Part 4

Largest section of trackwork.

Shown in green.

Click on any of the images for larger versions.

This is a big chunk of trackwork, 4 curved turnouts and 2 three-way turnouts all on top of each other. While not as complex as some of the other trackwork, it was a big job to build none the less.

The CAD work for this took 4 evenings. Lots of ties to align here, and none of them simple. Only having some old fuzzy images to work from I was left on my own to determine the most logical and likely way the ties would have been placed. Of course I am not modeling as built originally, I’m sure over the years maintaining this mess would have resulted in ties being laid in any manner that would suit.

Building the trackwork took 3 evenings.

Here is a shot of all the trackwork completed so far. There is a bit of extra rail between each section that I will trim to fit when the track is installed.

The completed sections on top of the full size plot of the entire terminal.

I have been asked if will be possible for couplers to function on the tight radii used here, which works out to about 12″ on the inner loop around the freight house. Since this is scaled down exactly from the original version, theoretically it should work fine. Until I had finished a section I could not be 100% certain the couplers would preform properly.

Fortunately they do work well. I have done several tests using 40′ cars, and they couple fine providing I use Kadee couplers. Others don’t seem to work well enough here. Not a problem as I use all Kadee couplers on my equipment and am careful not to paint them so they function well.

Here is a short video showing the couplers working as hoped.

Another video below showing a rigorous performance test of the trackwork so far. I doubt I will be pushing cars through this trackwork as this speed! If they work well fast, they will work even better at prototypical speed.

Now, on to that curved quad crossing in the middle. I swear the designers of this place put it in the dead centre to just show off!

On to Next Section

-Tim

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 03-25-2007 | 06:03 PM
Posted in: Latest Posts | Track Construction