Ta.
You must come have a run sometime :-)
Building the RVLR
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SapperAnt
Having run my digital spirit level over the entire route (by putting it in a wagon and pushing it along the track) the bubble remained pretty much central on both planes.
Yet, under steam the loco really struggled on going toward the "bottom" of the garden suggesting that there was a rising slope in that direction, especially on the curves, as it would stall.
Can anyone brainier than me suggest what on earth is going on?
Yet, under steam the loco really struggled on going toward the "bottom" of the garden suggesting that there was a rising slope in that direction, especially on the curves, as it would stall.
Can anyone brainier than me suggest what on earth is going on?
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IrishPeter
What sort of locomotive? Mamods are totally gutless; Roundhouse is good on hills; Acccraft better than acceptable. Is there any possibility that you forgot to screw the blow down valve shut or the safety is weeping? It the valve gear timing correct?
Also riding the digital spirit level around on the flat car is probably not an ideal way of doing it. Spot check the problem area laying the spirit level on the railhead. There may be a significant variation that a rolling test may have missed.
Peter in AZ
P.S. My inner Luddite does not trust the digital spirit level, Borrow a "real" one off a mate if try the above ideas does not work.
Also riding the digital spirit level around on the flat car is probably not an ideal way of doing it. Spot check the problem area laying the spirit level on the railhead. There may be a significant variation that a rolling test may have missed.
Peter in AZ
P.S. My inner Luddite does not trust the digital spirit level, Borrow a "real" one off a mate if try the above ideas does not work.
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Keith S
- Driver
- Posts: 1668
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:44 pm
- Location: Canada
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IrishPeter
Funny aside -
The recommended way of levelling a picture at our house is to get Valdemarsdottir to eyeball it. The spirit level will say it is level. but she can see the quarter of a degree that it is still off. She inherited this skill/fetish off her Dad who was the only male Val I have ever heard of!
Picture hanging is always a stessful experience at this house as I cannot see a deviation of less than 3 degrees, and I get a lot of input from Valdemarsdottir as she walks past - frequently! I come into my own if something is not quite square. THEN I can see the difference between 89.75 degrees and 90!
The wife also sees 256 colours, not 28! I can see the difference between GCR and GWR Dark Green but so far as I am concerned it is still dark fecking green no matter what SWMBO says! This makes for a lot of fun when decorating. My solution to this problem is to let her pick the colours inside, and paint the house Highland Railway building colours outside!
I would amend my previous advice to check for an anomaly in the track first - preferably with a real spirit level. The last one I bought was about five bucks (3 squid) and that was not the cheapest available.
Peter in AZ
P.S. Word of advice - if you don't like DIY don't marry a carpenter's daughter. I am expected to pick up where he left off.
The recommended way of levelling a picture at our house is to get Valdemarsdottir to eyeball it. The spirit level will say it is level. but she can see the quarter of a degree that it is still off. She inherited this skill/fetish off her Dad who was the only male Val I have ever heard of!
Picture hanging is always a stessful experience at this house as I cannot see a deviation of less than 3 degrees, and I get a lot of input from Valdemarsdottir as she walks past - frequently! I come into my own if something is not quite square. THEN I can see the difference between 89.75 degrees and 90!
The wife also sees 256 colours, not 28! I can see the difference between GCR and GWR Dark Green but so far as I am concerned it is still dark fecking green no matter what SWMBO says! This makes for a lot of fun when decorating. My solution to this problem is to let her pick the colours inside, and paint the house Highland Railway building colours outside!
I would amend my previous advice to check for an anomaly in the track first - preferably with a real spirit level. The last one I bought was about five bucks (3 squid) and that was not the cheapest available.
Peter in AZ
P.S. Word of advice - if you don't like DIY don't marry a carpenter's daughter. I am expected to pick up where he left off.
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SapperAnt
I'm going to borrow a "proper" level - both a short one and a 4' long one and do spot-checks on all the points where the loco stalls.
The Loco is a Ragleth. It coped perfectly well with eight axles on, going on track laid on my far from level patio so why it would suddenly go "no, Im not going any further" on what appears to be far more level Im not sure.
Will update when Ive taken more levels.
My other half thinks its due to the radius of the curves - but its exactly the same track the engine has run on ever since it was new....unless the track has warped or something. Dunno.
The Loco is a Ragleth. It coped perfectly well with eight axles on, going on track laid on my far from level patio so why it would suddenly go "no, Im not going any further" on what appears to be far more level Im not sure.
Will update when Ive taken more levels.
My other half thinks its due to the radius of the curves - but its exactly the same track the engine has run on ever since it was new....unless the track has warped or something. Dunno.
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SapperAnt
Ive now run a "proper" level over the track.
Well, it is all pretty much level - the bubble is within the centre of the level. There's a slight variation with the bubble further toward one end than the other (i.e. not perfectly zeroed) but its not massively lumpy bumpy. Some of the track sections, however, are not flat so with the track pinned down the warped track sections won't be such a problem. I'm also going to clean it to within an inch of its life as well. I know it will lose the "run down narrow gauge look" but I cant help but think mucky rail is one of the factors contributing to stalling on the one curve.
I am currently installing to bananananana shaped pieces of 15mm marine ply (suitably treated with shed preserving gunk) to bridge the two gaps.
In so doing, however, there is an appreciable differance in levels between the LHS and, well, everywhere else...by around 15mm so, I'm going to lay some 12mm marine ply or similar along the lower side to create the track bed. The differance in levels is due to the wall on that side having subsided somewhat.
A new step down into the sunken garden bit is also being constructed. So it's all go here!
Pics to follow.
Well, it is all pretty much level - the bubble is within the centre of the level. There's a slight variation with the bubble further toward one end than the other (i.e. not perfectly zeroed) but its not massively lumpy bumpy. Some of the track sections, however, are not flat so with the track pinned down the warped track sections won't be such a problem. I'm also going to clean it to within an inch of its life as well. I know it will lose the "run down narrow gauge look" but I cant help but think mucky rail is one of the factors contributing to stalling on the one curve.
I am currently installing to bananananana shaped pieces of 15mm marine ply (suitably treated with shed preserving gunk) to bridge the two gaps.
In so doing, however, there is an appreciable differance in levels between the LHS and, well, everywhere else...by around 15mm so, I'm going to lay some 12mm marine ply or similar along the lower side to create the track bed. The differance in levels is due to the wall on that side having subsided somewhat.
A new step down into the sunken garden bit is also being constructed. So it's all go here!
Pics to follow.
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Narrow Minded
Sounds like you've been busy! - looking forward to the pic's 
Bit late I know, but just a thought on your "stalling point" - are you sure that the track fixings aren't to blame?
I only ask because I know that you have to be careful when screwing down smerty2 not to force it out-of-gauge.
Not wanting to teach any grannies how to suck eggs, but for those not in the know, screws outside the running rails can force the track to go "convex", and effectively open the gauge, while screws in the centre (between the rails) can force the track profile to a "concave" shape and narrow the gauge.
Bit late I know, but just a thought on your "stalling point" - are you sure that the track fixings aren't to blame?
I only ask because I know that you have to be careful when screwing down smerty2 not to force it out-of-gauge.
Not wanting to teach any grannies how to suck eggs, but for those not in the know, screws outside the running rails can force the track to go "convex", and effectively open the gauge, while screws in the centre (between the rails) can force the track profile to a "concave" shape and narrow the gauge.
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SapperAnt
Ta!
Too bloody busy.
Most of the track is second hand. It came from the dear sweet old lady over the road from her husband's layout so that might be "iffy" gauge wise; whilst the curves are my own, purchased when I got my Mamod and have been temporarily laid on the patio for three years until the house move December just gone.....the curves *are* a bit....warped. Either that or my work table is wonky. Hence lightly securing them should I hope solve that problem.
Ah the joys of railway building on a musician's budget.
Too bloody busy.
Most of the track is second hand. It came from the dear sweet old lady over the road from her husband's layout so that might be "iffy" gauge wise; whilst the curves are my own, purchased when I got my Mamod and have been temporarily laid on the patio for three years until the house move December just gone.....the curves *are* a bit....warped. Either that or my work table is wonky. Hence lightly securing them should I hope solve that problem.
Ah the joys of railway building on a musician's budget.
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Narrow Minded
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SapperAnt
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SapperAnt
Phase one complete! A continuous run!
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/sh/17 ... QPQthpVuxg
Here is where my Canal Basin will be :-)
Where the pebbles are will be excavated to create the canal (using the bricks as a retaining wall. The bush will be removed and a siding will be laid from a LH pair of points where the straight section of track is. I'm going to have a go at building a brick warehouse and lay a yard of sorts with a wagon turntable and a crane
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/17tcfchn9zma ... .16.08.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/sh/17 ... QPQthpVuxg
Here is where my Canal Basin will be :-)
Where the pebbles are will be excavated to create the canal (using the bricks as a retaining wall. The bush will be removed and a siding will be laid from a LH pair of points where the straight section of track is. I'm going to have a go at building a brick warehouse and lay a yard of sorts with a wagon turntable and a crane
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/17tcfchn9zma ... .16.08.jpg
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SapperAnt
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SapperAnt
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IrishPeter
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