The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[ACL1504]

Dr. Jeff, Zephyrus52246, asked how I attached the track to the plywood.

Some people glue the track down using either glue or silicone. I don't like either method as it doesn't allow the track to breathe. By breathe I mean to change as in expand or contract with the weather. I've seen track that had buckled due to the humidity in the room and the track being so secure it couldn't breath/move. No, not me!

Here is what I did with all the lower level staging track and the track on the Ovalix.

Using a small dremel tool and either a # 78, 79 or 80 drill bit, I drilled a hole in the center of the track tie.



I use the Micro Engineering track spikes. I say spikes here when in reality they are very small and sharp track nails. ME sells a long and medium length, I've used both on the staging with no issues.

I mount the drill bit in the Dremel a little shorter than the short nail but long enough to drill through the ME track tie as well. This way when the hole is drilled you have a pilot hole for the nail in the tie and plywood and room to secure it into the plywood. I've enlarged the next photo to show the nail so it appears much larger than it actually is.



I then use a 3/32 nail punch and a small hammer to "drive" home the spike/nail. I tap it so that it is secure to the tie. This 3/32 nail punch has a round head and the nail head fits into it perfectly so it doesn't move when hammered.

NOTE: Do not "hammer" the spike/nail to hard as it will bend the tie and pull the track out of gauge.



As I move down the track I roll the "level car" over my work to check the track level. I do all this to make sure I have no problems in the future. Not saying this will prevent all derailments as we all know "snit happens". However, this goes a long way to help prevent it.



Thanks for following along on the adventure.

[cuse]

The "guts" of the layout are coming along nicely. I admire your attention to detail in your engineering of the hidden track. Obviously, the investment you're making now in time will pay off later in preserving your sanity.


John

[jlgrove]

Tom...great progress....I'm sure you're really liking the retirement gig.....

[GPdemayo]

Drill, hammer, punch, repeat.....

[ACL1504]

The "guts" of the layout are coming along nicely. I admire your attention to detail in your engineering of the hidden track. Obviously, the investment you're making now in time will pay off later in preserving your sanity.


John

John,

Thanks very much, it is a bit time consuming but should be well worth the effort in the long run. I see a Southern SBG in the next couple of months to check it all out.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom...great progress....I'm sure you're really liking the retirement gig.....

Jeff,

Thank you, much appreciated.  So far retirement is all that I hoped it would be, and more to boot. Looking forward to seeing you at the EXPO.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Drill, hammer, punch, repeat.....

And repeat, and repeat and repeat, etc and then more of the same and finally then some more.

Tom

[ranny9]

I hate to be the spelling/grammar police, but breath is to breathe in and out....as in "take a breath and breathe..."

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks for the explanation, Tom.  Looks like a lot of work.  I'm always worried while nailing down the track if you push too hard it'll bend the tie and pull the track out of gauge. 


Jeff

[Twist67]

Hi there,

Tom,your work is looking great.Big progress is going on ....

Cheers,Chris

[ACL1504]

I hate to be the spelling/grammar police, but breath is to breathe in and out....as in "take a breath and breathe..."

Randee,

Thanks for catching the spelling error. I should have caught the error. However, I do mean for the track to "breathe" as in a figure of speach. I should have simply said, "to allow the track to move with the humidity level in the room".
Thanks for following along, much appreciated.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Thanks for the explanation, Tom.  Looks like a lot of work.  I'm always worried while nailing down the track if you push too hard it'll bend the tie and pull the track out of gauge. 


Jeff

Jeff,

"tacking or nailing" the track isn't the issue. The issue is as you mentioned, nailing it to tight causing it to become out of gauge. I've never had the problem and I've been tacking the track with ME nails for the past 20+ years.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Hi there,

Tom,your work is looking great.Big progress is going on ....

Cheers,Chris

Hey Chris,

It's been a long time, thanks for stopping by. I have been busy on trhe layout. And, more is coming.

Tom

[S&S RR]

Tom

You are moving right along - retirement is agreeing with you.  I decided to go back to full time retirement myself for now, working was everything I remembered it was.

[ACL1504]

Tom

You are moving right along - retirement is agreeing with you.  I decided to go back to full time retirement myself for now, working was everything I remembered it was.

John,

Thanks very much. I has been alot more fun than working part time after the first retirement.

Something really big will have to come my way to even entice me out of retirement this time around.
I've come to the conclusion that working after retirement just isn't worth all the extra taxes that come with it!
Tom