Fen End Pit's Blog

Very nice, David. I think details like working ground signals really help bring a layout alive.

Just a couple of observations, if I might? Can you alter the speed of operation using the MERG servo control? The movement from seems a bit abrupt in the video. Also, there appears to be rather a wide spacing between sleepers just in advance of the ground signal.

Dave.

3 hours ago, Dave Holt said:

Very nice, David. I think details like working ground signals really help bring a layout alive.

Just a couple of observations, if I might? Can you alter the speed of operation using the MERG servo control? The movement from seems a bit abrupt in the video. Also, there appears to be rather a wide spacing between sleepers just in advance of the ground signal.

Dave.

Thanks Dave

Yes, I will slow the servo down a bit, it is a little fast.

The wide sleeper gap is a baseboard joint and you are right I need to put in a cosmetic sleeper where the join is, you can see the solder where the rail ends are soldered to a brass bolt which goes down into the end of the baseboard.

David

Very good, now you need the detection slides by the point that this signal reads through.

Mmm. I think the running line point into the loop should have a facing point lock and blade detectors, too. Possibly also a locking bar? Perhaps you already have this planned for when you do the point rodding?

Ambis do a nice etched representation of the FPL and bits for the locking bar.

Here's how I used the Ambis bits to represent an ex_LNWR arrangement on my layout.

 

Dave.

Wouldn't normally need a FPL on a goods loop, but maybe some railways were a bit different ...

Yep, I am intending to fit a detector on the shunting signal and an FPL on the main loop point.

David