I have a question concerning experiances in using bridge tracks on modules. According to the Z-bend standard Marklin 8592 telescoping track should be used as a bridge tracks. How do you approach the problem of ballasting end part of the module ? "Normal" tracks are glued to the module and ballasted. In case the end part is ballasted without telescoping track there might be a problem of leveling "normal" and bridge tracks. I can imagine that bridge track will be a bit higher due to the layer of ballast ... I plan to join my modules with Marklin 8592 so I must make a decision: Ballast or not to ballast the end of the module. Pawel
Do not Ballast the end where the 8592 expansion track will sit. Ballast will prevent the "Bridge Track from sitting level and make it very difficult to connect. I use a cork road bed under my track and ballast right up to the last tie on the normal track and along the sides of the roadbed right up to the end of the module leaving the top of the cork roadbed where the 8592 will sit untouched. Than I paint the top of the roadbed to match the ballast. This keeps the track level and gives me a little wiggle room or side to side movement in event the connecting module tracks are not perfectly centered. David
You can ballast along the sides of the cork roadbed but don't paint/weather the 8592 track. Don't for get to cut off at least the first tie/sleeper on each end, to free up the rails (the rails should move independently of the ties. Do not expect the tie/sleeper expansion to remain as extended (it will eventually pull the rail with it - unless the first tie/sleeper are cut off *and* the rails allowed to easily slide). Also, peel off the cheap, thin Märklin joiners. Replace with Micro Trains, Micro Engineering Code 55 or even Altas. The Peco joiners are way too long and loose, compared to the previous 3. Also, sand down the roadbed, about 1mm (a little more at the module end), after the last module track tie/sleeper. This allows the 8952 to be slightly pressed down (to keep flat), compensate when modules are not horizontally aligned, track ends are not parallel to the module surface/perpendicular to the module end. *Especially* if using Micro Trains flex, as the rail head is about .015"/.4mm lower than Märklin. When you try to push the Märklin track onto the MTL flex, it creates a 'wedge' on the first ties of the Märklin 8592. This is also why it is important to sand down the roadbed for the 8592. If these are always your modules connected together, you can try pre-cut flex track. The slight angle change for each setup, temperature, etc, you will find that you need +/- 1-3mm each time you set up. So, a small growing pile of precut track. Now you can weather and even ballast the tops of the ties/sleepers and paint the roadbed under it.
Jeff, Thanks for your advices. I use only Marklin tracks so I do not have a problem of joining tracks of different producers. I will try to use your ideas based on experiances on my layout.
