A simple model tram layout.

I have managed to progress my dogbone tramway. Track is stuck to 3mm plywood, in this case 8 lengths each taking one length of Peco track. Idea is that track is not part of the baseboard so the baseboard can be used for other projects. I am more into model trains and trams than model towns and villages.


This is the track bed made up as a groove for the track to be laid in. The edging ensure the extra tight radii of 260mm is easy to lay.


This shows the track laid. It is the concrete sleeper version but at the ends so the sections can be more easily connected and disconnected I have used short lengths of Setrak. The longer piece of setrak is a gap i had to fill due to some measurement errors. Track is glued down using heat gun glue, really 3mm board is too thin for nails. As the track will eventually be filled in to represent roadway the colour varieties and the glue will be covered over. As will the wooden edges.

This picture shows the short ends of setrak connecting sections. Isolating joiners are used as part of the three rail automation system I hope to implement allowing up to four trains to follow each other around the circuit.
 This is a short video of the track in action.



I have also tried some model locos on it and was surprised to find that 0-6-0 tank chassis worked fine. I just expected the simple 0-4-0 chassis to work.

Work in progress. Next stage is a centre rail, it is going to be a modern version of the stud system. APS is the Althom system, using solid state switching to ensure that the track is live only under the tram. I have a number of chassis on which I intend to produce a range of free-lance bodies in various styles.

At least the track worked first time. Now that is a first, usually there is a break somewhere. As an aside I cleaned a bit of the track with some wire wool. This left a few 'hairs' of woll on the track. This lead to some interesting sparking displays as the vehicle first went around. No shorting but it looked good!!

Looking forward to your next text and photos 👍

Very nice. Look forwards to seeing the progress

Nice. Reminds me of the dog bone tramway at the Canadian Railway Museum in St. Constant, QC.  Goes around the various parts of the museum. 

Nigel

Centre rail laid today. Rail from secondhand lengths of track, much cheaper that buying rail. As track is to be filled in glueing in with hot glue gun looks messy but is quick and strong.

Used three gauging rollers and was able to bend and glue centre rail as I went.

Couple of pictures of track.

Nice progress, I wonder if by using old Hornby Dublo 3 rail track and isolating the centre 3rd a similar idea might be implimented for operating Hornby Dublo 3 rail trains on this sort of auto system. There was an article in R.M about isolating the running rails to provide a semi automatic tram running system some years ago.

I intend to try the automatic running system on this layout. To work the running rails must be isolated from each other so it is not possible with Hornby Dublo tinplate track. It is possible with Trix Twin track as that has the running rails isolated from each other.


The system works by splitting the oval into two sections and while one set of openings are opposite other the other apir of openings are staggered. One of the staggered cuts is usually fairly near the opposite cuts. I hope the diagram expalins it, it was drawn some time ago.

Hi, Thank you very much for the explanation, I did wonder about the rails in HD 3 rail after I sent the post. Regards,
Simon.

I first came across the idea at the model tram show in Manchester. Actual layout was a figure of 8 which allows three trams to run automatically. With an oval having two sections achieves the same efect, which is what i intend to try  out on my dog bone.

Some people fron on it as the vehcles have a sudden start, but a the low speeds trams travel at I do not think it is much to worry about.

This is a link to a site with more information and details:

Automatic Tram Stops

David

The Wireless Pointless Dog Bone Tramway is now operating on three rails. I have wired it up and my test tram, a Hornby Dublo three rail Bo-Bo chassis with various card bodies has tested it. Next step is to convert a few chassis to three rail so i can check out the 3 rail automation system and see if it works.

This is a short video of the current situation.[yt]dog bone 2[/yt]
 




The HD3 Chassis



1/76 scale body


AVT - Aire Valley Tramway  WPT - Wireles Pointless Tramway!


Weather is predicted to be awful next week so time in the windowless loft preparing the track more and/or creating 3 rail chassis.

Certainly different...