Why hand lay track?

I'm honestly not trying to be malicious here, and the question itself is prompted totally by curiousity;... why do some modellers hand lay their track?

While I understand the desire to build custom-turnouts to fit a prototypical scene, I can't fathom why any modeller would go beyond this and decide to lay rail for an entire layout by hand. What is gained by such an effort? I often see pictures of hand laid rail in Model Railroader and such, but it's not something I can pick out on my own, and the only way I know that track has been laid by hand is if told.

So, why do you (or your friends, or people you've met) do it?

 

I think that is it, Russell. Some dads want to have their children sleep in a home-made crib, and build it they must. I am not in that category because I just want my kids to have a safe and decent sleep. Similarly, I just want to play with my trains, so commercial track works for me.

 

Well, if we take the scale of bonkers running from 0 (completely sane) to 10 (completely bonkers), these guys are hitting about 9.


The average MRR only scores 8

 

I prefer commercial track, you can get more details.

When you spike your track, the spikes are heavy oversized. Therefore I like the Central Valley tie stripes.
That's the same with turnouts. For the next I would go with Central Valley ties, but make the frog by myself and use the PROTO:87 throw bar.


More at my Diamond Valley site.

Wolfgang

 

I enjoy building a model of the track my train use.

I gain a sense of accomplishment, not to mention the fact that the track is perfectly suited to the plan--no fudging to use sectional-track turnouts, for example.

It also looks good. Microspikes and real wood ties say 'railroad' much better than plastic every will.

Finally, there's the fact that I am helping to keep alive a technique that's been around for a very long time and was in danger of becoming extinct for a while.

 

Adding to the conversation here.

Just a historical note. When I first started playing with trains the only track available was the pre-fab anything but realistic track. The only way to get somewhere close to the prototype was to hand lay your own track. This meant cutting your own ties, coloring and in some cases milling your own track.

Today, with all the varieties of pre-fab and extremely realistic track available you can lay track, in no time at all. Not only does it look good but the metalallergies...hummm...must look that up sometime "Metalallergies". I don't think that is what I meant to say.

The science and engineering that has gone into our track has produced a viable, well functioning and superbly prototypical track. Designed to give hours of operation, positive performance and fun.

You can still hand lay your own track and things have improved in that department as well.

It's all about fun and what you want to do.

 

I know this should be in perhaps the Yellowpages, but I have a small box [1"x6.5"x10"] full of stained black wood ties for handlaying track; these ties would match the top profile of Atlas code 100 tie width, but they are square. There's perhaps 1000 and maybe 2000 of them in this box - send me a PM, make me an offer, get me a payment and they are all YOURS!

 

Most of the hand laid track I looked at in the past looked less realistic than good quality commercial track. Mostly it was the lack spikes and track details.

I know some get enjoyment out of it but if I ever wanted to get a sizable layout built in a decent amount of time, I think it would take too long to hand lay. Its a big enough job that having some commecial products helps speed things along and the end result can be excellent.

 

Using four spikes per tie and adding fishplates, etc., cures this.

 

I'd like to add something here. And I hope it's of value to the conversation. I run a business that is essentially keeping old knowledge and craftmanship alive. The longer I run it, the more I feel like I'm saving something that some future generation would just have to rediscover and try to piece together like some almost lost language.

In an age where everything is off the shelf and younger people are playing Guitar Hero for the instant gratification of "playing the guitar" rather than learn to play an actual guitar (for example), I think it's valuable for some or all of us to at least learn the technique of handlaying. Especially how to make a turnout from scratch.

I agree there is a place for commercially made track and turnouts. Especially for those that might not have the skill, eyesight, steady hands, etc. for doing it. I'm sure there are those that just plain don't have the interest. And there are parts of our hobby where you have to say, "ok, I MAKE everything else, I don't NEED to make EVERYTHING."

But I agree with Midnight, it's worth doing for some. I for one take pride in the fact that I can build a turnout that will function. I've even built some that in my opinion were more forgiving and functioned better as far as articulated steamers go. But that's just my opinion. I guess what I'm long-windedly trying to say is, I think it's valuable to know how to do it. Craftsmanship is craftsmanship, and that means making something from scratch (to me) that functions and looks right.

 

Having been out of the hobby for a few years, mind if I ask you, "where for art thou fishplates?"

And, "Micro Spikes"? I remember years ago just buying spikes. Are these MicroSpikes even smaller than the ones you could get ten years ago?

 

Mind you, prototype railways do precious little hand laying these days - specialwork is prebuilt as panels, taken to site and dropped in place, and plain track is (re)laid by humungous machines.

So perhaps you need to find out what your preferred prototype does

 

Well, IMHO, other than being able to custom build special flowing turnouts, I think you can lay more realistic track more quickly using commericial products. I realize some handlay track for the feeling of acomplishment or as a hobby within a hobby, but it isn't necessarily a means to a more realistic layout like it once was.

 

I just started modeling last month. I researched, researched and did some research. I find hand laid track very appealing, mainly from the modeling aspect.

I spent a little better than a week teaching myself to hand lay track. Straight and curve took a few hours to reach a point of being pleased with the results. I built a #6 turn out - took two tries and two evenings before it operated to my liking. Then I went bold. I spent three evenings and built a #8 dual crossover, and I couldn't be more pleased. My 15 year old daughter even said "cool." I next built a #10 turnout that operates flawlessly. It's the quietest turn out I have ever known. No Fast Tracks - I call mine slow tracks.

I finally started my layout Friday night. I have 16' of track down with ballast, 3 complete turnouts, and two additional turnouts half done. Like I said, slow tracks, but this is my hobby. I sketch my center lines and start laying roadbed and track. I get to the turnout and lay it in.

I couldn't be more pleased with my results. I'm getting faster and better as I go on.

My biggest concern was being able to do it. Believe me, it is easy! And the satisfaction, accomplishment, and flexibility are priceless.

The real question is why is this your hobby? Are you drawn to the modeling or is it the operation? Answer that question and then make it your hobby.

 

MP,

As someone just getting started myself, thats a very inspiring story. It means I need to get off my hind end, figure out where I'm going to put my layout, and get some benchwork going.

A little off-topic, and maybe you can help me in PMs. I'm from SW Michigan... you're a couple years older than I am, so maybe you can remember a little better.
I'm considering modeling SW Michigan (Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, etc) in the late 70's and through the 80's. I've already got a fair bit of rolling stock... from memory... and it brings back childhood memories. Lots of Conrail, Grand Truck, Chessie Systems, etc. I don't have a loco for that area and that time period. Can you help me with ideas? Loco types, road names, and paint schemes for those locos?

 

Sack,

Thanks - I have found a ton of inspiration from others, and I cannot thank them enough.

I'm relatively new to SW Michigan, so I'm not much of a resource. A good place to start is www.michiganrailroads.com

When I move on from my track work and start working on scenery I'll keep you in mind and send you links from other sights. I don't rememeber if it was on the above link, but I found a whole host of pics for the MCRR and NYC back in their days. I'm sure you can find some real photos for the time period and railroads you are looking for. The amount of info on the net is overwhelming at times, but thanks to railroading's popularity over the years there is plenty of material to work with.

As for myself, one of my property lines is defined by the abandoned MCRR Air Line which was shut down in 1937 (if I recall right). My idea is to create a modern MCRR to call my own. Since Micigan Central was consumed by the NY Central way back when, I figure I can create my own modern paint scheme and decal.

Have fun!
Mike

 

Thanks,
I'll have to check out that site for sure. I don't want to cause too much topic drift for this forum, but I do want to recommend a link for you... since you mention MCRR and the early 1900's in particular. I found this story fascinating. I hadn't finished it before lunch the other day so I printed the rest and took it with me to the restaurant... I just had to finish it.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7021/is_2_31/ai_n28319034