GRR - Light Railway Extension

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Andrew
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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by Andrew » Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:32 am

That's looking good!

Muddy, but good...

Another option re the station building/sidings thing might be to put the station and sidings on the other side of the line, ie the opposite side to the shed, so that you see the back of the building from the usual viewing spots? Less conventional from a traditional garden railway perspective, but nothing wrong with that...

Looking forward to seeing further progress and "first train " pics in due course...

All the best,

Andrew.

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sjrixon
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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Sat Jan 18, 2020 5:01 pm

Thanks for all the positive feedback. I'm still toying with my track plan, but then that's the joy of this hobby. My last tweak moved the turn table to the entry point of the station, but I'm not sure..

We did get out and really started to sort out the levels today, more tomorrow. I love it when it's cold but sunny.
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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:09 pm

It's about level!
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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by ge_rik » Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:54 pm

Looking good so far :thumbup:

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by Snailrail » Sun Jan 19, 2020 10:38 pm

"about level" was the best I achieved !
I managed to get some sections dead level, in other places I'm sure the ground moved when I wasn't looking.
Eventually decided a spirit level makes it look worse than it is !
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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by Andrew » Mon Jan 20, 2020 10:54 am

Well done on getting your station site leveled - it looks very promising, with plenty of space to ensure interesting operations and scenery...

All the best,

Andrew.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Wed Jan 22, 2020 7:48 am

Thanks everyone. I need to get the main loop in action first, then I'll start with some concrete in the first section and see how it goes. At least that will give us an idea and a new siding.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:14 am

Some sunshine! Oh and we are not mean to be going out, perfect!

The first job was always to get the loop tidied up and relayed. Previously there had been a play house in the middle of the railway, this restricted the first point as I didn't want the kids jumping over it. With them growing out of the house we opened up a little more space.
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Then I wanted to re work some of the blocks. They had been put down in an excited hurry last year when the ground was quite hard.

Then with a few facebook posts to the 16mm group, I agreed on this plan.
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The Y point in the foreground really helped to widen up the track and make room for a nice island platform. Also softened all my transitions and bad track joins that I slightly forced before.

Then the little people had to try out their new station arrangement..
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I hate bending flexitrack! But I got it to work!
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That should give us enough room for a 4 coach train and a loco now. Ideal to run round for the return trip to the terminus.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:37 am

How are you bending the track?

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sjrixon
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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:43 am

Is that a trick question.. Normally with my hands :)

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by tom_tom_go » Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:50 am

It was a genuine question!

A rail bender will give you smooth curves with no kinks.

There are ways to make your own or you can buy kits from GRS (this one is for Peco SM32 bullhead rail, others are available):

https://www.grsuk.com/shop/Rail-Bender- ... SM32-M5202

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:21 am

That's expensive! - Thanks.. I'll keep my eyes open for one.

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Andrew
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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by Andrew » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:02 am

That's looking very good! Great to get the kids involved too...

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by MRail » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:11 am

I made one from this plan.
I believe you can even get flatbed vices in plastic.
Good enough for code 200 rail.
[attachment=0]RailBender.jpg[/attachment]
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In my Father's roundhouse are many loco sheds.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Mon Apr 06, 2020 11:01 am

Thanks for the article on the rail bender. Probably don't have bits around the house for something like that though, my grandad's workshop would have been perfect to go raiding back in the day, easily been able to help me make one!

Been cracking on with the build, and running some trains. The through station has been put back together and the sidings added back in this week, so all up and running.

This was our works train caring the screws to sort the track out and secure it down.
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Then we started laying out the track in the new station area as it's half cemented in. The job will be to get the track plan finalised so I know where the turn table will sit.
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The current thinking.. Two main lines to the turn table, this will have initially one platform on the shed side, but space to add one on the other (for busy market days).

The kick back siding for the engine shed, coal, water etc. Gives me a nice space to develop and a view blocker for the train to pass behind.

Then the front two just general sidings for whatever they want to be.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by Andrew » Mon Apr 06, 2020 12:58 pm

This is looking great - it's going to be a really characterful little line I think, with loads of operational interest, which the children will love. I used to set mine shunting puzzles - take the logs to the sawmill and the coal to the docks (both imaginary!) but make sure the guards van stays on the back and the gunpowder van doesn't end up next to the engine, etc etc...

Cheers,

Andrew

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Mon Apr 06, 2020 1:58 pm

Oh, I love that Andrew! I'll have to think up some things to do and move, also, start to get some wagon loads sorted.

Ordered a few kits over the weekend, so there will be some more variety coming.

Need to get on with the turntable, can't site it properly until the base is finished.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by Andrew » Mon Apr 06, 2020 2:49 pm

Yep, it was fun!

It's a fairly narrow window though - My kids were interested in it for a year or two, and then it passed. They loved it while it lasted though and would play for ages sometimes, with one taking the role of driver and another being a shunter/signalman. What I'm glad I realised was that the railway didn't need to be complete for them to enjoy it - if I'd have waited until I'd laid all the track and made all the buildings I'd have missed the boat completely, in fact I'd still be waiting!

I have a very happy memory of Daisy, aged about 9, loading up a train with Sylvanian Families characters and taking them for a picnic by rail. I'd gone in for a cuppa, but looking out the window I saw that she was carefully shunting the train to re-position the guards van at the rear for the return run - that's my girl!

Cheers,

Andrew.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Mon Apr 06, 2020 3:03 pm

It's always a small window, just mostly a moving one!

The playmobile gang have been on the railway a lot, but even with huge amount of bluetac they tend to make a bid for freedom half way around. I've some tippers that get filled with mud and the mud moved around, I then have to clean it all off the track for me to enjoy what I want to.

That's part of the reason for the turntable, just adds a little something else.

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Re: GRR - Light Railway Extension

Post by sjrixon » Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:16 am

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Bit of track went down last night and we had a little test run. I need to decide how I'm going to fix the turntable in next. Wondering on a solid base to attach it and then add then to bed it in.

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