Track Laying

[GNRi1959]

Might seem like a daft question but I often wondered what protocol do modellers follow when track laying. I'm sure when railway engineers design stations and systems there are certain design features that they employ. I'm sure the same applies to laying model track work to ensure that locos can move around freely. Am I thinking too deep?

[PaulC]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean. My only advice would be to visualise a train running on your track. Can it get from point A to point B. For example, can a train arrive at platform 3, say, and depart back on to the correct line. Does a train get stuck if it arrives at a certain location. Installing a passing loop may be required. And so on.  Just drive your train and if you come across any difficulties address the issue.  Best discovering this now than when track is down or you may hamper your operational potential of the layout.

From anything I've learnt, the railway company's did everything they could to save money so very expensive installation of points would have been kept to what was needed and no more.  

Paul

[Noel]

Just my sequence, not necessarily the correct or ideal:

1. Temporarily Lay the track dry using drawing pins (avoid points over board joints or cross members for later point motors)
2. Test run trains to ensure smooth operation, no derailments, clearances between longer rolling stock items on parralell track at bends. (I.e. Avoid corners of passing coaches touch each other). 
3. Simulate prototypical operations (i.e. Shunting, run around, building formations, etc)
4. Adjust track if required from steps 2 & 3
5. Accurately mark finalised track position on base board. Accurately mark holes for point motors
6. Remove track
7. Cut, lay and glue down track bed or yard sheet (i.e. 3mm cork or 3mm dense cell black foam), copydex a better glue than PVA because it doesn't go hard therefore does not transmit rail noise through track bed to base board
8. Drill point motor holes under where point tie bars will be. 
9. Option - do messy scenic work now before track relaid, such as forming shapes using plaster/foam, roads, etc.
10. Relay and pin track to track bed
11. Wire primary track power
12. Before ballasting perform test run of all track
13. Ballast track with suitable ballast material using wet PVA method
14. Weather track and ballast (air brush by far the quickest and easiest way to do thus)
15. Clean rail tops
16. Test run variety of stock again
17. Finish track wiring
18. Point motor wiring. 
19. Do non messy scenic work, scatters, static grass, buildings, trees, walls, foliage, fences, etc

Edited February 10, 2018 by Noel

[GNRi1959]

Noel, thanks for a very detailed approach to track laying. I used wire in tube point control last time which was fine but it may consider some sort of electronic control this time. Do you use Peco?

thanks for posting.

[David Holman]

On 10/02/2018 at 7:41 PM, Noel said:

Just my sequence, not necessarily the correct or ideal:

1. Temporarily Lay the track dry using drawing pins (avoid points over board joints or cross members for later point motors)
2. Test run trains to ensure smooth operation, no derailments, clearances between longer rolling stock items on parralell track at bends. (I.e. Avoid corners of passing coaches touch each other). 
3. Simulate prototypical operations (i.e. Shunting, run around, building formations, etc)
4. Adjust track if required from steps 2 & 3
5. Accurately mark finalised track position on base board. Accurately mark holes for point motors
6. Remove track
7. Cut, lay and glue down track bed or yard sheet (i.e. 3mm cork or 3mm dense cell black foam), copydex a better glue than PVA because it doesn't go hard therefore does not transmit rail noise through track bed to base board
8. Drill point motor holes under where point tie bars will be. 
9. Option - do messy scenic work now before track relaid, such as forming shapes using plaster/foam, roads, etc.
10. Relay and pin track to track bed
11. Wire primary track power
12. Before ballasting perform test run of all track
13. Ballast track with suitable ballast material using wet PVA method
14. Weather track and ballast (air brush by far the quickest and easiest way to do thus)
15. Clean rail tops
16. Test run variety of stock again
17. Finish track wiring
18. Point motor wiring. 
19. Do non messy scenic work, scatters, static grass, buildings, trees, walls, foliage, fences, etc

    On 10/02/2018 at 7:41 PM, Noel said:

    Just my sequence, not necessarily the correct or ideal:

    1. Temporarily Lay the track dry using drawing pins (avoid points over board joints or cross members for later point motors)
    2. Test run trains to ensure smooth operation, no derailments, clearances between longer rolling stock items on parralell track at bends. (I.e. Avoid corners of passing coaches touch each other). 
    3. Simulate prototypical operations (i.e. Shunting, run around, building formations, etc)
    4. Adjust track if required from steps 2 & 3
    5. Accurately mark finalised track position on base board. Accurately mark holes for point motors
    6. Remove track
    7. Cut, lay and glue down track bed or yard sheet (i.e. 3mm cork or 3mm dense cell black foam), copydex a better glue than PVA because it doesn't go hard therefore does not transmit rail noise through track bed to base board
    8. Drill point motor holes under where point tie bars will be. 
    9. Option - do messy scenic work now before track relaid, such as forming shapes using plaster/foam, roads, etc.
    10. Relay and pin track to track bed
    11. Wire primary track power
    12. Before ballasting perform test run of all track
    13. Ballast track with suitable ballast material using wet PVA method
    14. Weather track and ballast (air brush by far the quickest and easiest way to do thus)
    15. Clean rail tops
    16. Test run variety of stock again
    17. Finish track wiring
    18. Point motor wiring. 
    19. Do non messy scenic work, scatters, static grass, buildings, trees, walls, foliage, fences, etc

    Looks very thorough to me. The only thing I would add is to consider drawing out the whole thing full size on wall paper lining, though if ready made track is used, this is probably not so important. Gettting down to eye level to check for alignment is also important