Garden Railway Forum

Air operated pointwork?

Rik

First parts of track bed are going in

ge_rik wrote: ↑Tue Aug 23, 2022 5:14 pm Air operated pointwork?

Rik

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

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.

Keith S wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 5:55 pm 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

Ref air controlled points.

It was a no brianer for me in north east England. Keeping the power connection to the track reliable is hard enough through the winter.

With the SVR kit I have had no failures since 2016 except snagged air lines due to being buried by me (lesson learned)

Reashearching it since I have discovered the components are produced by a company called Clippard. I have also very recently replaced all of the point actuator components with my own 3D printed version (using the original cylinders), pictures to follow.

I have had literally zero problems with it except the buried tubes (why did I think that was a good idea!) and would highly recommend over electric.. If anyone wants any LGB electric motors I've got a box full!

stevenfitch wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 9:55 pm .. If anyone wants any LGB electric motors I've got a box full!

Yes please. I use LGB point motors as I already had the wiring in place from when I was using track power. After a while, they do deteriorate (usually the coil wires erode - really tricky to repair) so it would be good to have a couple of spares.

Rik

3D printed some spacers for fitting the boards on top of the runners
The gaps allow wiring to come through as close to where its needed so all hidden
Track then sits on top of that, still to come up with a good way of securing down without directly screwing it to the boards. I think i'll end up designing printing some kind of brace that goes over a sleeper (or two) and then the brace is screwed down.
Tested 3D printed signal for fitting

The smaller loop returning to the garage and the junction towards the main loops is complete and working
Also, all wiring and air lines are contained inside this split conduit fastened under the road bad but well above ground level

Nice work Steve.

Goes to show, once you have a 3d printer, you always find a reason to use it!

Thanks
Paul.

Mamod sterling wrote: ↑Mon Nov 21, 2022 12:42 pm Nice work Steve.

Goes to show, once you have a 3d printer, you always find a reason to use it!

Thanks
Paul.

Absolute game changer when you can just make pretty much anything exactly as you need

So to give a brief update on this, the initial loop that was completed is still in place and was covered in ice and snow for a few weeks solid recently.
I powered it up this week and the Allegra went straight round first time without issues or any track cleaning.
Very happy with the new trackbed and cabling so far and will be rolling out to the rest of the garden as i go when the temperatures get up a bit.

stevenfitch wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 3:45 pm So to give a brief update on this, the initial loop that was completed is still in place and was covered in ice and snow for a few weeks solid recently.
I powered it up this week and the Allegra went straight round first time without issues or any track cleaning.
Very happy with the new trackbed and cabling so far and will be rolling out to the rest of the garden as i go when the temperatures get up a bit.

That's good to hear.

Rik

A slight diversion away from actual railway progress to convert the whole garage to a solar island system with mains bacckup.
800 watts of solar into battery storage.... Now thats up and running on with some railway progress

General progress building the plastic roadbed, hoping to get a load more done this wekeend if the weather holds.

Corrr that looks good .....

Rik

A bit more progress with road bed complete and track laid out.

Next up is connecting wiring for block sections and finishing off the pneumatics for the points.

That junction looks tasty!

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Wed May 24, 2023 8:45 pm That junction looks tasty!

That's exactly what I thought!

Can't wait to see some trains making their way through that!

Andrew wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 8:20 am

ge_rik wrote: ↑Wed May 24, 2023 8:45 pm That junction looks tasty!

That's exactly what I thought!

Can't wait to see some trains making their way through that!

As you wish...