putting down turnouts and rail lines
- Thread starter markp
- Start date
Ok, A disclaimer here, most of my track over the last 40 years has been hand laid. recently i have been using some commercial track components at the club, on hidden track on my home railroad, on the narrow gauge on my home railroad that is on a shelf hanging from the ceiling where hand laying track would be difficult or impossible. there are tricks to installing commercial track that I had forgotten, or never known. Making my own track from scratch, I had thought using flex track and switches would be easy and quick. I was wrong, careful attention to detail is required
If your ties are breaking at the nail holes one of two things is happening; either the hole is too small ( or the nail is two large- take your pick) a track nail should slide easily through the hole in the tie, if it does not, get a thinner nail, or drill the hole out so the nail can be driven into the hole without hard contact on the sides of the hole; or the nail has been driven down too far bowing the tie downward in the middle. The latter can narrow the gauge slightly @ the nail location, or break the tie. I like to leave a couple thousandths slack between the nail head and the tie surface, which allows the switch to float a little , and insures you are not damaging or distorting the tie with the nail . If the nail is long enough to hit the plywood subroadbed, it may be a good idea to drill a pilot hole with a drill bit that is smaller than your track nail, so the nail still grips the wood, but it takes less force to drive in; that makes it easier not to drive the nail all the way flush with the tie, or farther, which might bow the tie downward ore break it.
Hope this helps, try it , and share your results with us here
Bill Nelson
If your ties are breaking at the nail holes one of two things is happening; either the hole is too small ( or the nail is two large- take your pick) a track nail should slide easily through the hole in the tie, if it does not, get a thinner nail, or drill the hole out so the nail can be driven into the hole without hard contact on the sides of the hole; or the nail has been driven down too far bowing the tie downward in the middle. The latter can narrow the gauge slightly @ the nail location, or break the tie. I like to leave a couple thousandths slack between the nail head and the tie surface, which allows the switch to float a little , and insures you are not damaging or distorting the tie with the nail . If the nail is long enough to hit the plywood subroadbed, it may be a good idea to drill a pilot hole with a drill bit that is smaller than your track nail, so the nail still grips the wood, but it takes less force to drive in; that makes it easier not to drive the nail all the way flush with the tie, or farther, which might bow the tie downward ore break it.
Hope this helps, try it , and share your results with us here
Bill Nelson
Markp:
Don't put nails in the middle of the ties. If they don't break them, they bend them and put the rails out of gauge.
I put my spikes or nails on the outside of the rails, between the ties. They are next to invisible* and hold the track well. Usually I put one on each side.
Best are spiles (with a head on just one side) and you should try for spikes aimed at a gauge larger than yours. Next best are cigar-box nails.
I don't like gluing for switches or other expensive track. If you hold it in place with the nails (as above) you can add ballast and glue it in place.
If you absolutely have to nail through the ties, don't push all the way down. Don't use a hammer; use long nose pliers.
* I just tore up my layout and missed a lot of them!
Don't put nails in the middle of the ties. If they don't break them, they bend them and put the rails out of gauge.
I put my spikes or nails on the outside of the rails, between the ties. They are next to invisible* and hold the track well. Usually I put one on each side.
Best are spiles (with a head on just one side) and you should try for spikes aimed at a gauge larger than yours. Next best are cigar-box nails.
I don't like gluing for switches or other expensive track. If you hold it in place with the nails (as above) you can add ballast and glue it in place.
If you absolutely have to nail through the ties, don't push all the way down. Don't use a hammer; use long nose pliers.
* I just tore up my layout and missed a lot of them!
