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Vertical fiddleyard - I can go round and round again!

Fen End Pit

Entry posted by Fen End Pit

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Having fitted track on two levels I thought I'd better get some power back on and make sure I could still drive trains round and round. This hasn't been possible since the original fiddleyard was removed in February. I wasn't happy with the idea of just feeding power to all the levels all the time as this seemed like a recipe for disaster. I could just imagine selecting the wrong loco on the DCC and then driving it off the top level when it wasn't aligned with the exit track! The solution I've adopted is to feed the power to each level through a microswitch which is only closed when the level is aligned with the layout. You can just make out the rollers of these on the photo together with the little bent rail device which activates them.

 

blogentry-7212-0-94751900-1335731193_thumb.jpg

 

It has been really good to be able to see some trains run again and I'm enjoying the extra 10cm in fiddleyard length which makes certain combinations vehicles possible where it wasn't previously. So my Claud can now haul 3 Mk1s around AND fit in the fiddleyard.

 

Inspired I must now get on fitting the next level, though Maplin have run out of micro switches with rollers so I've got to wait a few days until they get some more. I could have got them from Rapid Electronics considerably cheaper but didn't have enough to justify the P&P.

 

David

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kiwinewt

Have I missed how you built this? I'd be keen for something like this at home too...!

 

OK I did miss it... Would you be able to post a howto - electronics, framing, etc? :D

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  • RMweb Gold
Donw
  • RMweb Gold

I quite facied one of these but with a sloping attic roof I have come up against a snag! Nice work though.

Don

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  • RMweb Gold
Fen End Pit
  • RMweb Gold

I quite facied one of these but with a sloping attic roof I have come up against a snag! Nice work though.

Don

Sounds like you need a 'linear paternoster'.

 

You have each track built as a cassette, basically a long rectangular tube with track in it. These then get shuffled around to align with your exit roads. It would have the advantage that you would only need space below the baseboard level. On the minus side I don't know of anyone who has ever built one. I seriously considered it before opting to just rebuild the previous 'moving display case' type design.

David

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rcmacchipilot

You ever thought of putting two perspex ends on the non slding part so you can never drive a loco off unless its alligned with the exit level ( this being the level that would have no perspex to stop the train)

A couple of L brackets and it should be easy to put into place.

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  • RMweb Gold
Fen End Pit
  • RMweb Gold
You ever thought of putting two perspex ends on the non slding part so you can never drive a loco off unless its alligned with the exit level ( this being the level that would have no perspex to stop the train) A couple of L brackets and it should be easy to put into place.

 

Yes I have thought of that, just not got a round to it yet! The unit really does help keep the dust of the stock even as it is.

David

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