Hector_A

I also designed a mechanical traverser for my layout. I'd like to share my ideas and pictures with fellow modellers. Where do you suggest I should post this, as it is not scale specific?

Thanks for the suggestion. I just copied my post to the USA and Canadian section. People can have a look here or there, therefore more viewers.

I am currently building a new layout from scratch in HO scale. The general arrangement is inspired in a plan by Robert Schleicher which was published in Model Railroading magazine November/December 1983. The original was for a 9 x 8 ft.room. I attach a .pdf files of the whole article. Since my available space was slightly larger (10 x 8 ft.) I modified several areas. The door is narrower and there is a sewage pipe (from an upstairs bathroom) near to it that had to be taken on account. The original staging was linear and required a lot of hidden turnouts, so I toyed with the idea of using a traverser instead. As I am a retired surveying engineer and have been using CAD since 1985 the logical step was getting down to draw the whole thing. I enclose a .pdf of the final layout to better illustrate its three levels. There are, as always, household compromises to be taken care of. This is a spare room used for out-of-season clothing storage, so I settled down to build storage as the foundation for the layout. It was agreed that 1m20 high closets were adequate for the purpose and I ended with a 61cm deep closet along the 3m long wall for clothes plus two narrower ones roughly 35cm deep along the shorter walls for odds and ends (shoes, et al). I recently built a fourth closet 61cm deep and 85cm wide to enclose the sewage pipe and provide additional needed storage space. The left corner was left bare to provide access to return loops at the each end of the circuit. The closets have an MDF top, 18mm thick. The attached .pdf file should make it clear the above arrangement as well as the track layout for the three levels. The walls are coloured in magenta and the base closets in red. The main line is blue with the green sections being easements and all remaining track is black. With a few exceptions, minimum radius is 22" (54cm). BTW, Uruguay is metric and current is 220V. There are two bridges crossing the entrance. The lower one is single track and drops down. The upper has two tracks and lifts up. With the bridges in place the layout is operated loop to loop. There is a return track at the upper left corner that allows out and back operation from the main station if the bridges are disabled. Subroadbed in hidden areas is 12mm thick plywood, 8cm wide for single track, with a 6mm thick, 4cm wide cork roadbed. since I have no access from below, wiring for the staging level will be on top of the subroadbed along the sides of the cork roadbed. This is no big deal since this level will be completely hidden from view. The remaining 6cm wide subroadbed will be screwed to risers attached to the top of the closets. In this case I can place wiring on the underside. At the present time, all the subroadbed and roadbed for the lower and transition levels has been installed. The traverser is finished and operative. There is comfortable access to manipulate it and the mechanical indexing system is installed and works perfectly. Since it will be also hidden there is a simple mechanism to select the proper track coupled to the indexing system. A removable section above provides emergency access to all six tracks. This section is a modified Timesaver and could be eventually operated elsewhere by unplugging the Digitrax DCS210+ Command Station/Booster and its power supply. K+C_Layout_Small_tray-22R+TS-Final.pdf Schleicher-1.pdf Schleicher-2.pdf Schleicher-3.pdf

I am currently building a new layout from scratch in HO scale. The general arrangement is inspired in a plan by Robert Schleicher which was published in Model Railroading magazine November/December 1983. The original was for a 9 x 8 ft.room. I attach a .pdf files of the whole article. Since my available space was slightly larger (10 x 8 ft.) I modified several areas. The door is narrower and there is a sewage pipe (from an upstairs bathroom) near to it that had to be taken on account. The original staging was linear and required a lot of hidden turnouts, so I toyed with the idea of using a traverser instead. As I am a retired surveying engineer and have been using CAD since 1985 the logical step was getting down to draw the whole thing. I enclose a .pdf of the final layout to better illustrate its three levels. There are, as always, household compromises to be taken care of. This is a spare room used for out-of-season clothing storage, so I settled down to build storage as the foundation for the layout. It was agreed that 1m20 high closets were adequate for the purpose and I ended with a 61cm deep closet along the 3m long wall for clothes plus two narrower ones roughly 35cm deep along the shorter walls for odds and ends (shoes, et al). I recently built a fourth closet 61cm deep and 85cm wide to enclose the sewage pipe and provide additional needed storage space. The left corner was left bare to provide access to return loops at the each end of the circuit. The closets have an MDF top, 18mm thick. The attached .pdf file should make it clear the above arrangement as well as the track layout for the three levels. The walls are coloured in magenta and the base closets in red. The main line is blue with the green sections being easements and all remaining track is black. With a few exceptions, minimum radius is 22" (54cm). BTW, Uruguay is metric and current is 220V. There are two bridges crossing the entrance. The lower one is single track and drops down. The upper has two tracks and lifts up. With the bridges in place the layout is operated loop to loop. There is a return track at the upper left corner that allows out and back operation from the main station if the bridges are disabled. Subroadbed in hidden areas is 12mm thick plywood, 8cm wide for single track, with a 6mm thick, 4cm wide cork roadbed. since I have no access from below, wiring for the staging level will be on top of the subroadbed along the sides of the cork roadbed. This is no big deal since this level will be completely hidden from view. The remaining 6cm wide subroadbed will be screwed to risers attached to the top of the closets. In this case I can place wiring on the underside. At the present time, all the subroadbed and roadbed for the lower and transition levels has been installed. The traverser is finished and operative. There is comfortable access to manipulate it and the mechanical indexing system is installed and works perfectly. Since it will be also hidden there is a simple mechanism to select the proper track coupled to the indexing system. A removable section above provides emergency access to all six tracks. This section is a modified Timesaver and could be eventually operated elsewhere by unplugging the Digitrax DCS210+ Command Station/Booster and its power supply. Schleicher-1.pdf Schleicher-2.pdf Schleicher-3.pdf K+C_Layout_Small_tray-22R+TS-Final.pdf

Hello Simond, Thanks for your reply. Of course, I had already thought of doing that. The questions is under which of the many available headings should I start that new topic.

Hello everybody! Thanks for the thumbs up fellows! As you can see from my last post, I have gone the way of a mechanical traverser. IMO my posts are out of context in this thread and should be moved elsewhere. My problem is I don't what would be the correct placement. Will appreciate any suggestions from you or a moderator on how to properly proceed. Would like to share my work and progress on the whole layout now that the roadbed for the lower, staging, hidden level has all the cork roadbed already installed. Thanks in advance for your help. Hector

Here are some photos of my mechanical traverser. I'm very satisfied with its smooth operation and the simple, efficient, indexing system I was able to design and construct. Photos 01 and 02 show the locking mechanism respectively unlocked and locked. Photos 03 and 04 depict the 8mm dia. steel rod also in the locked and unlocked position. Note the bullet shaped end of the rod in photo 04. In this same photo there are three pulleys which I built myself as I failed to find these in our local specialist shops. I turned the 35 mm dia. center from hardwood and cut the top and bottom caps from 3mm thick hardboard. The channel is 13 mm wide to accommodate stout plastic packing strip. They have steel tube bushings for 1/4" Allen screws tapped into the MDF table top. Photo 05 is an underside view of the indexing aluminum angle. Each hole corresponds to a track position (six tracks). the packing strip is clamped with an aluminum piece and two 1/8" machine screws at both ends of the angle. The lower series of holes was a failed intent on using a ball catch to align the rods with the upper holes. In photo 06 you can appreciate the final rigging and how it works. When moving the traverser the packing strip rides on the pulleys and shows an index line for each track position. This line must register with the fixed lines in a backing block. It's very simple and does not require to be finicky with the precision. It can be a couple of millimeters off and the bullet shaped rod end will engage the hole anyway and drag the whole table into perfect alignment. Last but not least, it's a really low-cost option.

@Deev Thanks for the compliments. To be honest, mine is an adaptation of the original designed by Robert Schleicher which appeared in Model Railroading November/December 1983 and later published in a compendium of several articles by him which I found very interesting and informative. I have scanned the relevant article in case you're interested. My merit, if any, is the inclusion of a traverser instead of the linear staging. I also included a Timesaver which came from a picture in this forum flipped over and set as a secondary station (placed over the traverser). Of course, there was a general adaptation to the real dimensions of my room , the door location and a sewage pipe coming from the upstairs bathroom. Plus I lowered radius to 22" instead of 24", something not expected to give any real problems in operation with short locomotives and cars. I've been working these days in the layout lower (hidden) level which is now about 50% completed. This includes 15mm plywood subroadbead but not yet the 6mm thick cork roadbed. The traverser is installed and works very smoothly. Still missing is the mechanical indexing system (already thought out) partially constructed. As you see I went this way and, so far, are very happy with the progress and operation. I like manual interaction with my layout so this seemed the right thing to do. On this venture, manually operated turnouts are also envisaged, except for hard to reach locations. Will certainly include photos as soon as that level is more finished and worth looking at. Hector Schleicher-1.pdf Schleicher-2.pdf Schleicher-3.pdf

Hi Deev, Thanks for your prompt reply and detailed comments. I'm modelling american railroads based on western regions covering mining and probably some logging operations. I do not envisage long trains but still thought that my initial plan with a 94.5 cm was too short. Therefore I included another .pdf with a longer 121.5 cm traverser, which seemed more adequate. That modification implied using 18" curves (with easements) to enter and exit the fiddle yard. Did you see it? I included rerailers at both entry and exit points but have not seen them being used in any of the traversers I looked in the web. Therefore, if those rerailers are discarded the yard now grows to 167.5 cm which, anyway, is the longest I can fit in this room. See attached .pdf As you can see, I also have enough space for its travel without compromising the available space for operators. The original plan indeed had linear staging with lots of turnouts but I hate the idea of crawling under scenery either to operate or attend to eventual derailments. Once I saw a traverser I got hooked on the idea of having one in my layout. The physical building task is, for me, relatively easy. And all my staging would be in a single location. Controlling it is quite a different matter. I still waver between manual and software control options. As I said before, I'm an advocate of simple mechanisms. The less you have there, the less things are apt to go wrong. Will keep on thinking and let you know the final outcome of my brainstorming! Thanks again for the additional suggestions. Food for thought there. Cheers! K+C_Layout_Longer_Traverser-Model.pdf

@ Deev: I'll be very grateful to hear your comments on my two posts of last Sunday. I value a lot your views on this matter and have carefully read all six pages since you started it back in 2012. If I eventually decide to go for a motorised version, I'd like to know where to look for parts to arrange the belt as your final version depicted. Bear in mind that I can only access US suppliers as our Customs regulations only provide for three 200 dollars yearly purchases tax-free from that source. Thanks in advance for your kind help and time.

Hello Harlequin: As a retired Land Surveyor I'm well aware of vertical easements as well. I have kept most grades in the 2 to 3 percent range except on the switchbacks on the upper level. There are two bridges in the doorway. The lower one is hinged to drop down and is already built. The upper (main level) will have a two track (with different grades) that will be also hinged to be lifted up. This will be more complex but I'm still far from that. Just working on the lower (hidden staging) level at present. Will upload photos as soon as some track is laid so that there will be something worth to look at!

I failed to add that all traverser tracks will have one rail permanently powered and the micro switch (when tripped) should supply juice to the other rail, thereby enabling the selected track to operate normally. Should eventually a motorised version be chosen, I'd like it to be push button operated as the one by Michael Hardwick published in the August 2018 issue of Model Railroader. Here's the link to a video of it in operation: https://www.trains.com/mrr/videos-photos/videos/layouts/layout-visits/video-push-button-controlled-traverser-for-a-staging-yard/ The code for the Arduino can be downloaded at: https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/arduino-control-code-for-traverser/ As you can see, Michael's traverser is different in that he just moves one track to register with several others while mine is supposed to move several tracks to register with one entry and exit point. Having no experience with the Arduino code, I wonder if it could work "as is" or it requires a modification for my case. I have a copy of MR issue and there's a list of parts and suppliers. Took the time to look up the prices of said parts and they add up to a modest USD 88. Quite accessible as compared with the Einsy RAMBO which is USD 125 to which you must add the NEMA 17 motor and associated parts.

Hello folks! Thanks for the numerous and detailed replies. It sure helps to consider several options. Indeed, I took my time to ponder on the many alternatives and went over a load of documentation I've saved. At this stage I am inclined to use a mechanical traverser with a simple indexing system that I submit for your consideration. Let me tell first that I am a fervent follower of the KISS principle and thus my proposal is drafted along this lines. I agree with Deev in that good quality drawer sliders provide smooth operation at a very reasonable cost. I presently have a 40cm long pair (made in Chile) which I modified to travel in both directions. Their length is now 38cm. Have seen lots of traversers built with these (some quite larger than mine) so I feel that's the way to go. Mounted flat they ideally fit my scheme. I attach two .pdf files which show the planned two level layout. The one with the 94.5 cm long traverser features 22" radius curves throughout (albeit with easements overall). There's a second drawing of the staging level where there are two 18" radius curves which enable a 121.8 long traverser. Since these curves also have easements and will be hidden, I do not foresee problems here. The first shorter traverser has only 5 tracks with a 60mm separation. The second option has 6 tracks with 57mm separation. Would like to hear views on track separation in this case since access to the traverser is somewhat limited. BTW lines in blue represent the main line, lines in green are easements. Note that I provided for out-and-back operation from the main station if bridges are raised/lowered. Red lines show the present wardrobes already built in this room. In the drawing of the larger traverser I included a detail of the drawer slide and its modest required travel. For the traverser operation I'm thinking of using micro switches in each track which will get tripped as they reach the home position, perhaps turning on a led light. This would enable me to know when a track is nearly aligned in place and then manually operate a mechanical registering shaft with a pointed tip. That, I hope, should provide the required track alignment with a minimum of fuss and parts. Of course, I'm open to hear comments/suggestions as this is still just brainstorming from my part. Pardon the long story and I hope to hear from your soon. Cheers!K+C_Layout_Longer_Traverser-Model.pdf K+C_Layout-Model.pdf

Hello everybody! Please bear with me while I introduce myself. I'm from Montevideo, Uruguay, a retired land surveyor and model aircraft builder and competitor (FAI team racing F2C) for about 50 years. I'm an old hand at CAD drawing and am resurfacing my model railroading as a more sedate alternative in accordance with my present age (86). Around the 80's I built a small layout which was abandoned for several reasons in addition to my interest in pursuing team racing (both activities shared with my younger son - now also a surveyor). Living now in a house with a spare room 3m00 x 2m40 (roughly 10' x 8') I've started the build of an HO scale layout based on American mining and logging railroads. The room already has some wardrobes which I already built as a solid flat base for the future layout. It was a compromise with my wife as they are needed for out-of-season clothes. The layout plan itself is loosely based on Robert Schleicher's featured in Model Railroading magazine issue from November/December 1983. This is a two level plan whose lower level is exclusively destined as a storage/fiddle yard. Albeit, the design uses linear staging plus a return loop, something I do not really fancy as it consumes a lot of track and turnouts. Having seen an article in Model Railroader about a traverser for storage I came immediately hooked on the idea and proceeded to redraw that level incorporating a modest traverser only 3' long and with just 5 tracks. Needless to say I was elated to find this post and avidly read all six pages of it! I have a full woodworking shop in my garage and have access to high quality drawer slides, so the building part I feel it's already solved. The big question is whether to use some kind of mechanical indexing for the track alignment or delve into the software controlled version. BTW I'll be using DCC (Digitrax). Ordering an Arduino or a Raspberry Pi is no big deal. I have also been looking at Rocrail. What I would really appreciate is some sound advice on the matter in order to proceed. Will be really pleased to hear from anyone who takes the time to point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance Hector