as the whole assembly moved upward. The helixes sit on an
aluminum box frame with a ¾” plywood deck.
The sub roadbed is 3/4” plywood laminated with ½” Homasote.
The roadbed material is beveled ¼” inch Homasote on the
mainline track and 1/8” Homasote for passing sidings and
branch lines.
Atlas code 100 flex track is used for the staging yards and hid-
den track. The mainlines are Micro Engineering code 83 weath-
ered flex track. Passing sidings are either code 83 or code 70,
with yard and industry tracks code 70.
The minimum mainline radius is 32” with most curves being
42” or greater. I took the time to add transitional spirals and
super-elevated the mainline curves. Turnouts on the mainlines
are #8 minimum with
#6 or so in yards and
industrial tracks.
The majority of the
turnouts are handlaid.
I like to have the turn-
outs conform to the
track plan, not have
the track plan conform
to commercial turn-
outs. I do have some
commercial turnouts
in places where a stan-
dard turnout will fit,
or in a location that is
too awkward to hand
lay. Tortoise switch
machines power the
Virginia Southwestern - 8
11
11: This is the framework at
east end of Norton Yard on the
upper level. On several of the
horizontal pieces you can see
my markings for the location
of the channel along with the
length I need for the channel.
12:The end of the peninsula from the upper level. Note
the good 1x2 lumber! On of the major advantages of
the metal framing is I don't have to worry about warped
lumber.
12
mainline and yard turnouts. Most industrial turnouts have
hand throws.
I use CVP Rail Command for train control, with #10 track buss wire
and #14 stranded with #16 feeders. I flatten the tip of the feeder
so the connection to the track will be virtually undetectable. All
connections are made using terminal splice taps (also called “suit-
case connectors”). I find these splice taps are quick and easy to
install and very reliable. Switch machine and signal wiring range
from #18 to #22. All of the wire terminations on the layout are
made using crimp connectors.
After the old layout was torn down and the room cleared, I
had the ceilings and walls finished by drywall professionals.
For the overhead room lighting I use T8 wraparound fluo-
rescent fixtures. An advantage of these fixtures is that if one
bulb fails the other bulb is unaffected. For middle level light-
ing I use 13 inch linkable fluorescent under-cabinet fixtures.
MRH-Sep 2013
