When it comes to track work, I’m considered a perfectionist by some. I hate derailments when I’m running a train. Anybody that been to Marty’s or the Kansas City show and been around my steam track, knows about my track work. When I saw that Bruce needed a crossing, I offered to build him one as this would be good to add to my track items. It’ll be offered in kit form or spiked up on ties of your choice. On my home layout I have switched from plastic (Trex) ties to red oak for my turnout and any other special track work. The plastic stuff broke easy and I had to keep them painted cause once the outer skin was removed off of the Trex, it is no longer UV stable. On my first layout I tried cedar and redwood and they would not hold spikes very well. I first made a template on a piece of paper to get the dimensions. Then I made a fixture for the mill. I started with a piece of 1/4" brass 3" wide and 9" long. Here is the flangways milled into it.
This is what I ended up with when I was done milling.
As with any track work that I build I dado the ties for a 1/8" X 3/8" battens. These keep the ties in place if the spikes work loose. This is from a live and learn experience. Here is the ties glued up and stained.
It’s all done. It will need some sort of sealer and I use Boiled Linseed Oil on mine.
