I fixed one major issue and some minor ones today.
The major one was track spacing at the station. I'm getting ready to put a Pola covered platform between the tracks. The platform sections just fit between the ties as I had originally laid the track. I found that at least 10mm of additional space was needed between the ties and raised edge of the platform for my most restrictive loco to clear. Pic 1 shows the finished southern entrance to the station. The circled track section is a LGB R3 that has been somewhat modified. The radius at the turnout end needed to be tightened to shift the ensuing straight a bit to the left. The radius at the station end had to be eased so the rails would align with the straight. The plastic webs between the ties on the outside of the curve near the turnout and those on the inside near the straight were cut to allow the rails to be bent. My trusty Aristocraft twin rail bender easily took care of the mod. (I got it during Aristo's going out of business sale for $75 - without a doubt one of the best large scale bargains I ever got!). The section of custom bent stainless steel track in the pic actually opened up naturally to just what I needed clearance wise for the right hand track. It had been held to a slightly tighter radius by the straight. Pic 2 shows the view from the northern end of the station tracks. Circled are a couple sections of the Pola platform and the finished clearance between the track and platform. The only mod to this end was lengthening the straight coming off the turnout and shortening the long outside straight section a bit.
While I had the rail bender out I took care of the minor track issue circled in pic3 that had been bugging me. Even though it was not affecting train operation, the small kink that can be seen where the turnout joins the straight was unsightly. A slight curve added to the end of the straight fixed the issue.
The major one was track spacing at the station. I'm getting ready to put a Pola covered platform between the tracks. The platform sections just fit between the ties as I had originally laid the track. I found that at least 10mm of additional space was needed between the ties and raised edge of the platform for my most restrictive loco to clear. Pic 1 shows the finished southern entrance to the station. The circled track section is a LGB R3 that has been somewhat modified. The radius at the turnout end needed to be tightened to shift the ensuing straight a bit to the left. The radius at the station end had to be eased so the rails would align with the straight. The plastic webs between the ties on the outside of the curve near the turnout and those on the inside near the straight were cut to allow the rails to be bent. My trusty Aristocraft twin rail bender easily took care of the mod. (I got it during Aristo's going out of business sale for $75 - without a doubt one of the best large scale bargains I ever got!). The section of custom bent stainless steel track in the pic actually opened up naturally to just what I needed clearance wise for the right hand track. It had been held to a slightly tighter radius by the straight. Pic 2 shows the view from the northern end of the station tracks. Circled are a couple sections of the Pola platform and the finished clearance between the track and platform. The only mod to this end was lengthening the straight coming off the turnout and shortening the long outside straight section a bit.
While I had the rail bender out I took care of the minor track issue circled in pic3 that had been bugging me. Even though it was not affecting train operation, the small kink that can be seen where the turnout joins the straight was unsightly. A slight curve added to the end of the straight fixed the issue.
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