New Beginning for 2022

[stevenfitch]

The previous railway as discussed here viewtopic.php?p=163568 suffered some storm damage a shown here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBdGKgjlpwk.

The damage was caused by various neighboring sheds, greenhouses, fences etc being blown into and around the garden ripping up track work and cables as they went, although probably salvageable and repairable i have decided that this is the excuse to design and construct a whole new new railway which then deserves its own new forum thread and this is that thread.

This railway will learn from the previous construction and operating methods and take into account some more research done since the original design back in 2015.

The previous track plan:

The new track plan:
(everything to the right of the red line pretty much survived the strom damage so is being kept as is)

[Andrew]

That's a very impressive design, and a lot of track! How many trains will you be able to have operating at once?

I'm looking forward to further progress reports!

All the best,

Andrew.

[stevenfitch]

How many trains will you be able to have operating at once?

(Under computer control)
Normally 4 as I'm planning on using the main loops (newest part) for most of the running but up to 6 if using the loop through the garage and various sets running too and from the storage in the garage.

[ge_rik]

Good idea to include a continuous loop, to my mind. Opens up quite a few more possibilities.

Rik

[stevenfitch]

Good idea to include a continuous loop, to my mind. Opens up quite a few more possibilities.

Rik

Hi Rik

Yes that was one of the main points, it was a pain running through the storage all of the time for every loop on the old one, at least now they can just run around the loops with a lot less chance of issues going through the garage

[stevenfitch]

After much planning and deciding, work is now underway.

Decided in the end to just rip up the whole garden and start again from a level base.

[Peter Butler]

Serious stuff that, and still some garden left over for the extension!

[BWLR]

Heavy duty civil engineering going on there!

[ge_rik]

Any excuse to hire a digger .......

Rik

[markoteal]

Wow - puts my efforts into perspective!

[Soar Valley Light]

I thought I'd carried out some major terraforming but I can't compete with that!

SVLR Andrew

[stevenfitch]

At some point a railway will make an appearance but for now the control box has been re-built

[stevenfitch]

Major landscaping complete and some planting done, just waiting a delivery of some more materials for road bed from filcris.co.uk then that can all go in.

[Peter Butler]

Wow, that's quite some progress since the end of July, well done!

[Old Man Aaron]

Great work, especially in the heat in your part of the world. Not long before the real fun begins!

[ge_rik]

Air operated pointwork?

Rik

[stevenfitch]

First parts of track bed are going in

[stevenfitch]

Air operated pointwork?

Rik

Yes, using the Sunset Valley Railroad equipment and a small air brush compressor

[Keith S]

What is the advantage to air-operated pointwork? I have heard of it before, but have always thought it sounded a bit "Rube Goldberg" if you don't mind me saying so. Although I must admit I can see it being more weather-resistant than electrics would be.

[GTB]

What is the advantage to air-operated pointwork? I have heard of it before, but have always thought it sounded a bit "Rube Goldberg" if you don't mind me saying so. Although I must admit I can see it being more weather-resistant than electrics would be.

No electricity involved and the parts are standard industrial items, so it's robust, reliable, easy to install and suitable for remote operation over long distances.

Assuming no leaks, it only uses air when a turnout is changed, so it doesn't really need a compressor. I know someone who powers his with a garden sprayer.

It's getting harder for me to access some of the manual turnouts on my track and I'm considering installing remote control on the more remote turnouts on my track. Given the climate and wildlife around here, I wouldn't use electrics out in the garden on a bet. This years capital expenditure program may be a pneumatic turnout control system, instead of yet another loco chassis kit.......

Regards,
Graeme