The latest news from Barcoombe...

Well having now fulfilled my O gauge dreams of having a viable circle of track and a BR Mark 1 BSK new problems emerge...

Having 40" set-track curves solved the problem.. of having a circle in limited space...

But they are un-prototypical and so having scale models run on such a curve can present new difficulties.

There is enough slack between the coach and the engines to work just fine in forward motion..

However..

Reversing a mark 1 coach out from a siding and then straight into a 40 inch curve (an almost reverse curve scenario) we get..

Buffer lock deluxe with derailment powerful enough to lift the loco off the tracks..

Now I don't know about you, but I like my railways to work..

(I had to retire of an early version of an OO gauge Lit Hornby Pullman IBIS because no matter what one did - it did not do reverse!)

So here is how this was solved...

Now this is probably a case of reinventing the wheel...

But it works!

It was fashioned from a piece of 1/16" thick plastic cut from a folder cover..

And as you can see designed to slide over the buffers.

Because it is black it is hardly noticeable in operation, especially when coupled to a Heljan mark 1.

It is easy to use and remove - but whenever I am running the coach I just leave it on the Loco..

In this instance my trusty Lionheart Pannier Tank - (not perfect but designed to be faultless in operation which is a huge plus.)

Now ..

One might say what if I had two or more coaches...

The answer is simple..

If I had two coaches I would have a much larger layout with much gentler curves..

A ten by eleven foot space severely limits what can be run.

I am not in the enviable position, like some others who have much larger spaces for their layouts..

I thought to publish this just in case anyone was interested..