Another Sweethome track upgrade

It's been over 3 months since I last ripped up some track on the layout, so another upgrade is somewhat overdue. This time around, I want to replace a crossover at the right end of the layout with longer turnouts to allow the Branchline passenger cars to cross onto the front line without derailing


The existing crossover




The proposed crossover with Peco Code 75 long turnouts




Now to put on some good 'ripping-up music' and get started.

Jon

 

Are these #6 turnouts, Jon, or British style "long"...what are we dealing with here? What would the radius be if British style?

 

I am envious of your trackwork Jon. It is hard for me to ponder an "upgrade" on something that looks that good! I look forward to your progress.

Russ

 

Man, that's some nice looking ballasting.

 

The Peco 'long' turnout is slightly longer than their code 83 number 6 turnout but with a 15 degree frog angle. I would guess the track curve would equate to about 5ft radius, possibly a bit more.

The turnouts are now lifted and the cork roadbed cleaned up. I have also re-sited the under-track magnet, filling the resulting hole in the baseboard with some sponge from a 'campers bedroll', which was the ideal thickness - great stuff and has loads of modelling applications.






The newly 'dug' hole for the coupler magnet can be seen at tghe front of the layout.






I still need to drill the holes for the turnout motors and cover up the old holes with masking tape, to stop the new ballast escaping, before laying the new track.

Jon

 

I suggest you search for posts by "Jon Grant" to see some of the previous track upgrades. The track is indeed a model itself.

Go to the "Search" in the gray bar below the quick link logos at the top of each page. Get the drop down menu by clicking on "Search" and then click on "Advanced Search." You can search for member posts on the upper right. Just type in "Jon Grant" in User Name and select "Find threads started by user" and they will come up. It will be a good hour of looking and reading.

I'll try a link. Don't know if this will work.

Click here.

[edit] I just noticed that Jon has 126 threads of this type here on TB. It will take some time to go through them all. Just amazing! :thumbs_up:

 

Longer turnouts will pay the bill. But 15° is a big angle, I think. Even with some straight track you have some type of S-curve.
Good luck.

Wolfgang

 

That's one downside of the Peco 75 turnouts - they curve the whole way. Good for space, not very proto.

I have some long Kato Unitrack turnouts and they only curve between the toe of the blade and the frog; they are straight through the frog itself and beyond (I believe this is per most proto turnouts). This reduces the S curve effect, but makes them a LOT longer than the Pecos.

I've not seen a Peco 83. Maybe they are different from the 75 in this respect.

 

The new track is now in place and I have tested pushing and pulling a few Branchline heavyweights through the crossover - the reason for the upgrade - no problems at all.










Now to refit the turnout motors and reattach the wiring before laying the ballast.

Jon

 

Jon, you're a fast worker. :angel:

Wolfgang

 

I agree. You are a fast worker and this crossover does look better!

Russ

 

Thanks fellas, I don't hang about when I get started.

I have now reattached the turnout motors and the feeder wires, so I was able to lay the ballast last night. I add the ballast with a teaspoon, so I can control how much goes where, and brush away any surplus with either a small fine brush or pick it up with my fingertip.

I sprayed Isopropyl alcohol onto the dry WS medium ballast so that the glue could seep into it more easily. The watered down white glue was applied with an eye dropper, so as not to flood the area.








Here is how the crossover fits in with the track upgrade I did last November - where the caboose is.




Once the glue has dried fully, I will paint the track, ties and ballast, before drybrushing the ties and rusting up the rails.

Jon

 

The crossover has now been sceniced, weathered and tested, no problems found so far. I can now bring out the passenger train on the centre track and cross over to the front, so I no longer have to keep the front siding clear.

This in turn enables me to use the front spur as a holding/reception track for a stockyard and gives a reason to run stock cars on the layout. Up until now, I had no facilities for handling stock cars - I still don't, but I can suggest that there is a yard just beyond the bridge.










Now to get to work on some more stock cars for the layout.

Jon

 

Again, another beautifully integrated track change, Jon. Excellent!

 

Great modelling!

Wolfgang

 

Alan,

check your PMs. As far as I know, I'm booked to come to Spalding this year. Got the time off work and everything.

Jon