The Bigbee Line Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 (edited) No excuses here. An out and out train set (sorry - test track). Overall dimensions 8 x 4; comprising 2 - 4' x 1' boards with 4 - 90 degree sections for the ends. All courtesy of Tim Horn. . I spent some time painting the boards prior to erection. I find painting and ballasting most therapeutic. To support the layout I utilise 2 Screwfix trestles and a sub frame of 3 x 2 CLS timber. It's very sturdy. Today I purchased a selection of pulleys and other items to create a system to lift the layout up to the roof when not being used....... Edited June 10, 2017 by The Bigbee Line 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 Work yesterday, more work today, but found a little time for the railway. As a test track, reality can go out of the window to a certain degree, but still needs to have a small degree of realism. To that end I have decided to go for a Cross London theme; 4 tracks - 2 and 2, separate lines that can swap trains at junctions. Places where things happen.. So in the few minutes I had today I was hunting for a power supply to get something running, no power supply, but came across a box of assorted Peco Code 100 points. An idea had been in my head to use a long crossing and double slip. So here's the rough version: How likely is that configuration to contain a double slip? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 I've been trawling my railway books for inspirational photos etc. Looking to something slightly unusual and to add some interest I've got to the track plan stage: It all fits on a 4' board. If it's not too hot I want to get at least one circuit laid and wired to allow some running.... Here is some of the stock... 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it's a layout: I used some blue poly rope from B & Q, plus 4 pulleys to create a simple block and tackle at each end. It was not quite as simple as imagined. The lift is on a central hook at each end, this allows the layout to tilt (mild panic at that point...). I needs a 3 point lift. When up in the air it will hang on 4 short chains. Now to clear out some of the stuff underneath.... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted August 13, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 13, 2016 Nice progress. Whatever happened to the North Cornwall circular layout you were working on last year? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 The North Cornwall is next to get a sub-frame to allow overhead storage. Thanks for asking. Need that to run the new Maunsell Compartment coaches on. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted April 8, 2017 Author Share Posted April 8, 2017 Today was tidy up day in the garden and workshop / garage. The test track was lowered a touch on the Screwfix trestles by one hole to allow the track to be at a more accessible height. The stock of Code 100 was shuffled and the points laid out. It will have 4 tracks. The inner 3 are Setrack Radius 1, 2 and 3 at 2.5/8" centres. The 4th track is at 2" centres from track 3. The crossovers between tracks 1, 2 & 3, when formed with Streamline Code 100 points require a short straight to fit the larger than normal centres. Although a test track / train set, there will be the opportunity to add scenery at a later stage if desired. The various sections of track were cut and fitted between the various turnouts. Points will be finger controlled, not sure what to do about frogs yet. I have enough insulfrog points to avoid switches... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted May 1, 2017 Author Share Posted May 1, 2017 While in the shed a Tim Horn 1' wide corner board (4' radius to the outside edge) is being painted underneath. I have a paint fetish.... It will be used to turn the 8 x 4 into a 10 x 6 with one corner having more sweeping curves. This corner will face the door to give viewers more pleasing view when large locos and coaches go thrashing by.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted June 10, 2017 Author Share Posted June 10, 2017 Good morning, During my latest workshop tidy session I have found items that have been hiding for years. One item is a Fast Tracks rail bender,,, Take a length of Peco Code 100. Here is the Rail Bender The Rail is threaded between the rollers and by experimenting with the setting of the middle roller the rail is bent to the desired curve. You can even use it to straighten out distorted rail. Threaded back into the sleeper base, simples... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 I have been fiddling and adjusting the track on the 'train set'. The 2 tracks on the right were Peco Radius 3 and an outer track at 2" centres. As the plan is to add some simple scenic to some of the boards, the curves were relaid with some transition. Much improved looks, might even try some minimal super-elevation. The two tracks on the left (with 2-HAL coaches added as a view block) will lead to Caterham... I've had a Class 24 rattling round with a short Maunsell set. Looked quite smart, the Peco Medium points with the diamond crossing and slip as transtions allowed the coaches to flow nicely. Looking forward to giving the Brighton Belle a bit of a thrash.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted June 13, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2017 That transition curve does look good. Are the curved baseboards a special commission as I can't see them on Tim Horn's website? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 That transition curve does look good. Are the curved baseboards a special commission as I can't see them on Tim Horn's website? The 12" wide boards are something that Tim does quite regularly, in various lengths. The 4' radius board was the type testing prototype for a bespoke order and the small curved boards were to try out very small curves. All excellent boards. As you have seen I like to paint the undersides of the boards. One I have a paint fetish and I have a phobia about the damp getting in. Having said that, the MDF that Tim uses is waterproof. He does boards in a choice of Ply or MDF. The transition curve is outside the 'train set' rules as I tried to keep the baseboard track arrangements standard, ie the 4 tracks were initially at Setrack spacing, but closed the outside track to 2" centres. then on the 4' board I have made all 4 tracks 2" spacing. However the improvement in looks is enormous. There will be a bridge over the 4 tracks to provide the scenic break. On the 4' curved board the 4 tracks will enter at 2" centres, but the inner tracks will have a crossover formed using 2 curved points and the swing in to cross the joint at setrack spacing. The asymmetrical spacing should allow a bridge of 2 parts, maybe arch over 2 tracks and a girder over the other 2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 Tonight I wired up a Insulfrog Peco code 100 long diamond with live frogs. Am I mad you may ask? Probably yes is the answer.. Here is the underside showing feeds: These feeds are under the nose: These feeds are in the middle: At the crossing I have 'pinged' up the wires and cleared a space to get the soldering iron to the rails: Just soldered a couple of pads. Quite impressed with the soldering: Finally the feed wire and the connector wires join it all together: The connections to the middle is not so neat.. I use the colour code reminder "Black to the Back" for my main feeds. Holes were drilled in the baseboard ready for re-laying: Here it is in place. I have coloured up the 4 zones. The 2 sets of points that form the crossover with the diamond will each have a DPDT switch. One pole works the live frog on the points, the other pole works the 'far' live frog on the diamond. The points must not set conflicting moves over the diamond. Finally my diagram to check the polarity of the live frogs... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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