The New Oakville Sub

Jim Reising Jun 23, 2008

  1. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Another busy week on The Oakville Sub, building spline roadbed and beginning to lay track. Finally got to where I could lay the concrete tie flex:
    [​IMG]
    Here's an overall view of the room showing the finished spline:
    [​IMG]

    And I punched my first hole through the wall. I will eventually go through three walls...
    [​IMG]
    Finally an arty (out of focus) shot from the other side of the hole:
    [​IMG]
    Next week there'll be track in that hole...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 6, 2008
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  2. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looks like perfect use for a TUNNEL!;)
    Very nice progress so far, and thanks for the great spline info!
     
  3. GaryHinshaw

    GaryHinshaw TrainBoard Member

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    Jim:

    Are you laying cork directly on the splines or is there some intermediate sub-roadbed layer? It looks like the cork is hanging over in that first shot, so I'm curious how you are planning to join the scenery to the roadbed.

    Cheers,
    Gary

    P.S. I'm so jealous! ;)
     
  4. Newman

    Newman TrainBoard Member

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    Spline roadbed, AND concrete ties?? Your making me want to kick my boat out of the garage and start another layout....;) I am LOVING this layout....BTW, did you ever post a trackplan for this?? And where do you live....??????
     
  5. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    I think I am going to have to go the concrete tie route as well, just like the prototype I am modeling. Was going to use Atlas code 55 for all of my track to save some $$$, but after seeing how good the ME concrete track looks it is a must have (if I can find the stuff anywhere in stock!) Jamie
     
  6. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Correct, Gary. I'll be using cardboard strips hot glued to the spline. I may shave even more of the cork in the wider areas to have a uniform ballast look.

    Trackplan is earlier in the thread - I decided to take Jerry DeBene's approach and keep it all in the same place for ease of reference. We live in Middle Tennessee, about a half hour south of Nashville...Spring Hill to be specific.

    I gotta tell ya, Jamie, I am LOVING this track. It flexes easier than the wood tie version but still holds it's shape, and I have found a way to avoid using rail joiners! It looks fantastic, and lays incredibly well!

    Getting it will likely be problematic. I've had some on order since early May. Now, assuming Wig-Wag ordered from ME immediately, it would appear ME is up to their old tricks of sporadic production. And I was the guy who cleaned out woo woo woo's after seeing they had some in stock....and I've got enough to last a while, fortunately. I haven't tried any others, so there MAY be stock somewhere. I did note Walthers shows inventory...

    Thanks to all for the views and questions! Back to the basement!
     
  7. Newman

    Newman TrainBoard Member

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    Just awesome...what I like, long runs, little clutter=long trains, a couch and beer to watch them go by. Nice.

    One thing, I looked at your plan and noticed one thing....crossovers..are you going to install any?? My last layout, I used these from a guy off ebay....

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=220157993829&Category=19127&_trksid=p3907.m29



    I used him exclusively on my layout, and HIGHLY recomend him. He uses ME code 55 rail and his work is flawless. Used about 35 switches from him, before I sold the layout due to a move....you are giving the bug again to start anew.....here are some test shots I still have from the old layout, I had more, but my hd crashed, and they didn't make it......


    [​IMG]






    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    Yes, that is a schnabel car from OMI, and yes, it did love these turnouts....never worked on any other layout the way it worked on this one....best to you, thanks for the great pics, they are truly inspiring....(at least to me, LOL);)
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. Newman

    Newman TrainBoard Member

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    Same switch, with a CHTT coal car crossing over, plus a look at the crossover by itself......



    [​IMG]


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    Attached Files:

  9. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Newman, there will likely be some crossovers but I haven't decided where just yet. The same goes for sidings - there WILL be a few. I originally thought to use Atlas for these, but the yard switches were custom built by our own Rob de Rebel, and I'm very happy with them.


    My main drive now is to get staging functioning and thoroughly tested before scenery or going into the main area.

    I plan to get across the doorway (just to the right of where I came through the wall) and then do a temporary loop so I can run trains for testing purposes. If I can pull this off, that will allow me to run a long train (or two) continuously while working on the main area...
     
  10. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Another busy week in Oakville!
    Here's another picture showing a different method of joining ME concrete tie track. The rear track uses conventional joiners, the front track the new method. For more info see the thread "Look Ma, No Joiners!
    [​IMG]
    We're through the wall and now have a bridge over the doorway. It's not exactly what I first pictured, but it's fairly lightweight and goes in and out easily with good alignment.
    [​IMG]

    Finally I put a temporary loop in for testing purposes. This is as far as I'll go until probably late October or until I'm comfortable with all the trackwork in the south room.
    [​IMG]

    Testing so far goes well - I had a three unit 75 car train go all around the layout with absolutely no problems except a bit underpowered!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 6, 2008
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  11. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Jim, Looking good as usual! I take it that bridge is fixed (not removable/movable)? I think the lower level bridge across the doorway is my next project, but mine will need to be of swing down/out variety. Jamie
     
  12. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Goes in and out very easily, Jamie. It was not what I originally planned, I was going to use a downspout as support for the subroadbed but covered four screws with roadbed and track and didn't want to change that once I got it done. So I ripped another length of hardwood and screwed it to the subroadbed - trashing a piece of track in the process!

    But it's in, it's lightweight, sturdy, and alignment after a move is simple.

    Actually burying those screws was pretty much the first stupid thing I've done this time around - so far!
     
  13. GregK

    GregK TrainBoard Member

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    Ack!

    We're going to have to wait that long for more updates! J/K! Looks really, really good. Can't wait to see your next steps.
     
  14. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    This will likely be my last appearance here for some weeks; coming up on a little vacation and then houseguests which will limit my train time. Here's a shot of a rack train on the temporary loop:
    [​IMG]

    Testing is going well. I've found only two minor issues with the trackwork and will address them on a preventive basis at a later date. I am able to routinely run 80 car trains without problems and now have three different trains of that size in staging. I'm happy to report that our friend Rob de Rebel's switches are performing yeoman duty with no problems.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 6, 2008
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  15. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Man that is a whole lot of articulated autoracks! Looking good (as always). Jamie
     
  16. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    The Oakville Sub's staging area had a busy week. It's testing time, and I found several very minor glitches in the trackwork that were easily fixed.

    I figure the best way to test is to run trains, and that's what I've been doing. The three are pictured below. The longest is 81 cars of general merchandise but the other two aren't all that much shorter - a long auto rack train and an equally long baretable move. I figure these would turn up any issues, and they did.

    I just put a fourth train on; a loaded double stacker, and wouldn't you know it, the Kato Maxi IVs found another spot! Nothing else has had a problem with this stretch of track, but there's no way the Katos will pass it without a problem. But that's why I test!
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 6, 2008
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  17. jagged ben

    jagged ben TrainBoard Member

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    I'm not surprised actually. The Kato's will have a different wheel flange than anything else, plus those couplers are not so forgiving.

    I think the planning, thoughtfulness, and patience you put into making a good layout are an example for us all.
     
  18. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Thank you, Sir! It's simply experience that tells me the time spent now will repay itself many times in the future.

    Saturday I ran the three long trains simultaneously through each of the five available staging tracks without a single issue of any kind. Today I'll fix the area the Katos didn't like, and later this week will begin the next stage of benchwork.
     
  19. mavrick0

    mavrick0 TrainBoard Member

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    Looking great so far and can't wait to see the next update and the continuation of the layout.

    Care to share what kind of issue you ran into while testing for the rest of us to watch out for on future projects?
     
  20. clarkrw3

    clarkrw3 TrainBoard Member

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    Love the layout and trains...look forward to every update!!!
     

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