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Highclere - Track Rework - Part I

-missy-

Entry posted by -missy-

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Hello :)

 

Finally I have faced my fear of the trackwork on Highclere. As mentioned in my last blog entry I really needed to get back on with the layout as it had been untouched since July last year mainly due to the poor running of the layout.

 

This time I have approached the track with a 'no compromise' kind of thinking and have started working through the first board. I have been checking things like track gauge, track joints, and how level the track is and I have been surprised how bad it actually was! If I couldnt 'tweak' the track into shape then it is being replaced.

 

blogentry-2065-0-99353800-1296923824_thumb.jpg

 

This was the first bit of track to come out. The section wasnt very level and I couldnt seems to flatten it out.

 

blogentry-2065-0-59676600-1296923830_thumb.jpg

 

This shows how level the track was in places........!!

 

blogentry-2065-0-93552200-1296923827_thumb.jpg

 

....so it had to come out.

 

blogentry-2065-0-62772400-1296923832_thumb.jpg

 

Some of the points need a bit of TLC too.

 

Still lots to do but it will be worth it and hopefully help with the fear of exhibiting the layout!

 

Missy :)

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Kris
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Are you going to use easitrack for the replacement sections?

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bcnPete
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Very brave and admirable - I have to consider the same thing some time (and am even contemplating a complete rework with easitrac :O) but I guess the dividends will return once the layout is regularly exhibited on the circuit and then you will be glad you did so.

 

At least its not the ballasted sections... ;)

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nick_bastable
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Missy I'm shocked thought it was only mortals like myself who had dodgy track,:good_mini:

 

Joking aside it looked to run ok at Expo so can only assume your after Rolls Royce quality of running perhaps I should take up another hobby...

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Chrislock

Julia - glad to see that even you have faults!! :P

Only joking, cos replacing uneven track and less than perfect turnouts is a pain, as I know only too well just now!

I'm sure your attention to detail and high standards will result in a layout which runs as fantastic as it looks!

Regards,

Chris

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-missy-

Thank you for the words of encouragement.

 

The track was originally laid a few years ago and at the time I had very little experience in track (and modelling in general). Since then I have learnt so much, not just about modelling techniques but in this instance track and the quality of it. Errors which were non-existant back then have now becomme glaringly obvious to me so it would be foolish not to spend time and fix them now.

 

Missy :)

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D869

I agree entirely - best to get the faults fixed - especially if they are making you not want to run your railway. We found all sorts of errors on our track when we took the calipers to it. I've really got no idea just how some of them were created, but created they were.

 

It's always painful to re-do stuff like this but I reckon it probably gets more painful the later you leave it because you'll probably have invested even more work that will get damaged or destroyed.

 

Andy

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Donw
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To be fair to yourself Missy when I was running the engine up and down at the GJ it stayed on the rails it just seemed to be dead spots.<br>One of the worst problems you can have with track apart from out of gauge is wind ( no not flatulence it rhymes with kind) where the two rails are going up or down in relation to each other. Its not easy checking level across the track particularly in 2mm. I remember MRJ featuring a track fault detector for P4 basically two W irons pivoted withan upright attached to each the ends of which were bent over to point to each other  if there is any wind the pointers move apart.  The association colin waite W irons would suit. As the uprights can be much taller than the height of the pivots above the rails you get magnification of any height difference.<br>If you do need to redo any ballasted sections soaking in really hot water will soften PVA.<br>Don<br>

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-missy-

Thanks again for the comments guys.

 

To be fair to yourself Missy when I was running the engine up and down at the GJ it stayed on the rails it just seemed to be dead spots.<br>One of the worst problems you can have with track apart from out of gauge is wind ( no not flatulence it rhymes with kind) where the two rails are going up or down in relation to each other. Its not easy checking level across the track particularly in 2mm. I remember MRJ featuring a track fault detector for P4 basically two W irons pivoted withan upright attached to each the ends of which were bent over to point to each other  if there is any wind the pointers move apart.  The association colin waite W irons would suit. As the uprights can be much taller than the height of the pivots above the rails you get magnification of any height difference.<br>If you do need to redo any ballasted sections soaking in really hot water will soften PVA.<br>Don<br>

 

That is a really good idea Don and I might have to try that, I know that the bits are available through the 2mm SA so its worth a try. I have been using my eye along with a finger so far and it seems to find the faults (if that makes sense?).

 

Missy I'm shocked thought it was only mortals like myself who had dodgy track,:good_mini:

 

Julia - glad to see that even you have faults!! :P

Regards,

Chris

 

Yes, even I make mistakes! I am NOT a modelling genius or anything and like anyone else I am learning lots as I work through my models. There isnt anything I do that anyone else couldnt do.

 

Missy :)

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richbrummitt

I'm pleased to see this for two reasons.

 

It's better to fix it now before you get futher scenically because you risk damaging something all the time.

 

Enjoyment of an otherwise excellent model would always have been plagued by something that with a little care and attention can be brought up to the same high standard.

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2mm Andy

10/10 for bravery Missy! I'm sure it will be worth the effort though when everything is working well. Tweaking of wheels and track seems to be pretty common in 2mm modelling.

 

I've got the scary task of trying to lift a crossing from an Easitrac turnout tonight - could be fun! :blink:

 

I've not heard of track 'wind' before - 'twist' is the usual term on the big railway to describe the level of one rail rising above/below the other.

 

Andy

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-missy-

Hi Rich and Andy :)

 

It needed to be done and I am nearly there with the first board (the most complicated one), its really nice to see the pannier tank and a couple of wagons trundling around the layout without any hitches.

 

I am now glad in a way to have soldered the track together with PCB sleepers as its not difficult to take it apart, I cant imagine how much more complicated it would be with Easitrac!

 

Anyway I will post a blog entry once I am happy with the first board to show how much 'tweaking' I have done.

 

M. :)

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