Up the Creek Column - 3
After a week of doodling tracks and industries on plywood and
collecting mostly constructive criticism, the track plan was as
complete as it would get until track laying commenced. During
a work night we double checked that turnouts weren’t located
with their points directly above joists – a problem when install-
ing switch machinery under the track. After a clean bill of
health, we glued the 3/4" plywood joist risers in place, then
screwed down the roadbed.
3. 2-3/4” auxiliary joists riding on top of the Browning
supports raise the plywood sub-roadbed to the correct
height. They’re attached with Liquid Nails. I set the aux-
iliary joists back from the edge to make room for a creek
which will border the fascia in places.
3
4
4. I dislike installing cork roadbed and track in a cave. So
I installed lower-level elements before installing the main
line between Bear Creek and Oakhill. This area looks a
lot different with the backdrop in place and painted.
I’d installed a couple of pieces of flex track leading from TOH
Junction (Top Of Helix) to Browning back in 2013. A month
later, this track was covered by the main line and Siskiyou
Branch roadbed and track. Now, in July 2014, it was time to
extend it into Browning.
I usually use 1/4" (actually 5mm) cork under the BC&SJ main-
line. I started laying it where the lead to TOH Junction poked
out of the backdrop [4]. In short order, this will be topped
with Micro Engineering track. I use code 83 for the mainline
and code 70 for the siding. In the past I would have used code
55 for spur tracks but those turkeys quit making the stuff! I
MRH-Sep 2014
