Construction Update #7 - Finishing the Helix & Laying Track

The Helix

 

I finally got back to Lowes and purchased another sheet of plywood in order to finish the helix.  When I got to the top of the grade, several adjustments had to be made.  First, it turned out that the roadbed I had initially installed at Grundy was about 3/4" higher than the top of the helix and second, the location of the turnout motor (Tortoise) for the west turnout at Grundy was sitting right over a lower track.  The turnout was moved east about 2 feet and the roadbed between the turnout and the top of the helix was lowered the 3/4" at the helix's ruling grade of 2.25%.

Once all the track and wiring were in place, it was time for a test.  I rounded up about 20 cars, a caboose, and two locomotives at Grundy.

The helix is about 110' long or 2-scale miles.  The downhill run took about five minutes at track speed.  The sound of  the GE and EMD locomotives in full dynamics on the 2.25% grade was pretty cool,  The initial run down the helix was a success as was the shove back up the hill.

Here is a overall picture of the upper level after 5 months of work.  The helix is in the left foreground, Grundy is in the center left and the summit at Crockett is on the upper right.  The company town of Grundy will be in the center of  the helix on the left.  All of the track shown in the photo is fully tested and operational.

Westmoreland

 

Westmoreland is at the bottom of  grade (helix).   This is the east end of Westmoreland.  I draw the track centerlines with a Sharpie.  The cork is glued down to the pink foam with yellow carpenters glue and the track is put down using Polyseamseal.  Track feeders are soldered to the bottom of the rails and dropped through the foam to the bus.  Soldering the feeds to the bottom of the rail eliminates the possibility of some blob of solder showing up in a photograph and ruining an otherwise perfect composition.  The feeders are 18 gauge wire, the bus is 12 gauge.  Most rail joiners are soldered but not all.  Some are left with a small gap in the rail to allow for expansion and contraction. 

All of the turnouts at Westmoreland are trailing point moves for an eastbound train.  The track in the foreground is the team track followed by the main, siding, house and two spurs leading into CEMEX.