BobM Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) Hi 'Railway Cuttings' is in now position and will be allowed to settle into both the general theme of the area and 'my head' whilst moving on to the next section of Cambrian Street. Thank you so much, you kind guys for guiding me through this and being so patient with me.... Planning to move closer to and onto the loco yard and shed area in the near future... Will keep at it...... Regards always, Bob Edited April 7, 2022 by BobM Reload images 10 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 22, 2022 Author Share Posted February 22, 2022 (edited) Morning All, Well we had an 'earthquake' in the area to the northeast at 2259 last night, nothing too severe obviously but enough to be noticeable, as whilst working on the layout, just sounded like something was 'slipping from off' the boards behind me and thudding onto the floor, loud enough to make me turn around and look any rate. Just as an update too on current thinking on my way ahead. You know that I have always been open when it come to my errors, many of which have been down to my initial lack of planning and forethought from the outset of Cambrian Street, the greatest error was pinning down the track before installing point motors, an issue which continues to dog my progress. So having tried to use wire in tube, in varying degrees of success, mainly because I cannot get the control wire to access into the central hole or adhere onto the pip of the point - I have for now decided to leave well alone concentrating on the scenic side of the layout, which is providing me with my greatest enjoyment building the layout. All remaining points will be thrown by hand for now as they are easily reached, however if any should fail over time as I replace them, the intention will (if the layout and me) to be replace it and at the same time install a motor? Unless I can come up with an alternative method of attaching the control wire to the pip, then this will probably the best way forwards for me at present concerning throwing the points easily? Regards always and stay safe, Bob Edited February 22, 2022 by BobM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy WD Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 12 hours ago, BobM said: Morning All, Well we had an 'earthquake' in the area to the northeast at 2259 last night, nothing too severe obviously but enough to be noticeable, as whilst working on the layout, just sounded like something was 'slipping from off' the boards behind me and thudding onto the floor, loud enough to make me turn around and look any rate. Just as an update too on current thinking on my way ahead. You know that I have always been open when it come to my errors, many of which have been down to my initial lack of planning and forethought from the outset of Cambrian Street, the greatest error was pinning down the track before installing point motors, an issue which continues to dog my progress. So having tried to use wire in tube, in varying degrees of success, mainly because I cannot get the control wire to access into the central hole or adhere onto the pip of the point - I have for now decided to leave well alone concentrating on the scenic side of the layout, which is providing me with my greatest enjoyment building the layout. All remaining points will be thrown by hand for now as they are easily reached, however if any should fail over time as I replace them, the intention will (if the layout and me) to be replace it and at the same time install a motor? Unless I can come up with an alternative method of attaching the control wire to the pip, then this will probably the best way forwards for me at present concerning throwing the points easily? Regards always and stay safe, Bob How are you trying to attach the wire to the point? I'm sure there are plenty of clever, er,....people, on here who can assist with a simple alternative method. In the meantime I'm looking forwards to the next installment on the scenic side. Keep on keeping on... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 22, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2022 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold lezz01 Posted February 23, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 23, 2022 (edited) . 2 hours ago, Harlequin said: If you use a plastic coated paperclip and just strip the coating off where you form the hook then you illuminate the problem of shorting. Inserting it from the "inside" of the point would be easier than from the outside as it's just a straight bit of wire. Then you just need to connect it to the drive wire from the lever frame with a wire snap or a very small chocolate block connector. Regards Lez. Edited February 23, 2022 by lezz01 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 23, 2022 Author Share Posted February 23, 2022 (edited) Hi I did come up with this using the brass connector of a block connector,. Remove the 'pip' slipping a brass block connector over the remaining 'bar' and screwing down to hold, the control wire when slipped into the the end wasn't secure enough without inserting into a brass 'conduit', the screw when made firm then squashing and held both in place, seems to keep fast when I pull on the wire? Painted black may not be too intrusive? I did encounter a problem when using cutters to for tube length as it squashed the end, so need to saw through if I try again? If there's a way of making the wire secure into the block without using the tube that would be better, soldering perhaps? Will have a think...? Regards always Bob Edited April 7, 2022 by BobM Reload image 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) Afternoon all, Hope that all are safe and well? This is an indication of what I would like to attempt to include into the engine shed / mpd area? A bit of thought needed to incorporate this but the incline ramp angle doesn’t seem excessive for the distance available? This may well just be a ‘scenic’ addition without the intention to have wagons being propelled up the incline anyway? As always will keep you posted with developments as we go along. Regards always Bob Edited April 7, 2022 by BobM 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) Evening..... Just mulling how the incline may be formed, some images I have seen shows just a continual brick wall whist most highlight a combination of a top earth bund and base wall of varying height? Leamington coaling stage just had an earth bund with a retaining wall. CR, Warwickshire Railways This is how my thinking is taking me......a medium sized wall topped by earth and grass bund...workable? Regards always Bob Edited February 24, 2022 by BobM 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) Hi Must remember to incorporate a catch point at the base of the incline too... again this is Leamington with just an earth bund and a retaining wall a the stage end? Copyright: Warwickshire Railways Regards always Bob Edited February 24, 2022 by BobM 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 (edited) Afternoon guys, hope that all are well? With regard to the 'coal stage project' and getting my head around things...... also working on the assumption that I can achieve something similar to the basic theme here at Leamington Spa I have worked out that based on 'fag packet' calculation - - with a rise of roughly 40mm and a base line run from baseboard track flat to stage flat wagon level being 700mm -and if my schoolboy memory mathematics (and that is over 50 years ago) serves correctly that is around 3% or 1/18 slope....? Although it doesn't look overly steep on the layout when just placed into position it is over the recommended? As it is purely a cosmetic display then will probably just go with it...? Is my mathematics correct? Regards always Bob Edited April 7, 2022 by BobM 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold GWR57xx Posted February 26, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 26, 2022 (edited) On 24/02/2022 at 21:23, BobM said: Evening..... Just mulling how the incline may be formed, some images I have seen shows just a continual brick wall whist most highlight a combination of a top earth bund and base wall of varying height? Leamington coaling stage just had an earth bund with a retaining wall. CR, Warwickshire Railways This is how my thinking is taking me......a medium sized wall topped by earth and grass bund...workable? Regards always Bob Hi Bob, Very workable - the coal stage at Didcot is almost identical to your sketch. Edited February 26, 2022 by GWR57xx 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold GWR57xx Posted February 26, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 26, 2022 I think the typical slope of a GWR coal stage was about 1:35. Yours works out at 2:35, so twice as steep, but it doesn’t look wrong to me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 26, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 26, 2022 Hi Bob, @GWR57xx is correct, the real ramps were typically 1:35 up the stage stage and then 1:80 for about 100ft beyond according to Lyons "An Historical survey of Great Western Engine Sheds". The usual compression of features for a model allows you to go steeper. As far as I can see the level through the coaling stage building should be at, or just below, the level of the personnel door and the tipper rails. Your mockup looked like the rail level was a bit low to me. If you raise it, the clearance above the wagons will be tight and you will make the ramp steeper, unfortunately. So I wonder if your coaling stage building is quite right...??? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 Hi, Sadly, I don't think I can raise the rail height any further, as the wagon clearance would be extremely tight? As I am only modelling for enjoyment rather than prototypical, and although I would like to make it as close as possible to 'real life' think I'll have to make a compromise on this one? Regards always Bob 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 26, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 26, 2022 24 minutes ago, BobM said: Hi, Sadly, I don't think I can raise the rail height any further, as the wagon clearance would be extremely tight? As I am only modelling for enjoyment rather than prototypical, and although I would like to make it as close as possible to 'real life' think I'll have to make a compromise on this one? Regards always Bob Yes, I understand... but... There's something really odd about that building! How high is the personnel door in mm? If it's a normal sized door it should be 26mm. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 4 minutes ago, Harlequin said: Yes, I understand... but... There's something really odd about that building! How high is the personnel door in mm? If it's a normal sized door it should be 26mm. Hi just measured it, it is exactly 26mm. Regards always Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 26, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 26, 2022 4 minutes ago, BobM said: Hi just measured it, it is exactly 26mm. Regards always Bob OK, thanks, that's good! So maybe it's just your 7-plank "Cambrian" wagon that's too high? You'd only expect GWR Loco Coal wagons to be used in the stage, not private owner wagons. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Harlequin said: OK, thanks, that's good! So maybe it's just your 7-plank "Cambrian" wagon that's too high? You'd only expect GWR Loco Coal wagons to be used in the stage, not private owner wagons. Cheers Phil, This is with a 5 plank wagon (albeit a private one), will probably go ahead and see what transpires? Regards always Bob Edited February 26, 2022 by BobM 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 26, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 26, 2022 5 minutes ago, BobM said: Cheers Phil, This is with a 5 plank wagon (albeit a private one), will probably go ahead and see what transpires? Regards always Bob That looks much more comfortable. So what would it look like with the rail tops just about the same level as the personnel door? And what would the ramp gradient be then? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 2 minutes ago, Harlequin said: That looks much more comfortable. So what would it look like with the rail tops just about the same level as the personnel door? And what would the ramp gradient be then? Hi I'll have a look next modeling day. It'll probably sharpen the gradient I would imagine somewhat, but as it's only a cosmetic exercise, i may live with it? Regards always Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 (edited) Hi Taking this as an example (Oswestry), where the track level is seemingly just a tad below the door / platform level? Copyright : Disused Stations Have just raised the track level to about as much as I think is comfortably acceptable to bring these results.. the internal view as much as it will be seen...... will sleep on it for a while and see what transpires. Regards always Bob Edited April 7, 2022 by BobM Reloaded image 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 Just a further image regarding track levels to throw into the pot...? Regards always Bob 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold GWR57xx Posted February 27, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 27, 2022 (edited) Hi Bob, A few shots of Didcot: Edited February 11 by GWR57xx restore images 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted February 27, 2022 Author Share Posted February 27, 2022 52 minutes ago, GWR57xx said: Hi Bob, A few shots of Didcot: Thank you...! Regards always Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 28, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 28, 2022 On 26/02/2022 at 21:43, BobM said: Just a further image regarding track levels to throw into the pot...? Regards always Bob I think that what this photo of Slough shows is that there was no such thing as an absolutely 'standard' arrangement for a GWR coaling stage. Note that Slough was a cramped site with a comparatively short rail ramp (from a loco shed road) hence probably difficult to get rail level any higher. the variations seem to have been considerable at some rail level was 2-3 brick courses below the bottom of the door; Radyr was around 8 courses as was Pantyffynon; at Cheltenham (of a different construction pattern) the bottom of the door, and thus floor level, was well above the top of a wagon solebar. I've even found one place where the door was well below railhead level. Yes there were a couple of standard designs but they obviously didn't fit everywhere 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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