You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Hump Yard Operation
- Thread starter Alcomotive
- Start date
ThirteenHorsehoes
New Member
Latest update -- without a control system yet -- not yet ready for any big "reveals" -- been busy with a different kind of grading (exams not tracks) -- should have more time to work on it in the next few weeks
I've been able to get fairly consistent rolling across 4 bowl tracks by shimming as needed -- since the benchwork underneath was not perfectly level -- the shimming perpendicular to the tracks is slightly different from one side of the yard to the other --
shimming adjustments are being made in increments the thickness of card stock along the length of the bowl-- I haven't had to resort to counting out sheets of paper yet
The average slope at the moment is only 3/4 of an inch over 9 feet (108 inches) which is a hair under 0.7 percent -- but the curve puts much of that in the first 3 feet where the switched are located
due to our particular space limitations, we have a short 33" radius bend in the bowl tracks at one point, but that doesn't seem to be causing any extra problems
The switches are not all Y's yet -- so there is probably a difference in friction going through the two different paths of the number 6 switches.
I am noticing that the small details of the track work do matter.....
I have noticed that my low-quality, pre-fab switches bow upward just a bit at the frog, causing the cars to hesitate as they go through the switches -- I'll need to tack the switches down better to level them out -- this might be a thermal expansion problem
the low-quality switch points also seem to be a bit too blunt for the wheels to pass easily, creating a need for a bit of extra speed going into the switches
likewise, the wheels hesitate at the less-than-perfect track joints between the 3-foot track sections -- creating a need for just enough speed going into the small "hole" between the track sections -- or the slight "bump" -- I suppose i could clamp the track ends in alignment
I've been able to get by with what most of you would regard as "sloppy" track work for most of the layout -- but getting that "slow roll into the bowl" is forcing me to be more finicky about track work
I've been able to get fairly consistent rolling across 4 bowl tracks by shimming as needed -- since the benchwork underneath was not perfectly level -- the shimming perpendicular to the tracks is slightly different from one side of the yard to the other --
shimming adjustments are being made in increments the thickness of card stock along the length of the bowl-- I haven't had to resort to counting out sheets of paper yet
The average slope at the moment is only 3/4 of an inch over 9 feet (108 inches) which is a hair under 0.7 percent -- but the curve puts much of that in the first 3 feet where the switched are located
due to our particular space limitations, we have a short 33" radius bend in the bowl tracks at one point, but that doesn't seem to be causing any extra problems
The switches are not all Y's yet -- so there is probably a difference in friction going through the two different paths of the number 6 switches.
I am noticing that the small details of the track work do matter.....
I have noticed that my low-quality, pre-fab switches bow upward just a bit at the frog, causing the cars to hesitate as they go through the switches -- I'll need to tack the switches down better to level them out -- this might be a thermal expansion problem
the low-quality switch points also seem to be a bit too blunt for the wheels to pass easily, creating a need for a bit of extra speed going into the switches
likewise, the wheels hesitate at the less-than-perfect track joints between the 3-foot track sections -- creating a need for just enough speed going into the small "hole" between the track sections -- or the slight "bump" -- I suppose i could clamp the track ends in alignment
I've been able to get by with what most of you would regard as "sloppy" track work for most of the layout -- but getting that "slow roll into the bowl" is forcing me to be more finicky about track work
ThirteenHorsehoes
New Member
Latest update -- without a control system yet -- not yet ready for any big "reveals" -- been busy with a different kind of grading (exams not tracks) -- should have more time to work on it in the next few weeks
I've been able to get fairly consistent rolling across 4 bowl tracks by shimming as needed -- since the benchwork underneath was not perfectly level -- the shimming perpendicular to the tracks is slightly different from one side of the yard to the other --
shimming adjustments are being made in increments the thickness of card stock along the length of the bowl-- I haven't had to resort to counting out sheets of paper yet
The average slope at the moment is only 3/4 of an inch over 9 feet (108 inches) which is a hair under 0.7 percent -- but the curve puts much of that in the first 3 feet where the switched are located
due to our particular space limitations, we have a short 33" radius bend in the bowl tracks at one point, but that doesn't seem to be causing any extra problems
The switches are not all Y's yet -- so there is probably a difference in friction going through the two different paths of the number 6 switches.
I am noticing that the small details of the track work do matter.....
I have noticed that my low-quality, pre-fab switches bow upward just a bit at the frog, causing the cars to hesitate as they go through the switches -- I'll need to tack the switches down better to level them out -- this might be a thermal expansion problem
the low-quality switch points also seem to be a bit too blunt for the wheels to pass easily, creating a need for a bit of extra speed going into the switches
likewise, the wheels hesitate at the less-than-perfect track joints between the 3-foot track sections -- creating a need for just enough speed going into the small "hole" between the track sections -- or the slight "bump" -- I suppose i could clamp the track ends in alignment
I've been able to get by with what most of you would regard as "sloppy" track work for most of the layout -- but getting that "slow roll into the bowl" is forcing me to be more finicky about track work
I've been able to get fairly consistent rolling across 4 bowl tracks by shimming as needed -- since the benchwork underneath was not perfectly level -- the shimming perpendicular to the tracks is slightly different from one side of the yard to the other --
shimming adjustments are being made in increments the thickness of card stock along the length of the bowl-- I haven't had to resort to counting out sheets of paper yet
The average slope at the moment is only 3/4 of an inch over 9 feet (108 inches) which is a hair under 0.7 percent -- but the curve puts much of that in the first 3 feet where the switched are located
due to our particular space limitations, we have a short 33" radius bend in the bowl tracks at one point, but that doesn't seem to be causing any extra problems
The switches are not all Y's yet -- so there is probably a difference in friction going through the two different paths of the number 6 switches.
I am noticing that the small details of the track work do matter.....
I have noticed that my low-quality, pre-fab switches bow upward just a bit at the frog, causing the cars to hesitate as they go through the switches -- I'll need to tack the switches down better to level them out -- this might be a thermal expansion problem
the low-quality switch points also seem to be a bit too blunt for the wheels to pass easily, creating a need for a bit of extra speed going into the switches
likewise, the wheels hesitate at the less-than-perfect track joints between the 3-foot track sections -- creating a need for just enough speed going into the small "hole" between the track sections -- or the slight "bump" -- I suppose i could clamp the track ends in alignment
I've been able to get by with what most of you would regard as "sloppy" track work for most of the layout -- but getting that "slow roll into the bowl" is forcing me to be more finicky about track work
