Garden Railway Forum

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

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
RWLR

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

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

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

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

like the real thing

anythingsdr:57098 wrote:like the real thing

Especially narrow gauge!

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

Pendo Pilot:57101 wrote:A perfectly flat narrow gauge railway????!! Never.  :shock:  :roll:

Leek and Manifold?

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

Marquis DeCarabas:57103 wrote:Leek and Manifold?  ;)

Not now though!

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.

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





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



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

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:




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?

Cheers,

Tom
RWLR

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?

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.

Nice railway

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

i know the feeling I think its time I start building again

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






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

Cheers!

Tom

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? )