Removable extension how-to's?

[Rscott417]

I'm looking to use a removeable extension for my layout. Hopefully others here use one and might give me some tips on how to build one. How to connect/disconnect power, attaching it to the layout, etc, etc. Any help would be appreciated.

[FCIN]

Check out the way cnw1961 has done his removable extensions http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic...&start=420 (toward middle of page). Very ingenious.

[BR60103]

Scott:
I made a single track removable section. At one end I cut back the roadbed 4-6" and made the removable bit to fit in. I made it with a wooden bottom and a small ledge that tucked in behind the end piece of the benchwork. I built up the roadbeds to match and laid track. The track on the main layout was soldered to brass screws to keep it solid, and the rails aligned with rail joiners.
At the other end, I didn't cut back the roadbed, mainly because I had a lot of room under it (the removable section had a 2% grade over 9 feet), but still the ledge to hold it in. Same track arrangement.
The wiring was set so that there was a feed from the removable section to a couple of feet of rail on the main layout, backed by a connection through a 1/4" phone plug and socket.
I covered all this in a thread about 10 years ago on the old gauge, which I haven't been able to import.

[postman]

Scott:
I made a single track removable section. At one end I cut back the roadbed 4-6" and made the removable bit to fit in. I made it with a wooden bottom and a small ledge that tucked in behind the end piece of the benchwork. I built up the roadbeds to match and laid track. The track on the main layout was soldered to brass screws to keep it solid, and the rails aligned with rail joiners.
At the other end, I didn't cut back the roadbed, mainly because I had a lot of room under it (the removable section had a 2% grade over 9 feet), but still the ledge to hold it in. Same track arrangement.
The wiring was set so that there was a feed from the removable section to a couple of feet of rail on the main layout, backed by a connection through a 1/4" phone plug and socket.
I covered all this in a thread about 10 years ago on the old gauge, which I haven't been able to import.

Great idea.
Do you have pictures of this section to share?

[BR60103]

Scott:
I'm not where I can find them right now, and I'm not sure if I took any of the ends.

Edit: there are some pictures in this thread from that other forum. Don't know how well it will work for you.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.zealot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99343">http://www.zealot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99343</a><!-- m -->

(Apology: it seems you have to be logged on to the other forum to see pictures.)

[shortliner]

Not sure if we are talking about the same thing (two nations divided by a single language!) but this is my version of a removable extension <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/44026-the-fiddlestick-switch-job/">http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... witch-job/</a><!-- m -->
If we aren't talking about the same thing, just ignore me and I'll go back to sleep

[Rscott417]

Shortliner, definitely the same idea I think i've seen your version called a cassette. Mine is going to be roughly 80 inches long

[BR60103]

Scott:
One of the layouts I operate on has cassettes made from metal 2x4s -- the ones used for constructing walls. Basically a C channel, they take a length of HO track.
The layout is pretty large, and there are 3 return loops stacked along one wall, each running through one of the cassettes. They have some sort of electrical contacts, but I haven't looked at them. He has a bunch more stored under the layout with trains in them.
The layout's owner is the only person I've noticed with the courage to change 8-foot cassettes with a whole train in them.