New beginnings

The plan was to build Route Two, which will see Live Steam, with a minimum radius of R2. (Bigger than that isn't feasible.) But when I rebuilt Flamingo Bend with R2s, I didn't like the look at all. After some soul searching, I decided that this is primarily a tram layout rather than a train layout. So everything that rolls will just have to carefully roll through the tight curves, like on real tramways. There, I said it.

(I even ordered some R0 curves, radius 422 mm, to experiment with. I won't put them on Route Two though. That would be pushing it.) :worried:

I didn't photograph Flamingo Corner with R2s. Here it is back to R1s. I'm thinking there will probably be a tram stop here.


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Jasper said:
The plan was to build Route Two, which will see Live Steam, with a minimum radius of R2. (Bigger than that isn't feasible.) But when I rebuilt Flamingo Bend with R2s, I didn't like the look at all. After some soul searching, I decided that this is primarily a tram layout rather than a train layout. So everything that rolls will just have to carefully roll through the tight curves, like on real tramways. There, I said it.

(I even ordered some R0 curves, radius 422 mm, to experiment with. I won't put them on Route Two though. That would be pushing it.) :worried:

I didn't photograph Flamingo Corner with R2s. Here it is back to R1s. I'm thinking there will probably be a tram stop here.


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Jasper, don't forget with care, and short wheelbases, you can use live steam on R1s. My Accucraft Dora and my Mamod Brunel handle them well. My Caradoc will just make it, but it really doesn't like them.
I would seriously consider some fencing around your line to catch any errant trains though
 
Jasper said:
The plan was to build Route Two, which will see Live Steam, with a minimum radius of R2. (Bigger than that isn't feasible.) But when I rebuilt Flamingo Bend with R2s, I didn't like the look at all. After some soul searching, I decided that this is primarily a tram layout rather than a train layout. So everything that rolls will just have to carefully roll through the tight curves, like on real tramways. There, I said it.

(I even ordered some R0 curves, radius 422 mm, to experiment with. I won't put them on Route Two though. That would be pushing it.) :worried:

I didn't photograph Flamingo Corner with R2s. Here it is back to R1s. I'm thinking there will probably be a tram stop here.


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Click to expand...
As Paul says, most 4 wheel and even Roundhouse Lady Anne will cope hapiky with LGB R1, but speed can be an issue so proper careful control a requirement. SlowMo certainly help with Roundhouse but sadly not produced now. However geared locomotives will be your friends for live steam.
 
Jasper said:
The plan was to build Route Two, which will see Live Steam, with a minimum radius of R2. (Bigger than that isn't feasible.) But when I rebuilt Flamingo Bend with R2s, I didn't like the look at all. After some soul searching, I decided that this is primarily a tram layout rather than a train layout. So everything that rolls will just have to carefully roll through the tight curves, like on real tramways. There, I said it.

(I even ordered some R0 curves, radius 422 mm, to experiment with. I won't put them on Route Two though. That would be pushing it.) :worried:

I didn't photograph Flamingo Corner with R2s. Here it is back to R1s. I'm thinking there will probably be a tram stop here.


View attachment 328414
Click to expand...
I have a Roundhouse Fowler, it traverses R2s without an issue, and though all my R1s have now been changed, it did travel through them without issue.
 
It's a tramway. Slow and careful driving is a given. :)
Fencing's a given too, and I hope to have it all up before the first live steamer arrives. :sweating:
 
Having definitely finalised the first three metres of track (ha!) I turned my attention to the overhead wire. Remember how I fulminated against people building curved LGB overhead? Well, here's what I did:


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There was time left for a little track building. I cut some track to the desired length, which I'd never done before, and I was happy to find I had a good fit.


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Making the most of the late evening daylight, I built some more overhead.


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There's a new place for Broken Mast, too:


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View from the living room:

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Good work, there’s no such thing as curved overhead wire in real life, it’s always a zig zag, even on straights,


This is done to spread the wear evenly over the pantograph metal contact strip and prevent grooves forming which could then catch and rip down the overhead wires,

It’s quite a skill choosing/designing overhead wire runs as you have have to keep the wire within a certain area over the track, whilst the track is curving.

Dan
 
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(Drum roll) Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce my brand spanking new (cough) locomotive. It will perform inestimable service on all those unelectrified sidings and branches that may or may not ever be built. It is almost totally ready (e.g. the floor is incomplete). :blush:

Also meet the very capable driver and fireman assigned to this locomotive. Their names are Gordon and Gordon. You will find it easy to tell them apart: the one with black hair is Gordon. :nod:


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Jasper said:
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(Drum roll) Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce my brand spanking new (cough) locomotive. It will perform inestimable service on all those unelectrified sidings and branches that may or may not ever be built. It is almost totally ready (e.g. the floor is incomplete). :blush:

Also meet the very capable driver and fireman assigned to this locomotive. Their names are Gordon and Gordon. You will find it easy to tell them apart: the one with black hair is Gordon. :nod:


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Bravo! your grasp of the humour here is superb!
 
Jasper said:
Yes, I worked that out. :nod:

By the way, my response wasn't serious. It was mock-serious. So now I say in turn: Don't take me too seriously. :)
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I don't take myself too seriously.....:rofl:
 
Jasper said:
What? No one commented on the dual gauge track?
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I must admit I hadn't noticed, but I see it now that you've mentioned it....
 
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