The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[GPdemayo]

Oh boy.....Bill will be going around in circles Saturday! 

[bruce.oberleitner]

The ACL East Coast Champion made the maiden run on the new bascule bridge over the Suwannee River.



The run was so smooth the travelers didn't even spill the coffee.



Looks like the end to me.

Uncle Tommie, I'm surprised by you!  It's wasn't the coffee that the passengers where concerned about spilling but it was there "Diet Pepsi" bottles!

hehe

[cuse]

Tom,
I'm sure you're way ahead of me on this, but don't forget to paint the water surface where the pilings will be before you fasten it.


don't ask how I know to do this


John

[donatode]

Tom,
I'm sure you're way ahead of me on this, but don't forget to paint the water surface where the pilings will be before you fasten it.


don't ask how I know to do this


John

O.K. John, I won't ask you how you know!!!!    ?

[ACL1504]

Good Evening Tom,

That Bascule bridge looks much better on your layout than it did on mine. Speaking of finding lost things, the other day I was digging around looking for something and I find the other end of the bridge. You solution is much better that what the manufacturer provide, so I didn't want to slow you down.  Progress is really looking great.  I have been spending some time trying to clean out my mothers house. At 99, there is now way she can go back to it. I am also finishing up the details on O.V. Hooker and Tucker & Cook. Next week, I begin the journey on East End Market. Raymo has been doing  a great job ferreting out the details for me.

Keep posting pictures of your wonderful layout. Quick Question. At what level do you go down the center of your room for the passenger depot? I sort of lost the picture.

Frank / Erieman

Morning Frank,

Thanks for stopping by. I never liked the addition to the bridge that came with the kit. Like you, I prefer my own solution.

Good luck on getting the stuff cleaned out of your mother's home. When I did it for my dad I found all kinds of good stuff. You can't assume anything you find in the house junk. I found some old books with $2.00 bills between the pages.

I can't wait to see how you build the East End Market. And, Raymo sure is good at helping other modelers.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Looking good and moving fast. Nice work!


John

John,

Thanks Butty, much appreciated. Being retired sure helps to keep things moving.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Beautiful work on the bridge.  Nice looking train crossing the bridge also.  Are those F or E units?

Bob,

Thanks very much. The bridge was a fun build. The ACL units are E7's by BLI and all are powered.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Oh boy.....Bill will be going around in circles Saturday! 

Butty Greg,

Yes, I believe he will.

Tom

[ACL1504]

color=purple]The run was so smooth the travelers didn't even spill the coffee.[/color]






Uncle Tommie, I'm surprised by you!  It's wasn't the coffee that the passengers where concerned about spilling but it was there "Diet Pepsi" bottles!

hehe

Cousin Brucie,

I think you need more Diet Pepsi. In 1951 there was NO Diet Pepsi to be had. Hence, the coffee. Pepsi maybe, but no DP!

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom,
I'm sure you're way ahead of me on this, but don't forget to paint the water surface where the pilings will be before you fasten it.


don't ask how I know to do this


John

John,

Yes, I'm right there. You can see in some of the above photos where I've been testing some colors for shallow, medium and deep water.

The bridge area isn't finished, I still need to plant some pillings around the trestle and left side of the bridge.

Thanks for mentioning it. Don't ask how I know either. I've made that mistake 5 layouts ago.


Tom

[ACL1504]

This is probably a no brainer for most but it's been on my mind now for several years to mention.

When I see pictures of layouts, one of the things I look at is the trackwork. Specifically with curved trackwork. The trackwork needs to be smooth in the curves. If you are using flex track or hand laying track the solution is the same.

However, let me mention the problem first. Say you are using a three foot section of track or rail and you come up short in the curve or your 38" radius. A great majority of people just slip on a rail joiner, solder it to another piece of straight rail or track and spike it down continuing the curve. The problem here is that you create a very small/short section of straight rail in the curve. It's not that noticeable to the eye but trust me you rolling stock trucks will notice it.

The solution is simple but requires a little more patience in the track laying department.

Prior to bending/making the curve I want/need, I solder two straight sections of track together.



When the track is then bent/curved to your radius, you have a much smoother curve and your train will appreciate the effort.

In the past I've found it necessary to solder three sections together prior to laying the track on the curve. The bending of flextrack in 9 foot sections is very difficult but then again you get what you pay for.



Each of the curved track in the photo below has two 3' sections soldered together prior to spiking them to the cork roadbed.



Hope this helps someone.

[S&S RR]

This is probably a no brainer for most but it's been on my mind now for several years to mention.

When I see pictures of layouts, one of the things I look at is the trackwork. Specifically with curved trackwork. The trackwork needs to be smooth in the curves. If you are using flex track or hand laying track the solution is the same.

However, let me mention the problem first. Say you are using a three foot section of track or rail and you come up short in the curve or your 38" radius. A great majority of people just slip on a rail joiner, solder it to another piece of straight rail or track and spike it down continuing the curve. The problem here is that you create a very small/short section of straight rail in the curve. It's not that noticeable to the eye but trust me you rolling stock trucks will notice it.

The solution is simple but requires a little more patience in the track laying department.

Prior to bending/making the curve I want/need, I solder two straight sections of track together.



When the track is then bent/curved to your radius, you have a much smoother curve and your train will appreciate the effort.

In the past I've found it necessary to solder three sections together prior to laying the track on the curve. The bending of flextrack in 9 foot sections is very difficult but then again you get what you pay for.



Each of the curved track in the photo below has two 3' sections soldered together prior to spiking them to the cork roadbed.



Hope this helps someone.

Great tip Tom - I would add that you want to be careful how far you go with soldiered sections of track.  You need expansion and contraction joints because it is very easy to get a expansion buckle in the track that can spoil that beautiful continuous curve. If you are modeling mountains - like some of us crazy people - the buckles always show up in the tunnels where you can't see them. 

[LongHornCaddy]

Love this Tom!

[ACL1504]

Great tip Tom - I would add that you want to be careful how far you go with soldiered sections of track.  You need expansion and contraction joints because it is very easy to get a expansion buckle in the track that can spoil that beautiful continuous curve. If you are modeling mountains - like some of us crazy people - the buckles always show up in the tunnels where you can't see them.

John,

Thanks for adding to ther post. I should mention that I leave several places around the layout track work where the rail joints aren't soldered. To help with the track staying in line yet letting it expand/contract with the weather, I use Atlas "N" scale code 80 rail joiners. They are much smaller and fit tighter than the HO rail joiners.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Love this Tom!

Leo,

I'm gald you are enjoying the thread. Thanks for stopping by.

Tom