The Circle Line

[tom_tom_go]

You will need another loco soon by the sounds of it

https://www.stationroadsteam.com/5-inch ... code-8658/

[idlemarvel]

Very nice, good find, thanks. Well tweaked model. Someone should tell station road steam it is a Bo-Bo not an 0-4-0! As for me buying it I think it will be a while before I need a second loco.

[DonW]

If you are building a 5 inch gauge line you may find this blog interesting http://www.timpdon.co.uk/timpdon/miniature.htm

Don

[idlemarvel]

If you are building a 5 inch gauge line you may find this blog interesting http://www.timpdon.co.uk/timpdon/miniature.htm

Don

Thanks Don. That story is almost identical to mine except my layout is even smaller than his. Same motivation, same suppliers, and he had to move a shed as well. Small world.

[idlemarvel]

The latest addition to the Circle Line is a pair of crossing gates.

IMG_20190805_171520.jpg (346.43 KiB) Viewed 5957 times

They were sourced from Wickes, the gates were on special offer at £22 each.

The observant among you might spot a triceratops lurking under the fern on the left. And a special prize if you can see two fairys sitting in the treetops.

[tom_tom_go]

Me me I spotted them all what do I win?

[idlemarvel]

You win a free ride on the Circle Line, complete with driver training! (Terms and Conditions Apply).

[idlemarvel]

If you can't make it, here is a YouTube video of the entire circuit. Takes all of a minute travelling very slowly.
https://youtu.be/ELb0Tx7SlBI

[tom_tom_go]

0:37 in that video is an extension waiting to happen!

[idlemarvel]

That would take me into the memsahib's territory*. I will have to content myself with the siding at 0:06 in the video for now.

* when we bought the garden extension from my neighbour, the misses got the half nearest the house and I got the other half. At some point I might put in a claim to a strip along the fence (0:37) as it is on the south side of a 6 foot fence so unlikely to be productive horticulturally.

[tom_tom_go]

How are you going to connect the siding to the main line given the small radius curves?

[DonW]

As the siding is outside the circle there is no problem. People think that you would have to fit a left hand turnout in and the effective radius of the turnout would be too great. However if you build a right hand turnout where the radius of the main route matches the radius of the circle it will not cause any distortion of the circle. The diverging route may not be exactly the tangent but a slight wye will work effectively. I can draw a plan for one if you need it probably not fullsize though.
Don

[idlemarvel]

Don you have it spot on as usual. I will be fitting a "standard" LH point. I did plan for this to some extent and made the curve at that spot a bit wider so hopefully the 10' radius point I am getting will fit without too much trouble. Your idea of a slight wye is a good one though, and thanks for the offer of a drawing.

[FWLR]

The latest addition to the Circle Line is a pair of crossing gates.

IMG_20190805_171520.jpg

They were sourced from Wickes, the gates were on special offer at £22 each.

The observant among you might spot a triceratops lurking under the fern on the left. And a special prize if you can see two fairys sitting in the treetops.

Love the gates, a great buy and addition to your line.

[tom_tom_go]

I still don't understand how you are going to connect the siding up but looking forward to seeing it when you do, I am sure it will become clear to me then!

[DonW]

you'll be needing a crossing keeper now. The gates really add to the line.

Don

[idlemarvel]

you'll be needing a crossing keeper now. The gates really add to the line.

Don

Thanks Don. A job for my grandson I think if I can wrest the driving control from him.

[idlemarvel]

I still don't understand how you are going to connect the siding up but looking forward to seeing it when you do, I am sure it will become clear to me then!

Here is a picture of my newly acquired left hand 10' radius point (Maxitrak) placed on top of existing track to show how it connects up to the siding. I need to move the line of bricks to the left to make room for the point lever, but you can see I have allowed for that.

IMG_20190815_170502.jpg (396.72 KiB) Viewed 6542 times

This "aerial" shot shows how lucky I was in my guesstimate of the curve radius. The point fits pretty much exactly over the existing curves. Even the end sleepers match up.

IMG_20190815_170538.jpg (409.68 KiB) Viewed 6542 times

Just need to think how to make a point lever that little hands can manage, then I can slot the point in and add the siding panel, already prepared. Won't be for a few weeks though, this weekend and next are running days with family and then grandaughters birthday party, so I don't want to disturb the track right now, as it is running very well.

[DonW]

That looks just the business Dave. Regarding the lever if it operates too easily there could be a danger of it not holding tight or moving under a train. Not an issue if it is trailing but dodgey if facing. Ideally you could do with some kind of locking mech. I would be thinking of a lever against a quadrant with a pin though both t either end to lock it it place. I have seen something like that on US narrow gauge lines. Of course you could go to town and make a proper ground frame.

Don

[idlemarvel]

That looks just the business Dave. Regarding the lever if it operates too easily there could be a danger of it not holding tight or moving under a train. Not an issue if it is trailing but dodgey if facing. Ideally you could do with some kind of locking mech. I would be thinking of a lever against a quadrant with a pin though both t either end to lock it it place. I have seen something like that on US narrow gauge lines. Of course you could go to town and make a proper ground frame.

Don

Thanks for the useful points (hah!) regarding the lever, Don. I might make the lever a "dummy" so the grandkids can play with it but it doesn't do anything. The existing lever has a basic locking mechanism, not to stop you changing, it but to hold it in position.

Ride on Railways do a nice metal lever for 5" (in the foreground) and 7 1/4" which is lockable as you can see:



Details here:http://www.rideonrailways.co.uk/accessories/page07.html