vulcan product fan Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 looks great sir looking forward to more progress Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted September 11, 2021 Author Share Posted September 11, 2021 Thanks for looking, it's seems to be a hard slog moving forward at the moment but once in a while I think, I'm pleased with that. Yeah I'm pretty chuffed with my fiddle yard. It's a bit of a weird one as I'm suggesting the lines that terminate on the outside of the shed are at the Exeter end of the layout and those on the inside are near Penzance. I've deliberately left one line running through the middle so I can run loco's continuously for running in/testing purposes.........well that's my logic 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted September 13, 2021 Author Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) Not so much as a model railway related post but one that hopefully others could learn from. Lessons learned.........don't trust anybody!!!!!! So we moved into our new house in the middle of winter and of course I'm keen to get the shed ordered and the base made for it. Shed was duly ordered from Olympian Garden Buildings (awesome) and a local landscaper booked to build the base. As per Olympian's instructions "make the base flat, no run off". So the base was built, looked fab but of course being winter and cold, wet and dark, did I ever check the level..........of course I didn't!!!!! So Olympian came to erect the shed and the slope was duly found, fortunately it was at least flat. Olympian said they had installed on worse slopes and so the installation went ahead. If I'd have had time and money I would have paused the build but that would have meant paying for another installation day and an argument with a landscaper with no idea how that would end. The result is I've had to make the railway level in a sloping shed.............Thank goodness for a Laser Level and my trusted camera tripod last used at Paddington in the 1990's Edited October 27, 2022 by Iron Horse Replacing Images 8 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 (edited) So another brief update of random progress! As I have previously mentioned, earlier on in the year before all the levelling was done I could turn the layout easily on its side and so I took the opportunity to make sure there was a reasonable bus for accessory lighting and so I thought I would have a quick go and get something in the depot Edited September 12, 2022 by Iron Horse Replacing Images 17 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted September 15, 2021 Author Share Posted September 15, 2021 So here's a big question amongst the pictures of what I have been up to, before the move I had always been against doing point motors as I felt it was beyond my capabilities. That said they make the railway look so much better and after a chat with a few people I was convinced to give them a go. Now I would have loved to have gone down the cobalt route but costs and being out of work last year sadly took me down the cheaper route. Now, here's the question, is it just me having problems with Seep point motors. I seem to have 2 issues. 1. The actual rod that goes through the point isn't at a right angle to the polished bar that runs through the solenoid, as a result the solenoid fires and it becomes hit or miss as to whether the point moves or the rod just rotates within the polished bar 2. I think combined with issue 1. things become even more of an issue with the Seep with switch for electrofrog points...........don't get me started on that one with an additional GM500 to help Am I doing something fundamentally wrong, if others have had similar issue what have you done or should I be looking at other point motors please? Too many of you out there still seem to be using solenoids so I'm guessing they can be reliable? Help!!!!!!!!!!! Please................... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Phil Mc Posted September 15, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 15, 2021 5 hours ago, Iron Horse said: ..... after a chat with a few people ..... I guess I'm included in that, but sadly I can't help, all ours are surface mounted, and work a treat ! Cheers, Phil. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted September 15, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2021 11 hours ago, Iron Horse said: 1. The actual rod that goes through the point isn't at a right angle to the polished bar that runs through the solenoid, as a result the solenoid fires and it becomes hit or miss as to whether the point moves or the rod just rotates within the polished bar Something to try if the rod is rotating in the solenoid is to put some glue on to hold it in place. Others may be able to suggest something suitable, and care will be needed to make sure it doesn’t go too far and glue the solenoid solid. Paul. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 (edited) So a slight teaser of an update, earlier in the year I joined the original 2 boards together And then had an idea to use the small space above where the bin is in the corner by the door, so I did a bit of digging up on the current board And built an inclined branch line fiddle yard board. perfect for a couple of DMU's. I felt this was great use of space that I probably wasn't going to use and will give me a little more operational interest........more pics to follow Edited October 27, 2022 by Iron Horse Replacing Images 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted October 19, 2021 Author Share Posted October 19, 2021 (edited) More pictures as promised. The fiddle yard and the rough shape of the trackwork The a bit of a look into the affect of the incline Followed by track down and even local trip freight could go up it...... Edited October 27, 2022 by Iron Horse Replacing Images 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TrevorP1 Posted November 27, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 27, 2021 Good to see your project in the new building. I'm just a tiny bit envious of 16' x 12'! Unfortunately we have one of the smallest gardens in the street so I'm 'only' 12 x 10'. Never mind, it's 12' x 10' more than I've ever had before. Doesn't stop me enviously looking across the road though at gardens three times the size of ours! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted November 29, 2021 Author Share Posted November 29, 2021 Oh Trevor thanks for popping by, the modelling skills aren't in your league but I have fun all the same. The Olympian sheds are amazing aren't they? Like yourself it's a bigger area than I ever imagined I'd have for a railway and I'm probably under utlilising it but I'm happy with the content and looking forward to some serious running sessions in the not too distant future.......best update this thread a bit more I reckon. I'm sure I could have done a lot more with the model railway but I think it's just about at the limit of my current capabilities. I do also have the added bonus of the garden backing onto the local railway line, I hear a train and it just makes me smile 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 (edited) So as the summer progressed so too did the track work and this little post concentrates on the mainline going South of the station. The single track mainline is still a remnant of the initial railway way back when I started but with various sections of single track in Cornwall it's something that I am quite happy with. In my head at the moment the removed line is that of a branch to a disused clay works swinging off to the front of the layout. That said it has also been suggested it was originally a double mainline that had to be realigned going south through what will be the scenic break so any thoughts or comments welcome So the first couple of photo's show a bit of planning Any thoughts on this scenic break would be welcome, I'm liking the branch but not quite feeling the landscape around the main Then we have some track pinned down And now the motorail moves Southwards Edited September 12, 2022 by Iron Horse Putting images back 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Good use of the space in the corner to add operational interest , I like it ! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 (edited) So then I needed a lift out section.........never done one of those before!!!!! Painted some rail sides with sleeper grime...... Then............what to do with this end? Edited September 12, 2022 by Iron Horse Putting images back 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium GWRPhil Posted December 2, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2021 14 hours ago, Iron Horse said: So then I needed a lift out section.........never done one of those before!!!!! Painted some rail sides with sleeper grime...... Then............what to do with this end? Could the track on the lift out section be aligned to allow a double track. You could keep the branch going off scene but have set of points by the tunnel entrance to continue the double track on and round onto and past the lift out section. By the looks of the lift out section photo you’ve got two tracks perfectly aligned on the fixed section to allow it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 Thanks Phil for taking the time to comment and the simple answer is yes it could have been double track and it is a mixture of laziness and a little bit of reasoning that it isn't! When I moved everything into the shed I was out of work and decided rather than start again which was the original plan I should just develop what I already had and the exit from the original tunnel was already single track. On top of that I also wanted to run a 7 coach HST which as you know puts limitations on fiddle yard sizes. As a result the layout is really a U shaped to maximise the siding lengths in the fiddle yard, The sidings towards the outside of the shed at at the Exeter end and the internal sidings are at the Penzance end. What I have done is allowed one centre track to run all the way through the fiddle yard just for running in purposes, testing and if I just want to leave a train running whilst I do other things. I'll try and add some more pictures of the fiddle yard in the near future. Fundamentally though you are right and probably laziness and scared to dig even more up prevented me from going down the double track route although the fiddle yard issues would still have remained. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 21 hours ago, rob D2 said: Good use of the space in the corner to add operational interest , I like it ! Thanks Rob, I don't have too many good ideas but I am quite pleased with that one 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 21 hours ago, Iron Horse said: So then I needed a lift out section.........never done one of those before!!!!! Painted some rail sides with sleeper grime...... Then............what to do with this end? I'd be tempted to put a footbridge from just left of the red rock to the street outside the house to break the scene up a little maybe 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 Nice thoughts Rob, like it. I'm going to have a bit of a winter clean over the next few weeks and I'll take a few more uncluttered photos trying to leave bits that I definitely am intending on doing and leaving bits that I have no idea about. A footbridge hadn't even crossed my mind so thanks for the input Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 (edited) So waste not want not.......... The first model railway I built in the corner of my daughters bedroom had a 3x2ish storage board which had been a useful storage/workbench in the shed And then I realised it was the perfect width for bolting on and extending the station area Then do a bit of planning And get some track down Edited September 12, 2022 by Iron Horse Putting images back 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted October 27, 2022 Author Share Posted October 27, 2022 (edited) So nearly a year later and I'm not sure where to begin really. Progress has been steady but with losing the photos from the thread earlier in the year and with a number of personal issues to deal with I wasn't too sure if to continue the topic. Well having realised that it isn't actually too difficult to repopulate the pictures (which I have began doing) I thought I would share a bit of an update. Firstly I made a bridge Built a sea/river bed And then began some serious planning for the end board With the intermediate result being this Now I have hundreds of photo's showing the points being installed and adding some elevation to the track and if anyone would like to see them I would be more than prepared to share them. There is no way that what I've done is the right way and I have learnt from a lot of mistakes but I have taken quite a few step by step images along the way and so if you would like them shared please just ask. My aim is to keep this post quite brief and to say that things are moving again and over the coming weeks hopefully I can update you to where we are now. Thanks to those of you out there that have kept in touch and anyone who reads this and thinks "perhaps I should put my photos back up" please do as there is a lot of my original inspiration missing from the forum and it isn't drastically difficult Cheers everyone Edited October 27, 2022 by Iron Horse Additional image added 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 looking forward to more updates will keep an eye on the thread . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted October 27, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2022 Hi Adrian Good to see you're back look forward to progress. I too have reloaded my pics to the threads over the last week. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Phil Mc Posted October 28, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2022 23 hours ago, Iron Horse said: So nearly a year later and I'm not sure where to begin really. Now I have hundreds of photo's showing the points being installed and adding some elevation to the track and if anyone would like to see them I would be more than prepared to share them. Stop waffling and get on with it.....😜 It'd be nice to see the pics bigger than on my phone.....😉 Cheers, Phil. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 So I did have a go at some elevation........sorted the alignment out first Then cut some plasticard pieces of varying thickness and numbered them in groups Did a few trail fits Then all pinned down 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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