Three Pots Yard

[34006]

Here is my first attempt in 7mm,a shunting plank inspired by holidays in North Cornwall,and living by the Didcot to Oxford line when I was a kid,near Kennington Junction.

 

Boards are of usual construction,2 x 1 framing and 6mm ply.Fitted with folding and removable legs.

 

There are 2 x 4' x 2' 6,and 2 extension pieces to give a maximum length of 10' 6",using the diagonal of an 8' x 8' shed,fully lined and insulated.I would liked to have had a bigger shed but I didn't want to overpower our small back garden.(and i've still got to find the money to put electric in.Got a long extension lead at the moment)

 

More to follow.

 

Phil.

[34006]

Having braved the rain everything is now installed in the shed.

[GWR57xx]

Looking good so far

[Andrew P]

Looks very neat Phil. Do you have a Track Plan yet?

[34006]

Not exactly got a track plan as such,however,I've had some ideas floating around in my head for some time.The thing is,being a tad close on space,I've had to build the boards first so I can see what sort of room i've got to play with.

 

Hence:

[34006]

Of course,nothing is set in stone.Not all sidings will neccessarily remain,and lengths haven't been decided.Got to get some buildings sorted,and then have a play around to see what goes where.

 

This isn't going to be a quick job,and you guys(and gals ) have set the bar almost out of sight.At least I've got most of the stock and loco's,so the heavy spending has (mostly) been done.

 

However...........

 

Things will appear as and when.There's so much to do when you've retired,Burton MES,Chasewater Railway,holidays ect.Don't know how I had time to go to work!

 

Thanks for your kind comments

ATB

Phil.

[pwr]

I've heard this tip also and although some of my boards are like this some are not and need doing!

 

Paul R

[34006]

21 hours ago, JimRead said:

Hello Phil,

 

I do hope you don't mind me pointing this out, I made my first layout in the same manner, within two years it warped.

 

Since then I have used diagonals, the first layout I made like this in 1981 is still in use now, I met the guy I gave it to at a show in 2016 and it hadn't warped. 

 

The test for warping is to put one end of a board on the floor hold it there with your foot and try to twist it. If it moves more than a few millimetres it will warp.

 

Cheers - Jim
 

Thanks for that info,Jim.as it happens,there are several spare lengths of 2 x 1 in the shed,put especially for times like this.Something to do Sunday while SWMBO is at work,never get much done when she's at home..........

 

atb

Phil.

[34006]

Now then,all.If I could pick your collective brains,Do I actually need a catch point between the curved point and the double slip,or if the main route is either the bottom track,or from the bottom left exit of the slip(where the gap is) to the top right exit,could I get away with inter locking the top left exit to the curved point so that the headshunt line is only  accessible if the slip road is set for it,if you see what I mean.

TIA

 

Phil

[47606odin]

On 22/08/2020 at 03:19, 34006 said:

Now then,all.If I could pick your collective brains,Do I actually need a catch point between the curved point and the double slip,or if the main route is either the bottom track,or from the bottom left exit of the slip(where the gap is) to the top right exit,could I get away with inter locking the top left exit to the curved point so that the headshunt line is only  accessible if the slip road is set for it,if you see what I mean.

TIA

 

Phil

no, you interlock the points that give access so the route needs to be set to operate the point from the box. You would need a shunt signal to go over the points and the points add as protection

[34006]

Thanks Odin,what I really want to know is can I do without a catch point in that position,bearing in mind that the lower track will be the through or"main line",and the second track up on the right will be a loop. To the left of the catch point leads to a head shunt.

 

Cheers 

 

Phil.

[47606odin]

Exactly what I said. The point is controlled from the box or ground frame and will be locked away if the route through the slip isn’t set, and prevents anything  departing so you do not need a trap point. The point aces as the trap point. If it was the end of a plain loop where the route can’t be set away from the main line then you need the trap point

[47606odin]

You will need a shunt signal to come out of the head shunt and into the headshunt from the siding as it’s a controlled point

[34006]

Cheers Odin,thanks for that.I'll sort out another ground signal.

 

atb

 

Phil

[47606odin]

2 minutes ago, 34006 said:

Cheers Odin,thanks for that.I'll sort out another ground signal.

 

atb

 

Phil

It should be yellow and black allowing you to pass out into the yard from the headshunt, which you pass in the on position, and to leave onto the running line the signal must be in the off position.

 

but going from the siding Into the headshunt it should be a red and white shunt signal

[34006]

Good morning all.I seem to remember someone on here "improving" Peco points,to make them slightly curved.Is it a matter of cutting alternate sleeper links and then persuading them to fit,or is the job slightly more involved?

 

TIA

 

Phil.

[Joseph_Pestell]

Fairly straightforward really.

 

The "someone" you are referring to is Graham Nicholas of Grantham and Hills of the North threads. He even manages to bend slips to be part of flowing track formations.

[Andrew P]

1 hour ago, 34006 said:

Good morning all.I seem to remember someone on here "improving" Peco points,to make them slightly curved.Is it a matter of cutting alternate sleeper links and then persuading them to fit,or is the job slightly more involved?

 

TIA

 

Phil.

I've done it just before the Level Crossing on Seven Mills, it WAS a Right hand Point and is now a Y. It was done by cutting between each sleeper on the outside of the NEW curve, and removing the bit between the sleepers on the inside of the NEW curve. I do between every sleeper in the curve affected area.

 

You can also do this to make a strait point  into a slightly curved Point.

Edited August 25, 2020 by Andrew P

[34006]

Thank you one and all,I'll look into that "dreckly",but for now a quick drink and off for a walk with SWMBO.

 

atb

 

Phil.

[34006]

Good evening all,hoping everyone has had the best Christmas they can,and wishing 2021 will be a better year for all of us.

 

atb

 

Phil

[34006]

Some further progress in between times,also some 12" to 1' has also been happening at Chasewater,apologies for dodgy quality photos.

Bridge is a mockup,finished article won't look like that.

atb

Phil

l

[muddys-blues]

I bet you can't eat three Shredded Wheat ??? 

 

Layout coming along nicely 

 

Best regards

Craig.

 

Edited December 30, 2020 by muddys-blues

[34006]

Three Shredded wheat? That's a doddle Craig,can you do 12 DRY Jacob's Cream Crackers?

Thanks for those kind words!

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[34006]

 

 

A little interlude on the kitchen table has produce a slightly improved mockup of the bridge.A shredded wheat box and a bit of sellotape go a long way.Jst wondering now what to build it from,bearing in mind it will be "built " from random stone,which may mean covering in in Das clay and scribing stone blocks on it.I do have some 6 mm ply in the shed which might do for the carcase.What do you think?

ps Apologies for dodgy photos.

 

Cheers 

 

Phil

[woodyfox]

Excellent project. Lots of shunting fun to be had in that plan. 

For the bridge, have you considered a hard, dense foam like depron as used by aero modellers? It seems to carve well. I'm planning to use it myself at some point. 

Cheers