Ogden & Cache Valley, Part II

[TomO/Tloc]

Great work

[Onewolf]

Theorizing the track positioning where the Oregon Shortline (single track mainline) splits off from the UP double track mainline that heads west to Nevada (not being modeled).



The double track mainline will stop at the benchwork edge. This track will not be powered to reduce the liklihood of a deathly fall to the floor. 

[Philip]

That is a great house and wonderful layout!



Philip

[Jerry]

Your doing a great job laying that track.  I like your weights at least if you get thirsty you don't have to go far!! 

Jerry

[Philip]

Your doing a great job laying that track.  I like your weights at least if you get thirsty you don't have to go far!! 

Jerry

Priceless

[Onewolf]

More progress. I have completed the mainline around the center platform.  The next step in track laying _would_ be the helix, but I think I am going to switch to working on the turnout/occupancy detection for the lower return loop.

Gluing down the double track mainline that _would_ head west to Nevada. I am not modeling that so this track will not be powered to avoid running trains off the edge. 

I should point out that traversing from the end/edge of the double track mainline here around the lower return loop and back to here is 332 ft. 



Mainline making a big curve and going through the backdrop into the helix entrance.



The Oregon Short Line single track mainline heads off on the left.  The double track mainline continues to the benchwork edge.



I avoid running track parallel to the front benchwork for aesthetic reasons.  You can also see my stash of Peco code 70 flex track and #6 turnouts that I will use when I come back and install the service/industry spurs.

[Onewolf]

Theorizing the path as the lower level mainline starts the helix. The helix will be 4 1/2 turns with double tracks (40", 37.5" radius) and connect the lower (40" elevation) and middle levels (60" elevation).



I did an inventory of my Union Pacific cabooses. I plan to install resistors across the caboose wheelsets in order for them to be detected by the RR-Cirkit BOD8 occupancy detectors and mark the "end of train".



I had my first soda can (ballast) casualty.  But he was a good soldier and did not burst.



I plan to shoot some train level POV video. It is remarkable how track level POV video highlights issues with trackwork.

[friscomike]

Howdy Doug,

That's some mighty fine benchwork and track. Does that camera rig clean track, too?    I'm looking forward to your videos.

Have fun,
mike

[ACL1504]

Doug,

Great idea to check track from track level. I did a test and found what I thought was straight track - in fact wasn't. The eye camera is a wonderful tool to use in getting the track the way it should be. That is, unless you are modeling an old branch line.

Looking good all the way around.

Tom

[Jerry]

Doug that is looking fine.
I like that little track macie!!

Jerry

[PRR Modeler]

It looks outstanding Doug.

[Onewolf]

I worked on the control/status panel for the lower return loop.  This is just a preliminary version to verify if I need to make any changes before a print a better version using my nice photo printer.

There are 62 connections (14 turnout toggle switches, 14 turnout status LEDs, 22 occupancy zone LEDs, and 12 PSX circuit breaker status LEDs)





And I have begun working on the helix to connect the lower (40") and middle levels (60").



My new Bosch jig saw is great. It has no trouble cutting two plywood thicknesses when cutting out these helix 1/4 arcs.  I did the first two sheets which will get me up into the second helix level.



This is my helix arc drawing tool. I mark the 37.5" and 40" radii.  The pivot point can be raised in 4" increments as the helix gets taller.

[friscomike]

Howdy Doug, nice work on the control panel.  The helix is off to a great start.  Have fun, mike

[PRR Modeler]

Great looking panel and electrical work. The helix is coming along nicely.

[Onewolf]

I finished building the helix and installed track power as I built it so I am able to run trains from the lower level up to the top of the helix.

The stats on the helix are:

    40" radius for outside upward track. 1.653% grade.
    37.5" radius for inside downward track. 1.76% grade
    4 1/8" rail to rail separation
    2 15/16" height from the roadbed to bottom of roadbed above (the overlapping doubled up roadbed is 1 3/16" thick). While this is fairly tight I model 1957 and my tallest rolling stock is 2 1/4" tall.
    4.56 revolutions (plus entry/exit track).
    Total length of track (using outside loop) hidden in "the helix" is 1259".

The helix consumes 3.3% of the sq ft of the layout room (about 1250 sq ft).

Each track of each level will be an occupancy zone and there will be occupancy zones for the entrance and exit turnouts for a total of 12 (5 x 2 + 2) zones.

Tasks left to complete: install NCE Switch-It mk2 to control lower and upper turnout Tortoises. Install RR_Cirkits BOD8 and FOBAs and connect to coils for occupancy detection/display.