(I have to come up with better names for things than "right side" and "left end". So let's call this one Adobe Hill.)
But let's back up.
I'm using Micro Engineering Code 83 On30 track. I considered Peco On30, which is rugged and dependable, or even Peco HO Code 100 switches with Atlas flex track. Micro Engineering is pricey, but to me it looks more like North American narrow gauge track than Peco. I may never build another layout of this size, so I figure I might as well do it right.
Before installation I spray painted the track, spraying brown paint from the sides at a low angle, so the paint mostly hit the sides of the rails. Then I sprayed lightly with gray, from the top down, so it mostly hit the ties. It's quick and easy, and by the time the track is ballasted, it looks great.
Micro Engineering turnouts have isolated metal frogs, and I plan to use frog juicers, so I soldered thin feed wires to them. ME turnouts have separate head blocks that can be applied on either side -- a nice feature -- and I left those unattached for now. The ME turnouts have sprung points and I probably won't use working switch stands, but I will likely add dummies.
I'm using HO cork roadbed. I started out gluing it down with PVA glue, but switched to DAP Alex adhesive caulk. I'm also using caulk to glue down the track. Micro Engineering track isn't springy like most brands I've used; when you bend it to shape, it stays there. So it just takes a few push pins to hold it in place until the adhesive sets. I think cork roadbed, and gluing the track, will make for relatively quiet operation.
The plywood sub-roadbed for the curve in question is not screwed down yet, but I figured it would be easier to pre-install the track, since this is the least accessible part of the layout.
For sake of economy, I used about three feet of Atlas Code 83 flex track where the tunnel will be, three feet of Micro Engineering clockwise around the curve, and another 18 inches or so of ME to counter-clockwise leading to the Adobe Hill mine switch. I soldered all the joints on the curve, and soldered feeders inside the tunnel.
Just for fun, I hooked the feeders up to a power pack and ran my as-yet-unnumbered 0-4-0 back and forth a few times. It ain't much, but it's not nothing.
I'm putting cork down in the yard area. I need to add risers for the rear track, then finish up the cork. After that, track laying should go quickly.
6/20/25: Risers in, sub-roadbed fastened down. There may be a few adjustments once the track is in and I test run things. Most of the cork roadbed is in, except for the brewery spur and the turntable lead -- I'm reconsidering the track arrangement there.
I laid track from the far left yard switch, around the west curve and tunnel, to the top of the grade. I test ran the 4-4-0 and it ran well. As expected, the cork roadbed and caulk makes for very quiet track. It will likely get noisier if I use my usual sifted sand ballast applied with white glue. I have read that some people use matte medium or Mod Podge instead of white glue because it dries somewhat flexible, so it transmits less sound, so I may try that. I'm also going to look at other ballast options.
6/21/25: I got the mainline laid through the yard area, so the east and west curves are now connected. There's about two and a half yards left on the high line, and the mainline will be complete.
I have just enough track left to complete that and the passing siding, then I'm out. I need five or six more yards to do all the spur tracks, so I'll probably order that next week.
I test ran the inside frame 4-4-0 pulling a short train and it made it up both grades just fine, pushing or pulling two freight cars and a coach. I did have the train cut loose from the engine a couple of times. This could be a bad coupler, a high or low coupler mounting issue, or a little vertical glitch in the track. I'll need to investigate further.
I also tested the Shay, which did fine, and the outside frame 4-4-0. It's striking how much larger the outside frame engine is, than the inside frame. It runs well, but the tender derailed on the tighter east curve. I need to look at that. I haven't run the engine much, but when I did, I had the same problem, and found one tender truck was out of square. I thought I'd corrected that, but maybe not.
More track work and a lot more test running to come in the next few days.
6/23/25: The main line and passing siding are done, except for a few power feeders. I've been running test trains around the main both clockwise and counter-clockwise, with the large and small 4-4-0's and a 2-6-0. I've found a few small glitches but generally all is well. Caulk is still drying on the siding and it needs power feeds before I can test run there.
I had just enough flex track to finish the main, passing siding, and mine track, with about 6 inches to spare. I'll need to order another bundle of six yards of track to put in the rest of the spurs, the turntable lead, and the engine storage tracks.
In the mean time, the next task will be to hook up my old DigiTrax system and see if it works.
6/25/25: I got power hooked up to the passing siding. I've been running test trains with the two 4-4-0's and the bumblebee 2-6-0 and for the most part, things are running okay.
I'm still getting some derailments on the 18 inch radius curve -- the least accessible part of the layout, of course. I'm thinking it may be a mismatch between the Micro Engineering track and the Atlas I used back in that corner. Someone posted this on one of the model railroad related Facebook groups.
There's a obvious difference in cross section between ME and Atlas rail, and I suspect flanges are catching on the blocky Atlas railhead when they hit the juncture of the two types of rail. I'll file it a little and see if that helps, but in the long run I may need to just replace that section of Atlas with Micro Engineering.
I placed an order for another six yards of track, so when that gets here I'll have enough to replace that one section if I need to. Thank goodness I decided not to mess with the Atlas stuff at the other end of the layout.
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