RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

A place for the discussion of garden railways and any garden style/scale portable and/or indoor layouts
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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Jul 05, 2011 12:07 pm

Ninge, the buffers are made using M2 stainless steel nuts/bolts so if you need help let me know.

Glad you like the progress so far Tom. I am looking forward to hosting steam-up's one day!

Cheers,

Tom
RWLR

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tom_tom_go
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Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:55 pm

Despite my best efforts the raised surface is not level so I am wondering how to make the track level without constantly having to adjust ballast? I also don't like the idea of banging nails into the sleeprs as they will show.

I did have a play with putting screws under the sleepers, however, it's impossible to get a perfect level without making sure every screw is in the right place! :(

What does everyone else do please?

Cheers,

Tom
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Sir Clothem Cap
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Post by Sir Clothem Cap » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:12 pm

I put a screw where needed straight through a sleeper mainly to hold the shape of the rail as I use flexitrack.

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Post by tom_tom_go » Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:28 pm

How do you overcome unevenness though on your lines?

I have gone along with a spirit level placed on the sleepers at various points and I have variations all over the place (this is without ballast so far).

Does it have to be perfect?  I use R/C but I have to keep playing about with the regulator for smooth running

Cheers,

Tom
RWLR

anythingsdr

Post by anythingsdr » Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:46 pm

Tom, Have you ever seen a perfectly straight & level railway? It never happens! just adds to the realism, rocking and rolling :)

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Post by tom_tom_go » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:05 pm

Point taken - but I know manual loco's suffer on uneven track, however, if everyone just makes a best efforts and does not have perfect track then no problems.

The spirit level is only slightly out anyway so it's not major :)

Thanks,

Tom
RWLR

anythingsdr

Post by anythingsdr » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:07 pm

like the real thing :)

Narrow Minded

Post by Narrow Minded » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:15 pm

anythingsdr:57098 wrote:like the real thing :)
Especially narrow gauge! ;)

Pendo Pilot

Post by Pendo Pilot » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:18 pm

A perfectly flat narrow gauge railway????!! Never. :twisted: :shock: :roll:
I wouldnt worry about it, most manual loco's will cope fine with the up & down roadbed bits.

Marquis DeCarabas

Post by Marquis DeCarabas » Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:59 pm

Pendo Pilot:57101 wrote:A perfectly flat narrow gauge railway????!! Never. :twisted:  :shock:  :roll:
Leek and Manifold? ;)

Further to the OP, if you do ballast it will all eventually find its own level and stabilise.

Pendo Pilot

Post by Pendo Pilot » Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:20 pm

Marquis DeCarabas:57103 wrote:Leek and Manifold?  ;)
Not now though! :twisted:

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Post by Sir Clothem Cap » Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:26 pm

I just adjust the ballast where needed  but for your shelf the odd coffee stirrer under a sleeper may give the needed adjustment Small inclines and slopes aren't too much of a problem for manual control unless there is a sudden bend just after a decline.

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Post by tom_tom_go » Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:11 pm

This is part one (steam up area) nearly finished:

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I have also started using Cliff Barker fishplates rather than the Peco offerings:

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Once painted I think they will look the biz.

Unfortunately, my rail bender has decided to start producing kinked track so until that's sorted I can't do much else for the moment.

Cheers,

Tom
RWLR

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Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:40 pm

I perfected my 'screws under the sleeper' method of laying track (yes I know I make work for myself) :)

It does give great results though for level running and also means you cannot see any nails/screws through the sleepers:

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Screws are positioned every forth sleeper and because the track is webbed there is no sag when trains run over the parts with no supports. I will ballast these in later anyway.

Another benefit of using screws means I can adjust the track when required and because the track is raised it will create an embankment either side of the sleepers once the ballast is in place - just like the real thing :)

I completely agree with the enjoyment of hearing the loco's work which is why all my rolling stock is heavily weighted and chuff pipes a must!

Is it just me but those of us that work full time and have busy family lives find that their railways take years to build like mine is at the moment? :lol:

Cheers,

Tom
RWLR

Pendo Pilot

Post by Pendo Pilot » Mon Oct 03, 2011 4:04 pm

tom_tom_go:59541 wrote:I Is it just me but those of us that work full time and have busy family lives find that their railways take years to build like mine is at the moment? :lol:
One of the plus points of working mad shifts helped me do mine. Getting home at 11am after a full day or not starting till 7 at night for example. It's all good. :D

DWR

Post by DWR » Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:49 pm

Nice railway :)

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Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:56 pm

DWR:60437 wrote:Nice railway :)
Thanks for the encouragement DWR.

Maybe it's just the weather but I have really gone off building it at the moment :(

Cheers,

Tom
RWLR

DWR

Post by DWR » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:27 pm

i know the feeling :( I think its time I start building again :)

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Post by tom_tom_go » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:03 pm

My SL finally get's her first test run on the first section of the RWLR 8)

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Using the screws under the track is a bit more effort, however, it does give great smooth running.

Cheers!

Tom

DolwyddelanLightRail

Post by DolwyddelanLightRail » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:53 pm

The cut down buffer beam really does make a remarked difference to the overall look of the loco! and the black dome seems to add a certain quirkyness to the loco? (or is it just me? :lol: )

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