East Victorville Bridge Modification

[nosloptrianman]

I have cloned the Barstow-San Bernardino route and am attempting to correct the bridge(s) at East Victorville.
There are actually TWO bridges, side by side, at this location.
Many good photos are available by doing a Google search.
I find, however, trying to modify the existing tracks nearly impossible.
I removed several sections of track in an attempt to increase the distance between the tracks but I cannot get the track to weld back together as it will not align properly.
I have seen in videos and photos the tracks are not as close as they are in Railworks.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I even found the track laying tool with the yellow arrow unwilling to spin as it normally does to lay track when I attempt the change laying new track.
Any thoughts?

[nosloptrianman]

Still working on this issue.
Seems to be NO way to join the existing track once I remove the sections to extend the distance between tracks.
This is a very frustrating set of track tools.
I have spent countless hours only to have it fail and refuse to rejoin the route.

[PapaXpress]

Rejoining track IS a major pain. If you can cut out a larger length from both sides, and place an intermediate straight section of track between then at a slight skew. make sure that the elevation at both ends of this intermediate section are at the exact same height with what you are planing to join to, and then attempt to join then together.

Here is an example, just that you will need to do it in a much more confined space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c-oLbdo ... ure=relmfu

[nosloptrianman]

Thanks for the suggestion.
Somehow, by accident, I got one section to join together.
I could not duplicate that to save my life.
I am convinced it is easier to rebuild the entire track base then to try and join existing pieces of track.
Too many variables, I believe, and with the instability of the editor, it just can't "understand" what I am trying to do.

[gwgardner]

Do you have the 'snap to track' radio button 'on' in the bottom left pullout, when attempting to join the tracks?

Many times when doing a join like that, just treat it like you were making a switch. Then once joined as a switch, delete the unwanted side of the switch, and you are left with the joined track.

Be sure and turn off the snap to track after use like this.

[nosloptrianman]

Yes.
Have the Snap to Track switch on.
I am about ready to just start from the beginning.
This is unreal.

[SAR704]

Rebuilding all of the track should be the very last resort.

I take it you're using the split tool to split the track into multiple sections at each end of the bridge? Is the track leading to the bridge straight, or curved?

If you've decided what track piece you're going to reconnect the moved track to, then you need to enable the snap to track function. Sometimes this feature is very stubborn, and doesn't always align correctly with the track you're joining it to. In this case, you need to experiment until it welds perfectly. Even if you take a mental note of the exact length/curve radii you need to reconnect it, you can do it in shorter increments so that there is less of a disparity where they are meant to join. You can even align it manually and weld it afterwards, then delete the excess track.

What's the actual layout of the track here? I'm not sure if I fully understand the exact circumstances of your predicament with this track.

[nosloptrianman]

Thanks for the reply.
I have never had any luck getting the snap to track button to work on a curve.
I had one perfect alignment, tonight, on some straight track I was replacing.
I have added some separation to the tracks heading into East Victorville so I can add a second bridge.
I finally got the rails connected by moving towards a connection on straight track.
After adjusting the height and gradient of the new track, I was dismayed to find I had effected the entire route back to Barstow.
I had track way up in the air and even straight up at one point!
I need to practice on just a few sections that are NOT connected to the entire route.
I have found that the simulator is terribly finicky when you split the tracks and and try to replace the rail on a completed route.
I see many, many tutorials on track laying, all based on a fresh or newly started route on level ground.
I have yet to see one based on replacing track in an already completed route with different terrain heights.
I am using Scalerail and replacing all the tracks over bridges and trestles to add Ballasted Decks.
I am USUALLY okay on the straight tracks but have never had luck on the curves.
Also, one end of the replacement track is always higher than the other, and then of course it will not weld.
I am adjusting for gradient before I lay the track but that doesn't seem to matter.
Before I remove the track, I take notes on the piece coming out of height, gradient, length, radius of curve etc.
I have even tried building a custom piece of track and inserting it with no luck.
When I weld one end, the other end breaks.
When I use the join button it joins where I want it but then comes apart down the line, repeatedly.
I chase broken joints all over the place.
I know it takes practice and patience, however, sometimes enough is a enough.
Thanks!

[nosloptrianman]

And so it continues....
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
Correct for height at one end and it welds but then the other end comes undone.
There MUST BE A SOLUTION for this?
There MUST BE A SOLUTION for this?
There MUST BE A SOLUTION for this?
There MUST BE A SOLUTION for this?
HELP!!!!

[PapaXpress]

make sure that both ends are at the same height before you connect them. Remember you can always adjust the elevations after you have the track joined.

[nosloptrianman]

Please excuse my lack of knowledge.
Do you mean the same height for the piece of track at both ends?
How does the terrain height effect the rail height?
When I set the height at one end the other end of the track raises up at an angle.
I set the gradient amount before I lay the track based on what the piece was I removed.
I am sorry this is not clicking in my old brain.
Thanks!

[PapaXpress]

Please excuse my lack of knowledge.
Do you mean the same height for the piece of track at both ends?
How does the terrain height effect the rail height?
When I set the height at one end the other end of the track raises up at an angle.
I set the gradient amount before I lay the track based on what the piece was I removed.
I am sorry this is not clicking in my old brain.
Thanks!

-Yes
-Depends if you have snap to terrain turned, but that will only affect when you lay the track not afterward
-Correct, but you may want to place another elevation point close by so you can level the track at the height you need. You can adjust it back to normal later
-If both ends are level and at the same elevation then leave it at 0
-yea, I have days like that too.

[nosloptrianman]

Well, not much progress.
I split the track over the bridge, recorded the height, gradient, length of the piece being removed.
Selected the replacement piece, set the gradient to match the piece coming out and put down the new piece.
Connects fine on near end, the far end is way up high in the air.
When I lower it to do the weld, it welds fine but then the other end is buried in the ground.
When I raise it up and weld it, which works, the far end is way up in the air again.
Stuck in an endless loop of frustration.
I guess I just don't follow the process.
Sorry.

[PapaXpress]

I am curious now. Are you just removing a section, doing some work, and then trying replacing the same section? If so why not raise or sink the track, do the work, and then level the track where you need it?

[nosloptrianman]

That sounds like a good idea.
As long as I split the track at both ends and THEN work on it.
I seem to get into trouble when I connect one end and work towards the other end.
Changing the gradient at that point travels all the way back to the beginning of the route.
I will split the section out that I am working on at both ends and leave it split until I have the section built and then try and connect it back into the route.
I will let you know how it goes much later today or early in the morning.
I am out of my "man cave" today.