| OLD PINE RAILROAD |
| How it all started |
| Planning |
| Custom storage barn |
| Laying track & switches |
| Landscaping / Grades |
| Locomotive (F.N. 2-6-0) |
| Rolling Stock |
| Scale Buildings |
| Hobby Suppliers |
Send me an email |
|
Laying track & switches...
I had some track left over from when I was a kid, so I decided to lay it out, and build the 2 switches.
Building switches is a real pain and it's time consuming. Be sure to gauge the track for every screw!
I've tried two different ways of connecting the harp switch kit to the switch points. The switch pictured on the left (red handle) is attached to a threaded rod with springs over the threads. In a perfect world, this would spring back when a car passed over, if it was switched the other way. I need to re-visit this next year as it's not working so great. The 2nd switch is just a direct throw. No springs. I also want to re-visit this switch next year.
As you can see in this next picture, we moved in lots of dirt fill to level out the track. The gondola took off like a roller coaster! Fun to ride on! But we leveled it out buy adding dirt and a retaining wall to hold back the dirt and gravel. Once I get the order of track in soon, I'll be able to finish the wall, add more fill, put down the weed barrier, and lay more rail. Then top off with more gravel to level.
Update 4/22/2011: I have received 200' of rail which I've already started laying. I have a gondola car full of ties waiting to be laid! This rail is for the main line, and will complete about 1/6th of the main. This shouldn't take more than a weekend or two to lay. I'm going to need more rail soon... :-)
More coming soon...
I had some track left over from when I was a kid, so I decided to lay it out, and build the 2 switches.
Building switches is a real pain and it's time consuming. Be sure to gauge the track for every screw!
I've tried two different ways of connecting the harp switch kit to the switch points. The switch pictured on the left (red handle) is attached to a threaded rod with springs over the threads. In a perfect world, this would spring back when a car passed over, if it was switched the other way. I need to re-visit this next year as it's not working so great. The 2nd switch is just a direct throw. No springs. I also want to re-visit this switch next year.
As you can see in this next picture, we moved in lots of dirt fill to level out the track. The gondola took off like a roller coaster! Fun to ride on! But we leveled it out buy adding dirt and a retaining wall to hold back the dirt and gravel. Once I get the order of track in soon, I'll be able to finish the wall, add more fill, put down the weed barrier, and lay more rail. Then top off with more gravel to level.
Update 4/22/2011: I have received 200' of rail which I've already started laying. I have a gondola car full of ties waiting to be laid! This rail is for the main line, and will complete about 1/6th of the main. This shouldn't take more than a weekend or two to lay. I'm going to need more rail soon... :-)
More coming soon...