Camden Shed

[gordon s]

I wonder if these would be suitable? Available in different colours, they are a switch with integral led. I was looking at their mimic panels and just remembered them. They say they are suitable for dc....

 

https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/cobalt-alphaswitch-add-on- pack-12-blue-switches/

[73c]

I like these touch toggles. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1heF9R2NZeQ

 

[t-b-g]

We have had a touch panel on Narrow Road ever since we built it 15 years ago, using push button switches with lights in them. That was down to Ken Hill and his son Chris, the technology being way beyond my pay grade.

 

Each point has a green light when it is "normal" (equivalent to the lever being back in the frame) and red when it is pulled.

 

We also have a system very like the one that Mike Edge has described so nicely. The only difference is that on ours, an extra set of contacts on the switches does the linking. So if certain points or signals are pulled, the relevant sections are linked together. There are no section switches and we can (in theory) have up to 6 controllers working trains at the same time on their dedicated bit of track. I think the most we ever managed at one time was 5 at the same time - more trains than operators!

 

We do "name" our controllers, so that there is a loco shed controller, a goods yard controller, an up and a down main plus one for a loco spur that allows light engines access to a coal and water stage even though other trains may be running further along on the same line. As an example, changing the points to give access to the loco yard will link the loco shed inlet track to the down main line. Not directly to the main line controller but to the track itself. A second cross over will connect the down main line to the up main line. So if all the points are "normal", the shed is on the shed controller, the down and up main lines are on their own controllers. Changing the entry point to the shed puts the shed onto the down main line, which is on the down main controller. Changing the shed entry point plus the cross over between the main lines puts the shed onto the down main plus the down main onto the up main, so you drive in and out of the shed on the up main controller.

 

So very similar to the Leeds/Mike Edge system as tracks are linked to other tracks, not directly to other controllers but without the manual switch. 

 

It takes a bit of working out but each movement requires you to change the points, change the signals and turn the correct controller. There a few isolating switches where more than one loco needs to stand on a track but apart from that, there are no switches on the panel other than a "special" set for allowing a loco trapped at the buffers to follow a departing train along the platform, which just switch the platform to a further controller.

[Barry O]

7 hours ago, gordon s said:

I wonder if these would be suitable? Available in different colours, they are a switch with integral led. I was looking at their mimic panels and just remembered them. They say they are suitable for dc....

 

https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/cobalt-alphaswitch-add-on- pack-12-blue-switches/

Thats the ones Gordon.

[92220]

Still pondering switching and control panels, but meanwhile, laying out the south end, or, in the mind’s eye, the Euston approaches.  
 

 

 

The logic here is to leave the widest radius available to do the full 200 degree curve around this end of the room, to give as smooth a transition as possible into the scenic track, and to have the simplest arrangement under the standing workbench.  
It would be interesting and a good challenge to get most of the pointwork on the curved end under the bench as the main boards aren’t tapered at the south end and could accommodate 15 roads all the way along.  So we could lengthen the fiddle yard roads by 2-3 feet perhaps.  Maybe more.  

However, I don’t really need the extra length and I think the geometry will be more gentle this way.  
 

Tell me I’m wrong.  
 

Iain

[LNER4479]

Hi Ian,

 

Has a good feel to it does that. Certainly want to avoid any risk of persistent derailment on that big 180+ curve. 

 

Think of the number of coaches you'll save by having slightly shorter roads!

[92220]

Thanks Graham.  That was my thinking, to make the geometry as smooth and as wide a radius as possible.  I think we still have plenty of room!  The 3 fast roads on each side can all accommodate 2 long (loco and 12+) trains end to end I think.  I was thinking (always dangerous I know) that I ought to wire the bidirectional roads all to have 2 sections as well, so that we could put 2 shorter trains eg suburban workings end to end in any of them.
 

I can add in some kickback sidings on both sides too at this end easily enough.  If we want.  Or at least leave the possibility. The ones on the inside off the up fast roads could be full length around the curve, like on Little Bytham.

 

Iain

[BMacdermott]

Hello Iain

 

Good to see the progress!

 

A thought for you...

 

When I was 'laying out' my track as you are currently doing,  I covered the baseboard with a roll of thick wallpaper lining paper. This allows for pencil marks to be easily removed or amended.

 

When ready to actually lay track, I left the paper in situ. It forms something of 'a seal' when you get round to ballasting. If the track ever needs lifting - and there can be many reasons for this - you have a nice, clean surface to work on. 

 

Brian

[92220]

Some step by step progress in the storage sidings for Camden Shed - photos tell most of the story better than words.
 

 

 

 

 

 

I have included isolation sections in the centre of each road.  Some of these roads are almost 29 feet long.  I will have a job to fill them all, but I guess it is future proofed.  

 

The up fast roads (left hand 3 as seen above) are not completed yet because I am recycling Peco points from the old layout.  These were switched by Tortoises but the yard this time is on Peco solenoids.  (I am saving all the Tortoises for the scenic side). So I had removed (and discarded) the springs.  I now need to replace those springs before laying them.  This applies to the two crossovers that allow an up loco to be released, and also for a train in the rear half of each road to be recycled without waiting for the one in front.  Also the points for the kickback siding and the loco lines to and from the shed (not pictured, but done).
 

I think I ought to be able to manufacture a replacement spring from hard NS wire but I need a template to work from. I have laid all of the new points so I can’t lift and remove a spring to check.  

 

Does anyone have measurements or could remove one to check for me?

 

Thanks very much in advance.

 

Iain

[millerhillboy]

That's a decent shift put in there Iain, and I'm sure you sat back and felt you'd made progress.

 

Looking forward to seeing you progress further in albeit these difficult times.

[Barry O]

12 hours ago, 92220 said:

Some step by step progress in the storage sidings for Camden Shed - photos tell most of the story better than words.
 

 

 

Iain

 

Lots of coach building required. Even I haven't enough coaches of pure LM  ancestory to fill those fiddle yard roads. 

Baz

[92220]

I may need some guest appearances on the passenger stock front to be honest.

The southern approaches:

 

 

 

 

No tidying done - warts and all.

 

Now a lot of this:

 

Anyone help with the Peco point spring?

 

Iain

 

[jukebox]

3 hours ago, 92220 said:

*snip*

Anyone help with the Peco point spring?

 

Iain

 

 

I remove all mine, and think I have a few waiting to be installed in my MPD area, Iain.

 

Sleep on it, and I should have a photo and dimensions by (your) morning.

 

edit -  here you go:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

Cheers

 

Scott

Edited March 31, 2020 by jukebox
added photos

[92220]

Thanks, Scott.  Much appreciated.

 

Iain

[mark axlecounter]

On 30/03/2020 at 09:46, 92220 said:

Some step by step progress in the storage sidings for Camden Shed - photos tell most of the story better than words.
 

 

 

 

 

 

I have included isolation sections in the centre of each road.  Some of these roads are almost 29 feet long.  I will have a job to fill them all, but I guess it is future proofed.  

 

The up fast roads (left hand 3 as seen above) are not completed yet because I am recycling Peco points from the old layout.  These were switched by Tortoises but the yard this time is on Peco solenoids.  (I am saving all the Tortoises for the scenic side). So I had removed (and discarded) the springs.  I now need to replace those springs before laying them.  This applies to the two crossovers that allow an up loco to be released, and also for a train in the rear half of each road to be recycled without waiting for the one in front.  Also the points for the kickback siding and the loco lines to and from the shed (not pictured, but done).
 

I think I ought to be able to manufacture a replacement spring from hard NS wire but I need a template to work from. I have laid all of the new points so I can’t lift and remove a spring to check.  

 

Does anyone have measurements or could remove one to check for me?

 

Thanks very much in advance.

 

Iain

Hi Iain hope all is well. 
 

if you want I have a bag full of them peco springs you can have free they are just gathering dust 

pm me if you want me to send them to you. 
 

mark 

[92220]

Hi Mark,

 

you’re a star, thank you very much.  I will send you a message in a moment.

 

I was just about to post something along the lines of

 

“only take out the springs from Peco points and forget where you put them if you’re really really really sure you’ll never need them again”.  
 

Despite Scott’s very kind help, my own shortcomings won the day.  I found the NS wire wasn’t stiff enough, and the only steel I had was too thick and therefore too stiff.

 

As for attempting to refit them?  Ugh.  But I think that may be easier with the right springs.
 

Hope all well with you.

 

Iain

 

 

[cornish trains jez]

Hi,

 

Been enjoying the updates. Having a bit more time on hand than usual I've been going back through some old books that I have and discovered a couple of photos of Camden shed area in the below book. You've probably already got it and seen them but thought I'd mention it just in case.

 

 

Keep the updates coming through!

 

Best regards and stay safe,

 

Jeremy

 

Edited April 1, 2020 by cornish trains jez

[mark axlecounter]

Hi Iain 

 

I'm ok just busy with work ( Network Rail still needs moms ) 

I've sent you a pm 

 

regards 

Mark 

[92220]

Progressing here.  I’ve had quite a bit to do with work, but not being able to go to any schools either in the UK or abroad, nor to play golf, has meant that I have had the opportunity to get stuck in. 
 

Graham’s help in getting this part of the project kickstarted has been instrumental and I’ve developed a bit of momentum.  The short story is that the storage yard and associated approaches at both north and south ends is almost completely finished.  It’s all wired to the edges of the boards, and tested.  It all works.  
 

South end:

 

 

 

Main run just behind the civil engineering workbench (I decided to separate things out a bit so that I could keep solvents and plastic scrapings away from loco chassis and painting.  
 

Storage organised underneath

 

These two show how much space I have managed to acquire.  In the first one, 6 Mk1s (2 at 57’ and one at 64’6” if were splitting hairs) are swallowed up by road 11 which is the shortest of the roads.   Then there is a rake of 12 underframes in road 13 (the longest road) which I’ve used for testing because they are light and not all that surefooted.  These are a mix of ex LMS 50’ parcels and Mk 1 GUVs bought from ebay for not much at all 5 years ago.  
 

In the second, I joined both rakes and put them all in road 11.  The far (south) end is clear of the pointwork and there is still room for a loco and at least one more , which will never need to happen.

 

 

 

All the wiring is done to the board edges and is labelled.  It all works and, the logic of wiring in sections is that when I link it all together, a short can be traced by sequentially removing a section.  I will route the main cabling along the outside and cover it with ducting when complete.  But I really need to work out what sort of control panel, and its location, next.  
 

 

Finally, a look at where the scenic area fits in.

 

 

Wishing everyone all the best.

 

Iain

 

Edited April 6, 2020 by 92220
Photo placeholder

[millerhillboy]

The scenic side is going to look superb Iain, you far away from starting to progress on that?

 

[mark axlecounter]

WOW !!!! that’s some storage area. 
I wish I had space for bucks lane 

[92220]

1 hour ago, millerhillboy said:

The scenic side is going to look superb Iain, you far away from starting to progress on that?

 

I need to work out a plan for baseboard construction first.  I think what I need to do is to print the templot plan accurately, and stick it to some really good quality ply.  Then cut the board joins and mark where both longitudinal and cross bracing should go.  The scenic side will have to be underpinned by some decent carpentry but also it’s big enough and complex enough that I don’t really fancy wiring it from underneath.  So ideally I build it in sections and turn these on their side to wire them.  

 

The plan is to complete the 4 main lines and connect an entire circuit before building the rest of the shed area bit by bit.  
 

At least that’s what Graham and I agreed 

Hope you’re well mate,

 

Iain

 

[46256]

Iain , I have been following your work with the locomotives needed, only

 just visited your actual layout. It is mighty impressive and will provide a bit of balance to all the superb east coast models out there. Best wishes Brian

[92220]

I’ve just posted some photos and descriptions of more carriage bodging in my other thread Coaching Stock for Camden - link in the signature below.  Decided I had better shift some unfinished projects before I started any new ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iain

 

 

 

 

[millerhillboy]

bodging I think is a tad harsh, lovely work and interesting stock as well.