The Development of the WLR

[ge_rik]

That's brilliant! Is the wheezing sound deliberate or a happy accident?

Rik

[steamyjim]

That's brilliant! Is the wheezing sound deliberate or a happy accident?

Rik

A happy accident but a touch higher pitched than I'd like really but perhaps that'll change when screwed down. I'm not entirely sure where it's coming from, appears to be the motor/gearbox as when I disconnect the drive and turn it by hand there is no noise.

It's another of those things, like the coal mine where it'll probably hardly get used - only switched on when someone says "does the coalmine work?"

[FWLR]

Nice build and one that would great on any line.

[steamyjim]

Decided I was a bit short of 'real estate' on this corner of the line, so added an extension in today.

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This area is to become a yard for the machine shop so wants to be filled in up to track level. Rather than use cement everywhere I cut some filler pieces to take up most of the area. The gaps in between will be filled with cement as per the engine shed area. Rooting around in my boxes of junk and I came across an un built GRS level crossing gate set. I'm a bit short of room for a double set to 'bridge' the double track but this arrangement with one set meeting on the diagonal like this works and keeps the space down. I have never seen a set of gates like this so the question is, is there a full size set of gates like this anywhere? If there isn't then I think I'm just going to have to apply Rule 1...

The 'real life' logic behind the single gate being that on the works side (furthest from the camera), the smaller gate post on the left would've been made removable (with the help of a good team of burly Victorian fellas) to allow trailers to be swung around in the yard. Note, the door on the left is practically useless for access from the yard in this position, so if you see in the CAD model earlier in the thread the two separate doors have been replaced by a large arched door on the right hand side.

Thoughts welcomed...?

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Also a touch more work on the ventilation engine. That's it for now on that, the crankpins and so forth all want shortening and nicer collars made, and a set of ladders at each end for access to the engine but I'll leave that 'til it's installed on the railway.

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[FWLR]

I don't see why not for the gates, they look alright for me, has you say 'Rule 1'.

[Old Man Aaron]

Just caught up with this thread, and I must say this is really something different. Love it.

[Peter Butler]

I have been watching this from the beginning and agree with Aaron, it is something fresh in the world of 16mm. I too have a fondness for early railway development
and it is possible to create a whole environment around such ancient equipment and set it in any era since.
My 'heritage' line has such items from the past, preserved as museum pieces, so anything can be set against them, just as I please.....

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[FWLR]

Anne and I went for a very short trip on that Loco when we went on our last holiday to visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. I can't for the life of my remember where it was though..

[Peter Butler]

As far as I'm aware Rod, the only railway operating a replica 'grasshopper' style locomotive is at Beamish Industrial Museum.

[steamyjim]

Thank you for the comments all! I've always loved ancient machinery, but I didn't fancy building a layout set in 1820 or so - everything would have to be scratchbuilt and I know that with my other projects I would never get around to finishing it. I guess the layout will be sort of 'set' around 1910 or so - although really I'm just modelling structures I like and finding somewhere to plonk them! I'm imagining the steam generating station to be in an Art Deco-ish style so that certainly doesn't fit with the 1820s stuff!

Peter - I love Anorexia, a play on Agenoria I assume?! What's she built from, one of those Minicraft Rockets?

Rod - I believe the Beamish replica locomotives run on standard gauge track (or are able to be converted) as I've seen certainly seen the Steam Elephant running on preserved lines.

As predicted, I got bored of the level crossing gates so onto the inclined plane from the coal mine. The plan is to imitate coal being taken from the coal mine, along to the water balance lift (the white cardboard structure), then up to the high level section Gn15-ish, and onto the blast furnace/ canal basin.

Wagons won't actually move between levels, it's all just going to be there and back shuttles, but the wagons will disappear from view to give something of an illusion.

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And a video...

[FWLR]

As far as I'm aware Rod, the only railway operating a replica 'grasshopper' style locomotive is at Beamish Industrial Museum.

Thanks Peter. Anne did tell me off for not remembering

[FWLR]

Nice video. I may use your idea for Anne's disused coal mine on our line.

[steamyjim]

Nice video. I may use your idea for Anne's disused coal mine on our line.

An inclined plane makes for an excellent working feature I think, and is relatively simple to implement.

[steamyjim]

Was dreading making the supports for the inclined plane, but made a damn sight easier with a simple little jig to set the uprights - the holes in the jig were just to jig the jig during assembly!

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[steamyjim]

And a couple of videos...

The belt 'doing nothing' is to imitate a counterbalance - the lower pulley will be hidden so it appears that a rope heads down a shaft to a water balance. The upper section will be covered with a yet to be built building, the counterbalance pulley will stick out of the back of this.

[ge_rik]

I really enjoy seeing the latest developments. That plane and it's mechanism are a delight. I was expecting the bucket to move on the last video, though. I suspect it will only be a matter of time......

Will the plane be fully automated eventually? I suspect a shuttle module would do the trick.

Rik

[steamyjim]

I really enjoy seeing the latest developments. That plane and it's mechanism are a delight. I was expecting the bucket to move on the last video, though. I suspect it will only be a matter of time......

Will the plane be fully automated eventually? I suspect a shuttle module would do the trick.

Rik

The bucket moves as part of the coal mine! It's a bit of a temporary rig up until I decide what sort of cage I want on the end of the hook.

Yes, I'd like to automate the inclined plane, this is where I'm completely out of my depth. I'm guessing a magnet on the wagon and a couple of reed switches would be a sensible way to give the signal but what circuitry I need after that I do not know - I believe, going by your blog that this might be your territory Rik??

[ge_rik]

I'm just trying to figure out how it could be wired up, but I think you might be able to use one of these, with a couple of diodes and a couple of normally on micro switches.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154017821560

Rik

[Andrew]

Just catching up with this thread, what fantastic progress! Loving the quirky approach too, the early industrial theme is a really refreshing change.

If you're still looking for something to clad those building uppers with I've got some balsa-esque weatherboarding that you'd be welcome to - it's dead quick to use, you can cut it with a craft knife, but no good for outdoors. Give me a shout if you fancy it, I think I'm just up the road from you.

All the best,

Andrew.

[steamyjim]

Just catching up with this thread, what fantastic progress! Loving the quirky approach too, the early industrial theme is a really refreshing change.

If you're still looking for something to clad those building uppers with I've got some balsa-esque weatherboarding that you'd be welcome to - it's dead quick to use, you can cut it with a craft knife, but no good for outdoors. Give me a shout if you fancy it, I think I'm just up the road from you.

All the best,

Andrew.

Thankyou, I like quirky! When all this is over feel free to pop over for a run, although my line is just a boring loop!

That weatherboarding would be brilliant, thankyou! I've been really struggling to find material that looks like the stuff I used on the engine shed. Working indoors does make material selection a touch easier! I'll drop you a PM...