 Joined: 25/01/2009(UTC) Posts: 40 Location: Sydney, NSW
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Hi all,
my first DIY attempt which has been a result of 1) Marklin only providing a contact track in equivalent 24094 section track and 2) some kind soul gave me a dremel for Christmas.
I have two hidden stations for which I need to have some form of track occupation alert or signal. Fortunately, I have found the CS2 in concert with the s88 fantastically simple to wire up to contact tracks. The latter seems to be the most simple solution for establishing blocks and requires very little maintenance (a must in considering options for a hidden station).
My hidden stations have five tracks each and support train lengths of up to 2.2m. Where they merge is on curved turnouts which means I need to have at least the end contact track built into one of the curved tracks. The overall design prevents me from fitting the 24995 contact track and therefore I have had to butcher one of the curves in order to create one.
I'm certain thisis nothing new to the more experienced hands out there but in the absense of a mentor, I will see how I go.
The process seems very simple. I have started with a small straight section (24077) which happens to sit right on the spot where the first loop begins to merge with the main line. Using the dremel with a fine cutter, I cut the outside track only, in the centre of the straight section. As fine as I have tried to make it, I notice the incision is just on 1mm thick. My main concern is;
1) is this cut too large to allow trouble free running of my trains?
2) has this process significantly weakened the structural integrity of the track?
For the last question, I am pondering whether I need to obtain rail joiners (plastic) to repair or would it be simpler to glue the area around the cut suffient to prevent movement?
Happt to hear any thoughts or shared experiences out there. I will keep you posted as to my progress and outcome.
Regards,
Token.
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 1 user thanked Token for this useful post.
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 Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 6,813 Location: Cologne, NRW
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Hi, Token,
No need to cut the rail if it's OK to have one or more complete pieces of track in the contact track. Just make sure rails do not touch between track pieces (normally they don't, but seldomly they do). Use #74030 between pieces of track for the outer rail you want isolated. |
Regards
Tom
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Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re |
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 Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,479 Location: Wellington
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There's another option as well if you just want to detect a loco and not rolling stock.... http://www.marklin-users...z/gbmc/detect/detect.htmCutting the outside rail is an easy thing to do, the track will not weaken. The trick is making the isolated section just the right length to be useful but not a hinderance. Confirm the loco's you intend to run on it, some really small ones such as the "Glaskasten" would only have one wheel able to get outside rail current due to the tire on the other same-side wheel. Cheers Cookee |
Cookee Wellington  |
1 user thanked cookee_nz for this useful post.
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 Joined: 29/01/2012(UTC) Posts: 634 Location: Montreal
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@cookee_nz
So glad to see this. I have been thinking about this problem.
Will let you know if I manage to do this with M-track.
Thanks for posting! |
Era III with DB, DR and FS from 1955 to 1964 (1), then later from 1965 to 1976 (2). Writing a story for a film using model trains for two brothers working, one for DB, the other for DR. Layouts in process: Dual set: Digital with a 6021 control unit, option to run in analog. Fan of signals, catenary, dense yard layouts. Zoom of avatar image: http://en.wikipedia.org/...,_Montreal,_QC,_1893.jpg |
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Joined: 25/01/2009(UTC) Posts: 40 Location: Sydney, NSW
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Thanks for the advice guys - I will give your suggestion a go Tom as I think that will resolve the access vs maintenance issues I have been pondering. I will keep you posted as to how I go.
Regards,
Token.
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