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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:29 pm
by IrishPeter
I took the plunge last week and started building some long wheelbase 4-wh Dutch wagons based on some examples preserved at RTM-Ouddorp. So far I have an open, a covered and a brake van all at some stage of completion.
For the railway museum at Ouddrop see:
http://www.rtm-ouddorp.nl
In 1:24 scale they work out at roughly a foot long, and their wheelbase is 6 inches. The one thing I have discovered it that they punish rough trackwork so the PW department as been out the last two days leveling the track. As usual, the embankment at Hedgehog that is being the problem. It must have settled ever so slightly in the recent rains
Peter in AZ
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 3:52 pm
by IrishPeter
I have just got back from an all too brief trip to the Isle of Man that was appended to my annual visit to my surviving relatives in England. trip to the Island has rekindled my enthusiasm for 3' gauge and got me wondering how much of a physical size difference there is between my Irish and Dutch stock. Yesterday when I had some of my Irish stock out that its height and width is not that different to the Dutch stock, so I may invoke "Rule 8" and alter buffer heights to allow the two types to run together. At the moment the Irish stock is at 34mm and the Dutch at one inch, but if I use a coupler height akin to that of the NCC NG lines I would be able to use 28mm for everything.... Hmmm...
After the last lot of 'anti-flooding' changes the track layout at the station again resembles Castlederg with a small goods yard at the town end beyond the passenger platform. That seems to work better for shunting and reduces the risk of a size nine coming down on a building or a piece of rolling stock. I have also introduced my accustomed 'shunting headache' in this case a cattle dock that can only be accessed off the headshunt.
I am also going to alter the two reverse curves on the line - eliminating one altogether, and introducing a short piece of straight track into the other - so as to get rid of buffer interlocking.
Peter in AZ
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 5:37 am
by IrishPeter
The two reverse curves got the chop this morning and will not be missed. An ailing 'Ruby' was able to waltz four wagons along the gradients much better without the 'grind' of getting through the reverse curves.
I am now dealing with another 'Ruby' with worn out eccentrics, so it will be getting a rear axle transplant later this week. The original Ruby is already OOU awaiting the same repair, but at a pinch it is runnable.
The next locomotive may well be Roundhouse...
Peter in AZ
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:36 am
by IrishPeter
The Ruby repairs got rather convoluted, and ended up with Ruby II donating some bits to get Ruby I, which has the better underframe, back into action. So the S&CLR&T now has one loco in good condition and one non-runner. Shedman Finbarr "the Spanner" O'Reilly's devotion to St Jude has reached new heights, and he is saying a Novena that No.1 can keep going until reinforcements arrive.
Ruby II now needs a major overhaul to sort out a chassis that does not run at all true. I think it must have been a Monday morning engine for a start. For a start, one of the front wheels needs belting on to its axle properly, which will stop it binding on the left hand crosshead. She also needs a new rocker arm.
In the meantime I am going to order a Roundhouse 'Millie' as an early Xmas present to myself. Three engines should be enough to keep the Skebawn and Castleknox functional even on Market Days.
Today I managed to build a ballast wagon. With a bit of luck the 4-wheeler will have its couplings lowered before I go to bed tonight. I am bracing myself for doing another cattle van, which means I am thinking of all the other wagons and cariages I want to tackle first before doing another b-dash cattle van.
I'll see if I can get some pics up in the next few days.
Peter in AZ
Station layout
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 2:11 am
by IrishPeter
Tweeked it again today - this must be version 11! Anyway coming into Skebawn, the line crosses a short bridge. On the right hand side will be the locomotive shed. The run-round loop goes off to the right and the short passenger platform is on the left. Beyond this a siding services the goods shed. There is a siding off the loop which is currently for carriages, but will end up being the cattle siding, whilst a carriage will eventually be sited behid the loco shed. It will be of the usual short sided Irish type. Hopefully that will be it in terms of tweeks, though I do still have to come up with a way of interchanging with the standard gauge at the other end of the line (Castleknox). At the moment, having the GSWR off stage and a siding disappearing through a bridge somewhere by the station appeals most.
The time is now upon me to think again about buildings. I suspect wood and simulated corrugated iron will be the order of the day. The knack will be making them (a) weatherproof and (b) insect-proof. The wood and iron approach comes from the fact that I tend to have the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway and the Isle of Man Railway in the back of my mind when making plans for buildings.
Peter in AZ
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:58 am
by Narrow Minded
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 6:48 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitures will following in a day or two.
I'm beginning to think that
this Irish railway is actually "Irish Mist"
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:02 am
by IrishPeter
It is not 'Irish Mist' but I am not good with a camera. I also have the work schedule from hell, and I would rather play trains than take photos of same. However, if my luck is in I'll get a few pics taken tomorrow and get them online.
Peter in AZ
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:38 pm
by Narrow Minded
A picture is worth a thousand words, and dear the bandwidth!
Cameras are easy! Point the round glass bit at the subject and press the little button on the top right hand corner (bottom left hand corner if the camera's upside down!)
DO NOT press the button on the top left (or bottom right if the camera's upside down), in this instance you'll be taking a close-up photo of yourself since the camera is back-to-front
I can totally sympathise with the "rather play than take photo's" comment, we all should get what we want from our leisure activities so please don't take offence - none intended, I'd just like to
see your line 'cos it sounds
interesting, my remark was meant as a light hearted tie-in with the theme
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:28 pm
by DWR
Looks really good
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 9:05 pm
by Narrow Minded
DWR:60480 wrote:Looks really good
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 9:26 pm
by laalratty
Narrow Minded:60485 wrote:DWR:60480 wrote:Looks really good
May I direct you to the first post of this topic Greg, whilst also reminding you that DWR is a new member
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:12 am
by Narrow Minded
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:04 pm
by DWR
I dont get it haveI done something wrong? but the railway does look good though
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:13 pm
by Pretoria
DWR:60531 wrote:
I dont get it haveI done something wrong? but the railway does look good though
Nope -- it was Narrow Minded being short-sighted. A visit to Mrs FC is warranted I believe (for DWR's benefit -- Mrs FC is an optician!)
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:56 pm
by DWR
ah right thanks
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 10:43 pm
by Narrow Minded
Pretoria:60533 wrote: DWR:60531 wrote:
I dont get it haveI done something wrong? but the railway does look good though
Nope -- it was Narrow Minded being short-sighted. A visit to Mrs FC is warranted I believe (for DWR's benefit -- Mrs FC is an optician!)
Actually I
am short sighted
and Astigmatic - thanks
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:37 am
by Pretoria
Narrow Minded:60541 wrote:Actually I
am short sighted
and Astigmatic - thanks
My turn -- sorry !
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:38 am
by Narrow Minded
Pretoria:60542 wrote:Narrow Minded:60541 wrote:Actually I
am short sighted
and Astigmatic - thanks
My turn -- sorry !
S'alright fella, as I know only
too well, it's easily done - no offence taken so no apology needed
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:46 pm
by IrishPeter
Well, I am not saying that wonders are going to occur, but I made it out into the yard with a camera and took some photos yesterday afternoon. Whilst doing so, however, I realised I had forgotten to leave a space for the points leading to the carriage shed siding!
This afternoon's job - if I don't crash completely after High Mass - is to rectify that. I might even take a picture of the result.
Peter in AZ
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:01 pm
by Sir Clothem Cap
I look forward to seeing the photo.
I had a confused nephew (DWR) on the phone this morning wondering if he'd done something wrong, I have explained how his post looked ironic but as laalratty had noticed he'd looked at the first post and commented (all understood now
)
It is amazing when you look at your railway as if it was someone else's how much you notice that could be improved.