RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

[FWLR]

Well Tom, I think you have done a great job on the ladder for a first attempt. I am also not that brilliant at soldering, so for me your work is great. The rungs do look as they have had a few feet trodden on them….

[tom_tom_go]

Is this where a sign like this would be placed at an ungated crossing?

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I have another sign that says 'TRAINS CROSS HERE' but not sure where to put that?

[Andrew]

Hi Tom,

Must be quick, should be packing to go to a wedding tomorrow, but your sign looks about right - just before people cross the track. There are lots of pictures online.

I think "Trains cross here" would be displayed like a road sign at an ungated road crossing - the forerunner of modern versions. I'll try to find a photo after the weekend, but I've seen some in a book on the KESR, with a black and white striped pole and a red triangle on top...

Back to the packing - and tidying up too, because my Mum's coming to look after the kids...

Andrew.

[tom_tom_go]

Thanks Andrew, I won a few bits on a job lot and these signs were part of it but I think the posts are a bit overscale so may change them.

[Andrew]

Thanks Andrew, I won a few bits on a job lot and these signs were part of it but I think the posts are a bit overscale so may change them.

A bit of rail would be the thing...

Oops, still supposed to be packing...

[tom_tom_go]

Today's efforts but given the heat I just dabbled as and when:

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The paintwork on the signs needed doing again as the original finish was not great (one had hair dried into the paint) so I applied paint stripper to both for a couple of hours and scrubbed clean.

I liked the look of both signs together so soldered them to a piece of OO scale rail and then drilled a small hole on the railway and pushed the post into place.

The crossing is made from lollipop sticks with Plastikard glued underneath for bracing. The middle planks now hide the uncoupling magnet.

[Peter Butler]

Nice one Tom..... and a new van making its debut in the background too!

[Just Julie]

Looks great Tom,

[Lonsdaler]

Nice. It's the accumulation of these small elements that gives our railways their character.

[bazzer42]

Tidy crossing Tom, crossings are on my list of many "to do" items. As you say too hot to stand in the sun and build yet seems a shame to be indoors sticking rivets on a roof..

[Andrew]

Very nice...

If you fancied it you could knock up another "sign" for the other side - it'd be facing the wall, so could just be a blank rectangle of metal or plastic... You've reminded me that I need to erect signs at my upper terminus's foot crossing, but I think it'll be a while before I get round to that...

Cheers,

Andrew

[tom_tom_go]

Nice one Tom..... and a new van making its debut in the background too!

Erm, not new it's one of a pair that's been sitting on the shelf for quite a while but slowly coming together.

[tom_tom_go]

Nice. It's the accumulation of these small elements that gives our railways their character.

Yes, I need more character on my line so I am trying stuff like this to achieve that.

[tom_tom_go]

RWLR news, new arrivals are on there way subject to inspection but more information as it comes...

[tom_tom_go]

What do you think of the position of these signs (I know nothing about these things!):

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They need tidying up like the other signs I bought recently.

[bazzer42]

RWLR news, new arrivals are on there way subject to inspection but more information as it comes...

How long have we got to wait.....I'm a nosey sod?

[tom_tom_go]

RWLR news, new arrivals are on there way subject to inspection but more information as it comes...

How long have we got to wait.....I'm a nosey sod?

Inspector is coming this Thursday so will know then.

Anyone seen my post about the level markers on my railway, do they look alright?

[Peter Butler]

Anyone seen my post about the level markers on my railway, do they look alright?

My guess is that they indicate a position where there is a change in gradient on the track.... is there?
It appears that both you and I have little knowledge about the operation of real railways. My own approach is to think logically and look carefully. If it makes sense then probably it would be an addition to the line for information to the drivers etc. If, however, you just want it for visual impact, then just use it anyway!

[Andrew]

My guess is that they indicate a position where there is a change in gradient on the track....

Yes, that's it. There's more detail here: http://www.railsigns.uk/sect24page1/sect24page1.html, but in brief:

"Gradient posts are placed, facing the track, at each location where the gradient of the trackbed changes. Most gradient posts comprise a pair of arms, one on either side of a post. The arms are inclined up or down to indicate the direction of the slope and each one has the value of the relevant gradient marked on it. Gradients are expressed as a ratio, e.g. "1 in 200" (or "1:200"). For example, "1 in 500" means that the track rises (or drops) one unit for every 500 units travelled horizontally. Note that a smaller number in the second part of the ratio indicates a steeper gradient. Some patterns of gradient post omit the first part of the ratio, the value of 1 being implicit.

I don't know that they were terribly common on the narrow gauge, but I could well be wrong there. If you haven't got any gradients you could always use the signs to add atmosphere by propping them outside a hut or shed - here's some speed restriction signs which seem to have lived outside Dunster goods shed on the WSR for years (I think there used to be a 100mph one!), and - coincidentally - a gradient marker showing that the grade changes from 1:223 to 1:143...



Cheers,

Andrew.

[Lonsdaler]

There's an 'interesting' one on the High Peak railway, at Middleton Top:

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Yes, you read that right!
You can read more about Middleton Top Incline here:
https://www.wondersofthepeak.org.uk/fac ... ine-house/