So as to not have to crawl under the layout to wire some more buildings, I did another little scenery project.  I've built a number of these little pocket parks.  this one ends up with a couple of girls flirting with some nearby workers.

Paul, looking good but slow down man you are starting to make me look bad as I haven't had anytime to get anything done on the layout due to coaching basketball.  I really have to do something this weekend as I'm hosting on the 14th.  Hope to see you tonight at Dale's.

Jdevleerjr posted:

Worked on the track today.  

I dry fitted some Woodland Scenics 3% inclines.  I am waiting for some of my curves to arrive on Monday to install and then I should have a complete loop.  I hope to have the 1st train run by this time next week! 

I will then remove all the track and weather it before it is re-installed.

 

Nice.. What part numbers did you use??.. No hobby shops around, so I have to buy online..

Woodson posted:

Jdevleerjr posted:

Worked on the track today.  

I dry fitted some Woodland Scenics 3% inclines.  I am waiting for some of my curves to arrive on Monday to install and then I should have a complete loop.  I hope to have the 1st train run by this time next week! 

I will then remove all the track and weather it before it is re-installed.

Nice.. What part numbers did you use??.. No hobby shops around, so I have to buy online..

I used them on my last layout and they were great!

I will use 2 different grades.  

Woodland Scenics 4% Incline Set (4) WOOST1411

The Razorback Traction Co. is pleased to announce that Phase II of the Howard Roark Memorial Storage Facility has been completed!

A pleased Fortescue J. Gi-raffe was on hand for the dedication, as Shop Superintendent Norma Bates Kitteh was off snoozing.

I went to refresh myself with a cold mug of iced tea, but when I returned:

Assistant Rolling Stock Manager Sylvia Siamese declined comment.

Mitch

Finished installing the "Dale's TMCC Signal Enhancing Magic Wire" and hooked it to the house wiring ground "green" wire in an outlet. Seems to work great .. or not at all.  Locomotives run fine with or without it.  Maybe there wasn't a problem to begin with.  The one balky Atlas diesel was fixed somehow with the installation of Gunrunner's TMCC Battery Replacement.  Doesn't drop the sound now.  I'm still wondering about the TMCC signal thing.  I have a six track yard with the tracks right next to each other, 10 feet long.  All TMCC engines work in the yard area fine without signal problems and no "enhancement wire"....

Jdevleerjr posted:

Woodson posted:

Jdevleerjr posted:

Worked on the track today.  

I dry fitted some Woodland Scenics 3% inclines.  I am waiting for some of my curves to arrive on Monday to install and then I should have a complete loop.  I hope to have the 1st train run by this time next week! 

I will then remove all the track and weather it before it is re-installed.

Nice.. What part numbers did you use??.. No hobby shops around, so I have to buy online..

I used them on my last layout and they were great!

I will use 2 different grades.  

Woodland Scenics 4% Incline Set (4) WOOST1411

Woodland Scenics 3% Incline Set (6) WOOST1416

 

Nice looking! Is that 4 sets of 4% and 6 sets of 3%? I don't understand the  (4) and (6).

Jdevleerjr posted:

Woodson posted:

Jdevleerjr posted:

Worked on the track today.  

I dry fitted some Woodland Scenics 3% inclines.  I am waiting for some of my curves to arrive on Monday to install and then I should have a complete loop.  I hope to have the 1st train run by this time next week! 

I will then remove all the track and weather it before it is re-installed.

Nice.. What part numbers did you use??.. No hobby shops around, so I have to buy online..

I used them on my last layout and they were great!

I will use 2 different grades.  

Woodland Scenics 4% Incline Set (4) WOOST1411

Woodland Scenics 3% Incline Set (6) WOOST1416

 

Many thanks for the information!!!!!

"Nice looking! Is that 4 sets of 4% and 6 sets of 3%? I don't understand the  (4) and (6)."

Me neither, would you mind explaining what you did? TIA

Woodson posted:

Jdevleerjr posted:

Worked on the track today.  

I dry fitted some Woodland Scenics 3% inclines.  I am waiting for some of my curves to arrive on Monday to install and then I should have a complete loop.  I hope to have the 1st train run by this time next week! 

I will then remove all the track and weather it before it is re-installed.

 

Nice.. What part numbers did you use??.. No hobby shops around, so I have to buy online..

Just asking, but isn't 4% or even 3% grade too much for most O gauge engines?  If you have used them before, did the grade give you any problems?   Did you run engines with speed control? 

Jim

Bryan, now you make me feel bad. I held off as long as possible but had to get back to working on the layout. I will be at Dale's tonight. Anyways today I got the extra wood put in between the tables and laid down some more cork. The area is not quite done as to I will be adding another track but that has to wait because I have just about run out of cork. And I am back on my quest looking for some Weaver cars again which I may have found ones I don't have. Waiting for a email of his list. Anyways a couple of pics of what I did today...............Paul

Looking good Paul!

PAUL, now you made me feel bad. I did test layout in the corner, I have a Large Speaker obstacle that at first glance, 1. is not scale and 2. in the way for a planned HELIEX to tressle elevate section. I anxiously away Giraffe pens, Herd crossing signs, and well, a Gir-affe. Oh, and grade. I did not thin about grade.

yes, rank beginner. But, I wanted to show Eliott some progress...

Salute!  

carsntrains posted:

Woodson posted:

Jdevleerjr posted:

Worked on the track today.  

I dry fitted some Woodland Scenics 3% inclines.  I am waiting for some of my curves to arrive on Monday to install and then I should have a complete loop.  I hope to have the 1st train run by this time next week! 

I will then remove all the track and weather it before iice.. What part numbers did you use??.. No hobby shops around, so I have to buy online..

Just asking, but isn't 4% or even 3% grade too much for most O gauge engines?  If you have used them before, did the grade give you any problems?   Did you run engines with speed control? 

Jim

No it's not.  I ran locomotives with legacy cruise on my old layout and no issued at all.  If you look at the Lionel incline sets they are about 6.5%! 

That being said I'm going to return the 4% grade tomorrow and replace with a 3% one.   

Jdevleerjr posted:

carsntrains posted:

Woodson posted:

Jdevleerjr posted:

Worked on the track today.  

I dry fitted some Woodland Scenics 3% inclines.  I am waiting for some of my curves to arrive on Monday to install and then I should have a complete loop.  I hope to have the 1st train run by this time next week! 

I will then remove all the track and weather it before iice.. What part numbers did you use??.. No hobby shops around, so I have to buy online..

Just asking, but isn't 4% or even 3% grade too much for most O gauge engines?  If you have used them before, did the grade give you any problems?   Did you run engines with speed control? 

Jim

No it's not.  I ran locomotives with legacy cruise on my old layout and no issued at all.  If you look at the Lionel incline sets they are about 6.5%! 

That being said I'm going to return the 4% grade tomorrow and replace with a 3% one.   

I had a set of Lionel graduated trestles for Fastrack  and none of my engines liked it.  Called Lionel and they said they recommend no more than 2%, and that most engines they produce will not do well with the pier set they sell.   I had figured an engine with speed control would work with 3 or 4 percent grade.   You have to "drive" an engine without it.   Pour on the coal going up, cut it back coming down.  I found it odd that Lionel didn't recommend the graduated trestle set that they make.

Jim

Picked up a Railsounds tender at the train show last weekend.  Here it is in action with the more than somewhat dubious assistance of Road Supervisor Norma Bates Kitteh...

Note to Lionel:  Add a "Stand by, giant kitteh on tracks" dialogue to the Railsounds tender...

Mitch

lol, I Want one...... tender with sound, pass on the norma cat

With grades it is important to remember to both start and finish the grade on a length of straight track, and NOT curves. The addition of curves before, after, or during a grade multiplies the percentage of a grade significantly. There is a formula for this, but i can't find it right now. My maximum grade is 4.17%;  it starts and ends with over a foot of straight track at each end and is over 7 feet long. This is the only photo i have of it and it is distorted as the total length of the incline on the left is 12 feet.

Miggy posted:

lol, I Want one...... tender with sound, pass on the norma cat

(Norma regards Miggy with some indignation) 

;D

Mitch

Mitch,

Those videos were hilarious.  LMAO.  You should give Norma the aka Sheldon. That's her spot and nobody goes in her spot.

Anything train related so I don't have to get under the layout and wire up those buildings.  

I went down to Jones General Store here in the center of East Kingston NH.  I was finished pumping gas when the Amtrak Downeaster went by heading north.  Ok after lunch I'll head downstairs to the layout.

Norma Bates Kitteh rules !!  Love it !!

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Picked up a Railsounds tender at the train show last weekend.  Here it is in action with the more than somewhat dubious assistance of Road Supervisor Norma Bates Kitteh...

 

Note to Lionel:  Add a "Stand by, giant kitteh on tracks" dialogue to the Railsounds tender...

Mitch

Hilarious Mitch I've got two of my own...so far they have not found the layout.

modeltrainsparts posted:

 

 

With grades it is important to remember to both start and finish the grade on a length of straight track, and NOT curves. The addition of curves before, after, or during a grade multiplies the percentage of a grade significantly. There is a formula for this, but i can't find it right now. My maximum grade is 4.17%;  it starts and ends with over a foot of straight track at each end and is over 7 feet long. This is the only photo i have of it and it is distorted as the total length of the incline on the left is 12 feet.

 

Wish your picture would have worked!  Any kind of grade takes up a lot of space.  Even the 3% Woodland scenic grade is 12 feet long!  Rising 4.5 inches.   Learned a lot about "making the grade" this week!  

Jim

This morning I painted the cork. Wife asked what I was doing to which I replied waiting for the paint to dry. She in turn said well since you have time on your hands why don't you do a load of laundry to which I replied yes. So everything worked out in the end and this afternoon I hope to lay some track down. The cork I left unpainted is where I am transitioning to dark yard siding ballast.  Pics..........Paul

Looking Great Paul, you are one heck of a master builder to have to drill them big holes and use them big bolts to hold down your cork! I cant even see the bolt heads! LOL

Again I think its looking great!

Twelve Feet Long....? wth... so how about 5 feet, and total height is just what is needed for under clearance. Oh, and drawing circles... for curve radius. I am about to learn some stuff.

I appreciate the posts,

The 12 feet includes: half of the curve and some level track before the grade, the grade itself, and level track at the top of the grade before entering a turnout.  Grades can take up quite a bit of linear  space!

Nice Job Paul!. I just got 3 boxes in the mail, Great car, 2 switches, and curved track for my mini helix... my wife said, " What did you get in the mail today..MORE train stuff", to which I replied, Yup, Grand kids and I are working on a layout." "Are you tapering back now?" 

(Wait, Whats that mean........)

modeltrainsparts posted:

 

 

With grades it is important to remember to both start and finish the grade on a length of straight track, and NOT curves. The addition of curves before, after, or during a grade multiplies the percentage of a grade significantly. There is a formula for this, but i can't find it right now. My maximum grade is 4.17%;  it starts and ends with over a foot of straight track at each end and is over 7 feet long. This is the only photo i have of it and it is distorted as the total length of the incline on the left is 12 feet.

 

Sometimes curves in grades are not avoidable ...

Right, they can be unavoidable, but remember a curve in a grade adds significantly to the percent of incline of the grade.  As i mentioned in my original post, there is a formula for this, but i can't find it right now. The engine is not only pulling the train up the grade, but also against the force of the curve that is essentially trying to push the train in a straight line.

modeltrainsparts posted:

Right, they can be unavoidable, but remember a curve in a grade adds significantly to the percent of incline of the grade.  As i mentioned in my original post, there is a formula for this, but i can't find it right now. The engine is not only pulling the train up the grade, but also against the force of the curve that is essentially trying to push the train in a straight line.

Superelevation can help.. At least in my experience.. Of course all this is debatable.. I always do lots of testing before attaching anything permanently..

modeltrainsparts posted:

Right, they can be unavoidable, but remember a curve in a grade adds significantly to the percent of incline of the grade.  As i mentioned in my original post, there is a formula for this, but i can't find it right now. The engine is not only pulling the train up the grade, but also against the force of the curve that is essentially trying to push the train in a straight line.

Right.  And in a curve the locked axles of an O scale model has the wheels fighting against each other.   Just like the locked differential in a drag racing car.   Turn a corner and the tires chirp.  Or even worse break an axle. 

Miggy..     You are right.    That's 12 feet of incline plus an approach.

I rewired a spur I had done last month.   Before I had ran buss wires.     Saved about 6 feet of wire! : )   Looks a lot better too!   

Jim

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Picked up a Railsounds tender at the train show last weekend.  Here it is in action with the more than somewhat dubious assistance of Road Supervisor Norma Bates Kitteh...

Note to Lionel:  Add a "Stand by, giant kitteh on tracks" dialogue to the Railsounds tender...

Mitch

That's funny although she didn't look to impressed. Maybe it was the lack of Giraffes.  Must be a cat thing Have the same issue with my daughters cat. But then again she thinks she is a dog. ( Have two a German Shepard who also likes to lay on the track and a mix breed )  

Oh Boy, Great analogy. It really clicked with the straight axle race car.

my complicated Helix Corner.

Miggy posted:

Oh Boy, Great analogy. It really clicked with the straight axle race car.

my complicated Helix Corner.

Quick question, Carpet Central or are you just working the kinks out of the track plan?

Incorporated a ski lift into the layout.....the o scale snow makers are on the way!

-Pete

I actually got a lot done today.  I have about 90% of the track temporary laid.  Unfortunately I will need to buy a few more O42 curves and that will have to wait until payday next week.  

I didn't get a lot done.   2 hour trek to the Hobby shop and back home after work.  Got the 1 1/4 piece of track I needed.   Decided to get a spare 1 3/4 piece also!   Took back the operating/uncoupling track I bought and got a 1994 Mickey Mouse MOOOOVER bobbing boxcar instead.   Pretty good trade I'd say! LOL    Got home and reconfigured my 2nd spur, isolated it and wired it to a switch for power.    Worked out well.  Now I can park 2 trains with engines on the inner loop while running a train on the inner loop and outer loop!   YEEEE HAAAAAAAAA! 

Jim