A new beginning inspired from my old Central Midland Layout
- Thread starter Ericsauto
- Start date
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Yes Chet I am satisfied with it. no more than 2% in a 16' run. I think it will get me to the upper level just fine. My old layout was around 2.75% ( very close to 3% in some areas with tighter radius) and made it impossible to run bigger equipment. These are broad curves , slower rise and should be able to climb just fine.
Anyone see anything that would hinder that please let me know.
Always open for suggestions
Heck yeah I Am. Just told my wife that. I finished my other large radius on the other side tonight.
On the back side of the layout where the rise is real straight , that all will be in a tunnel. I really like the foam risers they are very straight.
PS- Great video Chet!
Thanks Wayne and Rico.
Yep that is how I did it. What is nice with the PECO track is it stays in place unlike the atlas that likes to spring back. Very nice to work with.
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So do I. Maybe I will give what I have left to someone starting out. On another note there are some sections of Atlas that I will use in the layout. Most track is PECO but will have a mix when it comes to turnouts as PECO does not have some stuff that I need.
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Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Had to use some heavy plywood on the ends for weight on the table. I am going to use some woodland scenics risers, foam and maybe some traditional risers. I guess a little of everything. May have to drill a little more than I wanted but for now this is the best plan
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Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Some risers and cork road bed installed
Let me tell you I was a little concerned installing some Woodland Scenics foam risers. After installing these I am really impressed. They say it is a 2% rise but I could only get about 1.85% rise from my measuring gauge which I am very pleased with. I think the best thing I did was after I installed them I took a light cheese grader tool and made sure there was no high spots. Then I used Woodlands Foam tack glue to the cork roadbed down. I choose cork only because I am used to using it and I would not use the Foam roadbed Woodland makes. So this is the start. I decided I was going to do the big radius on both ends of the layout like I said in my previous post and that still seems like a good idea. Now I have a start and I can't wait to start laying track.One problem with the track though. I opened the box to check it out and realized my hobby shop gave me code 100 instead of code 83. So they reordered the correct track. Oh well I have a lot of other things to get done first. The outside turn is 34 degrees and the inside is 32 degrees. I can live with that , It should run anything I want to put on the track. Here are a few pictures. I will keep posting as I go.
Let me tell you I was a little concerned installing some Woodland Scenics foam risers. After installing these I am really impressed. They say it is a 2% rise but I could only get about 1.85% rise from my measuring gauge which I am very pleased with. I think the best thing I did was after I installed them I took a light cheese grader tool and made sure there was no high spots. Then I used Woodlands Foam tack glue to the cork roadbed down. I choose cork only because I am used to using it and I would not use the Foam roadbed Woodland makes. So this is the start. I decided I was going to do the big radius on both ends of the layout like I said in my previous post and that still seems like a good idea. Now I have a start and I can't wait to start laying track.One problem with the track though. I opened the box to check it out and realized my hobby shop gave me code 100 instead of code 83.
So they reordered the correct track. Oh well I have a lot of other things to get done first. The outside turn is 34 degrees and the inside is 32 degrees. I can live with that , It should run anything I want to put on the track. Here are a few pictures. I will keep posting as I go.
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Yes Chet I am satisfied with it. no more than 2% in a 16' run. I think it will get me to the upper level just fine. My old layout was around 2.75% ( very close to 3% in some areas with tighter radius) and made it impossible to run bigger equipment. These are broad curves , slower rise and should be able to climb just fine.
Anyone see anything that would hinder that please let me know.
Always open for suggestions
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
The grade shouldn't be a problem. The curves are broad and should look really good. With the broader curves there shouldn't be a tendency for cars at the front of a long train to want to tip to the inside of the curve. Just posted this video on the coffee shop. I went and super elevated my curves and at the top of the grade the first few car of the train (not in the video) were getting a little tipsy but did not derail. The curve at the top of this grade is about a 42 inch radius. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFIIWvaTiIk
Also the broader curves don't look toy like and are easier to blend into scenery.
You must be chompin' at the bit waiting for the code 83 flex to come in. Waiting for updates.
Also the broader curves don't look toy like and are easier to blend into scenery.
You must be chompin' at the bit waiting for the code 83 flex to come in. Waiting for updates.
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Heck yeah I Am. Just told my wife that. I finished my other large radius on the other side tonight.
On the back side of the layout where the rise is real straight , that all will be in a tunnel. I really like the foam risers they are very straight.
PS- Great video Chet!
Last edited by a moderator:
BigE
Active Member
I have one word: "drool".
I would love to have something like that work with. Money would be a different matter of course.
Had enough to order a hand making tree kit last weekend. That's about all I can do for now until I build some funds back up. Still don't really know anything putting in roads really.
Eric, your stuff is looking really good so far. Keep going. I've probably said before, but worth repeating, I'd love to be a helper on your effort.
I would love to have something like that work with. Money would be a different matter of course.
Had enough to order a hand making tree kit last weekend. That's about all I can do for now until I build some funds back up. Still don't really know anything putting in roads really.
Eric, your stuff is looking really good so far. Keep going. I've probably said before, but worth repeating, I'd love to be a helper on your effort.
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Thanks Wayne and Rico.
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Track work has Begun.
I spent a lot of time this weekend finishing some more benchwork and yes I started laying track. Like I said I wanted to get the radius done first .Everything I am doing is new to me. New PECO track ( Which is the BEST I have ever worked with), glued down Cork roadbed and glued down track. No nails at all ( So Far) I have been very picky laying it out. I am using some radius tools to make sure it is as perfect as possible.I can't wait to test run, but that will be a while. It will be like the Trans Continental Railroad and I can't wait till they meet.
. I laid down about 23 sections of flex track and I have a long way to go. Already have a ton of design changes going through my mind. Dang this is going to cost me!! 
But that is what we do this for.
Here are some more Pictures.
I spent a lot of time this weekend finishing some more benchwork and yes I started laying track. Like I said I wanted to get the radius done first .Everything I am doing is new to me. New PECO track ( Which is the BEST I have ever worked with), glued down Cork roadbed and glued down track. No nails at all ( So Far) I have been very picky laying it out. I am using some radius tools to make sure it is as perfect as possible.I can't wait to test run, but that will be a while. It will be like the Trans Continental Railroad and I can't wait till they meet.
. I laid down about 23 sections of flex track and I have a long way to go. Already have a ton of design changes going through my mind. Dang this is going to cost me!! But that is what we do this for.Here are some more Pictures.
Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Nice work so far Eric, you need to start putting trees now....lol
Model Railroader usually advises a bead of caulking along the centerline, then spread with a small trowel/scraper to the width of the track, tacking the track down onto it with push pins till set.
Alan Curtis
Member
Good to see progress
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Yep that is how I did it. What is nice with the PECO track is it stays in place unlike the atlas that likes to spring back. Very nice to work with.
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Sorry to hear that as I already have a LOT of that Atlas track
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear that as I already have a LOT of that Atlas track
So do I.
Maybe I will give what I have left to someone starting out. On another note there are some sections of Atlas that I will use in the layout. Most track is PECO but will have a mix when it comes to turnouts as PECO does not have some stuff that I need.
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