The Circle Line

A place for the discussion of garden railways and any garden style/scale portable and/or indoor layouts
User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: The Circle Line

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jun 16, 2019 11:00 am

Same happened to us when our patio was done, dust everywhere!

I have a diamond disc for my chopsaw which for me is a more controlled way of cutting stone.

User avatar
pandsrowe
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 246
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: West Norfolk, UK

Re: The Circle Line

Post by pandsrowe » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:01 am

Another way to cut slabs is by using the diamond disc to score a line on the cut point on both sides of the slab, then supporting the slab on blocks a smart blow on the cutting line with a rubber mallet usually results in a clean break of the slab. Obviously this doesn't completely remove the dust problem but it certainly reduces it to a more acceptable level.
Phil

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:56 pm

Good idea for straight cuts Phil, and I use that technique for bricks/pavers, but I needed curved cuts for the most part.
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:43 pm

Bang on schedule, I have finished laying the track bed so I now have a complete circuit. I planned to finish this phase in June so just made it. First picture shows the last bend to be laid. In the background you can perhaps see a small pond in the corner.
IMG_20190630_191508.jpg
IMG_20190630_191508.jpg (368.48 KiB) Viewed 5842 times
Second picture shows the completed station platform. In the background on the right is a crossing gate.
IMG_20190630_191607.jpg
IMG_20190630_191607.jpg (333.82 KiB) Viewed 5842 times
Next step is to assemble and lay the track. I have allowed the whole of July for that but as my grandparenting duties end mid-month I hope to finish this before the end of July.

Other news is that my loco has been completed so I am going to pick it up this week.
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: The Circle Line

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:25 pm

Exciting times, the track work should make it all feel like it's coming together.

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Fri Jul 05, 2019 8:40 pm

I have started building track panels and laying some track. Just two panels so far but the layout is so small there are only 10 panels in total so 20% of the way there! Well not quite as I have to add the ballast and do some fettling but should be done by end of July if not sooner.
IMG_20190705_201532.jpg
IMG_20190705_201532.jpg (328.92 KiB) Viewed 5728 times
The spirit level is just for show but it is level! For those interested the track is 5/8" aluminium with recycled plastic sleepers and chairs from PNP. I have set the sleepers to approx 150mm spacing which if you scale it up is the same as on PECO SM-32 track. This is to give a narrow gauge feel to the railway. (PNP do more prototypical mainline type sleepers as well.)
IMG_20190705_201606.jpg
IMG_20190705_201606.jpg (301.4 KiB) Viewed 5728 times
The track panels are assembled from the rails, chairs and sleepers. The rail comes in 2.5m lengths. The chairs slide onto the rail and then plug into the sleepers. There's a nice touch if you want to ease the curves a bit, if you turn one chair through 180 degrees that widens the gauge by 1/32", and if you turn both chairs 1/16". The rails are connected with fishplates and 4 bolts. The process of building the panels is a bit laborious but somehow satisfying!
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: The Circle Line

Post by tom_tom_go » Fri Jul 05, 2019 8:49 pm

Proper big boys railway in progress!

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Fri Jul 05, 2019 8:57 pm

tom_tom_go wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2019 8:49 pm Proper big boys railway in progress!
Yes it does feel like I'm building a proper railway. The "navvying" bit is over thank goodness and it's more "engineering" now.

At least I should finish before Crossrail.
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
Dwayne
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 681
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 12:15 am
Location: Oklahoma City

Re: The Circle Line

Post by Dwayne » Fri Jul 05, 2019 9:49 pm

Looks great.

In the deepest, darkest, recesses of my mind there is an ember that glows of building a ride on railway on my hallf acre lot...

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: The Circle Line

Post by tom_tom_go » Fri Jul 05, 2019 9:56 pm

You certainly have the space Dwayne...

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: The Circle Line

Post by ge_rik » Sat Jul 06, 2019 8:26 am

idlemarvel wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2019 8:57 pm At least I should finish before Crossrail.
And cheaper :(

Really enjoying watching this develop. As Tom says, a proper railway..... 8) 8)

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: The Circle Line

Post by tom_tom_go » Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:32 am

If I had the space I would be building something similar as I plan to buy or build a NG steam 5" gauge loco that should be able to handle small radius curves.

I have browsed the PNP site many times and I would certainly use plastic sleepers and chairs like you are:

https://www.pnp-railways.co.uk/products ... -fittings/

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:09 pm

So the "golden spike" moment has arrived and I have assembled, laid and joined the last track panel!
IMG_20190711_133156.jpg
IMG_20190711_133156.jpg (303.87 KiB) Viewed 5632 times
I have checked the level / grade and "pitch" (is that the right word? I mean slope left or right). Even though these are tight curves I have not provided any superelevation as speeds will be very low and I think it would further encourage the outer wheels to climb up the rail. Tomorrow I will try the bogie driving truck to check clearances and any dips or peaks in the trackbed. Then I can finish the ballasting and maybe run a train. I have collected the loco, and just bought two car batteries (the loco is 24 v) which are charging in the shed as I write this. Nearly there! :D
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: The Circle Line

Post by tom_tom_go » Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:46 pm

Exciting times Dave, I think the term is 'camber'.

Are you able to take an aerial photo of the entire line from a 1st floor room in your house?

I have purchased my first 5" gauge loco and awaiting delivery but will post that in another topic.

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Thu Jul 11, 2019 8:27 pm

Excellent can't wait to see your loco.

My house is 25m from the track so it's unlikely that an aerial photo would show much, but I'll take a look from the loft window.
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: The Circle Line

Post by Peter Butler » Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:57 pm

I must say congratulations to you for achieving your goal so quickly and efficiently, it all looks so well engineered it is sure to work effectively. As in all things there are those who can, and those who say they can...... you have proved to be one of the former!
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Fri Jul 12, 2019 7:29 am

Thank you for your kind words Peter much appreciated. The jury hasn't sat yet on whether it has all worked! :)
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4262
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: The Circle Line

Post by FWLR » Fri Jul 12, 2019 8:11 am

Peter Butler wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:57 pm As in all things there are those who can, and those who say they can...... you have proved to be one of the former!
I agree with Peter, Dave. You have done a brilliant job on your line and you are differently one of the former..... :thumbright:

Hope to see some photos and possibly a video soon of your loco...

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Fri Jul 12, 2019 7:32 pm

Some testing of the track with a 100kg load on my driver bogie wagon.
IMG_20190712_153301.jpg
IMG_20190712_153301.jpg (332.72 KiB) Viewed 5791 times
I'm finding quite a lot of dips in the ballast with this load.

Also marked the platform clearances so I know where to paint the "stand behind" line. Need to allow room for feet protruding from the running boards.
IMG_20190712_153327.jpg
IMG_20190712_153327.jpg (349.12 KiB) Viewed 5791 times
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

User avatar
idlemarvel
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 136
Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 1:59 pm

Re: The Circle Line

Post by idlemarvel » Sun Jul 14, 2019 6:27 pm

Best I could do for an "aerial shot", stood on some stepladders in the corner of the plot. You can see most of the track, just waiting for the final layer of ballast.
IMG_20190712_203435.jpg
IMG_20190712_203435.jpg (389.94 KiB) Viewed 5762 times
Dave Miller
currently building the 5" gauge Circle Line

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests