Petermac's Railway

Not a waste of time at all John - if I redesign the lift-up, I could maybe use 1 for the first turnout road but not for the 2nd.

I'm not altogether sure of the configuration at the other end but I think I'd have just under 3 metres of straight storage track on the shortest (outer) siding.  Oh, how I miss the football pitch I had to play with on Maxmill ………………………….

Within that 3 metres, I'd quite like a crossover at the half way mark - it proved very useful before enabling 2 shorter trains to be stored and the rear one to bypass the train in front.

You could save a few inches by using short radius points, I believe the frogs are the same as is the exit radius. Wyes can also save space.

Micro Engineering have a ladder system you might want to look at, if only for inspiration. Peco points are not designed for compact ladders.


Nigel

Peter

The white Tracksetta gauge is 30 inch radius.  I wonder if that is a compromise that might work for the curves?

Barry

Thanks Barry - I thought I had the complete set from 24" upwards…………………..  They're useful gadgets.

[user=1632]BCDR[/user] wrote:

You could save a few inches by using short radius points, I believe the frogs are the same as is the exit radius. Wyes can also save space.

Micro Engineering have a ladder system you might want to look at, if only for inspiration. Peco points are not designed for compact ladders.


Nigel

Good call Nigel. I've saved some pics for similar use Peter. Take a look at Micro-Engineering's Yard Ladder Turnouts | ModelRailroadForums.com  Great spacesavers!

Bill

Bill, can you test that link again please as it gave me an error - couldn't find that page.

Same thing for me Sol ..................................

Try this ?   http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/micro-engineerings-yard-ladder-turnouts.29810

Also on that thread page which I think shows the difference in sizes ?  http://www.crusaderrail.com/mec.html

Cheers

Matt

Most modern rolling stock should run around the equivalent of Setrack 2nd radius curves Peter, so you could get away with about 18" radius, if that helps.

I used to use setrack curves as a template for flexitrack.


Ed

Sorry guys and thanks Matt for sorting the link, which I simply copied from my browser.

Amazing what a difference a forward slash can make and I'll remember that in future.

That's a useful table Ed and I seem to recall 438mm being the minimum radius quoted on the boxes of most of my locos. Thanks for posting.

Bill

Thanks Ed and Matt.

I did have a look at the ME ladder system on Crusader Rails site.  The problem for me seems to be that these ladder points (turnouts) are in either Code 83 or Code 70 - niether of which I use !!

I have enough trouble having to switch back and forth between Code 75 and Code 100, necessitating one of the little "link" rails at each end of the change.  Not sure if I want to add yet another code …………..even if it's possible !!

Your table of track radii is an interesting read Ed and I'm pleased I'm well within the accepatable radii.  I hate visible sharp curves where coaches and bogies look as if they're on a zig-zag route …………..

I didn't realise there was a 30" Tracksetta template - that could resolve some of the issues together with a rebuild of the lift-up board making it slightly larger.   The 30" template will be ordered today - thanks Barry.  :thumbs

Slow progress of late ………………………..

I have redesigned the lift-up (but forgot to take a photo  :oops:) and, with the arrival of a 30" Radius Tracksetta, endlessly shunted bits of track around the doorway end until I had to admit, even a 30" radius curve isn't going to fit !

I will have to compromise and have an initial short section at 24" gradually increasing the radius as one rounds the end of the unit.

I then started laying track on the fiddle/storage roads.  These are mainly sited on the new baseboard I made and partially on the existing boards.

As mentioned earlier, the plan is to flip the new board up on edge to mount point motors etc before finally fixing it in place and continuing track laying at each end.  As my bones don't seem too willing to bend anymore, I'm trying to avoid too much "underboard" work.

This is as far as I've got with the "up" roads.  About 3/4 of the final length laid (the box is at the join between new and old baseboards) and all droppers soldered.  When I'm at a similar state with the "down" roads, the board can be tipped onto it's edge and work can continue underneath :



I'm also having second thoughts about my original track plan, mainly because space is tighter than I thought.  John may yet have his way and that turntable will be moved ……………………………………… :hmm

Moving the TT was only a suggestion! I just felt that combining all the lower level loco servicing elements in one place would give a more coherent look. I really like turntables they provide tons of operational interest.
The track you have laid looks great…..I do wish I had ensured I had adequate spacing between tracks like you. Some of my rakes indulge in hip checking as they pass through:oops:

Is the the up through route the right hand road?

Best wishes

John

Yes John, the through route is on the right.  Both through routes  will be side by side in the centre with the sidings on the outside.

For the "down" side, I'm thinking of using a single slip on the centre track for the crossovers - it would save space and, as I have one in stock, avoid buying 2 more points !!

Track spacing is one advantage of a re-build John - I had them far too close together on Maxmill I.  I ensured I didn't repeat that mistake plus here, I will need to reach underneath the upper level to access them so spacing was important.

Regarding moving the turntable - alas, it won't be to bring all the loco facilities to one place - there simply isn't room.  My re-thinking was triggered when I realised the Maxmill "show" module would be difficult to incorporate, not so much because of length but more because of lack of clearance between upper and lower levels.

If I decide to develop the upper level as a terminus branch line, I'll need somehwere to turn the locos ready for their return trip.  I could possibly move the turntable to the front left hand corner behind the door………………

On the other hand, plans for the upper level are still somewhat fluid ………………………..

I now need to order some more electrofrog points - which seems silly given that I have a whole box full of dead frog versions ………………..

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

If I decide to develop the upper level as a terminus branch line, I'll need somehwere to turn the locos ready for their return trip.  I could possibly move the turntable to the front left hand corner behind the door………………

I dunno, boys and their turntables! I'm just the same though with an amitious plan of my own.

Can you make do with a run round loop Peter, rather than turning? Tank locos need less space, but maybe you can borrow a good idea from the GWR with a space saving engine traverse table a la Birmingham Moor Street?

Moor Street Station: A view of the completed terminus building and the bay at the end of platform 2 with its traversing table in 1914
Moor Street Station: Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Prairie' No 6152 is seen standing on the traverser as it is being moved from platform 2 to platform 1 on the right

Hopefully the TT can squeeze in, so fingers crossed et bon courage,

Bill

Peter, you could always go to diesel locos and saving turning them ...... :pedal

[user=606]Sol[/user] wrote:

Peter, you could always go to diesel locos and saving turning them …… :pedal

:Red Card :Red Card :Red Card :Red Card

Wash your mouth out Mr. Solly !!!

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

If I decide to develop the upper level as a terminus branch line, I'll need somehwere to turn the locos ready for their return trip.  I could possibly move the turntable to the front left hand corner behind the door………………

I dunno, boys and their turntables! I'm just the same though with an amitious plan of my own.

Can you make do with a run round loop Peter, rather than turning? Tank locos need less space, but maybe you can borrow a good idea from the GWR with a space saving engine traverse table a la Birmingham Moor Street?

https://warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrms1711.htm
https://warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrms1223.htm

Hopefully the TT can squeeze in, so fingers crossed et bon courage,

Bill

That's a very neat bit of kit Bill.  The mind boggles about how on earth I'd build one in 4mm Scale - or in fact, any scale …………….

I'm hovering between having the high level station as a small branch line terminus and a full blown urban station.  I'm not convinced I have enough space to have a rural scene although Doug's mill is a superb start.  My mind's eye sees a shed twice the size of the one I've got ……………………………….

Its a portacabin. . . Dont they just bolt together ?  :cool wink

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

[user=606]Sol[/user] wrote:

Peter, you could always go to diesel locos and saving turning them …… :pedal

:Red Card :Red Card :Red Card :Red Card

Wash your mouth out Mr. Solly !!!

Autocoach comes to mind,  but I think they were mainly on the Green Wet and Rusty.


Ed