Post #30

 Well doesn't time fly, I am up to Post #30 and still a trolley/tram hasn't yet circled the baseboard. That reason is because the track hasn't been completed. I have laid some commercial Peco track where the line will be in reserved track, that's the easy part. But the bit that needs the handlaid track is running slow. I had attempted a turnout recently using the Fast Tracks printed circuit sleepers but it appears that their normal track as opposed to the turnout sleepers are a slightly different height. Why this would happen I can't understand. This means I can't use a mixture of both types and will have to just use the turnout ones solely for the turnouts. I can see a future need for sending off again to the states and ordering more turnout sleepers.

Way back when I was doing my blogs for the HO rail layout I mentioned a few times that I would wonder off to the shed and wonder what project I would start on. There were so many to do that I would just end up grabbing a throttle and just running trains. Great time waster. I have finally come to the conclusion that for something to run it will need the tracks laid right around the board.

So I have finally made a start on turnout No. 2 and glued the pc sleepers to the baseboard. I was lucky enough to have a mate Kev who works as an aircraft engineer and was able to pass on a tin of out of date glue to me to try. This stuff is that good and still usable. I reckon they could glue broken planes together and still fly. Trust me it glues fingers together. Working with the open glue tin in front of me, I haven't yet decided if I like the smell of the glue or not. Sitting on a bar stool I had to be carefull not to inhale to strongly.

No. 1 on its way

The mimimum radius I will be using is 11 inches mainly because it is designed to be able to take the Electroliner set completely around all tracks on the layout. At a recent model exhibition I noticed an N scale template designed for 11 inch radius curves, which is ideal for what I needed. I was going to use the full width to sit inside the rails like normal templates do. But because it wasn't designed for that purpose, it was close and was maybe 17mm wide instead of 16.5mm so I needed to sand it down to 16.5mm to fit in between the track. I had tried to hand make and cut out other templates but this one worked the best.

The turnout will be made to operated as two rail polarity and the overhead will be for dummy operation. It is hoped that the frogs can work off an accessory switch when the turnout is changed. Thats a bit further on down the track.

Turnout No. 2

For the track in between the turnouts I plan on threading the plastic sleepers from the lengths of plain track rather than use the pc sleepers, This will be a quicker way of joining up all the track sections. Anyway thats for the future.

And today rather than do any more work with the track I decided to do some scenery work around the trolley stop at South Aurora. There is a platform in the centre of the crossing loop with a trolley stop. I have installed some lights for the passengers but when the get off they can't go anywhere except to the close by terminus which requires crossing the track, going down the walkway and then over to the platform where the terminating trolleys are hopefully waiting. I had some spare timber that was sold as a walkway for a reefer walkway. I was generous to make it twice as wide as a brakeman would find on the roof. 

 It then time to go planting the grass weeds and flowers and anything that would make the area look nicer. Although the area finished was small  I liken this work as to having a colouring in book and eventually it is all done.

A little bit of scenery helps make the scene

 Well even though I didn't progress any further with the track today, some scenery work helps fill in the colouring book. More next time.