I use touching track points as a positioning guide. To keep parallel tracks parallel, be sure to have matching track points.

So we now have a continuous single track throughout both loops (Day 5) and all the stations in place and set up for interactive operation (Day 6). The next step is to add the second track. This is fairly easy.

For starters, I decide on a standard distance between tracks. The easiest way to do this is to use the circles that accompany each track point as measuring devices. Sometimes I have the circles overlap by the thickness of their lines and sometimes, as here, I just have the circles touch. The latter works better with the stations I’m using, where I have no choice of track separation because of the platform positions. In case you’re new to tracklaying, one thing to be conscious of is that parallel tracks should have side-by-side track points in order for the curves to match.

Another thing to be aware of is that too many track points make it difficult to get smooth curves, whereas too few track points limit your options. Experimentation is the by-word here.

The outside third rail adds another consideration. The direction in which you draw the track determines the side on which the third rail is displayed.

This gets us to the trickiest part of our double-tracking. That’s the addition of turnouts and crossovers. At some point in the crossover, you will need a track that has NO outside third rail. Fortunately, there are such matching tracks.




Crossovers require a section without the third rail.

The above screen shots show the finished crossover where the two loops separate. It takes a bit of tweaking to get things just right. Note the positioning of the third rails.

One final word about track laying: It’s very hard, if not impossible, to get a good double-curve turnout. A symmetrical wye works fine, but a double curve just never looks right. So I generally stick to having one leg be straight. I ensure its straightness by using the Straighten track 'B' tool on the straight leg. With double track you have the additional complication of getting parallel lines. I find the best way to get them is to add a straight section to the diverging tracks after the turnout. This gives me a chance to get the track points and curves properly aligned in parallel.


A straight section following each divergent leg enables the parallel tracks to get back in synch.

Cheers,

Al

Article and screen shots �2010 Alfred Barten. All rights reserved.

More Articles:
[Visit the VR Reading Room.]

If you want to be notified when a new article arrives, join the VR-News group at Yahoo. This group is purely for notification. Anyone can join; only the moderator can post.