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Scarside - 009 the easy way


Nile
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Well done Nile, very well deserved indeed.

 

I was very impressed with the layout and how well it runs.

It was about the only layout I saw any shunting going on.

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Hello Earl. I'm using Greenwich couplings. When combined with strategically placed magnets under the track the shunting works very well, all hands free. For example there is a magnet level with the end of the station canopy, so that the loco can uncouple from a passenger train while leaving the coaches next to the platform (see photos above). They will also couple with Peco and Bachmann couplings.

If you want to know more just ask.

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All these new coaches I've built or detailed needed testing to see how well they work on the layout. Here are some photos of that.

Train with van arrives.

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Locos runs round and couples to van.

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Van is placed in the bay/loading platform.

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Loco couples to remaining coaches and positions them next to the platform, ready to depart.

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After the train has left, the van is left for unloading and loading.

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Another passenger train arrives, with different stock.

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Loco runs round and positions coaches clear of the siding.

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Loco fetches van from bay platform.

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Van is attached to train, which is positioned next to platform.

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Another combination of coaches tried.

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A bit long for the platform, but it just fits in the run-round loop.

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Another combination that works.

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Putting all the new coaches together. Definitely too long for the loop and platform.

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Electrifying Frogs

 

An experiment of sorts, but this one doesn't involve making dead frog legs twitch.

The Achilles heel of Peco 009 set-track is the dead frog of the point. It is quite small and most of the time it isn't a problem. But it's sods law that a loco will stall on it, at an exhibition when someone is watching. So I've devised a way to improve things (in theory) without a drastic rebuild, as these points are already installed and I don't want to disturb them.

The cunning plan is to add conductive strips in the flangeways around the frog, thick enough so that the edges of flanges just make contact with them. They should also stop wheels dropping down as they pass over these gaps.

These strips were made from leftovers from an etched fret, 0.4mm nickel silver. The ends at the top have been tinned with solder.

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The only mod. needed above ground is the drilling of two holes.

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The strips were inserted into these holes, and glued into the flangeways with superglue.

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It's underneath where things have gotten more complicated. An extra microswitch (on the left) is needed per point. The ends of the strips are on the right, by the F. They are soldered together and to the orange wire, which goes to the microswitch common pin.

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I've now fitted these to all the points on Scarside. Testing isn't conclusive yet, won't know for sure until it's next outing at Bredgar (details to follow).

Edited by Nile
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3 hours ago, Nile said:

Electrifying Frogs

 

An experiment of sorts, but this one doesn't involve making dead frog legs twitch.

.....

 

 

242.JPG.d57251100da79f56015e44c8af711c23.JPG

 

.....

 

 

 

 

*

 

Thank you - this is an excellent idea and I hope it proves a success.

 

And to state the obvious the brass strips could be chemically darkened whilst remaining electrically conductive.

 

 

CP

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18 minutes ago, Stephen Rainsbury said:

 

I was planning to go to that, so will look out for you. Are you the only model railway? :)

 

 

I expect at least 10 layouts, plus Invicta Rail, but I don't have a list.

 

 

 

15 minutes ago, cp409067 said:

 

Thank you - this is an excellent idea and I hope it proves a success.

 

And to state the obvious the brass strips could be chemically darkened whilst remaining electrically conductive.

 

 

CP

 

Thanks Chris, I hadn't thought of that. I shall experiment.

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On 01/03/2020 at 13:55, Nile said:

Electrifying Frogs

 

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This is brilliant.

 

I'm also using Peco 009 setrack with a Bachman Baldwin and find 100% reliable running difficult. Like you, I've wired up as much of the points as possible to avoid needing point-to-rail contact, which works to keep momentum going but it doesn't eliminate the problems you get if you stop a loco in the wrong place, frog especially.  I'm inspired by this and everything else you have achieved. 

 

Thanks for sharing!

Tim

 

Edited by metijg
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