Part 1: This is the build of a crossing where a single track crosses a double track (not sure of the correct terminology). It will be hidden by a removable mesa (mountain) over it. The coal mine will appear to fill a train with empties by replacing that train with one where the cars are full. More on that ( HERE ). The double track will be two tracks going to the coal mines loading facilities. The single track is for the empty train to return to a hidden staging area. That track is hidden by a building at the coal mine and then by a mesa/mountain. Since the crossing won't be visible I made it using larger ties to make it as functional as possible considering where it will be located. I'll cover some of the points building the main parts of the crossing on this page and will finish the crossing on the next page. . . . . Information on the resistance soldering station I put together for about $200 ( HERE ). . . . . … to be continued.... You can also find this info and more on my site ( HERE ). Sumner
Looks great! I can't tell from the pics but it appears the tracks that join at right angles aren't electrically isolated from each other. If my observation is correct wouldn't that create problems with polarity reversal as the locomotive spans the intersection?
Good eye, they aren't yet and it would be a problem as it is now even without a loco on the tracks. On the other crossing I posted a few days ago I gapped them according to the Fast Tracks template. Using it they would be gapped correctly in most situations. Looking at my situation though as far as I can tell I need the opposite set of frogs gapped from the ones shown on the template. Now if I cut those the crossing will come apart so I have to go back and un-gap the ones I did and gap the other pair. Clear as mud? I didn't gap these according to the template I used until I'm sure I'm gapping the right set of frogs so still have to do that. Sumner P.S. Does anyone know what this crossing (single over double) is called? Found the answer on Fast Tracks. I should rename this to a 'double crossing'. Double over Double is called a 'Quad'. --------------------------------------------------
