A Glyn Valley Tramway inspired layout

[Ian_P]

Hi -my first post here, just joined today, but I've been reading this section for a few days to get a feel for the space. I've looked up a few topics and this has all been most helpful - so thanks all in advance.

 

Not done any modelling for decades - so very rusty, and in awe of the technology strides made since 'I were a lad'.

 

I am very inspired to model a Glyn Valley Tramway layout, and I must acknowledge the superb 'Glyn Valley Tramway' layout built by the Alton Model Railway Group - and having studied this, via photos and videos, I am keen to have a go to build something similar. 

 

The recent availability of RTR tram engines from Fourdees has tipped me over into action, I have placed an order for 2 trams, and 3 rakes of coaches as below:

 

 

 

I am planning to get another two trams, with a second 'Glynn' to be renamed 'Chirk' or 'Ceiriog'. My thought process being that if the line had been more profitable, a fourth engine may have been purchased instead of the Baldwin. Of course I may be tempted to invest in a Bachmann Baldwin in GVT trim as well.

 

A number of goods vans and wagons will follow at some point.

 

Onto the layout, after getting Scarm, (which is excellent and worth the time to master) I knocked up a prototype 1800mm by 800mm layout, based on the Alton layout, with a fiddle yard at rear. After some thinking, I believe I'll model the fiddle yard as Chirk - although this may be a 'phase 2' project - the rails will be laid, with modelling scenery to follow.

 

I'm experienced in building theatre scenery - and I hope to use this experience in creating the setting for this layout.

 

 

My first concern is with point control - with 18 points, I don't see an obvious solution for how to do this - point motors will be very expensive, but manual 'hand of god' is not acceptable either. The Fourdees locos are not DCC equipped either, and adding this will invalidate any warranty. Otherwise I'm sure I'd go DCC straight off the bat.

 

I would welcome any thoughts you may have.

 

Best Regards

Ian 

 

PS

I am also thinking that it may be a good idea to model a simpler 'first' layout - smaller 600mm square and probably based on Pontfadog and Dolywern halts, and as a circular layout - with possibly the ability to connect this at a later date.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2019 by Ian_P

[stan williams]

Hi Ian,

The Merseyside & South West Lancs group have a small layout  4 x 2ft  based on Glynceriog station.

If you go into the Wigan Finescale exhibition photo gallery you would be able to see a number of photos of the layout taken at this years show.

Well worth a look.

Stan.

[Northroader]

Good luck with your work, agreed that the simple circle would help you build up experience and you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of it before you go on to the big layout.

[Ian_P]

Thanks - both for your kind words, and Stan - that's a great layout you've pointed me towards - I've just spent an hour trying to build a replica in Scarm, and I've almost done it - some great ideas in that Wigan layout, simpler than my first draft, the turntable is deleted to make space, and the passing loops are shorter so shorter trains would be needed. Food for thought.

 

NR, agreed - the simple circle layout is probably what I'll do first - just to get back up and in the flow so to speak. However the Wigan layout is a nice size - the circle is 600mm square, the Wigan layout exactly twice the area at 1200mm by 600mm. Very interesting and this has got me thinking more.

 

Thanks again both. 

[Roy Langridge]

Just stumbled across this thread. My under construction 009 layout has 15 points and I have chosen servos for point control. The costs have been:

Servos £1.20 each

Micoswitches for frog switching £0.80 each

Servo mount £1.20 each
Piano wire approx £0.30 per point

PTFE tube approx £0.24 per point

 

I am the using a Megapoints Controller at £60 to control 12 outputs  (some have 2 servos)

 

All in all about £8.75 per point. 
 

Roy

[Ian_P]

Ohh, that's interesting Roy -thanks. Which servos are these? 1.20 each? That's amazing! 

 

Please let me know as that would be a much more reasonable approach at those costs.

 

Thanks

Ian

[Roy Langridge]

3 hours ago, Ian_P said:

Ohh, that's interesting Roy -thanks. Which servos are these? 1.20 each? That's amazing! 

 

Please let me know as that would be a much more reasonable approach at those costs.

 

Thanks

Ian

Just Google SG90 servo motor, they are as common as muck. If you buy them in bulk (10+) you can pick them up at 90p each. 
 

I can’t recommend the Megapoints Controller highly enough. You can set up the throw of the point so easily and if you use servos for semaphore signals, you can even have bounce: https://megapointscontrollers.co.uk/product/servo-controller-12/

 

Seems to now be £63

 

Roy

[Ian_P]

Roy, fabulous - I'll definitely be going with those SG90 servos and I just spent a few hours looking up all the Megapoints stuff as well. Very interesting, and gives me a reasonable cost solution to remote control of the points. I particularly like the plug and play aspect of the Megapoints stuff.

 

Superb - thanks very much!

 

Cheers

Ian

[stan williams]

Ian,

Megapoints will be at the Stafford MRC Show  1st/2nd  February 2020.

 

I know they will lead you through any of their products on the day, worth a visit.

 

Stan.

[Roy Langridge]

On ‎17‎/‎12‎/‎2019 at 03:25, Ian_P said:

Roy, fabulous - I'll definitely be going with those SG90 servos and I just spent a few hours looking up all the Megapoints stuff as well. Very interesting, and gives me a reasonable cost solution to remote control of the points. I particularly like the plug and play aspect of the Megapoints stuff.

 

Superb - thanks very much!

 

Cheers

Ian

 

Hi Ian,

 

I find the servos particularly good when you cannot position the motor under the point. I have a 2" thick foam base and then an incline, the traditional operation through the base board not being easily suitable. As a result I use the wire in tube method. This is a photo of a servo ready to be mounted this weekend, it is clearer to explain off the baseboard:

 

 

I use 0.64mm piano wire and 0.8mm internal diameter PTFE tube. The wire is dipped in PTFE grease before inserting and the tube is glued into the foam using solvent free adhesive. I wanted a means to make fine adjustment so I used the internals of some 3amp terminal block to provide a means of connecting and adjusting two wires. The ends are doubled back inside the block and clamp well*. I use the MegaPoint controller to adjust the throw, but the terminal block gives that bit more flexibility and allow the servo to be easily removed, without having to take the wire out of the tube.

 

I hope that helps and gives some ideas of what can be achieved.

Roy

 

* When all is finished I will use some Loctite blue on the terminal block screws.

 

 

 

[cp409067]

11 hours ago, Roy Langridge said:

 

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Thank you for this most interesting and informative photograph.

 

May I please ask if the servo mount is a commercial item? And if so what is its origin?

 

Thank you.

 

 

CP

[Roy Langridge]

7 hours ago, cp409067 said:

 

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Thank you for this most interesting and informative photograph.

 

May I please ask if the servo mount is a commercial item? And if so what is its origin?

 

Thank you.

 

 

CP

You are most welcome. 
 

They come from an ebay seller called fair-price-models, just do a search for “servo bracket”.
 

This is the point version, there area also some on sale for semaphore signals, including 2, 3 & 4 arm versions. 

They start at £1.20 for the point bracket, but get a little bit cheaper the more you get.
 

I have no connection other than as a very happy customer. 
 

Roy

Edited December 20, 2019 by Roy Langridge

[cp409067]

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Thank you.

 

CP

[Damo666]

You might be interested in this BBC news item:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59981852

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by Damo666
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