Union Station module build (NITGFMRNS!)

[Lemosteam]

Greg, I’m not referring to module alignment. I’m referring to just the alignment of the tracks themselves. The sine wave lock looks like it would work well only if the end of each mating track is loose so the wave would realign to its opposite counterpart. I think that variation and module expansion could push it out of position even if the modules are perfectly aligned especially if the end piece is nailed down.

I dunno, just makes me nervous, but I look forward to seeing the thing work in application.

[x600]

I dunno, just makes me nervous, but I look forward to seeing the thing work in application.

Me Too! Sailing into uncharted waters without a paddle.

Greg O.

[x600]

 Here is the West yard throat. Th3 LV gon is sitting on the outer Main (red) line the closer track is the optional orange line, this will run all the way through the corner and connect with the orange line on the Ballard Why. The double slips are temporarily located to mark track centers into the throat. I will replace the cork under the slips with luan plywood to give them a smooth flat base


All of the switches are in and holes for tortoises and slip frogs are drilled. We used a similar track arrangement to enter the Hazelton Yard from the Ballard Why and we found that using the luan under the slips helps keep them FLAT which makes for almost perfect operation.
 

I also got the track centers set in the concourse area. The cork is the branch line (blue)and the station sits in a notch in the plywood om the mountain line so the platforms and tracks had to be put in place so I can start on the west ladder.


I had a chance to try out the track aligners at the module joint. I like these things, they are easy to install and will make for a smooth track joint between modules.


And this is where I stopped tonight. It's starting to look like something!


Greg O......

[Caddy58]

Hi Greg,

Looking on with a lot of interest; that is a great project you have going!

On the connector pieces: I do not like that they protrude over the edge of the module.
In our Fremo experience that area is receiving a lot of stress and abuse during transport, setup anf tear-down.

It will be interesting to see how they stand up to the test of time.

By the way, here is a link to the connectors we use:
https://www.fremo-net.eu/american/schwellenplatine-fuer-moduluebergaenge


Cheers
Dirk

[peteski]

Hi Greg,

Looking on with a lot of interest; that is a great project you have going!

On the connector pieces: I do not like that they protrude over the edge of the module.
In our Fremo experience that area is receiving a lot of stress and abuse during transport, setup anf tear-down.

It will be interesting to see how they stand up to the test of time.

By the way, here is a link to the connectors we use:
https://www.fremo-net.eu/american/schwellenplatine-fuer-moduluebergaenge

I agree with Dirk that over time those protruding items are almost guaranteed to get damaged (unintentionally of course). A possible solution would be to add some sort of plates fastened to the module ends to protect them during transport.  Or just use the track-end method Dirk recommends.

[x600]

Hi Dirk. I've met you a few times over the years, good to hear from you.
When I first saw these, I thought the same thing. The first answer was, like Peteski said, a protective piece on the end plate. On our Ballard Why/Hazelton Yard group we use PC board squares flush with the end plate, which has worked fine all these years. I left the PC unglued with one nail near the end. This has allowed us to adjust or shim if we were off a little bit. we used wooden dowels to center those modules during construction, but over the years the dowels wore just enough to be useless, Another thing that we do is "HANDLE THOSE DAMN MODULES LIKE THEIR GRANDMA'S FINE FURNITURE THAT SHE LEAVING TO YOU IN HER WILL!!" We store and transport our modules in steel racks with wheels and are bolted in. We place the rack close to when it goes and set the module right on it's legs. The racks have 1in angle that the module slides into. The 6ft racks have 6ft-3/8in between the angles, which give us 3/16in slide in room. The angle is 1in tall, the frame is 6in to track level. The alignment nub sticks out not quite an 8th. So.... because I managed to make a short story long, the answer is we're gonna go for it. I like working with them. They are a little bit thicker than ties on the Atlas flex so I have to sand them down a bit so we don;t end up with Ntrak ski jumps or suburban speed bumps.

 Between mowing and other yard work, I managed to get a few hours a day laying track. Trains can now reach the station concourse from the west.
12 switches in 38 more to go. I hope to be good at this when I'm done. 
I never like to post layout pictures with a lot of mess strewn about, but I'll save the glamour shots for later. 





Back at it,
Thanks for looking

Greg O......

[Caddy58]

Hi Greg,

Many thanks for the thorough response.
Fingers crossed that everyone involved in setup and teardown exercises the required caution.

Great build, keep the updates coming!!

Cheers
Dirk

[x600]

There's been steady progress although slowly, between yard work, chores, and other outdoor adventures.
I'm getting into a groove with these Peco switches, and it's nice when I can get a few hours in. Latest photo shows that all of the main level
 I get some help west end track is in up to and a bit passed the joint at the center section.
 Tomorrow I get some help to move this along. John Benny is going to put feeder drops in so I can put in the filler ties and prep for painting.
Pete Sanchez is going to keep laying track through the center on the main level, heading east, and Jim Younkins is coming to take a peek and fester some ideas on the future scenery features. I'm going to continue laying track on the west end of the mountain line. There are several industries on this end, so it'll be good to get that done.
 Mrs. x600 is going out of town for a few days so WO HO! track layin' marathon and maybe Blue Point and Tortoise installs.

 


If tomorrow doesn't just end up a MRBS / Pizza session I'll be able to post some more progress.

Greg O......

[x600]

 We had a good session yesterday, and pizza! John got all the power drops and frog leads in and some of the joints soldered, Pete did the main lines up to the east end terminal switches, I got most of the west Mountain line industrial tracks in, and Jim laid out some plans for scenery. Today I finished the west Mountain trackage. Nice weather means mowing tomorrow and I'll get the drops in for the rest of the west mountain.
 I'm not looking forward to installing the Tortoise and Blue point machines, I'll probably get help on that for next week.
 


More pics later.

Greg O.....

[x600]

No pictures this week. I spent a lot of time going over the track on the lower level. I put in all the filler ties and soldered rail joiners.
It was a real pain because of all the switches. I decided that I will do all of the finish work as I go. Next, I got the industrial track on the upper level installed across the center module joint. Lots of switches again, but I got all the feeders in and the ties. I started to get the supplies together to start installing the tortoise and blue points. The throw wire on the tortoise won't throw the switch with the spring still in it. Great time to remember that when I did the Ballard Why, I took the springs out. The mission became gathering a stiffer wire to throw the switches. I had some wire, but I thought I would set out and pick up some wire and a few other supplies, The closest supplier is in the process of moving and didn't have any in stock.  I had some thicker wire and then had to find the right drill bit to make it work. After climbing out of that rabbit hole I decided to move on to something else while I try to procure some more music wire. I'm going to need the skyboard in place to locate the holes for the pulls for the blue points. So that started me in a whole other direction. I got crap spread all over so tomorrow I'm going to clean up a bit before I continue. I want to finish my part on the west module so I can send it off to the electro-magicians.
 
I'm starting to think I want to take up coin collecting. I could use the change!

Greg O.....

[peteski]

My friend used Peco turnouts (with the springs still installed) and Tortoise switch machines. They layout  was built over 20 years ago so I don't remember what diameter music wire he used. I suppose I could measure it next time I visit hom (on Monday). I'm almost sure he did not have to enlarge the hole in the switch throwbars.  The distance between the the fulcrum on the Tortoise and the throwbar makes a difference too in how stiff (thick) the wire needs to be to reliably throw the switch.  IIRC, he used 1/4" plywood base plus the thickens of cork roadbed.

Here is an example where he couldn't mount the switch machine under the throwbar so he fabricated a linkage.

[x600]

Thanks, Peteski, I like that linkage solution, I hope I don't need one.
I measured the wire that comes with the tortoise, it's .024 or 5. I have some .034 and .039 that I got from Hobby Lobby. They are short. only about 12 inches but I can get 3 and a blue point from 1. I'll save my long .039 and .046 for the blue Point pulls.
 I managed to get 2 installed with the .034 and they work well. I 'll get a few more in before my neck gives out and I'll go back to the sky board prep.

Back on the floor......

Greg O.....

[x600]

 ACK! I got the first 2 tortoise machines in, and they work, then felt like I could take on the world! Then with my newfound bravado, I thought I would take on the double slips. No amount of twisting and turning the tortoise, and my neck, it was clear right away. I needed a left hand three handed monkey wrench.
either that or I needed a time out. Back to carpentry. I got the skyboard prepped, cut out the hole for the control panel drawer, drilled the holes in the back of the drawer for wires, installed the module alignment tubes, and cleaned up the mess that I have been making for the last two months.
 

Industrial area is in on the mountain line and all the tracks are complete across the joint to the next module. All the track tools and fiddly bits are combined and organized. I got help coming on Wednesday to get back to the tortoise installs. In the meantime, I'm going to catch up on the carpentry and maybe try my hand at the blue points.
And by the way, @delamaize stopped by last week to check out the project and show me his contribution. Mike painted the future terminal switcher for the
Mount Rainier Terminal RR.



Thanks for playing along, I hope some of you guys are enjoying this project.

Greg O.....

[peteski]

Greg,
I wonder if using the Tortoise linkages like I showed in my last post would be helpful in dealing with the double-slips?
Another out-of-the-box remote switch machine install used a different  type of linkage.  The switch's throwbar is right over the framing.








He also used longer linkages for other switches.




Sometimes the pushrod and its  sleeve was installed on top of the layout.



And hidden by an excavator placed over it.

[x600]

Thanks for the pics of the different linkages, Pete. It looks like something like one of those will work, or atleast give me some ideas to work from.
One of the problems is trying to work upside down as my 69.99 yr old body just ain't that flexible for the time it takes to arrive at the sollution!
Then there is the problem of unfolding myself enough to get vertical again. That's why I decided to get the skyboard done and the module ready for
separation. When the guys come on Wednesday, I'll set it on the skyboard on some sawhorses and eliminate the pretzel positions.
More to come soon....

Greg O.....