Garden Railway Forum

Great as always Trevor. You need slate facings on those bits of wall though

I know you are right - but I will think about that when I start to create the slate workings.

I have had enough of hauling stones and barrows of mortar up a hill to last me for a while!

trevor

Almost ready to lay track. There are 11 lengths of track made up and 3 points here:
and a double slip almost ready:
I am wondering about actuators for the points. Something printed in the short term I think.

Trevor

That double slip looks very impressive, Trevor.

philipy wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 9:31 am That double slip looks very impressive, Trevor.

Took lots of effort to make it - three mornings in all. I just hope it works as well as it should.

Trevor

Most impressed with your handmade track.
I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

ge_rik wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:56 am I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

Trevor Thompson wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:13 am

philipy wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 9:31 am That double slip looks very impressive, Trevor.

Took lots of effort to make it - three mornings in all. I just hope it works as well as it should.

Trevor

Trevor,

and I hope those of us lucky enough to be invited round to play will be able to work out how to switch each end to go the desired way through it. I always find a double slip confusing. The worst time I had to operate one was in preservation and had to bar and clip each end for a movement.

Looks like everything is going great guns towards the new terminus being in operation soon,

Phil

gilfachphil wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:34 pm

ge_rik wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:56 am I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

I finally lookout it - and see what you mean about magnets. It does look interesting and I never thought of using magnets to hold it in position.

Might be better than a bit of bent wire!

Trevor

Rick thanks for posting the link to a point lever - but I have designed and printed one this morning. So this is based on something I found in one of my books on the Festiniog: and:
There is an over centre spring just about hidden within the body You can see a glimmer of it in the photos) to give positive location. The bit of pressure is required because I like to drill a hole through the outer rails and the blades and solder the wire to the blades. So moving the blades slightly bends the wire hence the need for a bit of force. I find this technique holds the blades in position - they can't work their way out of the fishplates.

It works! So I am sending multiple copies to the printer.

Trevor

Trevor Thompson wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:49 pm

gilfachphil wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:34 pm

ge_rik wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:56 am I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

Magnets? I see no magnets! What bit are you interpreting as a magnet? could it be the solder holding the blade to the operating wire

Trevor

Trevor,

I looked it up on Thingiverse where it mentions magnets. I think perhaps they might glue into the holes in the lever and the body and work as non-contact springing,

Phil

gilfachphil wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 5:11 pm

Trevor Thompson wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:49 pm

gilfachphil wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:34 pm

ge_rik wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:56 am I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

Magnets? I see no magnets! What bit are you interpreting as a magnet? could it be the solder holding the blade to the operating wire

Trevor

Trevor,

I looked it up on Thingiverse where it mentions magnets. I think perhaps they might glue into the holes in the lever and the body and work as non-contact springing,

Phil

You are of course correct - its me that wasn't reading your post properly.

Trevor

Today I started to lay the track work:
Trevor

Only problem I can see at the moment is that I think the point levers are going to hit the sides of the rolling stock - so a modification might be required. Oh and I need to order more fishplates.

Trevor Thompson wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:45 pm
Only problem I can see at the moment is that I think the point levers are going to hit the sides of the rolling stock - so a modification might be required.

I did wonder about that when you posted the initial picture yesterday. I had exactly the same problem when I printed my own point levers.

On a separate point (!), that half slated roof looks fabulous, its a shame you have to finish it!

That slip looks even more impressive in situ

Rik

ge_rik wrote: Thu Apr 24, 2025 8:02 am That slip looks even more impressive in situ

Rik

I will see if it works this afternoon when it is all connected up.

Having made it, I have worked out how it works! in that each point lever "points" to the road it is set for. So in the photo it is set for as a crossing connecting the far left road to the near right road. I think I can cope with that.

Trevor

philipy wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:54 pm

Trevor Thompson wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:45 pm
Only problem I can see at the moment is that I think the point levers are going to hit the sides of the rolling stock - so a modification might be required.

I did wonder about that when you posted the initial picture yesterday. I had exactly the same problem when I printed my own point levers.

On a separate point (!), that half slated roof looks fabulous, its a shame you have to finish it!

It does suggest an opportunity to put a "half built" building somewhere on the railway. After all in the 1870' buildings must have been going up all over the place as the slate industry expanded.

Trevor Thompson wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:45 pm Today I started to lay the track work:

I'm properly excited now! Looking forward to running on this.

It does suggest an opportunity to put a "half built" building somewhere on the railway. After all in the 1870' buildings must have been going up all over the place as the slate industry expanded.

Or reroofing slightly older buildings. Either way, men with ladders and ropes up there... and for the railway maybe a short train with as loads the building supplies?

I really must get some track down somewhere...

Would love the idea of a proper length of railway, rather than a little circle.

Awaiting a 'through train' video.

Phil.P

Damn fine work. And your workshop looks very cosy too.