesh didnt relize what a mess I made putting that last work drive into it.
pic soon, I hope | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 02/12/2008 9:24 PM |
|  VIDEO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6FZKr4Fp-U Early test run with a Bug Mauler, gives a good idea of the layout size PS engine is running about 4 times regular speed so you can see the whole layout in one take
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wmumpower
Brakeman
Posts:36
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| | 02/13/2008 7:58 PM |
| | Your layout is really looking great! I know this was just a test, but personally the Bug Mauler is just too big a locomotive to look right on that layout. But some of your smaller locos...... | | | |
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kormsen
in the middle of the westparaguayan semi desert
Conductor
Posts:546
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| | 02/14/2008 11:04 AM |
| vsmith,
could you tell me please, how long are the grades on both sides?
thanks,
korm
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 construction site - keep off! | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 02/14/2008 12:10 PM |
| About 14 feet on each side for a 10 inch rise, this gives me about 9 to 9-1/2 inches clear under the upper benchwork supports.
Grades in large scale take up alot of run, the more moderate the grade the longer run is needed, its eats up a great deal of space fast. | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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lathroum
Brakeman
Posts:56
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| | 02/15/2008 1:00 PM |
| Reminds me of the little engine that could...
I think I can, I think I can....
Philip | | | |
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wmumpower
Brakeman
Posts:36
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| | 02/15/2008 8:48 PM |
| 
Oh, NO..!! The tin snips...the tin snips
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