More Engraved Bricks

I was able to get some decent bricks engraved today.  What I did was grind a 4 sided point (like a nail head) onto a 1/8" steel rod.  Then I used it as a drag engraver, another words the machine was not spinning the bit, it just scribed the plastic.

Below is a picture of the test.

CNC Tunnel Update

After working out the details of how to cut and assemble the parts for the tunnel I focused on the engraving operation needed for the bricks. So far I have not been able to engrave a fine enough line in the plastic to simulate the brick wall.

If I can't work out the engraving I will have to cut the parts from brick wall sheets but then I have a problem with the soldier coarse details above the arch.

CNC on the GTB

I know it has been a while since I have updated or even worked on the railroad but I have a good excuse!

Over the summer I converted one of my old mill/drills to CNC and I have really been having a blast making parts and learning the software for programing and control of the machine.  If you are interested I have posted a few video's on YouTube.  Like this one

So tonight I started drawing up the Dalecarlia tunnel entrance in the cad and cam software.  I have generated a simulation of the tunnel opening (pictured below) and it says over 2 hours to mill.

I have no idea how this will turn out . I still need to tweak a few things in the software before I give it a test cut but if it works out Ben will get on for his railroad also! 

The bricks/mortor joints will have to be cut with an engraving tool. I am not sure how I can engrave the motor joints in the recessed area's without the body of the tool hitting the sides. I am also not sure how to approch the letters.  I could engrave the area and then place the letters on top of skip the engraving and carve the leters into the portal as shown.

The engraving bit it a 1/4" V shape and it will only be cutting .001 or .0015 inches deep.

I will report back soon with the results.

Staging on the Main

I imagine most of you run trains on your main line but I will be staging them on mine!

If you have been following along you will notice I changed my staging once again. I wasn't satisfied with the swing bridge I built a few pages back, it was cumbersome and inconvenient.  So back to back to the idea of using part of the hallway for a narrow staging shelf.

Instead of some arbitrary yard ladder for staging I decided to use the double track main line as it was laid out in the mid 50's.  Closest to the hallway is the East bound main, in the middle is the West Bound main, and finally closets to the wall is the west bound siding. 

Trains originating from Eckington Yard in Washington D.C. will be staged on the west bound main or the west bound siding.  They will proceed up the west bound main as if they were coming from Eckington. Once past the cross over the train will back through the crossover onto the east bound main until it clears the branch siding switch.  At this point the train will proceed west down the Georgetown Branch.

Only one train originated from the east. An early form of a unit train would arrive from Baltimore with a string of tank cars bound for the oil distributor near River Road.  The train was an F unit and it would return light to Baltimore once the string of cars where delivered. This train will be staged on the east bound main next to the branch siding.

Since the main line is almost at eye level I decided to go with ME code 83 and I raised it approx. 3/16" higher then the code 70 on the branch tracks.  The far end of the main line will be hidden behind a small hill at the end of the branch interchange tracks. 

 

As you can see all the tracks are in place and wired. I ran out of of Masonite so I could not finish the upper and lower valance, that is on the todo list. I also need to paint the wall behind the staging track and add turnout controls.

Well that's it for now, feel free to post your thoughts.

More Track Work

Just a quick update.  I was able to install all the tracks, turnout controls, and wiring for the New Yard area of Georgetown.

Georgetown Trackwork

Yes I finally have some track working in Georgetown!  The main line and run around track are operational as is the brewery siding (the track Emily is park on). 

I deviated from the my track plan in a few locations as I laid everything out...

The first siding you come to as you enter Georgetown is Lone Star Cement. On the prototype this was a facing point turnout. On the plan I drew it was a trailing point turnout.  By using a #7.5 curved turnout I was able to go back to facing point and stay true to the prototype.

Same story with the brewery siding, I had drawn it in as a trailing point turnout to save space but when I  relocated the Lone Star Cement siding I was able to go back and fit in the facing point per the prototype.

In my excitement to lay track I completely forgot about the Wilkins Rodgers siding so that needs to be cut in soon.  That will also be a facing point siding that goes to a background building along the backdrop.

Below is the basic layout for the "New Yard" area.  The 2 tracks closest to the water (right) had a traveling crane over that spanned the two tracks with space in between for trucks.  The next two tracks (middle) are team tracks placed 1.75" apart with space on both sides for trucks.  Then main line tracks #1 and #2 (left).
Emily (far left) sites on the brewery siding.

I decided to leave out one other team track in the yard so the area was not over crowded and I would have space for vehicles.

Now back to building turnouts so I can get this track installed!!

More Turnout Tools

I spent most of today fabricating a couple of turnout tools.  The first tool is a frog rail grinding jig.

You start by laying in two pre cut sections of rail and bolt the jig together.  Then grind the rails on a disk sander.

 Next remove the rails, flip them over in the jig, clamp, then solder.

I removed relieved the area under the rails were you solder them together so the heat from the soldering iron would not be absorbed by the jig

The next tool I fabricated was a point rail grinding jig.  This clamp holds the rails at 2 degrees so I can grind them to shape on the disk sander.  Again just drop in a pair of pre cut rails and bolt on the top.

 Pictured below are the first pair of parts I made and they turned out great.