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**slimrails** · 11-13-2009, 04:54 PM

I picked up wire, Pliobond cement, and some other supplies to start working on the sub-roadbed and turnouts. Here's a turnout fresh out of the jig. First, I loaded up the jig with ties.

Then I ran a bed of Pliobond on some of the rails, but had to try a couple times to keep the points from getting cement on the bottom of the point rails. The stock rails are thin where the points meet them because of the fine build of the turnout. I finally got some dots of cement in just the right places to hold the ties.

Here's the final outcome. It still needs touch up and rust-colored paint on the sides of the rails, but it's almost ready to spike. The pc board ties will be trimmed as will some of the others so they have a more graduated appearance. I'll solder power feed lines too one end just prior to spiking it down. Note the jumper wire between the stockrail and the point rails...this will keep the point rails powered.

**slimrails** · 11-14-2009, 01:03 PM

'Mission Control, we HAVE sub roadbed AT this time, over.' YES! Mark P. (MAP here on RR-Line) came by today for coffee, cigars, and MRR construction.

We decided that it would be best to lay the foam lengthwise even though I have a small strip to cut and glue down on the back of the bench work. When we set a short piece together with the long piece using the built-in tongue-and-groove design, the resulting joint created a slight hump that was part of the foam and not something that could be flattened out in the gluing process. That slight rise would make the track bump up and not lay flat across the surface of the joint...no good! :down: We decided it would be best to orient the foam sheet lengthwise so it's level across this part of the layout. Pretty soon we'll be spiking down track! [:-bigmouth]

**Dutchman** · 11-14-2009, 01:16 PM

What thickness foam did you use, Russ?

**slimrails** · 11-14-2009, 01:41 PM

Hey, Bruce....it's the 250 foam...one inch thick. We put a bead of Liquid Nails around the inner edge of the foam and then in a zig-zag pattern across the length giving it plenty of adhesion. I put some weighted stuff on top that wouldn't dent the foam but hold it down until the adhesive dried. I checked it before...it's completely flat and ready for track! [:-bigmouth]

**slimrails** · 11-15-2009, 08:20 AM

I used Sn3 Code 70 'rollee' track gauges and pre-gapped pc board ties for my first 3' length of track. I did this as a trial run to see if I needed to make any tweeks in the construction process. I bought the rollee gauges from Railway Engineering and they are a great tool. The pc board ties are from Fast Tracks. Once the pc board ties were soldered, the track was perfectly gauged.

Here's my construction crew inspecting the results of the first turnout and track progress so far.

**jbvb** · 11-15-2009, 09:28 AM

I like to use a go/no-go gauge (a' la' NMRA) even if I have good 2-point or 3-point fixed gauges handy. Is there one available for Sn3?

**slimrails** · 11-15-2009, 03:38 PM

quote:

Originally posted by jbvb

I like to use a go/no-go gauge (a' la' NMRA) even if I have good 2-point or 3-point fixed gauges handy. Is there one available for Sn3?

There are a couple of different gauges available for all scales including those made by the NMRA. These rollee jobs are designed specifically for use in track construction.

**slimrails** · 11-15-2009, 03:44 PM

Here's a plan for this part of the layout. The tape represents track and connects the turnouts. This is about where everything will go, but I have to check it a few more times before I start laying track. There will be an 'L' section added to the bottom that will have the roundhouse, turntable, etc. Next weekend I want to start laying track. [:-bouncy]

**Frederic_Testard** · 11-15-2009, 10:12 PM

Nice to see your progress on the layout, Russ. These rollers are really great tools and make the proper gauging of handlaid track a very easy job.

BTW, what is a go/no-go gauge?

**slimrails** · 11-21-2009, 04:37 PM

I spent a good part of the afternoon and evening getting my first section of track put down. I put Pliobond adhesive on the bottom of each tie, but ran into a small problem. The solvent in the Pliobond adhesive reacted with the foam in places where I used too much. This resulted in little sink hole cavities to form, but nothing to destabilize the track. I added less cement as I went along. After painting the ties, I took my time, soldered hidden feeder wires to the underside of the track, dropped the wires through holes in the benchwork top, and then glued the rails down to the ties with the Pliobond. The last step for today was spiking down the rail. The unpainted ties are the pc board ties that I have to get painted up to match the wood ties. The track is straight, flat, and ready to connect up to a turnout. But that's tommorow's job!

**Dutchman** · 11-21-2009, 04:39 PM

Good to see the track being laid, Russ. It looks like you had a profitable day.

**Tyson Rayles** · 11-21-2009, 05:55 PM

:up: Won't be long before you can fire up a loco and take a test run Russ!

**slimrails** · 11-28-2009, 04:06 PM

The crossover construction on the two track main through Kleefskill Junction is underway. I could have made this track work easier by laying the turnouts and diagonal connecting rail on long turnout ties, but that's not the look I wanted. I chose to use standard cross ties on the crossover diagonal track and 'knit' the ties together on either side. This gives the crossover an 'engineered' look. I'll have the ties colored, track down and spiked, and the other crossover turnout completed tomorrow. Good progress over the holiday!

**Peterpools** · 11-28-2009, 04:44 PM

Russ

Nothing like laying rail. Some top notch work.

Peter

**slimrails** · 11-28-2009, 05:02 PM

quote:

Originally posted by Peterpools

Nothing like laying rail.

That's true, Peter. I feel like I'm really building my railroad and not just putting it together. I'm also checking my work as I go along for electrical continuity, gauge, and smoothness hence the truck in the foreground. I also use my reefer, which has the best freewheeling trucks, as a test car. I look for anything...a rise in a wheel, a dip, anything that could lead to trouble later on. I made changes in the crossover due to a couple of pc board ties touching that would lead to a short. I ended up laying out the tie pattern first, including the pc board ties, to make certain everything fit together. My track gang did a good job today.

They'll be up and at it again tomorrow, too! [:-bigmouth]

Announcement

Railroad Construction In Kleefskill, NY

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