Lift out bridge

[graywolf]

Jon you asked about my lift out so here are some photos ( hopefully). The bridge construction consists of 3/4" plywood and the use of hard maple locating blocks and rails. The electrical portion uses copper contact pads on the stationary layout and springy copper contact strips on the lift out. Although the photos don't show them the track feeds were wired to the terminal strips you see under the lift out. The lift out was in place with the tracks going across prior to cutting the gap with a cut off wheel on the Dremel. The ends of each track was permanently secured prior to cutting by substituting PC board ties soldered to the tracks in place of the plactic ties. The PC ties were secured to the structure with urathane glue and spikes prior to the gap  cutting. Later on in the developement of the layout I added rare earth magnets to the under structure to pull the lift out in one direction to remove any play in the alignment blocking.

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https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQPyx6f34f.jpg
https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQSFx6f34f.jpg

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[Len]

I hate typing tags, so I click the white blob below the I in "Add BBC tags:" above to create the image tags for me like this (without the spaces):

[ img ][ /img ]

It will leave the cursor between the tags, so all you have to do is Ctrl-v to paste the URL of your pic in place like this (again, without the spaces:


[ img] https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQYnx6f34f.jpg [ /img]
[ img] https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQPyx6f34f.jpg [ /img]
[ img] https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQSFx6f34f.jpg [ /img]

Then your pics should show up in the post without any problems:

[ img] https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQYnx6f34f.jpg [ /img] without the spaces you get:


[ img] https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQPyx6f34f.jpg [ /img] without the spaces you get:


[ img] https://media.fotki.com/2v2HPmQSFx6f34f.jpg [ /img] without the spaces you get:


It just takes a bit of patience and practice to get the hang of it.

Len

[graywolf]

Thanks Len now I see what you did. I misunderstood what to do and was deleting the (img) to the left before I pasted the photo designation. Will try harder next time. Thanks for being patient with me.

[Len]

No problem. Interesting 'lift out' idea. You might want to put some of that conductive lube ourside G-gaugers use on their rail joiners on the bridge contacts to prevent corrosion.

Len

[graywolf]

Not necessary my wife comes down the basement once a week and polishes the copper contacts for me after she finishes cleaning the track.

[jonathan]

Graywolf,

First, thanks for sharing your construction of the lift-out bridge. I like the copper contact system you have for conductivity. The thicker/harder wood should keep your bridge stable for a long, long time.

Second, I can't tell if you're being serious about your wife cleaning the tracks. Better yet, I won't go there.

Finally, you'll be happy to know I have purchased a screen-type strainer for the sole purpose of sifting model railroad materials.  So..

Spaghetti dinners are back on. 

Regards,

Jonathan

[graywolf]

I just thought Len needed a laugh re my wife cleaning the contacts and track. I won't dare show her this site!

[Ken Huck]

My wife mows the lawn.  One of these days she's going to want one of those rider mowers though,
and I'll probably have cut down on a few of my brass purchases and buy her one...

Such are the lives of model railroaders...(sigh)

Ken