The Atlantic and Southern Build Thread Continued, Part 3

[sdrees]

Tom, I just cannot pass up commenting on your scenery and your video's. They are fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ACL1504]

Tom, I just cannot pass up commenting on your scenery and your video's. They are fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve,

Thank you very much. And, I'm very sorry for the late response to your post, my bad. Over the years I've developed a real desire to make my scenery reflective of the South Georgia and North Florida look.

Again, thank you for the very kind compliment on the scenery and videos.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I've had several op sessions now where I've had problems with an old Walthers Shinohara left hand turnout. Its a #8 left curve. I've decided to just replace it and reroute the track for a more efficient operation and smoother running of the trains.

You can see the turnout in the birds eye view below.



Of course I'll need to make this change on the second level and not constantly bump my head on the third level bench work. Also, the scenery and structures will need to be removed as well.

I'll have 16 inches of vertical space to work in. The distance between the two levels is actually 19.5 inches but the frame work is also in the way.

The good news is the turnout is only 8 inches from the edge.



I'll have more on the new design tomorrow.

[tct855]

ACL 1504,
          Hello my friend, Just love stopping by from time to time to see what your cooking up Chef T.  I just love how your pictorials are so well done and simple to follow along.  Very inspiring!  With all these cool compliments you receive, I wonder... if I told you also you have a sexy body to boot, you wouldn't hold it against me- would you?    Keep having fun modeling brother!  I'm only a click in view.  KP-out...

[ACL1504]

ACL 1504,
          Hello my friend, Just love stopping by from time to time to see what your cooking up Chef T.  I just love how your pictorials are so well done and simple to follow along.  Very inspiring!  With all these cool compliments you receive, I wonder... if I told you also you have a sexy body to boot, you wouldn't hold it against me- would you?    Keep having fun modeling brother!  I'm only a click in view.  KP-out...

KPI,

Hey, thanks for the compliment on the layout and photos. As for the other comment, I'm afraid to be sure I won't be touching that one. In any event, I appreciate you following along on this thread.

KPII out.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Great progress, Tom.

Its always a pleasure catching up on your work.

Cheers, Mark.

[PRR Modeler]

I'm sure it will be a pain to change but that it will be replaced perfectly by you.

[Zephyrus52246]

Clamp a rolled up towel over the upper level edge so you don't split your head open when you hit it working on the lower level.  Or get a hard hat like I wear when working under the layout.   


Jeff

[Jerry]

Tom loved the video beautiful scenery.


Jerry

[ACL1504]

Great progress, Tom.

Its always a pleasure catching up on your work.

Cheers, Mark.

Cheers Mark,

Happy you stopped by, appreciate you following along.

Tom 

[ACL1504]

I'm sure it will be a pain to change but that it will be replaced perfectly by you.

Curt,

Thanks very much, now the pressure is on. LOL!

Tom

[ACL1504]

Clamp a rolled up towel over the upper level edge so you don't split your head open when you hit it working on the lower level.  Or get a hard hat like I wear when working under the layout.   


Jeff

Jeff,

Oops, to late for that. I did use a ball cap and it helped save the scalp. No room for the hard hat in this very challenging vertical space.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom loved the video beautiful scenery.


Jerry

Jerry,

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the videos. Appreciate you stopping by.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Early this morning I began the track removal of the curved turnout. The trees and structures were removed first.



Prior to the track removal, I used a Dremel cutoff disc and cut the track about half inch in front of any rail joiner.



I do this for two reasons. First it lets me remove the ballast and track without damaging the area around the rail joiner. If I tried to unsolder the rail while the ballast is wet, I run the risk of lifting the track I don't want removed. If this happens, the wet ballast will get under the ties and when hard again, it is not level. Don't ask me how I know this to be true. You are benefiting from my previous mistakes.

Secondly. It allows me to safely unsolder the track and rail joiner when the track ballast is dry and hard.

Continued -

[ACL1504]

Refer to the two very crude track plans below to see what changes I'll be making.

The first one shows the current track plan including the curved turnout.



Although the plan above shows the south reverse loop, it has never been used and unwired many years ago.  All reversing is done using the north reverse loop.

The second one shows the new track plan in red. The new mainline will come off the turnout and be rerouted to the original mainline.

The curved turnout will be removed, new track fit to the same radius as the curved (36") and be the new Tahope Spur track.

By doing this, I will get a new mainline section of 38" radius while keeping the same 36" for the spur cutoff.



More later this evening.