clecklewyke Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 I'm considering using a vertical train stacker as the fiddle yard for Bradford North Western as described in a couple of Iain Rice's layout design books. I wonder if anyone has built such a thing and ask for any advice on pitfalls etc. I would want it to have two tracks on each shelf and be about five feet long. I think I would need at least five shelves. I thought that a simple solution to the problem of accurately aligning rails in P4 would be to use cassettes on each shelf. Any comments welcome, please, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 A quick search on 'vertical storage' using the Google option in the search box brought up several postings. Here's one to start... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/29480-vertical-storage-unit-and-backscene/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggzuk Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I have been looking into this design option for a Vertical Stacking Unit (VSU) for some time now for a loop-e-loop layout I am planning. So I know of these (links below) currently on RMWeb.I think this is fab way of having a fiddle yard/storage unit where space is limited for the tradition flat turnout fed yard/pivot traverser or crassest type. I also think that it is a very good way to store rolling stock when not using the layout as it can be covered over to protect stock from dust etc. and minimises the in-out-of-the-box handling of rolling stock.My idea though will add a little more complexity to the movement of the shelving unit, as I intend to try an inclined VSU version. The shelving and vertical movement of the VSU will need to follow the diagonal profile of the roof in my attic! Mad I know but will so save on space and maximise the scenic running space for me. Time will tell if I can pull it off.Anyway here are the links:This is Fen End Pit's desing:http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-1605-more-pictures-of-the-fiddle-yard/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-8682-vertical-fiddleyard-reconstruction/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-8706-vertical-fiddleyard-it-goes-up-tiddly-up-up-it-goes-down-tiddly-down-down/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-9059-vertical-fiddleyard-locking-bolts/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-9101-vertical-fiddleyard-first-track-laid/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-9324-vertical-fiddleyard-i-can-go-round-and-round-again/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-9638-vertical-fiddleyard-and-a-story-of-modelling-mojo-lost-and-found/This one is Beeman'shttp://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/29480-vertical-storage-unit-and-backscene/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=35000And here is some other info off RMWeb.http://www.fillin.co.uk/Rail/BB/TrainElevator4.htmHope this helps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 One of iain Rice US Kalmbach books has a design for a fairly simple, vertical "Shelf Stacker" fiddle yard in it "Shelf Lay6outs for Model Railroads" Page 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clecklewyke Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 <p>Thank you Jaggzuk- lots of food for thought there.</p> <p> </p> <p>Have you seen this <a href="http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=35000">vertical fiddle yard</a> - mind-blowing for this luddite!</p> <p> </p> <p>I don't see why your inclined VSU shouldn't work. It seems a most ingenious solution to maximising the space under eaves and, since we are planning a house move, this might be one option I will have to consider. I look forward to seeing how you progress.</p> <p> </p> <p>Shortliner - This whole idea started from Iain Rice's design in his Haynes book on layout planning - is the design in his Kalmbach book significantly different? (I think I have everything written by IAR except his American books!)</p> <p> </p> <p>Ian</p> Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 It looks very similar - but I think it uses Sash Window counterweights - I knew I had seen another version, but must have turned two pages at once whwn I was looking for it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Sasquatch Posted March 13, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 13, 2013 One idea was to have 2 stacks of cassettes one for the up line the other for the down line so that they counter ballance each other. The one at the front moves down while the rear one moves up and vise versa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggzuk Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 <p>Thank you Jaggzuk- lots of food for thought there.</p> <p> </p> <p>Have you seen this <a href="http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=35000">vertical fiddle yard</a> - mind-blowing for this luddite!</p> <p> </p> <p>I don't see why your inclined VSU shouldn't work. It seems a most ingenious solution to maximising the space under eaves and, since we are planning a house move, this might be one option I will have to consider. I look forward to seeing how you progress.</p> <p> </p> <p>Shortliner - This whole idea started from Iain Rice's design in his Haynes book on layout planning - is the design in his Kalmbach book significantly different? (I think I have everything written by IAR except his American books!)</p> <p> </p> <p>Ian</p> Hi cleckewyke Cheers for your comments, I do hope I can pull it off as it will be such a space saver.. I was not able to get the link in your post to , it just comes up if no content on the old RM Archive site, can you check it out? Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Natalie Graham Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 of the 2mm FS layout Welton Down has some good shots of the vertical fiddle yard which is a series of cassettes on shelves. Seems to work very well and does not need any mechanical operating gubbins. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clecklewyke Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 One idea was to have 2 stacks of cassettes one for the up line the other for the down line so that they counter ballance each other. The one at the front moves down while the rear one moves up and vise versa. Now why didn't I think of that! Clever, very clever! Hi cleckewyke Cheers for your comments, I do hope I can pull it off as it will be such a space saver.. I was not able to get the link in your post to , it just comes up if no content on the old RM Archive site, can you check it out? Paul Sorry, Paul. It was an old link which no longer seems to work. (And why did all that HTML formatting appear? It wasn't there when I typed it.) Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted March 14, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 14, 2013 At Lostock Junction Mike used metal 2x4s for casettes. (are these available in the UK?) They fit into place and can be removes and filed (with train) under the layout. http://www.theplatelayers.org/coupling/lostockjunctionnew.pdf -- go down a few pictures. Most of the operators are scared to pick up possibly 8 feet of train. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clecklewyke Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 I believe that the idea of cassettes based on aluminium angle with shelves on which to stack them was devised by Chris Pendlenton - described in an early MRJ, and that is how I currently arrange my fiddle yards. See this picture of Phil Tuer operating the fiddle yard at Clecklewyke on the Bradford North Western branch. One of the advantages of this type of yard is that the shelves can be made into a carrying case by attaching the base of the yard with hinges, so it folds up to close off the case. Another is that the same cassettes (and in most cases rolling stock) can be used for several layouts - in my case, Clecklewyke, Royston Vasey and Humber Dock. This works really well but is very labour intensive. I was looking for something with a smaller footprint, such as Iain Rice's designs, which could be safer- dropping a cassette can be catastrophic! and simpler to use. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Sasquatch Posted March 14, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 14, 2013 The idea I mentioned above only lends itself to a layout that never leaves home. It would be easy to make from 1/2"MDF on a table saw one rip cut into blocks to maintain consant heights between each deck. The unit would be constructed as a double unit then cut in two to make the front and back cassette stacks. It shouldn't be too hard to motorise but wont need it. Only use top quality water proof glue on MDF! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clecklewyke Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 The idea I mentioned above only lends itself to a layout that never leaves home. Agreed. I suppose it could be used on a portable layout but there's less need to save space with an exhibition layout compared with a home based layout - a couple of extra feet width is rarely a problem in a sports hall! Thank you for the inspiration. My current plans are fluid, as we are hoping to move home - and down size from our current chapel - which might result in a very differently shaped railway room, which may or may not need a vertically stacking fiddle yard.. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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