No 8 Crossing

# 8 Crossing

125/125

#8 Crossing, Z Scale

Construction – 40 pts

The Z scale #8 crossing was scratch built. The crossing was constructed using a frog-point jig, a hand made jig and a template (made using MS PowerPoint). The outer rail angles were made using the hand made jig. Once the outer rails were formed at the correct angle they were placed on the template above five PC ties. Only one rail was soldered at first then the middle tie and bottom rail were soldered using a track gauge to get precise gauging. Next the left most and right most points were soldered using four track gauges concurrently to assure correct gauging. Next two point set were cut down to size and soldered in place to form the middle diamond, again using four track gauges concurrently. Lastly the lower outer rail was soldered into place using all four track gauges. Cutting the rail gaps was very difficult and was the chief cause of several crossings to be scraped because rail soldering would break. The construction was complex because no commercial template jigs were available in Z scale. The main complexity was however, the very close tolerances and alignment that must be maintained for good operation at Z scale. Nine crossings were attempted before one was good enough to complete and then much filing and adjustments were required to operate successfully.

The crossing was mounted on a mini-layout constructed of precision cut poplar board. After the mini-layout was constructed 1/16" basswood was used to raise the cork and track above the surrounding terrain. Ballast and track details were added to the mini-layout.

Detail – 20 pts

The Z scale crossing was made up of forty five (45) individual pieces of code 55 rail, pc ties, wood ties and wire. Several crossings were constructed and abandoned before the construction process was worked out. Difficulty arose in getting the very close tolerances accomplished so that operation was smooth. After the crossing and related hand laid rail and ties were glued to the cork roadbed a coat of "Railroad Tie Brown" was painted on the rail sides to create a used appearance. Along both sides of the crossing and related hand laid track is a drain ditch found in most prototypical trackage. The wood tie spacing is 20 scale inches on the main lines. A random assortment of ground foam was used to give some context to the mini-layout. Fine gray ballast was selected for the model. It was observed that in the Dallas area gray, brown and white ballast can be found. In the area where my main layout is to be modeled after, gray and white ballast is prevalent.

The track diagram is shown below.

The wiring diagram is shown below. Note that there are two power sources. One supplies variable voltage and polarity for locomotive power and the other supplies direct current battery voltage to operate the turnout motor that is used to supply correct voltage to the frogs.

Conformity – 30 pts

The Z Scale crossing was constructed using wood ties and code 55 rail. Tie spacing is 20 scale inches on center for the main lines. The rail tops are shiny to suggest frequent use and the sides of the rail are a rusty finish to suggest the typical rusting that takes place after only a short time in everyday weather. Gray ballasting was used to conform to the track at the Inwood Yard in Far North Dallas. Drain ditches are present to symbolize typical track drainage. The prototype crossing of DGNO and BNSF at IH35 and Beltline was the main reference and inspiration. Reference photos are in the project binder.

Finishing and Lettering – 10 pts

The Z scale crossing was constructed from weathered code 55 stock rails, pc ties soldered to the rail and wood ties glued to the rail. The crossing was finished with a coat of "Railroad Tie Brown". The gray ballast finishes the general turnout appearance as well as the variety of ground foam to round out the context of the model.

Scratch Building – 25 pts

The Z scale crossing was hand laid using a jig form the correct angle for the outer rails, a #8 frog/point jig and a template (made using MS PowerPoint). The points were constructed using a frog-point jig. Two pieces of rail were soldered together in a jig to make eight #8 points for the crossing. The related track was hand laid using code 55 rail stock and hand cut wood ties. The hand applied ballast was applied very sparingly since at Z scale a single grain of ballast can ruin a Z scale locomotive.

List of Materials (all parts are exempt)

A. Crossing (45 total part count)

2 – Micro Engineering Code 55 Stock rails

8 – Micro Engineering Code 55 Frog Point rails

4 – Micro Engineering Code 55 Guard rails

23 – Fast Tracks PC Board Ties

2 – 18" Green wire #26 stranded – cut to length

3 – 18" Red wire #26 stranded – cut to length

3 – 18" Black wire #26 stranded – cut to length

Lot - Fast Tracks Rosin Core Solder – 0.003" diameter

Lot - Acid Flux

Mini-Layout

1 - ½" X 6" x 24" Poplar wood board

2 – ½" x 4" x 12" Poplar wood board

2 – ½" x ¾" x 5-1/2" Poplar wood board

3 – 1/16" x 2" x24" Basswood

3 – IBL Cork Road Bed

8 – ¾" Sheetrock screws

1 – Circuitron Tortoise switch machine

2 – 6 position terminal board

1 – 4 position terminal board

2 – 18" Green wire #26 stranded – cut to length

7 – 18" Red wire #26 stranded – cut to length

7 – 18" Black wire #26 stranded – cut to length

1 – 18" White wire #26 stranded – cut to length

1 – 18" Gray wire #26 stranded – cut to length

1 – 18" Red/Black zip Cord with Molex connector & pins/sockets

1 – Battery pack with "AA" batteries, holder and wire clip

8 – Micro Engineering Code 55 Stock rails (cut to length)

340 – Wood ties

Lot - Woodland Scenics #B75 Fine Gray Ballast

Lot - Various Woodland Scenic ground covers

Lot – Half & Half white glue & water

Lot Testors "Green" glue