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Stubby47's Project #1 - DM Four Mill Something


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Would a narrow gauge loco ever have shunted a standard gauge wagon ( open or van)?

 

I'm debating whether just using the ng loco on the hoist would be a better scenario, but this means dual gauge track on the middle level as well as the ground level.

 

 

I would think it would only happen in cases where the standard gauge wagon had been put on narrow gauge wheels - otherwise given that most (all?) dual gauge track used one common rail the couplers / buffers wouldn't line up.

 

Now given you are doing a special industrial type setting there is no reason that the narrow gauge loco hasn't been modified in some way to handle both narrow and standard gauge wagons - justification perhaps being that the hoist could only handle the weight of a narrow gauge loco making it impossible to get a standard gauge loco down to the middle level.

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The most probable form of motive power would be a horse, or man handled with a pinch bar.

Not sure I can make a working horse...

 

DM Dean Hill had Drewery locos running the NG line into the hillside storage bunkers, with an exchange siding to tranship from standard gauge.

I just want to extend that a bit further.

 

Gerald's comments above echo my thoughts, a loco adapted to handle both gauges of stock would be the ideal - is it just too far-fetched, even for me...?

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I would think it would only happen in cases where the standard gauge wagon had been put on narrow gauge wheels - otherwise given that most (all?) dual gauge track used one common rail the couplers / buffers wouldn't line up.

If the Fat Controller wasn't watching and the alternative was human sweat ??

 

...R

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I was hoping to use the Tillig dual gauge track (rather than even think about making my own), which of course has one common rail.

 

My other thought was to use a barrier wagon, either standard or narrow gauge, which would have suitable buffers/couplings at each end.

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Not sure I can make a working horse...

DM Dean Hill had Drewery locos running the NG line into the hillside storage bunkers, with an exchange siding to tranship from standard gauge.

I just want to extend that a bit further.

Gerald's comments above echo my thoughts, a loco adapted to handle both gauges of stock would be the ideal - is it just too far-fetched, even for me...?

Have look at Londonderry / Derry dockside. Irish Standard gauge locomotives moving narrow gauge vans about the riverside. The locomotives had buffers and chains, plus an offset chopper style coupler.

 

Paul 4475

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I collected the 9mm ply pieces of wood this morning, all cut neatly by a local carpenter.

 

I just need some decent weather and a few hours peace and I can drill and screw it all together.

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Thoughts are now turning to the hoist.

 

It will be a good 4ft from the operator, so accurate height control needs to be semi-automatic. Also, the hoist platform needs to be held steady whilst the loco & wagons are moved on and off.

 

For each of the two upper levels, I'm thinking of adding a mechanical arm, preferably two ( or one two-pronged arm), which are moved out from the baseboard to locate in matching holes in the platform base. Driven by a Cobalt ( or similar) this would also break/make the hoist's power supply to prevent vertical movement.

 

Further thoughts are how to make the sheave wheels - the ones used on Treamble are not designed to be load bearing.

I also think a counter balance weight will ease the strain on the hoist motor. This should also look good as the 2nd sheave wheel will rotate in the opposite direction.

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A low-geared DC motor driving a screwed rod might be a good idea for the hoist - and just use the ropes as working ornaments.

 

Using a screw means that everything stays exactly where it is when the motor stops. You could use micro-switches to stop at the different height positions.

 

...R

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A low-geared DC motor driving a screwed rod might be a good idea for the hoist - and just use the ropes as working ornaments.

 

Using a screw means that everything stays exactly where it is when the motor stops. You could use micro-switches to stop at the different height positions.

 

...R

 

Thanks for that idea.

 

I've previously used a normal 12v low gears motor powered through the a DPDT switch from the track controller.  This gives enough control and the ability to speed the vertical movement if required. 

 

I've since bought a more powerful motor/gearbox (from Squires, usual disclaimers) which will give me the same flexibility. Whilst a screw thread and micro-switches, as you suggest, will give an alternative method of height control, I like the idea of the hoist being rope (wire) hauled.

 

But we'll see...

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Not sure I can make a working horse...

DM Dean Hill had Drewery locos running the NG line into the hillside storage bunkers, with an exchange siding to tranship from standard gauge.

I just want to extend that a bit further.

Gerald's comments above echo my thoughts, a loco adapted to handle both gauges of stock would be the ideal - is it just too far-fetched, even for me...?

What if it wasn't a loco?

 

What about a lorry or tractor with narrow gauge wheels to the front/rear and standard gauge wheels to the sides.....?

 

Even a traction engine......wow!

 

They could be linked by chain drives.....

 

Rob.

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In order to put the track down, I need to build the baseboard.

In order to build the baseboard, I need to know where to cut the hole for the hoist.

In order to cut the hole for the hoist, I need to know how big the cage is.

In order to work out how big the cage will be, I need to know how long the train will be.

In order to work out how long the train will be, I need to know how long the loco is.

In order to know how long the loco will be, I need to find the chassis in the loft.

 

In order to build the baseboard, I need to make some space in the garage.

In order to make some space in the garage , I need to move some other stuff into the loft.

 

I can see a pattern emerging.

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When I'm faced with this exact same senario I just make my best guess and carry on knowing that it will be just as wrong as if I'd measured and calculated everything before hand!

 

Saves loads of time :) , but not much money or mojo. :(

 

 

Kev.

 

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In order to put the track down, I need to build the baseboard.

In order to build the baseboard, I need to know where to cut the hole for the hoist.

In order to cut the hole for the hoist, I need to know how big the cage is.

In order to work out how big the cage will be, I need to know how long the train will be.

In order to work out how long the train will be, I need to know how long the loco is.

In order to know how long the loco will be, I need to find the chassis in the loft.

 

In order to build the baseboard, I need to make some space in the garage.

In order to make some space in the garage , I need to move some other stuff into the loft.

 

I can see a pattern emerging.

I think that you need to prioritise your order list into proper order, in order to make an order list ,go down the pub and order a beer or three, you will see more sense in the order list after that.

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In order to work out the length of the train, I need to decide how to connect the NG loco to the standard gauge wagon.

 

I'm thinking an adapted shunter's wagon would be an option - already accepted as a specialist poece of rolling stock, this would sit well, I think, in an MoD environment.

Thus the train length would be longer using two full size wagons than it would using three NG armaments ( ex slate) wagons.

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There are virtually unlimited motor/gear box combos on Ebay or Ali Baba........just make your choice.

 

Some of the smallest motors are intended for mobile phone alarm vibrators (!!).

 

Cost......pennies......

 

With a little ingenuity, I could see use as underslung wagon traction motors...........

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There are virtually unlimited motor/gear box combos on Ebay or Ali Baba........just make your choice.

 

Some of the smallest motors are intended for mobile phone alarm vibrators (!!).

 

Cost......pennies......

 

With a little ingenuity, I could see use as underslung wagon traction motors...........

Thanks - that info could be useful for Project #3...

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Some of the smallest motors are intended for mobile phone alarm vibrators (!!).

 

 

 

Crikey!.....I was impressed when one of my phones had a torch.......That's progress, I guess....

 

 

Rob

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For mixing standard gauge wagons with narrow gauge locos have a look at the transporter on the Leek & Manifold Railway... www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=dWZbZGGnE6E from about 15 seconds in..

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Thanks Don.

That would change quite a few things, mostly the trackwork which would become simpler ( and therefore cheaper).

 

Has this sort of wagon ever been modelled - is there an RTR version ( probably HO)?

 

It would be different and be 'operationally interesting'.

 

Hmmm.....

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