Crossing installed & Operational...

Hi All,

well today I managed to install the crossing and get it working, and after about an hour of pulling what little hair out I have left I managed to get it working as well without the auto reverser being needed too!

The crossing has been track pinned into position and tested with the smallest switcher I have a Atlas MP15 with sound, which ran flawlessly across the crossing in both directions.  

Next step will be to paint the styrene an earth colour and ballast & weather the ties.

Now that I've completed one, I'd have no hesitations in doing another, this method worked quite well and I'm sure after completing a few more than will be even easier.

Jas...

Latest Crossing Update & Newer, Improved Version...

Hi all,

Well over the last two weeks I have been slowly working on the new crossing for the L&T branch, and one thing has become clear.  The method I was using to secure the crossing (PECO Code83 ties) were not working, the track spike details are to fragile to secure the track with all the work that was being done to the crossing.

So last night I decided to try another angle and started from scratch with the base, after researching the Fast Tracks method of tie placement for crossings and a photo supplied from Alan (LK&O), and a further thread post from Tim (FastTracks - Thanks Tim...) I decided to use a fully scratch built base using styrene.

As I had soldered all the rail crossing sections (bar one guard rail section) I took these sections of the PECO ties and redesigned the base tie structure to reflect what Tim Had mentioned and seen in Alan's photo.

This is the scratch built base with the rail crossing sections sitting in place...

The base is 0.74mm Evergreen styrene sheet, and the ties are Evergreen HO scale 8x10" ties.  They are spaced at the same distance as the PECO Code 83 Flextrack ties.  The tie configuration has worked perfectly to pick up sections of the outer rail and inner guard rail sections that were unsupported using the PECO flextrack ties.

The added advantage of using the HO Scale Evergreen ties has been I have been able to get the tie wood detail in by scrapping the styrene with an Exacto knife to simulate the tie grain.  The next step was to finish off the remaining approach guard rail and secure the whole crossing section the ties using CA glue.  I will once the crossing is in place and working and tested secure it down including the rail with track pins through the ties and into the sub roadbed.

The crossing in place and connected to the other sections of rail...

I have cut the electrical isolation gaps into the crossing based on a wiring diagram for PECO Electrofrog Crossings and the Fastracks template for a 60 degree crossing.

I have also tested the crossing with an NMRA gauge and ran both a single truck through and several pieces of rolling stock.  The crossing has performed perfectly with all the rolling stock across so far.  The only issue I'm facing currently is the electrical wiring side, and I am seeking some advice.

The whole L&T branch is a reversing section and both ends that meet the outer loop of the JL&T mainline are protected by a PSX-AR auto reverser.  My question is do I completely isolate the crossing and place another auto reverser (I have a Digitrax AR-1) onto the crossing and have it change just the polarity of the crossing for the few times it is needed or can I wire it another way (by either isolation or wiring) that will not require an auto reverser?

Overview shot showing the turnout from the L&T Branch and through the crossing, the 90 degree crossing is a PECO Insulfrog Crossing...

To date I haven't added any track feeders to the crossing, the only power being fed to the crossing is from the L&T turnout (through a PECO Insulfrog), from the 90 degree crossing (PECO Insulfrog) and from the JL&T Module track from the right.  Prior to the installation of the turnout and the crossing all DCC power was working fine, and no shorts or dead track was being produced.

Hopefully someone can explain the way to wire this to prevent any issues.

Cheers,

Jas...

Scratch Building a Crossing - Part 3...

Well some more progress tonight, guard rails installed, and almost ready for wiring...

Once the wiring is sorted and the auto reverser is functioning correctly, I will pin down the rail and ties with track pins this will aid in ensuring all the track is aligned.

Jas...

Scratch Building a Crossing - Part 2...

Hi everyone well today I managed to get some work done on the scratch built crossing for the L&T Branch.  Today was about aligning the the track better as recommended by Alan (LK&O) and doing the ties again, I also cut the remaining electrical gaps into the crossing.

The biggest stage was to glue the ties down to a thin piece of styrene, this allowed me to better align the rails and ensure that when placed on the layout the whole crossing will remain in gauge.

The track alignment is now much better and runs fairly straight from the tangent of the #5 turnout, the siding will hold upto a 60' boxcar.

The remaining steps include adding wiring feeders to the crossing for the addition of a auto-reverser (I already have a PSX-AR) and am looking for recommendations as I think our current one may be overkill if I get another.  The other steps are the additions of the guard rails to the four approaches and the centre square guard rail, once these are added I will run a few locomotives & switches over the crossing to ensure smooth running and no DCC power issues before securing the whole crossing down with PECO Code83 Track Pins.

More to follow soon...

Jas.

Scratch building a Crossing - Part 1...

Part 1...

The angle that the crossing intersects with the JL&T module line was not going to work with a pre made 90 degree crossing.  So I started the scratch build last night, and have made the basic form of the crossing.

I first placed a piece of sheet styrene under the section of rail that the crossing would go, I then marked the rail alignment onto the styrene, and then added the intersecting new section and marked that onto the styrene, this then gave me the template to work from.

I then used the PECO Code 83 ties as the guide to hold the rail while I cut the rails to fit, this also included filing down the outside rail bottom so that the other section of rail finished flush with the other rail and allowed it to be soldered.

Once the crossing was soldered and secured it was time for a test fit...

The new crossing next to existing L&T branch crossing (90 degree PECO Code 83)...

Overview shot of the new siding, turnout & crossing...

The plan is to next glue the ties onto a thin sheet of styrene to lock in the configuration and keep the track in alignment and gauge.  Then I will glue the rails in place onto the ties and spike too, once this is done I will use a Dremel tool to cut the gaps in the rails to isolate each section.

At this stage everything is hinging on the rail staying secured to the ties after I cut all the gaps, I will add some small angle braces made from brass and solder these on once the electrical isolation gaps are cut in.  I have already ran a few pieces of rolling stock & locomotives over it and they all went through with passing colours.

Jas...

Demolition & New Roads...

Well the next step has begun on the new section of the L&T, the entrance from the existing JL&T module has been added and the unloading/loading area has been added too.

The demo work went fairly quickly and easily as the entire scenery area is a combination of cardboard strip form, covered with masking tape, vermiculite mix and zip texturing.

Zip texturing & Vermiculite covering removed...

Masking tape & Cardboard Strip forms removed...

The entrance has also had the styrene sidewalk removed, the sub base for the JL&T module is a Canitie base with 3mm plywood and 0.75mm styrene sheet.

Latex Caulk added to the Canite Sub Base, ready for one of two layers on Cork road bed for the new section...

The two layers of caulk roadbed end up being the same height as the finished plywood existing road bed.

First layer of cork road bed...

Second layer installed and showing finished level with existing sub bed, and styrene road...

Entrance & Unloading/Loading area in place...

BLMA Billboard re-installed back through sheet styrene...

Next step is going to be testing out another small siding (one 40' - 50' boxcar/flat car in length) to serve this area, it is workable and will require a #5 LH turnout to be placed to the right of the photo, and to the right of the JL&T module siding that will require another 90 degree crossover in the JL&T siding.  

I've ordered the parts and am waiting for them to arrive to check if it all fits.  Otherwise its back to purely being a vehicle unloading/loading & storage area.

Jas...

Next L&T Branch Section...

Well here a few quick photos of the next section of the L&T Branch to get worked on, this area will be a loading/unloading area for the building against the backdrop.

It will also serve to hide the join between the layout frame and the JL&T Module.

I will be removing part of the JL&T ground section to make way for a driveway & entrance.  I'm working from the rear of the backdrop towards the right of the picture (front entrance of the layout) as this will save the dreaded reach in and damaging something...

More to follow as we progress with this section...

Jas...

A special thank you on 10,000 views...

Hi All,

Just would like to say thank you to all of my subscribers, and those visiting the JL&T blog for getting us to 10,000 page views.

Hopefully there will be more posts soon, and some more updates on the L&T Branch as we progress on it.

Jas...

L&T Branch Trackside Running...

Hi All,

This is a little ops session video I have produced of our two KATO - Reading Lines locomotives, a SD45 & GP35 weathered, custom detailed with Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound done by JiM Rinker of Delano Mountain Custom Models in Reading PA.

The video features both locomotives consisted together as the RDG LOCAL on its daily run onto the L&T Branch.

Enjoy.

Jas...

Two more structures/industries for the L&T Branch...

Well for the two weeks I have been working on the next two major structures for the L&T Branch.  I have still yet to decide on what type of industries they will be, if they are linked together or stand alone.

They are both Walthers Cornerstone kits, the first is the Armstrong Electric Motors - Background kit and the second is the Shop Building No1 - Background Kit.  The kits will be built almost straight out of the box, however they both will have small scratch built add ons added to them.

The Armstrong Electric Motors kit has had one of the loading bay doors enlarged to fit a Walthers Modular kit large access door.

I have also added scratch built loading docks that are extra width, and extra height to match the floor levels of my box cars.

The second structure is all straight from the box, there will be detail parts added and that will be about it.

It has access on both sides for cars and also has a stub end rear siding for storage of one 50' boxcar outside of the building.

More to come as progress on these structures continues.

Jas...

Hiding a hole in a backdrop...

Well this week my BLMA modern billboard arrived from the USA (courtesy of Jim Rinker who forwarded it for us) and has been installed in the L&T section of the layout.

The idea was to use the billboard to hide the entrance from the main layout onto the L&T as it passes through the plaster/drywall backdrop.  I had considered using a skybridge between the the two structures either side of the opening.

Now that the billboard is in place I'm really happy with the result and fits the whole area really well.  To secure the billboard to the layout I firstly drilled out the base of the billboard upright to 10mm, I then drilled a 12mm hole through the layout baseboards.

I then placed a 10 mm Dynabolt through the hole from the bottom, I then pushed the billboard upright into the layout plaster/drywall base and tightened the Dynabolt from underneath.  This allows the billboard to be secured and tightened with the Dynabolt (care needs to be taken not to over tighten the Dynabolt and split the upright.

And here are a few photos of the finished billboard in place on the L&T...

Jas...

CR SW1500 #9528

Well finally got around to getting a decoder into our new SW1500 switcher that has been custom weathered by Chris Thompson.

Chris's work is outstanding and very realistic, it is even better in real life.  The switcher was put through its paces tonight switching out part of the L&T Branch...

Jas...

More Backdrops & Proper Wiring...

Hi all,

Well progress of late has been almost non-existent, although of the last week we have had some major fixes completed and more progress mainly in the L&T Branch area.

Firstly there has been a major electrical upgrade to the JL&T layout, since the start of the build the entire power requirements for the shed & JL&T layout have been running of a 10 Amp extension lead run through our backyard.

Although not ideal or safe it had finally served long enough, with the installation of a new solar power system on our house we decided to upgrade the power in the backyard and hook up the shed, and the pump for our water tanks.  The shed being at the rear of our property required a complete upgrade to 4mm cable from the house switchboard to the shed.

I have also had all the fluorescent lights hooked up onto one single circuit, and 6 double power points added to serve the layout.

Electrical wiring for the lighting circuit in and neat...

The lights are connected to a surface mount plug via an extension lead, so if they need to be replaced or moved this can be done easily.

The shed also has its own switchboard that is protected by an RCD and circuit breakers independent and in addition to the house switchboard.  An external weatherproof switch at the rear of the house isolates the entire layout/shed this allows the shed to be completely electrically isolated when not in use.

Layout switchboard...

The second part involved continuing the backdrop for the staging area in the L&T Branch area.  Now that the electrically works has finally been completed I can now start to seal up all of the external walls and also insulate them.  Again I have used the plaster/drywall method for the backdrop, because there were more curves to be installed I again used the 6mm flexible sheet.

External wall frame with insulation installed, ready for the backdrop...

More insulation installed in the first wall section ready for the remaining backdrop...

The backdrop required a curve to be placed in the corner were the switchboard is located, this will also allow air to move around the area, and also access.  The switchboard is located above the backdrop so if need be can be completely removed without damaging or needing to remove the backdrop itself.

Backdrop installed and screwed off, waiting to be stopped up...

More posts to follow as we progress with the backdrop.

Jas...

Last of the L&T entrances to be hidden...

Well over the last few days I've had the chance to work on hiding the entrance to the L&T branch which is the last one to be worked on before I start on the scenery for this area.

The idea is to hide both the vertical & horizontal edges of the drywall/plaster backdrop.  On the entrance from the JL&T that leads to the JL&T Module I have employed the method of using Walthers Modular Kits to hide the vertical edge of the backdrop, and use a pipe gantry between the two building to hide the horizontal edge.

I didn't want to use the same method on the entrance to the L&T so had to come up with another method, the front runner at the moment is using the Walthers Modular Kits again but in a different configuration...

The Walthers Modular Kits have been re-arranged into a different configuration so that there not the same as the other structures, one of the brilliant things about them.  I've also played with the angles with the structure on the right, this was to allow clearance for locomotives and rolling stock to clear the structure.

The method that I'm going to employ to hide the horizontal edge of the backdrop is going to be a BLMA Double Billboard.

This will be placed in the ROW just to the right of the loading door on the structure on the left, it will be angled so that rear board is inline with the backdrop and facing billboard is pointing to the roadway on the JL&T...

Here is a crude Photoshop rendering...

The area between the left structure and fascia will be a vehicle storage and loading/unloading area.

And here is a shot of what the area looks to date from the finished JL&T Module looking across to the L&T...

Cheers,

Jas...

Plastic Pellet unloading shed...

Hi,

Well yesterday I managed to get the last of the major structures (although minor in itself) completed on the first section of the L&T Branch.

The structure is an unloading shed for plastic pellets used in the forming of parts for the Appliance Manufacturing Plant, there are still some minor pieces to be added like a series of storage silos for the various primary colours of pellets, piping for conveying the pellets from the unloading shed to the silos, compressor unit, and various detail parts.

This build was fairly straight forward in that the main structure being a Pikestuff Kit (Modern Small Enginehouse) are not that difficult to build apart from the odd bit of trimming required to get sections to match.  The difficult part was getting the structure to join the curved backdrop.

This section of the layout has a 45 degree curve and required about a 1/2 of the structure to form to this curve.  Firstly the structures walls and opening were made, as it only requires two sides to be completed, I then positioned this against the area that I wanted it to be and marked out it's position on the backdrop and subroadbed for reference..

Then I cut out a piece of paper that formed the 90 degree angle of the front and side wall of the structure and formed the curve along the backdrop, this the forms the reference for the cutting of the roof later on.

One issue that I was faced with was securing the backdrop side roof to something that would stop it from dropping or sagging after time.  Being on a curved backdrop required a little lateral thinking, so I added a piece of double sided tape to the backdrop in between the front wall and side wall.  To this I added a piece of square styrene tube that I formed to the backdrop curve, this then formed the support that was needed for the roof to sit on.

The tape will also be used for adhering a photo insert of the internals of the pellet unloading area later on.  Once the support was in place it was a matter of constructing the roof sections and trimming them down to fit each section and the curve of the backdrop.

Once each section was glued and allowed to dry, I placed the paper template over the roof section and marked out the curve and scored the line with an Exacto knife and removed the waste.  Some trimming was required as I allowed a little in case the the template was out as the Pikestuff roof's have a very small pitch to take into consideration.

Finally I added the rooftop ridge vents and powered extraction fan, as mentioned before a few more minor additions to be added along with detail parts & lighting and the structure will be ready for painting and weathering.

This has been yet another enjoyable build and easily done in a full day from start to this stage, I'll post some more photos as we progress.

Cheers,

Jas...