ah, the smell of ozone in the evening

[healey36]

I've been thinking of putting a loop of O outside somewhere. Could finally get some nice sweeping curves out in the great wide-open...

[ScaleCraft]

GarGraves plastic ties and stainless rail.
Otherwise dryrot in a year or two and rusted through in about that time.

Indoors....cut a hole in the wall, switch on the railroad, lift up door with bar for security big enough for trains.....and run indoors until you want to run out.

[ScaleCraft]

Interesting. The Loewy F units stopped on the first crossover switch past the turntable switch. Every time, same spot. Hand held showed short.

I played with it, checked the engine, and the switch. Nothing amiss. Tried it again, caught a flash out the corner of my eye two switches back.

Fist switch to the track that will go behind the terminal is a brand new 072 LH GarGraves switch.
First two cars, no problem, third car has fast angle wheels....first two are PT-1's. Arc marks on the wheels. Pulled the car, reconnected the train and tried again...next car had fast-angles, shorted.
Pulled the switch, popped an axle out, took it to the shop. No way. The inside of the wheel is rubbing against the center rail pad between the points. Took the center rail out, straightened the sides and re-assembled...same issue.

Pulled the spikes (staples) out on the diverging rail (main) pushed the rail in to cause the flange to hold the wheel away from the center rail, re-drilled the "ties" and re-spiked. Put the switch back, works flawlessly.
Odd.

The older GarGraves with points I have have lots of clearance there, and of course the high-speed switches never have that particular issue.

[rogruth]

Dave,
Good to hear that so much more is now working.
I'll be watching for photos.

[ScaleCraft]

Installed the last of the ground throws in the yard.
Started imbedding the signal bridges in the sound stop. Found a 1.5" hole saw in two places, the cut with blade, and they drop right down to the plywood.

[rogruth]

Dave,
I hope you will continue this "article". Seldom do we see a piece about how a layout is rebuilt without tearing it down and starting over
but modifying some parts while keeping others. For instance the signal bridges. More please.

[ScaleCraft]

yeah...I can do that. Photos as I go.

[ScaleCraft]

This is a new, functioning bridge for the new junction. Notice how the "concrete" pads stand so high.


My first imbedding, probably 32 years ago. Compare to first two shots.



I have done this with just a knife...bunch of BS...so I used a hole saw to get the ends, then cut out the small triangles, plopped the bridge into place.