Track noisy after ballasting

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P

Phoenix

New Member
My track structure is 3/8" plywood, 1/2" Homasote, and Woodland Scenic foam roadbed. I ballasted a few areas leading into tunnels and areas I won't be able to reach after scenery is applied. Trains run very quiet until hitting the ballast areas and then the noise level increases dramatically. I use diluted white glue and spray the area with alcohol before and after adding the glue. When dry, the ballast is as hard as a rock (pun intended), so I can see where the noise comes from and would like to figure this out before ballasting the rest of the layout.

I'm careful about keeping the ballast between the rails below the ties and off the rail sides but what a pain in the backside (literally). I heard of using Matte Medium instead of white glue but that it can also be noisy. Ahhhhh... another challenge..! YAY!

Ms. PHoenix
 
Phoenix said:
My track structure is 3/8" plywood, 1/2" Homasote, and Woodland Scenic foam roadbed. I ballasted a few areas leading into tunnels and areas I won't be able to reach after scenery is applied. Trains run very quiet until hitting the ballast areas and then the noise level increases dramatically. I use diluted white glue and spray the area with alcohol before and after adding the glue. When dry, the ballast is as hard as a rock (pun intended), so I can see where the noise comes from and would like to figure this out before ballasting the rest of the layout.

I'm careful about keeping the ballast between the rails below the ties and off the rail sides but what a pain in the backside (literally). I heard of using Matte Medium instead of white glue but that it can also be noisy. Ahhhhh... another challenge..! YAY!

Ms. PHoenix
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I agree with Marlin39 and please define what “noisy” is to you. I have my 2” foam glued down to 1/2” framework cut from 4’x8’ sheet. Then I have cork roadbed glued to the foam with Elmers GlueAll and the track again glued to the cork. 95% of my layout is ballasted with the ballast held in place by a 50/50 mix of water and Elmers GlueAll.

What I hear is the diesel with sound traversing the trackwork hauling 10 to 15 cars behind it. Bells, Whistles and a rumbling diesel locomotive is sweet music to my ears. For others it’s just noise

I hope you can find a solution suitable for your ears

I’ll stay tuned
 


Marlin39 said:
You need to define "noisy". Foam roadbed on top of homasote is going to be very quiet....especially in N scale.
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It's a loud hollow growling sound . Actually, I think it may be the tunnels echoing as I have them lined several inches and the ballast goes a short way in. I have some ballasted track that's not in a tunnel so I need to compare the loudness. Actually I think it's mostly the locomotives causing the noise, which would make sense. Thanks for the replies everyone...!
 
TLOC said:
I agree with Marlin39 and please define what “noisy” is to you. I have my 2” foam glued down to 1/2” framework cut from 4’x8’ sheet. Then I have cork roadbed glued to the foam with Elmers GlueAll and the track again glued to the cork. 95% of my layout is ballasted with the ballast held in place by a 50/50 mix of water and Elmers GlueAll.

What I hear is the diesel with sound traversing the trackwork hauling 10 to 15 cars behind it. Bells, Whistles and a rumbling diesel locomotive is sweet music to my ears. For others it’s just noise

I hope you can find a solution suitable for your ears

I’ll stay tuned
Click to expand...
I remember the old Lionel and AF days when the trains were loud and ran 90 mph...lol...! Oh, the layout is open framework so the that will amplify the sound. I think I'm figuring it out!
 
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Just went down and ran a train over most of the ballasted areas. Taking a closer look I think I have a few pieces of ballast that are up against a rail in a few places and that's where I get the noise. Guess I need to get the MOW crew out and check, they're not doing anything anyway...!
 
When I get that loud hollow growling sound it’s usually because SWMBO found a price tag.
Seriously tho ballasting does make a more “solid connection” so to speak with the wheels and the layout base.
Removing the rock you discovered from contacting the rail will help.
 


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