In this long-running series about the combat between me and some of my trackwork, we have looked at several different parts of my layout. But more recent reports have concentrated on the track between my towns of Ballard and Santa Rosalia. The last post described some significant improvements accomplished by the efforts of Jim Providenza (you can read it at: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2024/05/trackwork-wars-part-14.html ).
After the work described in that post, I could operate even my long-wheelbase Consolidation steam locos over that trackage. But in fact, this only worked at a slow crawl. Any speed increase toward what any experienced operator would choose, and bingo! off the track. That was even true for 4-axle diesel switchers. Jim and I knew that further work would be needed at some point.
Recently, testing this yet again, and still seeing derailments, I set about examining individual rail lengths carefully, and discovered that some were still bent, in ways not easy to correct, both in, and out of the plane of the track. I suppose this may have been done while correcting other faults. But I finally faced up to the fact that this just wasn’t going to get fixed. Here is how the work area looked at that point, with all structures moved out of the way.
Jim and I discussed it, and we agreed that the simplest way forward was simply to buy two new switches to replace the two now in place (a Peco #6 left hand “Unifrog,” and a Walthers curved right-hand 20–24"), and start over. This is, in a way, pretty discouraging, since both he and I had invested a lot of time and effort in the trackage you see above. But a fresh start seemed best.
I patiently un-soldered all the feeders and whichever rail joiners were soldered, for these two switches, then removed both of them. I also un-linked both switch machines. It was discouraging to be back to this point again, but it seemed like the best option here.
Some long-time readers will be feeling that I have been through this before. Right you are, I already tried replacing those two switches, but ran into a series of problems that rendered that solution less successful that I hoped (the previous saga is at: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2024/04/trackwork-wars-part-12.html ).
The other day, Jim kindly came over, with complete tool box, and set to work. The need to connect track at both ends of the area (as you see it above) is definitely constraining, and called for a few mods to both of the new switches. Below is Jim, starting the effort, with his coffee mug in the foreground (with a label for his Santa Cruz Northern layout, and its slogan: “50 years of occasional service”). You can click on the image to enlarge it if you wish.
As work progressed, including some modification of both commercial switches to align correctly, the new trackage emerged (shown below not quite all attached). Also revealed, unfortunately, was a problem at far right with a Peco switch that is part of Santa Rosalia.
Close examination and attempts to correct that Peco leading into Santa Rosalia (SR) revealed instead some bent rail and gauge problems. We decided that that one had to go also. Removing it and cleaning up a couple of short track segments, left the area looking like this. SR entry via the lower track in this view is intact, but obviously not the upper track.
For the time being, I can only operate into part of Santa Rosalia, until that entry switch gets replaced. The switch machines need to be re-linked, too. But more important is that the overall track connection between Ballard and SR is re-established, track which also serves as the tail track for Ballard switching. So there is definitely good news, but of course, there remains more to do!
Tony Thompson
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