The Apple Valley Railway (7 1/4" gauge)

Pendo Pilot · Post by **Pendo Pilot** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:30 pm

That is looking superb, the coach especially looks amazing. Nice woodwork skills there. Really like the diesel although one thing I would do & this is no discredit to the amazing job you have done. But I would add dummy axleboxes to the sides & maybe dummy hornblocks & leaf springs. Maybe just me but I think that would break up the slab side nicely.

Nomis · Post by **Nomis** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:15 am

Dummy axleboxes are planned - just got to figure out how to make them!
I suspect plastikard may be involved......

I am really pleased at how the coach is turning out, the body is really simple - it's just 4 lengths of timber from b&q, bolted together with angle brackets. The planked effect was made by taking the guard off the table saw and dropping the blade do that it only has 2-3mm showing. Run the timber over the top, and hey presto - instant planking!

I got some more 15mm rod for the axles yesterday (via eBay), so I can get on with widening the bogies.

Nomis · Post by **Nomis** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:44 pm

Updates from this weekend:

I got some ballast (20mm crushed granite) down on the curve by the lawn:

And I got the new bogies made for the passenger wagon, it rides pretty well now - much more stable than on 5", even with the higher seating position. After a little adjustment of the bogie pivots, all the wheels clear the inside of the chassis, even on the tightest curves (just!):

I made up some mock axle boxes using plasticard. I have since glued these to the sides of the chassis:

An overview of the railway, taken standing on the decking bench:

I also discovered a new trick this weekend. A spray of WD40 over the outer running rail really smooths out the sharp curves

I will be keeping a can in the cab of the loco from now on.

Next little project is to make some arch bar type bogies (trucks?) for a flat car. I dropped off 8 wheels at a local engineering place this afternoon to be bored out for mounting to a 15mm axle.

Nomis · Post by **Nomis** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:25 pm

It's been a while since the last update - so here is what has been happening;

A "before" shot - I have been clearing this area ready for a track extension:

Wheelsets made up ready for bogies:

I decided to build up some simple arch bar bogies, using steel strip (from b&q), with eBay bearings, and a timber bolster.

The template is MDF, assembled with some no-nails. A couple of G clamps make welding easy:

A rolling bogie being tested:

Nomis · Post by **Nomis** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:32 pm

And after finishing off, cleaning up (with the angle grinder), and fitting to the flat wagon:

At work, carrying a barrow for cement mixing:

Because I have been building a tunnel / storage shed:

The engine shed has also been coming along:

One of the really nice things about having a garden railway is watching the effects of the changing seasons:

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:37 pm

Wow looks like its coming along!

Nomis · Post by **Nomis** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 8:08 pm

Recent updates:

I have made the points sprung, using some strip steel, and a piece of CB radio aerial for a spring:

I have started to extend the decking to allow a second station road:

And I have been cutting up sleepers for the extension:

Transporting some scrap timber for burning:

A few higher quality pics taken in the recent sunshine:

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:07 pm

Lovely jubbly! interesting point arrangement, remind me, where did you buy the criss-cross casting?

Pretoria · Post by **Pretoria** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:14 pm

Mr. Bond of the DVLR:61787 wrote: .......... the criss-cross casting?

Hint ------

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:20 pm

I thought the "frog" are the wedge shaped rails which move across to change the direction. I thought this was the frog as it jumped across...

Pretoria · Post by **Pretoria** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:35 pm

Nope -- the frog is the crossing point of two rails

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:52 pm

Pretoria:61793 wrote:Nope -- the frog is the crossing point of two rails

Compare the "V" of the rails and the "V" of a horses hoof - both called the "Frog"

Pendo Pilot · Post by **Pendo Pilot** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:43 pm

Funny enough I have never heard it once called a frog in 1 to 1 scale ever, just the crossing nose?

Pretoria · Post by **Pretoria** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:54 pm

http://www.answers.com/topic/point-of-frog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbSmoUH1Cqk
http://home.comcast.net/~daletherail/de ... sFrog.html

Pendo Pilot · Post by **Pendo Pilot** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:00 pm

Don't get me wrong I refer to it as a frog. What I mean't though is that during my BR/RT/NR days no one at all has ever said frog or called it that. It seems it doesnt exist. I said once when I was M.O.M that a frog was cracked on a set of points to the P-way gang & no one had a clue what I was on about??

Pretoria · Post by **Pretoria** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:05 pm

Pendo Pilot:61804 wrote:Don't get me wrong I refer to it as a frog. What I mean't though is that during my BR/RT/NR days no one at all has ever said frog or called it that. It seems it doesnt exist. I said once when I was M.O.M that a frog was cracked on a set of points to the P-way gang & no one had a clue what I was on about?? :roll:

Given their track record on point repairs -- that explains a lot !

Pendo Pilot · Post by **Pendo Pilot** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:12 pm

Pretoria:61806 wrote: Given their track record on point repairs -- that explains a lot !

Very true indeed!!

Nomis · Post by **Nomis** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:26 am

The point frog came from the miniature railway supply co.

Do full sized lines even use cast frogs anymore?
Perhaps it is an out of date term?

I know that the Americans still use them on the mainlines. They have some very clever cast steel units that are flange guiding - no need for check rails.

Nomis · Post by **Nomis** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:30 am

NEW VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-doLno ... ata_player

sorry about the poor quality - it was shot using a free app on my phone. One day I will get around to doing a better one!

Pretoria · Post by **Pretoria** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 11:38 am

Nomis:61836 wrote:NEW VIDEO:

Great -- Just one question -- the tunnel looks a tight fit -- Do you need to wear a safety helmet ?

Seriously, how do you fit ?

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The Apple Valley Railway (7 1/4" gauge)

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