The Potters Orchid Railway

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Hydrostatic Dazza
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:01 pm

ge_rik wrote: Wed Aug 01, 2018 7:37 am When I made my signals, I speculated about ways of operating them. I did wonder about using a mechanical system, but I want my signals to be removable as I think they would be susceptible to damage if left out continuously. If there was some way of having a mechanical system which enabled the signal to be slotted into it and the removed, I think it would be a winner.

If anyone has the skills, expertise and imagination to invent such a system then you must surely be the chap with the yellow jersey (to adopt a cycling metaphor).

Rik
Previous page of this thread (P 10) I have a prototype signal that is mechanical and removable. It uses a Pendle Valley kit, my idea was to make it reliable, robust and removable as they would not last a week here with Summer Storms, ferocious sun, Bush Turkeys, Cane Toads, Water Dragons, Green Tree snake (he lives in the block wall) and Carpet Pythons to bash them up. The intention is they are all numbered and will be removed and live in a numbered box on a shelf some where. The hardest part of gig is finding or creating storage space. The power supply for the LED lamp is plug in using some small RC type connections one buys from Jaycar. I recently got a better crimping plier tool and did some test practice runs to make nicer crimping, because my crimping was as rough as a dogs breakfast, not fit for public consumption. I am now to the stage of setting up the lever frame and I will post updates on this. I have pencil paper sketch drawings done and after some confirmations after trails I will produce the 3D and 2D drawings. However all is slow at the moment as I am a trainee on a 1632 Diesel, RM2000 and RM76 railmotors and also doing my Reciprocating Steam Engine ticket, Steam Loco driver training for being part of the train crew at the Mary Valley Rattler which is due for restart next month, fingers crossed, so all is huff and puff and keep shoveling the black rock in to keep steam up, phew! It is a big year for Dazza ! But I hope to visit the boiler inspector this Sunday in regards to my wet leg copper boiler and my steel Briggs 5" boiler.
Last edited by Hydrostatic Dazza on Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:22 pm

FWLR wrote: Wed Aug 01, 2018 7:44 am How about selling the idea———patent to a company for them to build. I am sure once they have seen your comprehensive way of doing things, they would snap your hand off.

Just a thought….. :idea: :idea:
Nice thought, nice idea. I am not sure I can patent any of this as railways have been doing it like this for 200 years. Also the costs and effort and the returns......................
One would make more $ with less stress if I set up to make metal bridges, lower cost set up, ease of flexible design offerings and tooling and there is a demand. (I have a bridge on order and I am waiting patiently, a situation I appreciate and understand and agreed to )
If one has experience with plastics and production along with retail set up, such as perhaps, Peco, then perhaps there is a chance. However what would the market be ?
The plural of anecdote is not fact. Meaning a dozen keen modelers is not a market. Creating or finding and sating the market is the hardest part of the gig.
Some want scale fidelity, some like me want robust operation and the fun of operation. Hard to do both.
Any how, it is all good conjectural fun.
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by ge_rik » Thu Aug 02, 2018 6:06 am

Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: Wed Aug 01, 2018 10:01 pm
Previous page of this thread (P 10) I have a prototype signal that is mechanical and removable. It uses a Pendle Valley kit, my idea was to make it reliable, robust and removable as they would not last a week here with Summer Storms, ferocious sun, Bush Turkeys, Cane Toads, Water Dragons, Green Tree snake (he lives in the block wall) and Carpet Pythons to bash them up. The intention is they are all numbered and will be removed and live in a numbered box on a shelf some where.........
Sorry, I somehow missed they were removable - I must read more carefully. A neat system.
Rik
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sat Aug 04, 2018 10:46 pm

Saturday, I managed to check the fit of the point crank/connection. Also a trial run to check the friction of of the Shimano gear casing and the solid 1.10mm stainless wire with all the curves and bends through the drain tubes in the concrete track base to points and signal bases. All is super sweet. Next will be boxing, cement base for the signal frame that will live in a goods shed with removable back wall and roof. The plan is to have a weather box to cover the lever frame when not in use that is also inside the goods shed. 9 more signal kits are on order. All this is going slowly as I am very busy with my Reciprocating Steam Engine Ticket Training, steam, diesel and Railmotor training on weekends at the Mary Valley Rattler Railway, which is soon to commence passenger operations.

https://www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au/

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Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by pandsrowe » Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:50 am

I do like this system of operating points, so neat and relatively unobtrusive. Do you know if the Shimano casing is available in long lengths? So far my internet trawl has not come up with anything over 2.1mtrs and I will need around 5mtrs for the longest run on my railway.
Phil

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:55 am

What is the distance from point to lever out of interest?

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by philipy » Sun Aug 05, 2018 8:00 am

Phil,
This guy sells it by the metre :
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayIS ... 2000&ver=0

and this is for a full 50M roll:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-OT-S ... SwBdRbYKDb

There are others just search on ebay for "shimano gear cable casing"
Philip

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by IanC » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:06 am

Excellently engineered solution. Do you find time to sleep and eat?

Ian
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Peter Butler
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:59 am

I have had a cable system operating on my railway for over a year now and can confirm the system works well and hasn't suffered from weather related issues either.
There are no cranks involved as the wire works on a push-pull basis and is able to allow a loco to run through a point set against it even though one cable is three metres long and has various curves in its run......
IMG_4634.JPG
IMG_4634.JPG (201.62 KiB) Viewed 5808 times
IMG_4633.JPG
IMG_4633.JPG (183.13 KiB) Viewed 5808 times
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:22 pm

pandsrowe wrote: Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:50 am I do like this system of operating points, so neat and relatively unobtrusive. Do you know if the Shimano casing is available in long lengths? So far my internet trawl has not come up with anything over 2.1mtrs and I will need around 5mtrs for the longest run on my railway.
4mm Shimano STI casing is available in a 50 meter shop box roll.
You would need to get a packet of casing caps, do not use the alloy ones, they oxidise in no time at all. The black plastic with the rubber grommet are super.
Perhaps the local bike shop has a shop roll and they can you off a 5m length for a tener ?
or a 6 pack of beer :-)
Last edited by Hydrostatic Dazza on Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:30 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Sun Aug 05, 2018 7:55 am What is the distance from point to lever out of interest?
The longest runs to points will be 3m
The longest runs to signals will be 4m
Most are shorter.
I am using cable caps that have a rubber gromit in the end that helps reduce moisture and dirt entry.
Even though the casing has a Teflon liner tube, one smears a non petroleum type very thin grease on the wire at you thread it into the casing. "Slick Honey" is my favourite brew for bicycle cabling for many years and I will use it when I do the final installation on the POR.
Last edited by Hydrostatic Dazza on Sun Aug 05, 2018 11:26 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:32 pm

Peter Butler wrote: Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:59 am I have had a cable system operating on my railway for over a year now and can confirm the system works well and hasn't suffered from weather related issues either.
There are no cranks involved as the wire works on a push-pull basis and is able to allow a loco to run through a point set against it even though one cable is three metres long and has various curves in its run......

IMG_4634.JPG
IMG_4633.JPG
Peter's pictures were my inspiration for my system set up to the lever frame.
I am yet to prove it all works, but I am confident.
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Aug 05, 2018 11:00 pm

IanC wrote: Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:06 am Excellently engineered solution. Do you find time to sleep and eat?

Ian
Do not watch TV is number one.
Just do stuff and enjoy it and the people around what you do. For example if I am to do the Saturday morning grocery shopping, I go at 7.30am when the shops are opening, get in and out, home and unpack and all is done by 8.30am, then the day is free to do the important stuff. We eat very good clean food. However I do not keep the vegie garden up to speed these days.
Beats me how people fluff about, dawdle down to the shops at 9- 10am, sit about drinking a coffee, then stroll around like it is entertainment and then do some of the shopping, get home at lunch time have lunch, their useful time begins at 1.00 pm. Life is too short for that nonsense. Social time with others is good, but fluff time is a waste.
I sleep 8 hours most nights, I am in bed by 9 or 10 each evening, up at 5 to 6 am when the first Magpie farts.
One secret we have is that Mary Ann (MAM) and I do not have any children due to the circumstances of our past. MAM does lots of stuff, she was away for two days at pottery workshop this weekend just gone. I am up at Gympie next weekend spending time around steam. Tomorrow I am have a day off and doing more railmotor training. I often work on public holidays and often our holidays are days off to do stuff. We like to go camping, simple camping, not the consumer type camping.
We also do our best to not let the media tell me how to spend our money and our time. They are even using marketing terms now like "Binge watch now the new TV series, down load etc" "Binge" is now a common and general marketing term WTF !! We have a very nice house but we drive second hand cars because that allows us to spend our hard earned gold coin on travel, doing our hobbies, doing stuff. Driving around in a brand new shiny bucket of nuts and bolts for the 2 week long new car feeling is such a waste of ones's income. My old station wagon is 13 years old (bought second hand), in good working order and I spend $ to keep it in good working order but bits of plastic are falling off. (sigh) Bumps and scratches. It is our ute, camping car and my run around if needed. MAM has a little Toyota that was 4 years old, cost $10,000 , not $24,000. Our neighbours are renting, but have two new cars, and a power boat and trailer !

Another thing is I listen to ABC Radio National for most of my working day, that is my brain food as I work. No need or desire to watch the TV news, internet news or Newspapers. ABC Jazz while I am in the Red Room. Nick Cave when I do the house cleaning.
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by pandsrowe » Mon Aug 06, 2018 8:23 am

Thank you all for the various suggestions as to where long lengths of Shimano cabling can be obtained. Obviously my internet search engine was having an off day as none of those appeared when I tried, I must get some orders in soon as I can't believe how quickly the year is going and before we know it winter will be setting in and it will be too late to do anything outside.
Phil

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by ge_rik » Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:04 am

I agree with you about listening to talk radio while pottering about. I have Radio 4 on almost continuously. Keeps me up to date, entertained, amused and curious.

The programme on R4 at the moment is all about fostering children's creativity, for example. Fascinating stuff.

Rik
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by BorisSpencer » Mon Aug 06, 2018 1:50 pm

pandsrowe wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 8:23 am Thank you all for the various suggestions as to where long lengths of Shimano cabling can be obtained. Obviously my internet search engine was having an off day as none of those appeared when I tried, I must get some orders in soon as I can't believe how quickly the year is going and before we know it winter will be setting in and it will be too late to do anything outside.
Another option is to visit your local (independent) bike shop. They will usually have cable on drums and I'm sure will be happy to supply lengths to your requirements.

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by FWLR » Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:37 am

Or have a son-in-law who is a cycle mechanic, I have…… ;) ;)

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:10 am

The Tunneling contractors commenced work today. More reports on this in the weeks to come.

Image

The ST contractors were completing the boxing for the Orchid Loop lever frame base.
MAM stuffing clay into the corners.


Image

Mixed and poured the slab

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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Peter Butler » Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:40 pm

That looks familiar...
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Re: The Potters Orchid Railway

Post by Hydrostatic Dazza » Sun Aug 12, 2018 9:37 pm

Peter Butler wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:40 pm That looks familiar...
Does it ?
We had to hang the frame base off the wall to get it all to fit, box it down the block wall. A Pendle Valley Goods Shed will cover the lever frame and battery box for the lights. The faux but realistic /smaller box will be in the Y of the Loop Junction.
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator 8)
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams

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