But, this weekend I have some switches to build for the east end of the yard. Got to gert to the turntable and service tracks for that coal bunker/sand tower and ash pits area.
Got a start on the switches, here's a few pics.... The layout, Tinned the stock rail, Made some frogs, And soldered stuff together in place,
Finished up the last switch last night. Now for the fine tuning of the frogs and guard/ closure rails. Always an issue when I 'free build' these. But that will have to wait until next week or weekend as this weekend we are going to the St. Cloud, MN trainshow. Hopefully it will be a good time! The 'west #8 for the backside of the coal bunker, The #6 to feed the bunker gondola's of coal, The east #8 for the front side of the bunker. Looking west, And a detail of the frog area of one of them. Needing some fine tuning, which is easy enough, but has to wait until next week.
The care and skill invested in such track work is nothing short of amazing. I have no interest in doing it myself ("a man's got to know his limitations,") but I enjoy the heck out of seeing it done so well by others.
Making my own track has always been one of my goals since getting into model railroading. I decided that the shear quantity of switches I need for this layout, it was time to learn how! Thanks for the compliments, but I see all the flaws that I need to fix yet!
I would blush, but you couldn't see it. Thanks a bunch! Made it to St. Cloud for the show, looks like it will be fun tomorrow!
Made it home, as seen by the other posted vid's. Got back to the layout last night for a bit and early this morning. Did some fixing and fine tuning on the frogs, added throw bars to the points, drilled holes for feeders and switches and soldered up the control switches. Fun!! The two tracks will be a loco 'ready' track and a service entrance track. Ash pit required on the entrance, sand on the ready side. Water tower of course, with a couple of risers. Nope, not going to get bored of this any time soon.
Having SNOW!! So, before the plowing began, I went and spent time working on the layout, switches. And just for fun, made a couple of video's.
Woke up to a chilly trainshed, and even chillier outside! Invigorating!! Dis some soldering of drops for power and the switch wires to the frogs, Got that done and added the service tracks and had to place the coalbin for a looksee!! And just so Rick and others feel better, and my electricians OCD gets crazy,,, here's a picture of the main buss (the 14ga speaker wire) and the drops attached to it. There is a method and a color code. Now, trains may be running again, soon.....
And had to run a couple of trains, just to clear the yard so as I can do the switch and track work in there....
Alan... I have been watching your layout work since the start. I am really impressed with what you have done and continue to do ! Your new handmade turnouts look great !! Add to that the fact that you can keep your steam engines running is more then impressive. As you know I am NOT a steam guy so guys who can keep n scale steamers running are to be applauded in my book ! .
