Tracklaying Questions

[peteski]

. .. another example of Ed's Law!  I learn something new again.

[robert3985]

Could be I'm up in the night about your guardrails, but they struck me as not close enough to the main rails, but further looking at what I'm modeling tells me that there's a possibility that your prototype could indeed have a different guardrail arrangement than what I've seen here in Utah/Wyoming...

...Bob Gilmore

I am afraid that you have not read my earlier post:

.

I actually went back and read the previous posts in this thread before I posted.  Evidently I missed your comment!  I had been up all night...   

However, I did learn several new things in researching my own prototype bridges regarding guardrails in Weber and Echo Canyons, so at least my time was not misspent at this end!

Also, your prototype photos provided some extra knowledge although I probably will never be building Canadian bridges.

We are lucky to have ME bridge track, as it adds tremendously to the prototype look of our railway bridges...

Excellent work!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[BCR 570]

Bob:

I couldn't agree more; I am quite pleased with how it has gone together and I can see that it is going to add greatly to the model.  Tonight I accidentally dropped one of the track sections onto the benchwork, and I was pleased to see that none of the guard timbers or rails popped off.  That augers well for the future.


Tim

[Missaberoad]

Also, your prototype photos provided some extra knowledge although I probably will never be building Canadian bridges.

Not just a Canadian detail, a very good example to check our prototypes...

A quick google search turned up many different placements between the more traditional snug to the stock rail of your prototype and the closer placement in Tim's BC Rail photos...

a few interesting examples...

BAR in the 1970s

https://www.mainememory.net/media/images/625/75/14491.JPG

Somewhere in California

https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-feacde1e8f079f0f3d3bfd51d7d30eee-c?convert_to_webp=true

Cantara Loop on the UP

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Cantara_Loop_1.jpg
http://www.shastarails.com/images/digital/2005_07_02/ppcx6304lr_cantara.jpg

[nkalanaga]

The wider spacing is good for models, as it will virtually eliminate the chance of shorts through the guard rails. 

[peteski]

The wider spacing is good for models, as it will virtually eliminate the chance of shorts through the guard rails.

Not sure how.  Since the wheel back will possibly only touch the adjacent guardrail (which is electrically separate from the guardrail on the other side). there is no chance of a short in the first place, right?

[nkalanaga]

IF the two guardrails are electrically separated, and they should be, you're right.  If they're not, and I'm sure there are people who don't think of it, they can very easily short.  It doesn't have to be both wheels on one axle, as long as a wheel, anywhere in the train, is touching each rail.

I found that out the hard way on my long bridge.  In that case, I had insulated the guardrails from each other, but had also spiked the ends down, and two spikes at one end were touching under the ties.  Try finding THAT short!