Adding a scaletrax line.

Last week I finished the Wye and wired a majority of the scaletrax switches. Today, after a long 24hour shift at the firehouse, I decided to tackle the rest of the yard and reversing loop. I worked on it steadily for 6 hours unitl I had to get some shut eye. Here is some pics more to come later.

GEF; How did you connect the Wye? I went with Ross Custom O-72 Wye's for my Scaletrax as I haven't heard MTH listing that switch yet.
Ross Custom makes a nice switch, but the rail profile its a bit taller. I'm reducing the underlayment thickness for them.

Hi Russell, Scaletrax has been a learning process to say the least. I made the wye with three 054 switches and flex track. I wish MTH would come out with some more alternatives to the swithes they offer. Once I get done this section of the layout, I will probably move on to taking the up the fastrack and making the entire layout scaletrax. The layout will never be done, I always like having something to work on.

George

I thnk Scaletrack is the best looking of all the kinds of track.
San Fernando Valley CA.

I am finally back on a 24 hrs on/ 72hours off work schedule. This allows ample opportunities to do many things including work on the layout. So this week I worked on suggested change from my friend Jeff( pennsy484). He suggested adding a wooden trestle to the fastrack line. This opens things up a bit and adds more interest. In addition, I also finished laying the scaletrax in the yard. Take a look.

quote:

Originally posted by GEF:
I am finally back on a 24 hrs on/ 72hours off work schedule. This allows ample opportunities to do many things including work on the layout. So this week I worked on suggested change from my friend Jeff( pennsy484). He suggested adding a wooden trestle to the fastrack line. This opens things up a bit and adds more interest. In addition, I also finished laying the scaletrax in the yard. Take a look.


...

You have a vertical kink at the joint of the turnout and the straight track. The cause looks like your sub-roadbed having its joint right under the track joint. If you can shorten the straight track by about 5 inches, move the turnout five inches past where the grade begins, and put in a 10-inch solid piece of track anchored at the ends and in the center, that should smooth things out. Operationally, you may have some pilots hitting the center rail and shorting out.

Matt, That vertical kink has been bothersome.The grade is pretty steep for fitting in that area. Most of my engines go over it fine but I am having trouble with some of my Williams passenger cars. I may take out the 054 switch and make put in a #6 switch.

George

George, I would try and adjust your plywood roadbed and shim it up so that it matches the yellow line in the photo & a #6 switch would definitely be a better choice.

George, I agree with Al in that I too would try to adjust the angle of this particular track so that it has a smoother transition. I think you'll be happier in the long run and it will be easier to do now than later. Your trestles look great.

Everyone have a great weekend.

Ken

quote:

Originally posted by Dennis Rempel:
I thnk Scaletrack is the best looking of all the kinds of track.
San Fernando Valley CA.

Completely agree....although Atlas is pretty nice and with some work, Gargraves can quite real looking as well.

Al, Thanks for your help. I placed some shims under the plywood and it seems a lot better than it was. I still think its too steep of a grade but it will have to do for now.


George

Hi George,

The trestles are looking pretty good. I see you ran a line under the raised part of the scaletrax line. Where does that connect? Or is it a spur?

Have you considered eliminating that whole grade and connecting that new line that goes underneath to the exiting line, down on the same level, with a switch track? That would be a nice flow for the train to run over the bridge in front of the door, under the trestle bridge, past the yard tracks, then coming back out back under the trestle and in front of the older layout. You can use the part that was the grade to access your reversing loop, or to just have another shorter run around the standing area in the room.

Hey George;

The changes are looking great. Keep up the good work.

This week I completed the remaining track work and wired the rest of the turnouts. Since everything is running smoothly, I am going to take a break from working on the layout until after Christmas. With exception of installing my Lionel Legacy. Which we all know is as easy as one wire.

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I like the new line underneath. Cool!

This week I put to all those cardboard boxes from Christmas to good use and started scratchbuilding a coal breaker. Here is some new pics of the layout and what I was working on this week.