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A time for contemplation - size matters

mr magnolia

Entry posted by mr magnolia

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all is quiet on the Abercorn Branch. The electrics seem as fully operational as a settrack layout seems to allow, and the chances of my moving things to cab control before the darker days draw in seem , er, 'remote'

 

Scenery is in the hands of the female of the species (both large and small as wot live in this house) and is moving not a jot at present.

 

Operating the thing though seems to me to be a confirmation that the layout will serve us well for the next little while. (ie, all seem agreed its good fun to operate)

 

so thoughts turn to a number of things:

  • shunting plank! I've seen the term, and I'm pondering the possibility of adding a thin slice of extra excitement to the front of the layout. Even though only 600 wide, the sidings at the rear are tricky for the little ones to access, and the passing loop at the front seems to get more than its share of the action. Maybe this is my immediate chance to move from the settrack and code 80(?) stuff to code 55...
  • set track points - just how do you get them to work! I see no consistency in the performace of one loco vs another or against a previous run across the same points. I see now why recommendations point to electrofrogs...
  • I have 4 medium radius points on the layout - 2 electro and 2 insulfrogs. these were for trials, and i think the response to the trials is that I shall replace the insulfrogs with electrofrogs. The settrack points are another matter - perhaps I should see exactly what happens when i rearrange the layout to substitute medium radius points. (I know the answer, but it'll be interesting to see on paper!)
  • Board construction - my starting point was a temporary thing that was constructed within the constraints of the space available to me. These have changed, and I've become aware of how slowly i am likely to move away from what has been established as a working layout. So its time to think again about proper supports for the thing. I think I'll combine those thoughts with some about adding a shunting plank bit at the front of the layout...

happy days. I hadn't realised exactly how much 'modelling' time can be taken up with 'pondering'!

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Donw
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The term 'shunting plank' started as a rude comment on minimum space layouts where all you could do was shunt. I would advise against adding too much width but if you could add a little extra I would consider making the passing loop have a platform each side and adding a goods loop on the outside with the sidings running off that. This would enable two trains to circulate on the main using the ppassing loop whilst a goods was using the loop to shunt. Ruuning round through the passing loop when necessary whislt one of the lines was free. Of course this would require more complex electrics - cab control. It would therefore make sense to put in insulated rail joiners where these would help. Its not really difficult just takes a bit of thought.

Donw

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mr magnolia

I'm thinking 'plank' in a slightly literal way, as it would give me a chance to see if i could come up with a fancy way of attaching a narrow section of board to the front of the layout in a way that meant it doesn't need to be a permanent fixture. I'll have a thunk round platforms, but that may make thinks a little wider than I'm considering - I'm thinking more along the lines of sidings off the loop, with the 'plank' maybe only about 100mm wide or so. Cab control is my next wiring move so no worries there either! (until I try it...)

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