Looking for sound proofing help with a postwar look.

Found the idea of Johnson Rubber Roadbed on another post.  It looks pretty expensive to do the whole layout looking at Ebay.  Unless it's something to find cheap at York?  Need mostly O72 and straights...

the layout looks nice.I imagine if you add foam or similar it might help a bit but if you screw all the way through to plywood again you will pretty much hear it. might be worth adding the homesite if you can get it. if you cut it by scoring it, it makes no mess at all which is how I cut it. but I paid 44 bucks sheet in my area but I only used it under the track for the most part I did not cover the entire layout with it.  

This is what worked for me. Before I added Homasote, I placed thin black foam pads under the steel track ties. To hold the track in place, small holes were drilled through the plywood using the holes in the steel track ties for location. Then, small black zip ties were used to hold down the track. One zip tie was placed down through the hole with the receiver head butting against the tie. A second zip tie was then installed on the tail under the layout and pulled snug. The plastic zip ties did not transmit the noise like a screw or nail would. Use of the zip ties was only required in some strategic locations to keep the track in alignment. 

I used 1/4" Styrofoam cut and contoured under tubular tinplate track from local hardware store and added ballast. The Styrofoam used to be cheap and did eliminate slot of the sound.

I could not get homasote where I live so I used ceiling tiles to deaden the noise.  At 2’x4’, they are a little more manageable and cut easily with a sharp utility knife.  I did use screws but very few, only to keep the track in line.  Also, the screws are not screwed down tightly.

If you're going to use Homasote or ceiling tiles (as Dan did), there's a secret for keeping the cutting dust down to a minimum:

        If dust is a problem ... (1/28/23) | Mellow Hudson Mike

BTW -- Johnson's rubber roadbed is not bad at helping with the noise.  I have some on my layout.  It's been out of production for a number of years though and is starting to get hard to find new or NOS.

Mike

I used 1/2" Baltic Birch multi-ply topped with 1/2" Homasote.  I screwed the track into the Homasote, but not through to the plywood.  The track is on 1/4" foam roadbed.  The whole result is a very quiet running main level.

I used thick shelf/drawer liners on my tubular O track 6x8’ apartment layout. It significantly reduced the noise and kept the track in place due to its gripping quality. I just put it down on the bare lumber and it didn’t move due to the weight of the track and trains. It’s relatively cheap and is easy to cut and paint. Pieces could be cut and slid into the tunnel. I also feel the bumpy look gives it a somewhat ballasted look…

Given how far you have already come, the best solution might be one installed beneath the table, to dampen the sound coming from the table itself, rather than trying to install isolation between the plywood and the track. Try the easier solutions before tearing things up. Even a table skirt might help some.

My original train board was 3/4 inch thick particle board, not the quietest but not too bad.  I used 1/2 inch plywood for the newer train board and it was very noisy, both boards had the 027 track screwed down.

I had an old truck inner tube (I know they have about disappeared) , about 1/8 inch thick and cut dozens of pieces, 1/2 in by 2 inches in size and installed them under each metal 027 tie, cutting holes for the screws with a hole punch.  This has reduced the noise to about the same as the 3/4 particle board and acceptable to me.

Others have mentioned using foam rubber for insulating the track from sound.  It probably will do a better job reducing sound than truck inner tubes.  Foam rubber will deteriorate in about 10 years or so, as the rubber or plastic that have bubbles will allow more surface area and let the air oxidize it.  This happens to speaker surrounds (usually foam rubber or plastic between the speaker paper cone and metal frame) and they have to be replaced any where after 10 to 15 years, but sadly many speakers are thrown away.  The rubber truck inner tubes will last way over 10 years.

Charlie

Thanks for all the replies!   I should have added that the area shown is complete as it’s an old photo.  We did add quite a bit around the edges with new plywood and the main loop is now all loose.  It does attach to the inner loops though so that’s where it gets complicated. The inside old track is all screwed down.  I will try and add a better photo when I’m home.

In my framework I used 16” centers and then carpet padding under the track.

here’s a photo that is recent. Everything closer to the camera from the edge of the mountain on the left-hand side is new. It would be easy to add homasotr this area but then I don’t know how it would transition down to the old that goes in the mountain.

Once you screw down through any sound deadening you have under the tracks into the wood the sound will transfer down to the floor. Therefore running these trains will echo or make more noise of some kind.
My layout is on a wooden floor suspended above my garage. There’s no great answer. Put foam or something under the tracks. Dont screw down into the wood unless you’ve addressed the problem of where the table legs meet the floor. Or  we just just be happy with the noise. After all it is a toy. 😜

obx

Looks like they don’t keep Homasote in my area.  I am wondering what the difference between doing something only under the track versus covering large areas with foam or Homasote sheets.  

I could do the zip tie method mentioned above with just some type of foam pieces under the ties.  

I could also try finding Homasote and covering plywood.   Wonder if anyone has fiddled with comparing different options.  

I never messed with any soundproofing but now we have teenagers and holy cow it gets loud in the basement haha!

Probably not a very useful idea for your current layout situation, but...

In touring a recently completed new home in the area, I admired the large, well-appointed theater room in the spacious basement.  Of course, the focus of it all was the HUGE wall-sized screen and excellent surround-sound system.  Lots of accessories...reclining seats, popcorn machine, wet bar, etc., etc., blah, blah.

Elsewhere in the finished basement was another large room with adjacent bathroom.  The owner commented that they had not decided on a use for this room, yet.  But I had that inescapable flash thought to myself...'What a GREAT room for a train layout!!'

And, then, to this thread's search that thought exploded (BOOM!) into an even greater thought!...(drum roll, please!)...

What if the train layout room was equipped with a video monitoring system and lighting/operation controls at multiple levels and flexibility to be viewed and managed from the theater room!!!  You could have the ultimate in relaxing, entertainment complete with variable sound (noise) control!!!!  From TOTAL silence (100% 'sound-proofing'), to awesome room-shaking sound of the layout's actual operation...or recorded and dubbed sounds of real trains, city scenes, farm scenes, machinery (accessories), etc., etc..  In fact, who would care if the smoke just escaped from the obsolete on-board sound circuit of your prized locomotive? 

And, HEY!!  If you should happen to have a derailment while the show is unfolding, you could quickly transition to a recoding of a recent newscast of an actual train derailment with all of the explosive chaos and unsubstantiated environmental mayhem being articulated in the best of journalistic and drone-viewed style!

Oh, the possibilities, the possibilities!  Now THAT'S  gotta be a better way to spend a few of those Powerball winnings, for sure!!!

Boy, that would impress the nit-picking relatives for sure, for sure!!  And keep those poking-fingered kids away from the actual layout...but thoroughly happy with a bag of popcorn and sugar-laced soda in their hands!

(Gotta slow down here.  The rocking chair is about to fly off the porch!)

Yep, it's a nice house, for sure.  Could be awesome, though!

Ciao for now.  And happy Sunday, y'all.

KD