I apologize for this being late. I didn’t have much time to play with photos and stuff this summer. Finally got off my duff, updated my website and remembered I owed the members here a Big Thank You for the help you gave me in the spring. After asking you all a lot of questions on how to do ladder roadbed, I added 4ft to the length of my main loop and installed ladder type roadbed. I had previously floated my roadbed in ballast. That didn’t work to well due to twist and dips in the track. The ladder roadbed was well worth the work. I ran my Pacific and heavyweight cars all summer without one derailment. (Well, once the Pacific did hit the dog and flip over) Here are some pics. I used plastic 1X2 plastic trim board, 2x2 PT post for the seperation blocks and support posts.
I laid out the track and used flour to mark where I put it.
I bent the ladder around the posts and used clamps to hold it in place
I screwed in the other side but did not screw it to the posts until after I was all done and had it level
A wiggle in the straight would not be seen after the track was laid and ballasted
I staggered the joints of the side rails. Where they met on inside curves they kinked. I solved this by adding another piece to the inside of the curve
I painted the top of the ladder gray and put down ballast. Should have also painted the sides
Laid the track and bent to shape using a Train Li Bender. Worked great!
The Blue Comet train likes the level track
The long heavyweight cars had no problem with this S curve.
More pictures and details can be found at www.golddawg.com Thanks guys for all the help!