West Kirby Town: narrow gauge may be coming to town.

[Hroth]

8 hours ago, Regularity said:

In this case, that particular modelling cliché has been reversed…

 

And paid for its temerity!

[Simond]

14 hours ago, Dmudriver said:

AFAIK there are no road underbridges between Hoylake and WK so passengers should be safe - from getting the roof sliced off, anyway!!  What happens to the bus to/from the depot is another matter!!

Absolutely none, they’d be full of the Irish Sea!  

 

The land between Bidston hill and Caldy hill is very flat, indeed, much of it was tidal a long time back.  There were brickworks in Moreton, (my mum worked there as a secretary in the early 50’s) but I think most of the land is sandy rather than clay.  There are tidal defences from New Brighton & Liscard most of the way to Hoylake prom.

 

There is a “very toytown” hill and overbridge at Meols station, looks almost like it belongs in a sixties TriAng catalogue.  There’s also an overbridge at Moreton, and one at WK, but I think the other crossings are all gated level crossings - Leasowe/Reeds Lane and Hoylake - I can’t think of any others beyond Bidston.  The northern side of the Wirral is much hillier, and there are lots of overbridges, and the railway goes underground in Birkenhead, of course.  There is certainly one underbridge at Wallasey Village, but the double deckers go under that without problems.

Craig’s photo shows the old GW main line to Birkenhead Woodside, so the bridge has been there a while!  This line is raised on embankments for a couple of miles before diving into cuttings & tunnels near to the Mersey tunnel entrance.  The line splits for the old, long gone terminus, and the docks.  You can see the track for the Merseyrail line to Chester still using the old right of way.

 

 

Edited September 18, 2021 by Simond

[Hroth]

13 hours ago, Simond said:

There is a “very toytown” hill and overbridge at Meols station, looks almost like it belongs in a sixties TriAng catalogue.

 

It does look something fitting a 6x4 baseboard, I believe the approaches were dug out of ground adjacent to the station, enlarging Meols pond from a much smaller body of water. The high water table ensures that it doesn't dry up!  Urban legend says that the original promoter of the Hoylake Railway (one Braithwait Poole) intended to run skating excursions to Meols in the winter...

 

 

 

 

[Dmudriver]

I said a few posts ago that I couldn't start on the replacement crossover straightaway.  Well, that was because my partner and I were on a week's holiday in Anglesey.  Strange as it may seem, in spite of being a Scouser and having holidayed in Prestatyn and Colwyn Bay in my youth, I've never been to Anglesey.   We loved it - it's definitely on the "go back to" list!!

 

Today West Kirby Town has been cut off from the rest of the rail network and the replacement bus service has started.  The crossover has been removed:

 

 

but I've not done anything with the plain line alongside yet - until I've tried Mike's base against the space and seen what needs removing.

 

Progress at last!!

 

Now I'm going to start binge-watching "Vigil"!!

 

More soon (about WKT, that is!!)

 

 

Rod

[Dmudriver]

And a bit more progress today!!  I measured off the plain track and lifted that and the wooden base now fits OK.  

 

The lead-in (if that's the right expression!) is OK on the Down side of the crossover but is not particularly smooth on the Up side.  I could live with the Up side as it is but it's not the smoothest of curves.   I'll hold the flexi bits in place with Blutac tomorrow and see how it looks then.  I could alter more of the Up side approach tracks but I'll see when I next do anything.  (The straightish looking bit on the Up line is just where the flexi track isn't very flexi!!  The Blutac should sort it)

 

Here's a couple of pix:

 

 

 

Unfortunately the buffer stop at the end of the nearest stabling siding suffered a bit of collateral damage, but nothing I can't fix!!

 

 

More soon.

 

 

Rod

[Dmudriver]

"More soon" I said at the end of the last post.  That was nearly a week ago!!  Where does time go?

 

I've done some more work today - when I could dodge the rather heavy rain showers to get into and out of the shed!!

 

First I laid the Up line common crossing:

 

 

Then I added the outer rail - I thought I'd stick to the fixed base parts first and then the flexitrack can be adjusted to the correct track centres later:

 

.

 

The transition to the track already down is pretty good:

 

 

But the track will need fixing down just to hold that curve in place.  Then, having had 2 glasses of wine with my tea (evening meal, that is!!!) I thought I'd finish.  But I couldn't leave it just like that so I cut the fixed outer rail of the inner point:

 

 

I've since decided, however, that I should fix the inner common crossing in place first, to make sure it lines up properly with the outer one.  So that's the next job.

 

I started off with a bit of trepidation because it's a bit complicated and I'm building it in situ, but I began to quite enjoy it after a while!!  I feel the relationship between the 2 common crossings is crucial so that will definitely be the next job.

 

Watch this space.  More soon.

 

 

Rod

[Simond]

Rod,

 

I tend to agree, and from my perspective of “a little experience”, I think your approach will give the best result.

 

watching with interest!

Simon

[bgman]

Rod,

 

As you've used the Greenwood kits previously I think it will give you the confidence to get these 2 crossings built to a good standard.

[Dmudriver]

Following on from yesterday, I fitted the common crossing of the inner point today using as many of the Greenwood gauges as I could fit in!!   I then fitted the outer stock rail to the inner point- including the slide chairs.  Here's how they both look from above:

 

 

I managed to get a nice smooth flow in the stock rail from the crossing:

 

 

and from the track that was already in place:

 

 

To finish tonight, I added the slide chairs to the outer stock rail on the Up line point and added the check rail:

 

 

I've found that there isn't quite enough spare rail in the pack to make up the other 3 check rails but fortunately I have some spare bits of Peco track from which I can make them.

 

I'm enjoying this, but I'm making sure I'm not rushing it!!

 

So, ..... watch this space.  More soon, hopefully tomorrow.

 

 

Rod

Edited October 6, 2021 by Dmudriver

[Dmudriver]

Well, yesterday's update never happened because 1) I was watching my 10 year old granddaughter playing in a schools football competition (the only girl in the team!) which meant 2) I had tea later than usual and 3) I had a glass more wine than normal and 4)  therefore didn't trust myself not to make a mistake.

 

So I've cracked on tonight - and made the mistake tonight!!  I've fitted the inner stock rails to both points now.  Here's a couple of pics of them:

 

 

 

 

The mistake was to forget to put the stretcher bar under the rails when I laid the new stock rail for the Up line point!!  And I'd glued down all the chairs, except for the slide chairs.  The air in the shed turned a very deep shade of blue when I realised!!  I released the 11 chairs to the right of the stretcher bar and so was able to get the stretcher bar in - the chairs come off the sleepers fairly easily if you gently slide a thin knife blade between chair and sleeper.

 

I made sure I fitted the other stretcher bar at the same time!!  However, whilst the Up line operating wire from the Tortoise is nice and central ( see next pic), the Down line one is against a sleeper.  Add to that the fact that the operating wire is just a bit short so I was afraid that it could ride up onto the sleeper and then it could possibly slip out of the hole once in operation,  the remedy was to add a strip of plasticard underneath.  You can just see the plasticard strip to the left of the stretcher: the whole thing now slides nicely left and right and there is plenty of purchase for the operating wire.

 

 

 

So that's where I'm up to tonight.  Switch blades next!!  Watch this space - again!!  

 

 

Rod

PS   I've used the term "Stretcher bar" instead of "tie bar" which I've used in the past.   I read an article today about point work which effectively told me I've been using the wrong term - although the article does indicate I'm not the only one!!

Edited October 8, 2021 by Dmudriver

[Dmudriver]

Not much to show today.  I've cut the point blades for the Up line point and filed one down so hopefully the transition is nice and smooth.

 

Nothing fixed as yet, though, so no pics.

 

Hopefully more tomorrow.

 

 

Rod

[Dmudriver]

More progress today!  The Up line point is finished - just needs one check rail and then wiring up.  Here are a couple of pics - in the reversed and normal positions:

 

 

 

An Easybuild bogie which I've taken off a BG runs really smoothly through it.  In 3 words, I'm dead chuffed!!!   The blades needed some fine filing to get them to sit snugly against the stock rails , but nothing too drastic or time consuming.

 

The blades for the other point are cut, but that will be enough for today.   More soon.

 

 

Rod

[bgman]

On 06/10/2021 at 18:41, bgman said:

Rod,

 

As you've used the Greenwood kits previously I think it will give you the confidence to get these 2 crossings built to a good standard.

 

Told ya ! 

[Dmudriver]

18 hours ago, 313201 said:

Hi Rod

 

Can I ask please if these turnouts will be available to add to my O gauge railway at some point, if so how much would you want fof them please.

 

Hi 313201.

 

I don't actually produce these kits: they are made by Greenwood Model Railway Products - link here:  

 

https://greenwoodmodelrailwayproducts.co.uk/

 

Mike produced this crossover kit from a Templot drawing as it was designed to fit a specific location.   I've built Peco replacement point kits from Mike before - earlier in the thread - details are on the website.  There's plenty of choice.

 

HTH.

 

 

Rod

Edited October 11, 2021 by Dmudriver
To amend link.

[Barnaby]

In case Rod's link above won't work for you 313201 you can try this. >>> https://greenwoodmodelrailwayproducts.co.uk/

Edited October 10, 2021 by Barnaby

[Dmudriver]

10 hours ago, Barnaby said:

In case Rod's link above won't work for you 313201 you can try this. >>> https://greenwoodmodelrailwayproducts.co.uk/

 

Thanks for that, Barnaby.  I've amended the link in my post above to avoid any confusion.

 

 

Rod

[Dmudriver]

17 minutes ago, 313201 said:

Hi Rod

 

My apologies I should have been more specific, I meant the turnouts / points you removed for replacement by the new turnouts your working on.

 

Once again my apologies for causing confusion.

 

Hi 313201.

 

Aaah!  I understand.   I'm afraid the points I took up did not react at all well to the upheaval: they are unusable again, unfortunately.  It's because they were from C&L kits in which each sleeper is placed separately on a strip of double-sided sticky tape which is laid on top of a paper template (itself stuck to the board underneath) and the chairs then glued to those sleepers.  They objected to coming up in one piece!!   The Peco points I took up from the sidings were OK and reusable, as I think these should be should I ever need to take them up again: in other words, a one-piece base gives the most chance of coming up whole.

 

Rod

Edited October 11, 2021 by Dmudriver

[Dmudriver]

They're done!!  Switch rails fitted to the Down line point and check rails fitted to both.  Operated by the Tortoise motors and the bogie pushed at speed through both.  Perfect!!

 

I had to adjust the first check rail I put on a few days ago as I found that, with a little pressure, I could get one set of wheels to ride up over the nose of the common crossing.  The check rail wasn't just quite at the correct distance from the stock rail.  I trimmed the chairs a bit further, it now fits properly and I can't get the axle to ride up.  I made sure the other 3 check rails fitted properly as I laid them: all are OK.

 

I'm really pleased with this.  Just the plain track to do now - oh, and the electrics!! - and I can get back to playi..  oops, sorry, operating!!

 

Pics below:

 

 

 

More soon,

 

 

Rod

 

 

 

 

[5BarVT]

6 minutes ago, Dmudriver said:

Just the plain track to do now - oh, and the electrics!! - and I can get back to playi..  oops, sorry, operating!!

You’ll have the testing to do before that . . . !

Paul.

[Dmudriver]

30 minutes ago, 5BarVT said:

You’ll have the testing to do before that . . . !

Paul.

 

That'll be the playing, Paul!!  

 

I forgot to add, there's the sleepers to stain, rail sides to paint and ballasting to do!!  But I can still playperate before and during that exercise!!

 

 

Rod

[Simond]

“Playperate”

 

very good….

[Dmudriver]

3 hours ago, Simond said:

“Playperate”

 

very good….

 

Thanks, Simon.  It was one of these flashes of inspiration (if you can call it "inspiration"!!).  I was wondering if anyone would notice or just assume it was a typing error!!   I doubt it'll end up in the OED, though!!

[Dmudriver]

And a bit more progress!  I've laid the Up line so that track is now complete.  I've run a bogie vehicle through it and it's nice and smooth - from the sidings, over the crossover and reverse up the Up line.  And back again.

 

Here are a couple of pics:

 

 

 

I tried running a DMU through it (knowing I'd have a dead frog) but the thing didn't get beyond the middle of the crossover.  For some reason there's no power in the track beyond the crossover.  I suspect that somehow I've disturbed a joint in the bus bars.  I've tried a part out in the garden and there's no power there either.  Something else to do once I've finished the crossover - though it will come under the heading of "the electrics".

 

Next job, though, is to do the Down line.  So, ..... watch this space.  More soon.

 

 

Rod

[Barnaby]

That's looking fantastic Rod, can't wait to see a video of a working period showing some locos running through it.

 

Best

[Joner]

I've always thought Peco track to be pretty good with enough variety out there to make most Layouts. But seeing the changes you've made to your layout/points has made a massive difference and changed my mind completely. 

 

Well done for being brave enough to do this on already completed track.

 

And thank you for inspiring a rethink on pointwork. 

 

Looking forward to seeing trains run again soon.

 

Paul