Most of the track has been laid on the HO scale Virginian Ry. model railroad, so it’s time to run a test train around the main line. Model Railroader managing editor David Popp will also show you how to spot and fix problems with the model train track.
Please note the following correction to the March 2012 installment of the series in Model Railroader magazine.
On page 41 of the March issue, the incorrect Atlas numbers were given for Snap-Switches, reversing the right and left designations. The correct numbers and quantities are as follows: 540 18” Snap-Switch left (1), 541 18” Snap-Switch right (4), 546 22” Snap-Switch left (1), and 547 22” Snap-Switch right (1). We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Very useful since I am using Bachman Turnouts.
good tip David always test the layout with an engine before you do your first run. this is always a problem for me I have cars getting their trip pins stuck on points and when I switch a yard track the engine shots outs when it reaches the magnets turns out I will have to replace these sections and knuckles.
Great video on troubleshooting! Awesome!
This is a great sesries and I have learned quite a bit…but I have a question. I am testing out my track plan the same way it was done on this video, hooking an Athearn Control Terminal to the track with Terminal Joiners, but the train will only go one way. Figuring it is one of two things…do I need to have the mainline be a complete circuit, or is there something I am missing? The two leads are for Track and DC…your help is appreciated!
thanks
Thank you MR for doing this series on Layout building, and publishing a step by step. I can really appreciate timely addition of the information David Popp gave in this series on track alignment, and doing a track test on a bare layout. Also, MR chose to model a layout close to the home of my youth, a small patch town in German Township, outside of Uniontown, PA.
Agree with other commenter regarding making the risers and setting the height. You mentioned a standard guide/gauge you used but no other mention of who makes it or where to obtain it. Before you get too much farther, can you at least mention this in an upcoming installment? Or, if all are already made, can Cody cover in his installments?
I love this video series, well worth the price of subscribing to the magazine by itself.
My three-year-old just insisted on watching this video four times in a row. (He saw it once last week as well.) After the first time he successfully answered my wife's questions about the fixes you made to the track. I fear his model railroading skills may pass mine before his age hits double digits…
Thanx for the tip on filing the point on the turnouts, I had a few problems in this area. Scott
I'm still trying to figure out how to transition from flat grade to a 2,3,4% gradient. What do you use to make this transition, and is it necessary to bend the track up to match this transition? A whole lot of us are wondering about this. No stars available, but I'd give this 5. Cheers, Ron
really great points on repair and adjustments of unlevel tracks and picky pointed turnouts. thanks
I have been puzzled on how to even up connections due to mis-alligned rail joiners. You demostrated just how simple it is to correct the problem. Great tip which I had never seen in any model RR book.
Good Video, but could be enhanced with CLOSE-UP photos of the turnout points before and after the filing, like you did with the rail joiner.
Also I agree with Paul Oster from NJ….how about train sounds rather than banjo music?
Thanks for all the tips. Is the caboose a ready to run model or
has Cody added some of his magic, they are really good looking
By the way I love the music. What else for a mountain railroad.
Enjoying the videos, but found it frustrating there was not one on setting the risers after the cookie-cutter demonstration in episode 4.
Thanks David, I enjoyed you showing us a couple small problems and how to correct them. I will use these techniques on my layout.
If its possible to add the Manufactures Part # to what ever turnouts and switches you are using that would be a great help.. Not being sure of what was needed for the turnouts at Rogers Yard on page 36 of of the march magazine It spent a few days trying to make sure what I was getting was the correct radius But to Quote ( Jim Hediger suggested using paired Peco tight radius turn outs L & R ) I think I have them figured out now .
But thanks for this great little layout build..
Excellent video, including the music.I'm a little new to all this, so seeing some of the little tricks is very helpful in avoiding problems farther down the line. (Pun intended.)
Points I think we need to still see either on video or in the magazine:
How you built and installed the metal pins that connect the staging yard and extra module
How exactly did you wire the layout. Perhaps a diagram. And did you cut through both the frame and fascia for the plug in panels?
How exactly you built the swing up section and how it locks into place. Did you cut through the frame and/or fascia or?
How you built the door to access the track in the tunnel…
Finally, how you installed the ground throws in that tight yard ladder….
Thank you for another informative video, just a bit over the top the banjo playing, as someone else mentioned perhaps a few train sounds as back ground "music" could work better..it was good to actually see that even experts manage to create track issues that need refining, once again an awesome video and an excellent magazine. Cheers Baz
Hmmm. I always thought MR's bias was toward the MidWest rather than the Appalachians. The Appalachians are still one of the most active areas of railroading and their smaller mountains make them easier to model.
The bias that bothers me the most is MR is enraptured with HO and larger scales.b I wish they would, at least, include a N scale trackplan to fit the same area. You would think with their staff of some of the finest modelers in the world, they could show some consideration to the second most popular (and fastest growing) scales.
How well does it work in the long term to solder everything? A recent article on track problems mentioned thermal expansion being a problem for keeping track in gauge. I know it's more wiring to distribute power, but it would seem that allowing some amount of rail extension due to thermal cycling would be better.
I love the music. Where did you get it?
I enjoy the videos very much, in particular the " fix it " tips. I usually manage to find the hard and /or the long ways to fix problems. I'm really interested in seeing how you do the yard ground cover to make the tracks and ties look like they have sunk into the ground or at least have no apparent groomed road bed. Keep up the good work!
I think the 4X8 layout is great, especially with the ammount of track you have fit into the space available. I think that with any model railroad there will be a problem fitting enough track into the space and having it look right. This layout is great, please build more 4X8 layouts.
Keep the banjo music, it sounds better to me than many of the train sounds that are available.