Testing the tandem turnout
Entry posted by Captain Kernow
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Further to my previous blog entry, I've now completed the construction of an A5 'right-hand' crossover in OO-SF for the new goods only shunting layout that I'm planning.
I was going to build another two A5 points for the entry to the yard, but most fortuitously found a tandem turnout that my good friend John (Re6/6) had scratchbuilt for me a few years ago.
John's tandem turnout had never originally been intended for this new goods-only shunting layout, of course. A few years ago, I had been mumbling on about re-building the middle baseboard of 'Engine Wood', to give a larger radius entry to the station loop. John was very keen on this idea, and clearly frustrated by my usual 'talk but no action' behaviour, decided to produce the necessary pointwork as a prompt and a 'prod' to get me to take some action.
He built the larger radius points as a tandem turnout, which would give a better approach to the station platform loop, whilst at the same time saving space.
This is the location (highlighted in blue), that the tandem turnout was intended to replace:
He also very kindly built a larger radius point to match the tandem turnout, and presented them to me a few years ago.
Ingrate and procrastinator that I am, I carefully put them away in a safe place, and eventually forgot that I had them (sorry John!).
Since that time, things have moved on a little. I am not now going to spend any further time rebuilding any part of 'Engine Wood', because I am seriously considering putting the layout up for sale in the near future, as I am going to need the space at home for new and on-going layout projects.
The tandem turnout, however, was subsequently 're-discovered', at which time I realised that it's space-saving properties would also benefit the new shunting layout, so I'm going to use it for that project instead.
When John built it, he very helpfully inserted small spacer pieces of brass between the tops of the copper-clad sleepers and the bottom of the rail, which will make it easier to glue the cosmetic chairs on.
I attached some temporary electrical connections to the point yesterday, and ran a variety of locos through it, just to be sure that all worked well before I started gluing the cosmetic plastic half chairs to it.
My new layout scheme will feature an (off-scene) connection to an outrageously improbable light railway, so here is 'Buntie' being tested on the tandem turnout:
Slightly less improbable (for me) is this 08 diesel shunter:
This is more like the kind of regular motive power:
A variety of other locos were also tested, and all was well. I will now start the gluing of plastic half-chairs (Exactoscale) to the point next.
This is the completed pointwork for the new layout so far. A further couple of A5 points still need to be constructed.
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