Tinkers End
Posted
#211101
(In Topic #11534)
Full Member
East Coast Main Line - in the sun
Even though the building work (new roof) isn't complete yet I thought I would post the proposed track plan for my new layout and open it up for comments/suggestions.The new loft area will be 20m x 7m and I have negotiated 10m x 7m as the main layout area with a 6m x 2m extension to form the northern fiddle yard and access way. The main layout is a basic E shape with a descending track from the right bottom going back down the lower E prong and under the centre to form the southern fiddle yard. The basic idea is that trains heading south return from the south etc.The layout will probably utilise Digitrax hardware and Traincontroller software. All point will be Peco live frog on the main layout and Hornby insulfrog in the fiddle yards (just because I already have them). Points will be controlled via DCC Concepts Cobalt IP motors.
Been out here in Spain for over a year now and itching to get started on the new layout - just need to get the builder moving!
< plan removed - revised plan later on >
Last edit: by DaveH_Murcia
Posted
Inactive Member
An interesting combination of Digitrax and Railroad & Co.
Is there any reason for that?
Cheers
Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
Posted
Inactive Member
Are you using Firefox for your browser? This forum works best with it.(Having trouble including the photo - if it doesn't show please click view photos in gallery under my name on the left).
Cheers
Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
Posted
Site staff
Great looking plan :thumbs, but just wondering what radius the curves are, especially the reversing loop at the bottom of the diagram quest:
Ed
Posted
Full Member
Having done a reasonable amount of research on the web and then tried Digitrax Chief and Traincontroller for real whilst working on layouts for the Wonderful World of Trains and Planes in Birmingham I think it is the way to go. If you have any alternative suggestions I'd love to know as it isn't a particulaly cheap route once you get all the track detection in etc.
Ed
I am hoping to make the minium radius the equivalent of Hornby radius 4 although most will be bigger. The loop to come back the lower fiddle yard will, I think, end up with the inner track being the equivalent of radius 4. I could expand that end of the E prong to open it up a bit. I am planning to then run maximum gradients of 1 in 80 on the main line and 1 in 60 on the branch which goes through Tinkers End as it will only have short trains and DMUs.
Thanks for the comments.
Posted
Inactive Member
Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
Posted
Full Member
Here is a copy of the revised track layout plan. Note it doesn't show the northern fiddle yard which is on a lower level. The blue dots represent train detection sections.
On the topic of baseboards. Here in Spain timber is very expensive so I was thinking of using the C section steel chanel you can buy for stud walls and fitting an upright section inside a horizontal section to form a box section. I can then make 70mm x 70mm x 3000mm beams for around €6. I was planning to use this for legs and horizontal supports and overlay with a 15mm top of OSB 3 board. Not seen anyone do this on the forums - can anyone think of a reason this shouldn't be OK?
Last edit: by DaveH_Murcia
Posted
Inactive Member
Now I've finally started a model railway…I've inherited another…
Posted
Legacy Member
:thumbs;-):cool:
Owen
web-cam 2.2.74.174:8081
if the lights are off no cam
if the lights are off no cam
Posted
Full Member
Last edit: by spurno
Always try to look on the bright side of life!
Barney
Barney
Posted
Full Member
My plan is to simply stick the track down on cork with a Copydex type glue without the use of track pins. I have been told as this is more of a rubber type glue it doesn't negate the sound deadening properties of the cork quite so much.
Posted
Inactive Member
http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=14066&forum_id=21
It sounds like your idea should work OK.
Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
Posted
Full Member
Posted
Full Member
However I would welcome some advice if anyone can help on a potential track issue. All the layout was going to be code 100 as I had loads from a previous layout and new stock that I have built up before moving to Spain. Part of the layout is 4 tracks wide and I was planning to use peco crossings etc to get the left most track across the others so SL-E88 right hand to SL-94 crossing to SL-94 crossing to SL-90 double slip but I have read various reports that suggest the SL-94 crossing gives problems with stalling. The layout will be DCC/computer controlled with all points on the scenic section controlled by DCC Concepts Cobalt digital point motors including frog polarity.
One option I thought of was :
SL-E90 to SL-90 to SL-90 to SL90 i.e multiple double slips, although that means 4 more point motors and I am not sure if an SL-90 is any better than the SL-94.
or possibly change the points only to code 83
Code 83 SL-E8361 left turn to SL-U8363 unifrog double slip (3 of when available) although this would give me more work to ensure they are correctly lined up height wise.
Thoughts?
Posted
Full Member
I just thought I would post an update to my ongoing project. As you may have seen early in the section, it is a rather large layout especially given everything is being done by me alone. I managed to complete all the steel work supports and cut all the baseboard timber by the end of the year and layed my first piece of track on New Years day - progress. Anyway, here is a few photos showing progress to date.
This is looking at the southern fiddle yard which leads on to the east coast mainlne. There is a line to the extreme left which goes down to/comes up from the northern fiddle yard. Although it will not get used much it is allow trains coming from the north (typically full coal trains) to sneak back to the northern fiddle yard without going back through all the scenic sections.
One of the main stations will be on the left. The trains will sweep round the bottom section and come up the middle section. You will also see that the northern fiddle yard is located under the centre section.
This is the centre section again. The nearest edge will be about 50cm wide so trains will go up to and under the control station before going back down the other side. The nearer side will be just countryside whilst the further section witll contain a gravel pit, factories and an engine shed with turntable.
A better shot of the control station which will have a work top below which is the main loop for the east coast mainline and below this will be the run round for the northern fiddle yard.
Ok last pic for now. The centre section is on the right. On the left is the northen section. The cut out allows for a river with 3 bridges over for the tains. At the far end the trains go round and down an incline on the far left up against the wall which takes them to/from the northen fiddle yard located under the centre section. As I have said the idea is that most trains heading north will return from the north.
I have a shortage of various bits at the moment which are on order back in the UK for collection when we are over in March. Although many general things are available here in Spain there are certain things which must be brought in. Unfortunatey, living out in the countryside, using the postal system is a bit hit and miss.
Any comments, suggestions or just questions gratefully received.
Posted
Site staff
Don't suppose your looking forward to ballasting all that track
Ed
Posted
Full Member
Posted
Full Member
What a fantastic railway room…….I am very impressed.
As a veteran RR&Co addict I will be following your progress with great interest.
You mentioned in an earlier post that you will be using insulfrog points in the fiddle yards. I used some in Granby when I first started for similar reasons to you….I had them from an earlier layout. It was a false economy, I have been obliged to steadily root them out and replace them. They were far too susceptible to stalling and that can be a right pain with TC particularly in areas with difficult access.
TC is a big investment but you do get some huge dividends…….I couldn't imagine operating my layout, which is much smaller than yours, without it
Best wishes
John
Posted
Full Member
Following with great interest. :cheers
'Petermac
Posted
Full Member
I have decided to crack on with fiddle yards and non-scenic access ramps to start with mainly so I can test the inclines. All up lines will have DCC Concepts Powerbase fitted just in case it's needed - no doubt it will not be required but it wouldn't be nice having to retro fit it.
1 guest and 0 members have just viewed this.