The Potters Orchid Railway

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

It's nice to have the space to build sweeping curves.

Thanks, if I had more space I would double the radius of the curves and the hills would be bigger, but then I am starting to go off the path that I and MAM intend. I am interested in slow moving realistic train speeds, steam hauled with the all the sensory stimulation that brings, lever frames similar to a real railway. Some scenery detail but I need to keep at my metal work (Model Engineering) which is # 1 in my creative path and also full size railway stuff.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

The Stop Board Moved a lot further last night.

MAM was in the pottery shed checking over the 39 test glazes she recently fired while I cut rail, drilled and screwed track. The brass screws have not all arrived from the supplier due to their messing up the order. Onto the Orchid House loop which will have a 12 lever interlocked Modratec frame. MAM and I had a quick look at the evenings work this morning.



I wish we had another 5m of run between loops ....................... but be happy Dazza.



The loop and siding is next , then back to Potters Junction to complete the loco shed roads.





'

[tom_tom_go]

I can see once nature takes hold this is going to be brilliant.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

I can see once nature takes hold this is going to be brilliant.

Thanks, I certainly hope so. A bit of work to be done around the railway its self , fences and paths etc, to keep the weeds at bay, with summer and rain it is terrible at this time. If you do not cover yourself in Mossie repellent your will soon pass out with the blood loss and it you stay still, Morning Glory vine and Cobblers Pegs will consume you and you will be lost forever.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

The ST staff at the POR are pondering the contract for the signals and the orders , my question to the collective wisdom is has anybody used signal kits from "Tenmille"
http://www.tenmille.com/Trackside.html
Thoughts, comments etc.
Good pictures of the Tenmille signals seem to be elusive.
We have a sample of the Roundhouse kit offering but the POR will need some bracket signals or some single post double which Tenmille offer.
Comments, links to picture will be most welcome.

[Peter Butler]

Not sure how useful this is but my indoor layout has Tenmille signals which were made from kits years ago. I didn't make them myself but I know they have wooden posts, whitemetal finials, arms, counter weights and brackets, brass ladders and are operated by brass rodding. They work well even under exhibition conditions and are capable of working still if only I could be bothered! They can be illuminated too.

IMG_3051.JPG (462.11 KiB) Viewed 5050 times

This is the only picture I can find of a bracket signal, unfortunately with the arms cut off.

IMG_2661.JPG (147.56 KiB) Viewed 5050 times

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Not sure how useful this is but my indoor layout has Tenmille signals which were made from kits years ago. I didn't make them myself but I know they have wooden posts, whitemetal finials, arms, counter weights and brackets, brass ladders and are operated by brass rodding. They work well even under exhibition conditions and are capable of working still if only I could be bothered! They can be illuminated too.

This is the only picture I can find of a bracket signal, unfortunately with the arms cut off.

Peter, thanks for replying. I might sample a few. I like the idea of illuminated lamps for summer evening steam ups.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Only a wee bit of track laying one night this week, I have been crook with a head cold and also a fair bit of rain about. The weeds are growing dangerously fast. MAM and I were planning to the get the weed spraying into action, however, we have some Buff Banded Rails and her chics that are foraging about the long growth in the yard. So we don't herbicide about the place, rather have the birds. These are new fellas to the area only these last few years. I am not a fan of herbicides but it is grim here, looks like it is going to be hand work and weed eater cutting action. Day night Test match on the radio is promising to make the evening weed pulling more bearable.

[Big Jim]

Day night Test match on the radio is promising to make the evening weed pulling more bearable.

That depends........


I know what you mean about the use of chemicals in the garden. Where we lived before was such a haven for rare species I couldn't bring myself to disturb the garden too much.

[bazzer42]

Lovely bird, lots of goldfinches here and a dislike of weedkiller too.

[Peter Butler]

No weedkiller here either.... too many dogs and watercourses.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Does any one know any one at
North Pilton Works
I was wanting to buy a kit of three Semaphore signals for sampling.
but the webpage seems a bit messed up and has changes each time I visit
http://northpiltonworks.com/pack-3-semaphore-signals

the shopping page tells you that to ship over seas you have to first contact them, which is only a contact form, (no email address) and I have submitted three times in 4-5 weeks, yet to receive a reply.

Sigh!

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

I ponder signals
- I want lower quadrant simple working Semaphores,
- I can illuminate the lamps with an LED
- I am not after exhibition scale detailed signals, however approx the correct size.
- Tough enough that the can be left outside for a few weeks at a time.
- Suitable for wire in tube operation.
- Minimal assembly required, I will be in the Red Room and or gardening.

It seems I am failing on discovering a commercial that is available.
Tenmillie might be the go and I might get a sample sent to look over. But I will have to bring them in every night, the storms here and the Bush Turkeys will make a mess of them

[tom_tom_go]

There is someone on eBay that makes signals from Plastikard every now and then and I have one that has been outside all year.

They are a bit crude though but will not rot outside.

[daan]

Instead of weedkiller or herbicides you could lay down big pieces of cardboard and bricks on top. It shields off the sunlight killing the weeds and the cardboard will desolve after a several weeks outside. Then it's up to you to get other plants in before the weeds turn back. Quite effective, but you have to be patient for a few weeks and it doesn't look that pretty for a while..

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

The contractors "Modratec" delivered the 12 lever fully interlocked frame for the Orchid house loop just in time for Christmas.
The staff gather around and ponder the work required to install all the cabling. The Signals and Telegraph committee are yet to put their signatures to the signals contract but to be honest they have been busy with other railway chores to give this much attention.

[Big Jim]

Very nice.
Very, very nice.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

The loco shed roads are being laid, cut and to be screwed down tonight.
That completes the laying and track crew were left with just over 400mm of SM32. so the estimating went spot on.



The mob next ponder the signalling and location and set up of the interlocked Modratec frames, laying the cables and then terra forming by the great Slartibartfast will commence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGcBmlDTcHo

While the track laying was underway at "Potters Junction" MAM was throwing a pot.

[Hydrostatic Dazza]

Having a break from the machines last night after the solid weekend of cross head making for the steamer, I turned my attention to the http://modratec.com/ lever frame and the connections to the points and signals. I am intending to use solid 1.10mm stainless wire, running through "Shimano" bicycle gear cable casing with casing caps that have rubber seals in the casing caps. The casing casing can be bought in 50m roll. It will be buried and routed through the plastic drain conduit passing under the track bed where required. I also will attach wire to carry current to the signal lamps. The connections to the signals and points will be in brass, still sorting out how I attach the connection bits to the sleepers. If one was making the track work, then you could add long sleepers at the point toes when required just like full size. Oh well. In the next life in another universe I will hand make my own track

[Peter Butler]

During the past Summer (only recognisable by the fact the rain is warmer) I fitted bike cable operation to two points which are beyond reach. They have no levers fitted as I wanted trains to trail through switching the blades themselves.
The first has a simple crimped ring attached to the cable and popped onto the Peco tie bar 'peg'....

IMG_4634.JPG (201.62 KiB) Viewed 6061 times

The second had to be a clamp system as the 'peg' had snapped off ......

IMG_4632.JPG (179.77 KiB) Viewed 6061 times

Both work very well having the cables flooded with oil to keep them smooth in operation.
I know these will offend your critical engineering eye and are only there to show how your idea might be achieved, I'm sure you can improve on this!