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Discussion Boards => HO => Topic started by: jonathan on February 23, 2018, 11:57:42 AM

Title: Isolating track and Layout Progress
Post by: jonathan on February 23, 2018, 11:57:42 AM
Thought I'd share a little progress on my layout and show how I accomplished a little track isolation, since the question comes up from time-to-time.

This is my industry yard which sits inside the mainline:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4724/39545044945_768bc205f4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23fsG8K)DSC_1112 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/23fsG8K) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

I put in quite a bit of scenery, BEFORE I got around to powering up the track.  Gotta make it operational now.

To start, I need to be able to park my locos that will push the freight out onto the mainline:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4719/25570160257_2ff04cbbd8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/EXxKN2)DSC_1115 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/EXxKN2) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

I used a dremel and cutoff wheels to create an isolated parking space for my 4 locos.  Then jammed a piece of plastic in the cut.  Secured it with CA and trimmed the plastic.  Finally, added a bit of paint to hide my work:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4658/39545048465_9489067b21_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23fsHbr)DSC_1106 (https://flic.kr/p/23fsHbr) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4671/40397239672_bbeb9a1b9a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24xLpWh)DSC_1104 (https://flic.kr/p/24xLpWh) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

I'll drop in a bit of fine ballast and diluted glue to hide the gouge left by the dremel.

Then I need to solder a couple feeder wires to the track and connect them to a switch to turn on/off the tracks:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4758/26570374608_cd221bd2d8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GtW7F3)DSC_1123 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/GtW7F3) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

I'll number the toggle switches and track to know which switch is which...

Next, I need to add feeder wires to power the track.  I used some solid core wire... because it was free and I have a lot of it.  I soldered the feeder wires to every-other track joint.  I use to over-engineer and add feeder wire to every joint.  Getting old and lazy:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4630/40397237812_de0413d835_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24xLpod)DSC_1108 (https://flic.kr/p/24xLpod) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

Again, a little paint and ballast should hide my work.

Finally, I need to clean the track, loco wheels, and test my work.  These little 0-6-0s can push quite a few cars on level track:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4764/40397234992_d125fb75a4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24xLoxA)DSC_1119 (https://flic.kr/p/24xLoxA) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

At some point, I will need to build/modify a curved loading dock for this industry:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4711/26570721438_9c6c5aaf91_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GtXTLS)DSC_1116 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/GtXTLS) by Jon Vogel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152929963@N07/), on Flickr

Anyway, making progress...

Regards,

Jonathan

Title: Re: Isolating track and Layout Progress
Post by: WoundedBear on February 23, 2018, 05:28:28 PM
Looks really good man! I really like the first pic.....the wide view.

Very nice addition to a basement in my opinion.  ;D

Sid
Title: Re: Isolating track and Layout Progress
Post by: jonathan on February 24, 2018, 06:55:13 AM
Thanks, man!

Regards,

Jonathan