I am thinking about of getting some AF roadbed. I saw some today and it looks pretty good for what it is. I was wondering though, what about the switches? Did they make any for switches?
How about the rerailers? I would think that the rerailer and the switch would sit to low compared to the track on the roadbed.
I guess you would have to be creative and put something under them to raise them up.
Frank Tauss
Replies sorted oldest to newest
There's a guy with the user name of sparks00033 on eBay that had wide foam roadbed for under switches, I bought a bunch about three years ago when I was first working on laying track on my new layout.
Frank, if you are looking at original Gilbert rubber roadbed or the Johnson reproductions they are made only for full straight and curve sections. Wherever an uncoupler or actuating track section is attached the roadbed must be cut to clip them on. For partial straight and curves, cut the roadbed to fit.
For turnouts, the trick is to attach the three adjacent track sections to the layout and allow the the turnouts to float free (about 1/16") above they layout. Some people put thin cardboard under the turnouts but it is not necessary for reliable operation. Cut the beveled edge off a straight section to place alongside the turnout to blend them in to the other track sections.
Here is a picture that shows the roadbed, free floating turnouts, an uncoupler cut into the roadbed and the beveled edge of the roadbed along the two turnouts. Treat rerailers the same as turnouts.
-+Thanks everyone!
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
