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Track Laying Begins!

wenlock

Entry posted by wenlock

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It's been a long time coming, but after a lot of procrastination I've finally started laying the track for my branchline project. I bought some rubberised cork sheet from the C&L stand at the Bristol O gauge show back in January to use as a trackbed foundation, so the first step was to get that laid in the correct position on the baseboards. I cut the track plan into sections, so that I could use the pieces as a template to dictate where the cork had to go. I started by positioning the mainline and loop section onto the baseboard and then drew around it once I was happy with it's alignment. Once the position had been marked, the template was removed and the cork sheet was cut to size, then glued in position using Copydex latex glue. Once the glue had dried the paper template was pinned back in position onto the cork using drawing pins.

 

Cork and template in position, looking from fiddle yard end

blogentry-5869-0-76363300-1395664425_thumb.jpg

 

Cork and template in position, looking from other end of layout

blogentry-5869-0-49798800-1395664468_thumb.jpg

 

I'd previously built the points using C&L components, so these were positioned on top of the template to check their relative positions. A few minor tweaks of sleeper positioning will be needed, but the geometry of the points appears to be right and the trackwork seems to flow quite well.

 

Loop and main line points in position looking from fiddle yard end

blogentry-5869-0-77884600-1395664495_thumb.jpg

Loop and main line points in position looking from other end of layout

blogentry-5869-0-04765300-1395664511_thumb.jpg

 

A similar process was used to position the point that controls the entry to the goods shed or the the back siding. I may need to change the curvature of the back siding slightly, necessitated by the reduction in baseboard depth from 4 foot 6 inches, to a slimline 4 feet!

 

Yard viewed from fiddle yard

blogentry-5869-0-78757600-1395664529_thumb.jpg

 

 

I like the idea of the private siding being on an incline, so a ramp was constructed using off cuts of MDF, balsa and a lot of sanding! The line rises at a 1 in 60 incline, which hopefully shouldn't prove too taxing for my little 0-4-0 Manning Wardle "Lady Jayne" http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1131/entry-9612-manning-wardle-f-class-0-4-0-number-719-lady-jayne/ along with a couple of wagons. I've yet to decide exactly what type of industry this private line will serve, I just like the idea of a gate across the track and the line climbing up the incline on an embankment covered in Rosebay Willow Herb!

 

 

Assorted weights holding down the incline while the PVA glue sets.

blogentry-5869-0-81976500-1395664559_thumb.jpg

Cork attached to the incline with Copydex latex adhesive

blogentry-5869-0-85182600-1395664577_thumb.jpg

View of progress so far from incline end of layout

blogentry-5869-0-17420800-1395664595_thumb.jpg

 

View of progress so far from fiddle yard end of layout

blogentry-5869-0-81384200-1395664610_thumb.jpg

 

Well that's it so far, the next step will be to cut around the points and remove that section of the template. I'm then planning on soldering electrical feeds to the points and then using Copydex to glue them in position onto the cork. It should then hopefully be a fairly simple task to build some lengths of plain track to fill in the gaps between the points. I'm sure that will be easier to say than do, but i must admit I can't wait to see the first loco moving under its own power on the layout!

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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Ian Smith

Dave,

Looking very nice!!  I really like the idea  of a slight incline on the private siding - adds a little visual interest to that area I think.  

 

Seeing that you're using B9 sized turnouts in O Gauge puts my little line in 2mm to shame (I was hoping that I could get away with B6's to squeeze a little extra length on the run-round.  In fact tonight I have knocked up a B6 sized switchback to satisfy myself that my 6 wheel coach will negotiate the actual point work when I build it in situ - The result is that the 6 wheel coach is extremely happy gliding through it (despite having no play on the centre axle - but then the total wheelbase is only 38mm) :-)

 

Look forward to seeing further updates.

 

Ian

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Buckjumper

Looks lovely and flows very nicely Dave! I agree with Ian, the incline is a great idea and will add interest (motorised gate to the siding?).

 

Now, you are going to treat us to a little video of the first loco aren't you [/necklock] ;)

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  • RMweb Gold
Barry Ten
  • RMweb Gold

Terrific, must be a great sense of progress to see the trackwork going in. Well deserved!

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wenlock
  • RMweb Gold

Thanks guys, glad you like the progress so far!

 

 

Dave,

Looking very nice!!  I really like the idea  of a slight incline on the private siding - adds a little visual interest to that area I think.  

 

Seeing that you're using B9 sized turnouts in O Gauge puts my little line in 2mm to shame (I was hoping that I could get away with B6's to squeeze a little extra length on the run-round.  In fact tonight I have knocked up a B6 sized switchback to satisfy myself that my 6 wheel coach will negotiate the actual point work when I build it in situ - The result is that the 6 wheel coach is extremely happy gliding through it (despite having no play on the centre axle - but then the total wheelbase is only 38mm) :-)

 

Look forward to seeing further updates.

 

Ian

Thanks Ian, yes the incline does help to give some interest to that end of the layout.  I'm hoping it will also give some visual balance to the planned road overbridge at the fiddle yard end.

That B9 point is a bit of a beast isn't it!  My 517 looks quite lost crossing it, but I'm hoping it will give the illusion of plenty of space.  The rest of the points are an assortment of B7s and B8s, although the point in the goods yard is a B6.  I've never tried building 2mm points, I'm sure they must be a real challenge.  Amazing to hear that a 2mm 6 wheeler coach has a wheel base only 6mm longer than my track gauge!

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

 

 

Looks lovely and flows very nicely Dave! I agree with Ian, the incline is a great idea and will add interest (motorised gate to the siding?).

 

Now, you are going to treat us to a little video of the first loco aren't you [/necklock] ;)

Hi Adrian, you'll be glad to hear that a motorised gate is definitely on the cards!  I'll do my best regarding the video clip, when I get that far.  I'm guessing I'll need to use some kind of compression software to keep the video file a reasonable size, might need some help with that!

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

 

 

Terrific, must be a great sense of progress to see the trackwork going in. Well deserved!

Thanks Al,  I must admit its great to finally have something that looks like a layout, rather than an assortment of bits and pieces dotted around the house!

 

Hope to see you soon

 

Dave

 

 

Looks great. How long is your layout? I had trouble fitting B6's in my plan.

Hi Pete, glad you like it!  The layout is 17 foot 6 inches long and 4 feet deep.  The fiddle yard/train turntable is 4 foot six long, so the scenic part of the layout is 13 feet long.  

 

For more information about the layout size and planning, here are a couple of links to earlier additions of the blog.

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1131/entry-9746-full-size-planning/

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1131/entry-9648-mock-up-completed/

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1131/entry-9625-pondering-on-plans-2/

 

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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scanman

Don't worry about the MW's on the gradient - we have a similar but steeper incline on 'Netherley' (the Club layout) and our MW's handle 4 wagons & a brake with ease!

 

Regs

 

Ian

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Miss Prism

If using auto-couplings, beware the incline when shunting! (Uncoupled wagons will run away on their own if uncoupled at the top.)

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Mikkel
  • RMweb Gold

Congratulations on getting this far, Dave. That track flows so nicely already, I especially like the views from the end which really shows the flow. The points do look good, the sleepers are so nice it's almost a shame to weather them!

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wenlock
  • RMweb Gold

Don't worry about the MW's on the gradient - we have a similar but steeper incline on 'Netherley' (the Club layout) and our MW's handle 4 wagons & a brake with ease!

 

Regs

 

Ian

Good to hear that! I'm sure "Lady Jayne will do her best!

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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wenlock
  • RMweb Gold

If using auto-couplings, beware the incline when shunting! (Uncoupled wagons will run away on their own if uncoupled at the top.)

Hmmm this may be a problem, I've been equipping my wagons with Spratt and Winkles! In an attempt to try and minimise the risk of runaways, once the line runs through the backscene it will level out onto a simple spur that's long enough to hold a loco and a couple of wagons. The plan is to simply swap empty wagons with loaded ones, then pull them down the incline and push them into the exchange siding. Just how successful this will be, remains to be seen!

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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Buckjumper

There was a layout in the RM in the late 80s - Blaenycwm I think - which had colliery sidings on a gradient, and locos uncoupled and left the wagons seemingly parked up with their brakes on.

 

ISTR the trick was simply a length of wire concealed in a hole in the track which came up under the wagons at least to axle height,  preventing them from running back down the hill.

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wenlock
  • RMweb Gold

Congratulations on getting this far, Dave. That track flows so nicely already, I especially like the views from the end which really shows the flow. The points do look good, the sleepers are so nice it's almost a shame to weather them!

Thanks Mikkel, glad you like the trackwork's flow. I've not decided yet exactly how I'm going to stain/weather the sleepers, I think a little experimentation will be called for!

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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wenlock
  • RMweb Gold

There was a layout in the RM in the late 80s - Blaenycwm I think - which had colliery sidings on a gradient, and locos uncoupled and left the wagons seemingly parked up with their brakes on.

 

ISTR the trick was simply a length of wire concealed in a hole in the track which came up under the wagons at least to axle height,  preventing them from running back down the hill.

Hi Adrian, yes I remember that layout, I think the wire was operated by a point motor. I'm not planning on parking any wagons on my incline, but its a very clever technique none the less.

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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PJBambrick

Excellent to see this taking shape, lovely flow to it.  Just goes to show what a bit of nicer weather can do for a project.

 

Paul

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wenlock
  • RMweb Gold

Excellent to see this taking shape, lovely flow to it.  Just goes to show what a bit of nicer weather can do for a project.

 

Paul

Thanks Paul, yes the creative juices are flowing again now the weather has thawed out a bit! I'm really looking forward to seeing something move on the layout at long last.

 

Best wishes

 

Dave

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Mikkel
  • RMweb Gold

 I'm really looking forward to seeing something move on the layout

 

You're not the only one. Me and William Clarke too :-)

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