For many years the only layout I had was a sectional switching layout. Ten years ago my club was playing with modules and I had one, and when our club built a permanent layout we had two lift out sections to allow needed access to the breaker box.
One thing I noticed that was common to all these was damage to the rails at the but joints due to assembly , dis-assembly , storage and transportation of the modules or lift outs. When planning the sawmill section on our club layout I staked out the worst section of track on the club layout, and planned on making it the most reliable section of track. this included the lift outs, where repairs were needed almost every time the lift outs were installed, and since their default position was removed this was a problem.
The solution I came up with was to re route the track on either side of the lift outs (which were on curves), so that I could increase the radius of the curves. then at the joints I planned in short sections of straight track. At those locations I cut up some Atlas rerailer track. This has several advantages. one is anything off the track has a chance of being re rerailed as it crosses the gab; but more importantly, the rails at the joint are supported in a block of plastic that is a lot stronger than the flextrack on either side of it. also the rails are solidly affixed to the block of plastic, so the rails cant creep toward the gap due to changes in humidity and temperature. Also the rail on the module or liftout is protected while being moved due to un intentional contact with immovable objects.
since I made these changes the lift out sections have been rock solid reliable without needing adjustment and or repair each time thy are installed.
Bill Nelson
One thing I noticed that was common to all these was damage to the rails at the but joints due to assembly , dis-assembly , storage and transportation of the modules or lift outs. When planning the sawmill section on our club layout I staked out the worst section of track on the club layout, and planned on making it the most reliable section of track. this included the lift outs, where repairs were needed almost every time the lift outs were installed, and since their default position was removed this was a problem.
The solution I came up with was to re route the track on either side of the lift outs (which were on curves), so that I could increase the radius of the curves. then at the joints I planned in short sections of straight track. At those locations I cut up some Atlas rerailer track. This has several advantages. one is anything off the track has a chance of being re rerailed as it crosses the gab; but more importantly, the rails at the joint are supported in a block of plastic that is a lot stronger than the flextrack on either side of it. also the rails are solidly affixed to the block of plastic, so the rails cant creep toward the gap due to changes in humidity and temperature. Also the rail on the module or liftout is protected while being moved due to un intentional contact with immovable objects.
since I made these changes the lift out sections have been rock solid reliable without needing adjustment and or repair each time thy are installed.
Bill Nelson