Track as a Model

Discussion in 'General' started by Karl, Jul 2, 2017.

  1. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    I hope that this post might be the start of thread, whose goal is to discuss the notion that track is a model, too; albeit, an often ignored idea. As in the case of our rolling stock, motive power, and structures, the level of detail is left to desires of the modeler.

    Paul Slavens has posted a Preston George photo of a short eastbound (?) freight as it negotiates a reverse curve at Bowden, OK. Bringing up the rear is wood-cupolaed caboose 801. It’s a marvelous, “railroady” image. I love the manner in which the cars of the train cant as they negotiate the reverse curve. It’s good stuff!

    As a track nerd, I really like this photograph, because it’s also a great example of curve signs, their placement, and the reverse curves themselves. The addition of these details, though, small, would add realism to the model ROW in the same manner that wire grab irons are an improvement over a “plastic ridge”.

    Depending upon the era, the Frisco, used various types of signs to mark the points of tangent, spiral and curve. For the modeller, the material for these signs are available from the worktable scrap box.

    During 1973, a new standard was created that did away with the signs. Instead of the sign, a simple stamped metal tag was nailed to the tie. More efficient to be sure, but less appealing aesthetically.

    The curve in the foreground is interesting because the spirals are longer than the circular curve. At the time of the photograph the 3 degree 00’ had 6” of elevation, which was the maximum that the Frisco employed. After the Frisco discontinued passenger service, the maximum elevation was reduced to 5”, and spiral lengths were adjusted accordingly. This curve had 480’ spirals on each end, and the circular curve was only 220’ long. The longer spirals are very easy to see in the image.

    There have been some discussion on this forum about using spirals and elevation, and from the physics perspective, there isn’t a need for using spirals and elevation. I do believe that from an operating standpoint, a spiral curve does lessen the rate of change in the coupler offset as a train enters/leaves a curve. Although the use of spirals and elevation are subtle touches, they are noticeable, and to my eye, a very nice touch.
    Bowden_OK_caboose_801_annotated.jpg

    Preston George Photo; Bowden, OK. The curve markers have been annotated. Note the short curve, relative to its spirals.



    EPSON947.JPG
    1957 Standard Curve markers



    EPSON554.JPG
    1914 Standard Curve markers



    EPSON955.JPG
    1973 Standard Markers
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2020
  2. Larry F.

    Larry F. Member

    Wonderful information and something to be considered in the future. Thank you for posting this Larry F.
     
  3. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Excellent start to the thread, and the annotated photo is quite helpful, Karl.

    Also, I'm realizing that the scrap pieces of Code 100 rail that I was getting ready to plant along my curves might be too recent for a c. 1943 layout. I might need to go with the 4"x6" post. In either case I have yet to figure out how to get numbers that small - might just have to be posts/rails sans-numbers.

    Best Regards,
     
  4. geep07

    geep07 Member

    Chris,
    Check your decal inventory! You might want to check N scale number decal sets?

    John
     
  5. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Thanks, John. I have found that HO Scale black number-white background numberboards work quite well for Fresco milepost signs. Will have to look at smaller options.
     
  6. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    Oh MY! ... KARL ... You've done it again! Excellent!
     
  7. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Not only including the details add a lot of detail, but also following the prototype plans and photos. I'd reckoned on placing my signs just south of my 1:87 MP 21 much further from the track center line, but looking at the above photo again show that they're not as far as I would have guessed. Sure enough, the instructions on the drawing indicate 9' from center line. Glad that I have the photo and plans above to better guide placement.

    In hindsight, I wish that I'd added elevation to my curves for the greater aesthetic appeal. Agreed, adding this does help distinguish between - in my opinion - a toyish effect versus a more prototypical model.

    More for a separate thread, but the caboose photo is splendid; it's nice to get one from higher up to be able to see more of the roof/roofwalk detail. Also interesting is
    (a) the end ladders curling up and over the roof, which I believe is more of a post-war safety feature, and
    (b) ladders/grabs still in black paint, prior to their late-40s transformation to safety yellow.

    Best Regards,
     
  8. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Great thread. I have a long way to go in detailing my trackage.
    Signs and all. I did consider super elevating the curves but in past practice it proved to be detrimental in stringline issues for me.
    But man the track would sure look more realistic. Wouldn't the degree of curvature of models compared to prototype curves mandate such slow speeds to negotiate that little or no superelevation would be required.
    Hhmmm.
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2017
  9. paul slavens

    paul slavens Member

    Today I went to the location of the Preston George image above from 1946, and snapped another picture. I wanted to point out the difference in the landscape, the most noticeable difference is what I refer to as the "vegetation explosion" that has been happening for the last several decades. In the 1946 image the soil is sandy and vegetation is sparse, but today the soil is black and rich, and the plants and trees have become an obstruction and it is hard to see trains any more. Also the ROW is 200' wide here so it is a pretty large area of plants and trees. The soil is so productive that I go here to find morel mushrooms in March, no way those could have grown here in the past. I prefer the arid landscape over the jungle type landscape we have today. It has not only affected the railroad ROW, but also all the fields and pastures here need to be sprayed and cut with a lot more frequency, and neglected pastures turn into jungles rather quickly. Interesting how the earth is changing with every passing minute. If anyone wants to model ROW areas in the modern time frame they need to add a lot more vegetation ! Has anyone else in other areas seen this type of growth? z.jpg
     
  10. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    IMG_2775.JPG I treat my flex track just like a model. I remove quite a few ties and spread the remaining ties to represent my lightly railed 1915ish branch line. Hand painting and weathering the ties and rails helps create the illusion of a backwoods line during its final years.
     
  11. Not sure if any of you have checked these books out before. Most is Proto48 but the ideas would work in any scale. There are a couple books dedicated to track here.
    http://www.ostpubs.com/
     
    Ozarktraveler and gjslsffan like this.
  12. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    Very nice thread, enjoying the post's.
     
  13. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    When using flex track to make curves, the standard SOP here in KC is to simply allow the track to determine it's own flow; this generally automatically creates the spiral.
     
    WindsorSpring likes this.

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