DFW Portable Layouts -- Mainline and Traction

[R.K. Maroon]

Long time readers of this forum may recall that the DFW O-Scale club has been replacing the old heavy all-wood modules of their portable layout with new light-weight modules. The last of the old modules have now been replaced so all the modules of the layout now use the same construction, which consists of 2" foamboard mounted within a lightweight wood frame. Here is a photo of the newest modules, six continuous straight sections that make up one side of the layout:



The photo really compresses the distance here; Not including the end loops, the six new modules together are 24 feet long. The modules are clearly incomplete at this point. The layout as a whole is currently single-track main, and that much is up and running. Eventually the main will be double-track and there will be a local branch that runs to a handful of industrial spurs on this side of the layout.

Notice the eased curve. This was our first attempt at this. The new track is hand-laid, so there was definitely a learning curve associated with laying rail that is continuously changing in radius. What a difference in the look, though. We have only run the SW in the photo, but the smoothness of operation at the curve to tangent transitions was noticeable. We expect the improvement with longer equipment will be even more pronounced.

The inaugural run of this section will be this weekend at the DFW Train Show at the Plano Centre in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas:

http://www.dfwtrainshows.com/content/fall-plano-train-show-sept-30-oct-1-2017

We will also have the layout at the Southwest O-Scale Show later in October:

http://www.oscalesw.com/

(edited once to update the title)

[RDSRR]

They look great!

[Erik C Lindgren]

Looks fantastic DFW guys

[R.K. Maroon]

I never thanked Dan and Erik for the kind words regarding the new club modules, so I will do that now: Thanks -- we're very pleased with these, even if we have a long way to go to get them finished.

Here is a video from the two local trains shows this past fall. The layout now supports passenger trains and larger locomotives, so we brought a few to run:

https://youtu.be/xt4IXPBnSmk

Jim

[Robert]

Nice display. Always good to see some 2Rail O scale in operation at a show. Gives folks an idea of what a larger scale is like in person.

Robert

[2railjon]

Great layout and video!
Any idea on the MTH model number for the 2 rail PRR baldwin centipede diesels?
Thanks
Jon

[sarge]

Oh, my.

Nice to see a Hudson, tickles this old NYC guy, but that Ann Rutledge is absolutely stunning.

[2railjon]

I think I found it:


I watched a few videos of the model, the overhang on curves is hideous!

[R.K. Maroon]

Here's a line up from the local DFW all-scale shows this last weekend:

[bob turner]

Whoever did the paint and decals has my vote!

[R.K. Maroon]

Last summer the DFW club replaced the legacy modules on one side of their portable layout as part of a plan to increase the track radius and double-track the main line. Here is a (bit fuzzy) photo of the legacy modules:


Dick Kuelbs built these back when the club had a portable traction layout. When the layout was converted to mainline 2-rail, Dick thought it would look cool to take down the wire but leave the poles. That proved to be a farsighted decision. Dick passed away a couple of years ago and left the modules to the club. We decided recently to convert these back to traction and use them as the core of a portable traction layout, which will augment our larger mainline layout.

We wanted to run continuously and debated adding either balloon tracks with one main track across the layout connecting them or loops at each end with two main tracks across the layout. We settled on the second idea, and with the plan finalized proceeded to build end-loop modules. Here is one end:


And here is the other:


More later
Jim

[Jay Criswell]

Jim,

Looking forward to your reports.

Jay

[R.K. Maroon]

Thanks, Jay -- The effort to get the new end loops built and tied into the existing models for our new-old traction layout is driven by a commitment our club made to setup and run the layout at a local "history week" model train exhibit at the depot in Allen, Texas (far north suburb of Dallas). We started the project eight weeks before the show. The previous photos were from weeks 1 and 2. Here is the progress after week 3:

West end looking east:

West End Looking East.JPG (97.34 KiB) Viewed 11288 times

East end looking west

East End Looking West.JPG (80.35 KiB) Viewed 11288 times

Most of the cork is down, except for a stretch on the legacy layout where a siding got pulled up to be regraded and converted to the main line.

Week 4, which was this last Saturday, next. Note that we don't have illusions that we can get the overhead wire up in time for the show. We plan to run as a 2-rail operation for now. We have smattering of short equipment -- industrial switchers and the like -- so we should be OK. Those are 15" radius curves. It will be interesting to see what runs and what doesn't.

Jim

[R.K. Maroon]

Here's an update on the progress to the traction layout. The legacy modules used 8'-6" ties and we didn't have any. I ordered a bag from Jay's Right-O'-Way website and the ties arrived in just a few days (thanks, Jay!):

Right-Of-Way Ties.jpg (43.44 KiB) Viewed 11241 times

We got them stained and glued down in Week #4:

Roadbed and Ties on End-Loops.jpg (1.21 MiB) Viewed 11241 times

We use a mix of Higgins India Ink and 90% rubbing alcohol to stain the the ties. We dip the ties in small batches and vary the amount of alcohol or ink in each subsequent batch so we can get ties that vary in how deeply stained they are, which gives the trackwork a bit of a weathered look.

It only takes three small dots of white glue to secure the ties to the roadbed. One on each end and one in the middle. We have learned to the hard way not to apply glue under the rails, as pushing the spikes through the dried glue makes for bent spikes and a worn-out track crew.

Last Saturday was week #5. All the ties are down and the rail has been bent. The spiking of track is well under way:

Spiking Track 01.jpg (2.29 MiB) Viewed 11241 times

This straight section was a spur on the legacy modules that we are converting to mainline. Notice the cork to raise the roadbed and the code 125 rail. The spurs are otherwise code 100 at grade:

Spiking Track 02.jpg (2 MiB) Viewed 11241 times

This looks like a mess but it's actually the outside rail getting spiked down on the east end-loop:

Spiking Track 03.jpg (1.79 MiB) Viewed 11241 times

Prebending the rail is really helpful when the radius is this tight. It takes some back and forth to get the rail bent more-or-less correctly, but it sure makes spiking easier.

Two more work sessions until the show. We need to finish laying the rail and then we have to wire up the new trackwork. We think we'll make but it might require some overtime.

By the way, the Right-O'-Way website is great. I found it very easy to find what I needed and easier still to get an order placed. Here is the link:

http://right-o-way.us/

Well done, Jay, and thanks again for getting the order out so quickly. Staying ahead of the track crew is critical to staying on schedule
Jim

[Jay Criswell]

Jim,

Looking really good. You want that $25 now, or later? Oops! Cat's out of the bag!!

Jay