Roadway Templates

In Layout Design Process 6 - Railroad Modeling I discussed the variety of prototype railroads Right of Way Maps used to identify right of way information: track diagrams, rail and ballast information, drainage, superelevation and grade line, bridge and building, and signal and communications information. 

 

It is now time to get into the details so that the WWSL Maintenance of Way track gangs can start  construction.

Modeling Information

If you are a Railroad Modeler and you are basing your layout roadway on how the prototype does it, then the following reference pages will help you figure out railroad engineering.

4.1.0 Right of Way discusses how railroads obtain their rights of way and how they document their right of way information.

4.1.1 Roadway discusses roadway engineering and construction, and the use of common standards used by railroads to communicate roadway standards based on their unique operational needs. This page also communicates the roadway standards to be used by the WWSL.

4.1.1.1 Roadbed discusses the geographic issues in roadbed engineering and construction, specifically roadbed construction specifications.

4.1.1.2 Embankments discusses roadway engineering and construction of embankments.

4.1.1.3 Cuts and Fills discusses roadway engineering and construction of cuts and fills.   

4.1.1.4 Drainage discusses the importance of drainage to roadway maintenance and the engineering and construction of cuts and fills.

The WWSL

The WWSL is going to use prototype right of way practices whenever practical. The WWSL is going to use The Milwaukee Roads right of way standard as it applies to electrified lines on the 1st (Northern) Division. 

The WWSL roadway standard will be based on the Union Pacific Common Standards - because that standard was the only consistant regional Class 1 roadway standard I had available for use. 

The WWSL engineering department has identified 15 roadway types that can used on the WWSL right of way. While that may seem excessive to railroad modeling, it does give me some prototype modeling latitude on the WWSL. See 4.2.11 Roadway Modeling Techniques for more details.

The Northern Pacific 16th Sub-Division at Brady, Wa. will be built to Northern Pacific Branch Line practices. See 4.2.11.14 Modeling Technique for Northern Pacific Branch Line for additional details.

The Milwaukee Road / Union Pacific 16th Sub-Division will be built to Union Pacific Branch Line practices. See 4.2.11.15 Modeling Technique for Milwaukee Road / Union Pacific Branch Line for additional details.

The WWSL will include in its modeling efforts drainage and other roadway details (such as hand and motor car set-offs, rail racks, etc), and appropriate signage.

I am going to build a right of way test section to develop and refine the techniques I will have to use during WWSL roadway construction. Those techniques will include putting down layout lines, determining tie spacing, putting down straight and curved track , developing turnout upgrade techniques, and practicing foam roadbed hot wire cutting to name a few new skills.

 

 

 

 

Paint Right of Way

Now that I have the work space organized and cleaned for the most part, its now time to get the roadway ready for track laying. 

From looking at various construction pictures over the years, you would notice that the extruded polystyrene foam I'm using for roadway is multi-colored. Some is in its original blue (from 20 years ago), green (from the last couple of years), and a browny tan color. The browny-tan color was an earth color that Andy Sperandeo,  a contributor and late executive editor Model Railroader Magazine, recommended ina layout construction project printed in Model Railroader. His recommendation was  Burro Beige,  I think from Sherwood Williams. Not knowing my soil colors I went out and bought a gallon and liberally painted the sections I had developed to date. It was a great improvement over blue foam.

Well Burro Beige isnt on the color charts any more, so I had to cut a chunk out of my  right of way scrap pile and take it to Lowes for a computer match.  The computer does an ok job of matching but its not absolute. Your results may vary. The new color is pretty decent for a first of many layers of ground cover. 

With a roller, a 4 inch brush and a paint pan I started at one end of the layout room and started painting. The job moved right along, especially since most of the right of way is now cleared of mountains of miscellaneous supplies. It gives the room a little more of a finished look. 

In the interest of continued cleaning and organizing, I put up pre-painted fascia that had been sitting on the right of way for more than a little while. There was a giant improvement  - made me think that big things were happening.  See 3.7 Valence / Fascia for additional details. 

While I was temporarily installing the fascia, I took advantage of the opportunity and constructed a Car Card Box and Sorting Rack,  and a Pen / Uncoupler Holder. It is too early to operationally use them but having them there was an opportunity to test the concept. Another small project completed. 

With a paint job, the laying down of roadbed lines will be easier - no more guessing which line is the old line, the new line or an accidental line. My layout line strategy will be discussed at 4.2.1 Putting down layout lines. I am going to do a test section on right of way construction first to get the process down before I go live on the WWSL right of way.

 

Break In Track

In my earlier model railroading days, I didn't go into high end locomotives. Athearn Blue Box was my choice - frankly that brand WAS the leading edge of technology and quality. With David Burrows minimalist philosophy in mind,  out of the box and onto the track was acceptable in my mind. Direct Current and analog control systems didnt require any tune ups or configuration upgrades, etc.

With DCC the whole philosophy changes. DCC requires programming tracks, can motors and drive trains require break in, decoders need speed control tweaking, and double heading requires speed matching. It really doesn't work on a railroad modeling layout. Something else is needed to do all that programming, tweaking and speed matching.

Given and druthers

For the current test objectives, the givens and druthers for this test layout are as follows:

1. The test track needs to be conveniently located near my workshop. The main motivation for building it is to have a place to quantify my tune up impact of the various HO locos that I work on.
2.  It needs to be in a spot that will be undisturbed for long periods of time.
3. The grade needs to be zero in the level portion. It needs to adjust to a maximum 2.5%. Grade change based on raising the table legs.
4. The length of the active test sections needs to be long enough to ensure that the acceleration of the test unit has stabilized to zero. It needs to be capable of allowing an hour break-in run (50% forward and 50% reverse).
   
5. The track sections shall be wired using DCC best practices. The initial tests will all be DC, later testing will also include DCC testing.
6. The track roadway shall be cork strip and the track shall be adhered to the cork with acrylic caulk.

I had to smile when, after noting how various modelers were handling the break-in challenge, it came to mind that a circle, the basic layout of a Christmas present decades ago. An older mind contemplated putting it under the benchworked but not built helix, but not being able to see the locomotive in motion was the drawback.

I walked past the solution every day for a couple of years before I realized the solution.

If you've read my earlier planning pages you know that I have a pretty decent basement for railroad modeling. The stairs are at one end of the basement, the utilities are centralized in two better than ok locations allowing for lots of uninterrupted railroad. My crew lounge / workbench area substitutes for a utility room when I'm not modeling. 

I have a rolling dispatcher's desk that abuts against the furnace area when operations are ongoing .....

The dispatching area! To hide the furnace during operations, I built a folding wall from four 2 foot by 6 foot plywood panels secured by hinges with removable pins. The dispatchers desk is placed along the furnace wall. What if that break in track was a circle on a 4' x 4' plywood panel and hinged to the hinged panels? Move the desk and raise the panel for break in operations and leave it hinged downward and out of sight the rest of the time.

Construction. Construction was very simple.

1. 4 foot x 4 foot by 3/4 inch plywood, painted all 6 sides WWSL subsoil color to allow easier observation of wheel sets in operation .
2. 1" x 2" frame to prevent warpage and protect track from being bumped, or torn loose when in storage (or rolling stock from falling on the floor).
3. Two 3 inch hinges to attach the module to the dispatcher wall panel.
4. Midwest cork roadbed to minimize track noise during motor and drive train evaluation.
5. Atlas Code 83 flex track  - 21 inch radius (minimum WWSL curvature). Code 83 rail height will also help me find those oversize flanges on rolling stock for replacement.
   
6. 18 gauge wire for track feeds.
7. Electrical panel for amp voltage meters and DC/DCC easy connect plugs.
   

Stored configuration

Upright configuration

Electrical

 I haven't gotten the final electrical configuration worked up right now. My plan is to use an old personal computer power supply (See 6.2.5 Power Supplies for additional details) for the 12V DC with a Model Rectifier Corporation Cab Control 77 power controller (I think it was the first 'hand held' throttle advertized) hooked up to the track bus. I will add DC amp and volt meters for analysis.

For DCC I will have a power bus line from the DCC system to the same track bus.

In the meantime I was able to test the test track with an old DC power pack, the Cab Control unit and some jumpers… Around and around the locomotives go during the break-in process!