halsey

Hi David (anyone), How did you secure the track to the actual turntable "bridge" section?

All turnouts on loops, branch and goods entrances wired and checked (goods and marshalling yards will be "Maradona method" to save money and to give me some exercise!) - an expensive pastime but well worth it - shame PL11s don't look better but they work well enough with a CDU and micro switches Dapol turntable kit has arrived so that's the next thing to "play" with before I commit to revising the track plan in the marshalling yard - my first "airfix" kit build for 50 years! Hi Mike(Oxon) - I'm finally enjoying modelling whilst a train is therapeutically running around the room! BFN all

Promising..................... You guys are endorsing my early thoughts as to why this would be a good idea - it will have to come off the "bottom" siding in the marshalling yard probably via a streamline curved point and then the TT will "turn" the right angle with some "open" bays and a couple under cover of a shed. This specific area will be modelled unlike the marshalling yard which it takes its feeds from. I was intending that the shed buildings would provide the visual "break" from the shed level BB to branch level BB I hadn't thought about coal in this area as that is headed for the main goods yard but yes it will need further thought and almost certainly some aesthetic licence! KR PS - why do so many people on eBay (other auctions sites are available) claim locos are "mint" and "excellent runners" when they list them and send them out but miraculously they arrive with bits missing and don't run! - or am I just unlucky - I've just bought my last used loco as eBays returns process is too much like hard work with too many sellers protesting their innocence - wagons seem to be a better bet (esp if you re-wheel them) but locos are another story - at the moment I have only had a 50% success rate - rant over! "the bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten"

Ha - it's only 12mm but with good supports which were actually sourced very cheaply from B&Q who had a deal on at the time. Shed issues simply made me over engineer it! True I did have in mind back in September that it would do as general workbenches if this RM idea didn't work for me - I think its now fair to say I'm hooked! KR

Hi all, More help wanted please from those of you with experience....... I am keen to get as many operating challenges in as I can and if you refer to #98 the space to the right of the marshalling yard and turning through the 90 degree towards the goods yard to me cries out for a turntable and shed (manual Dapol surface mounted with circle of track rebated in to BB - I cant cut a hole as such as far too much underneath and my hip issues get in the way). Do you agree - are there any protocols that I need to be aware of - feel free to go mad with thoughts and I'm not precious if its a non starter! The plan attached shows my VERY rough thoughts and some photos bring you up to date and show the "space" Note - Siding track lengths are laid to max and will be variously cut down as scenic considerations impact and for those eagle eyed amongst you the wiring under the RH switch panel isn't connected up to the goods/main line point motors as yet!

Agreed its brilliant and yes that's the one - thanks - I sense a lot more research coming up!

Wow I've just found this thread - what an inspiration - can I ask a VERY simple question where do the retaining wall sections come from? Hope you don't mind a complete newcomer joining in but I am just wrestling with how to make my first very tight operationally biased 9x7 shed based layout into something which starts to look good as well - loads of time to spare - very little knowledge BFN

You already know me well Sir - spot on! Hi all................. What I have in fact done today (which seems to be OK so far!) is put 2 more IRJs to the immediate left of 7 (at the toe?) where it meets the platform straight - have also implemented EJS's suggestions in full and they too work well. Had lots of little fine tuning operational issues this afternoon but all seem to be sorted now and I finish the day feeling somewhat smug - until tomorrow that is - as I'm learning that is the nature of this hobby which is fine with me. My Palethorpe's 6 wheeler (with its new metal wheels) coupled to my very slightly wobbly (but it was cheap at £30) Bachmann 2-6-2 seems to make for a pretty temperamental running combination and this will now run forward and in reverse over all track-work. Sod dry January I've been good enough - cheers all.

No offence taken at this end - far from it! Very helpful - a short answer I am very new so I don't know what I'm trying to achieve and want it all (why not) - I am very much being guided by RMW - I do like logical (to me) solutions and that is where we seem to be heading esp if as today I implement your "final" suggestions. All good as always BFN

not sure I completely understand the wire saving comment but assume this is electrofrog related? Have decided to get stuck in and implement further "final" branch track related changes today as suggested by EJS Thanks all

I'll try it tomorrow and report back!

I agree with you that a pair of IRJs between points 3 and 4 might be a good idea, together with moving the power feed for the goods yard to between point 4 and 5. The main reason I think this would be a good idea is that it would avoid and unexpected and difficult to diagnose behaviour arising from power being fed to points from the heel end. A possible side benefit is that it would allow the branch terminus to be run with more than one loco (although not simultaneously). For example, a loco could be shunting in the goods yard, then isolated in a siding (or even the headshunt) while a passenger train arrives and runs round. Then, while the passenger train is waiting to depart, the passenger loco could be isolated on its platform and the goods loco could finish shunting the yard and depart with its train. Again, this would only need the new IRJs and one power feed moved; no additional switching would be required. Hi both - re the above further "improvements" I can see where you are coming from but as its quite a bit of work to do this I will continue to test the operational aspects and keep it firmly in mind - I'm sure you will be proved right but I always like to be convinced through my own findings/endeavours.

Hi all, Problem solved - I have isolated the "crossover" with an IRJ on both rails where 6 and 7 join and then added a new feed to the track to the right of point 7 on the runround - all is now as I initially expected it to be - why do issues always occur on the least accessible areas of a layout - easy job but logistically pretty testing - off to have a shower now! Thanks all.

OK - thanks all - I'll give it a go!

Wow!! If I've got any of this right in my head without being in the shed looking at it - it seems as though a single IRJ (hey don't I sound as though I know what I'm talking about!) between 6 and 7 is the easiest solution???? If so on which rail?? (easy to understand detail here please not "toes" etc) and I assume a single won't need any additional switching (as it just breaks a "feedback" circuit) other than that provided by points otherwise that will muck up my control panel! Thanks all - EJ hope you are feeling better soon - what on earth would you have written if you'd been well!!

Hi Chris I will follow your itinerary, check what happens and report back sometime tomorrow. Thanks FYI - wagon wheel sets now en-route - total cost to remedy all issues - £38 - £1.50/item - disappointing but not too painful.

Hi all. I bet you've been waiting for this one...............I now have an electrical/faulty point problem................................... On the attached sketch of my upper branch line station (all wired as one section as per the earlier posted drawings) should there be an isolation break on the crossover (6/7)? In use the 2 lines don't seem to isolate one from another as I would expect when the points are logically set (code 100 insulfrog) - the crossover seems to create "feedback" or might I have a faulty point at point 6 or 7? "F" means feed - 2 connections A bit more explanation - regardless of how point 2 is set the lines between 2 and 7 and 3 and 6 can both be live dependant on how 6 or 7 are set??

Thanks once again - LMS coaches and Palethorpes wagon now sorted - new Hornby all metal wheels now on order for remaining rolling stock - what a difference! Cheers J

Hi all, I've been doing more running this afternoon and definitely the worst offenders are the 3 carriages and a Palethorpes 6 wheel wagon curiously all with 14.1 wheels and all the same plastic square section axle type which is the common denominator. Good runners run OK through all the track, track pins have been tapped home with care, so am not thinking at this moment that its track laying problems - I have a mixture of types/designs of points all code 100 NO set-track (they were all sold on weeks ago!) and its only the straight small radius LH and RH ones causing any issues. Lets hope wheels do the trick Thanks for the quick responses to my cry for help - all good stuff. J

Hi David, Not sure I get this - any chance of a picture?

Hi both, I've just ordered 2 x 10 wheels for the carriages to see how I get on - many thanks

Many thanks for such a detailed reply I will get to this progressively over the next few days/weeks but thanks for pointing (sorry for that) me in the right direction! Much appreciated. Continued thanks................. J

Will do - the Locos aren't the issue - its mainly the 3 carriages (which I might sell on) and some wagons. How do I avoid these pitfalls in future - is there a manufacturing era which was bad or a make/spec which I can look out for/avoid when buying more? When did these less tolerant spec points come into being - seems like that might be a straightforward clue i.e. don't buy anything pre 1990?? I may resell as they were cheap! Continuing thanks - J

Hi Thanks for that - that was what I was thinking hoping. YES code 100 insulfrog. Can I have a lot more help/direction as to what's involved with wheel changes - what do I buy? Simplistically is it a case of bulk buying 60 axles and fitting them?

All's going well with phase 1 electrics almost complete and 7 points motorised on the branch station BUT I've got disappointing non-electric smooth running issues - is it insulfrog (which I'm using) v electrofrog build detail or is it wheels?? I have a real mixture of stock (30 odd wagons and carriages - all ebay) but the running quality is pretty poor over points/turnouts with wheels lifting occasionally derailing even locos but only to a very limited degree Where do I need to focus - fettling frogs ( one of which I decided to play and it seems to help) or universally changing wheels or starting again? I look forward to learning more - the cheaper the solution the better please! Thanks all