Ox Mountain Railway

[trammayo]

You're too kind Trev.

Actually, the station wasn't good enough!

After being left out for a few days in our moist weather, I noticed some 'bowing out' of the first few boards nearest the main line. It turned out that the first few boards had parted company - not with the glue, or the glue with plastic board, but rather the printed surface of the board had parted company.

I should have known better but I though I could get away with covering up the election poster printed areas with the woodwork. The other side of the station suffered no ill effects as the printed face was on the inside of the building.

Aparently, corrugated boards used for printing have a specially applied surface (which is weatherproof) - the expansion of the wood and the tenacity of the glue caused the surface to part company>

 

[trammayo]

During a few rays of sunshine last week, I managed to find a suitable home for my Durango water tower. I bought it off eBay as pile (or tank full) of previously assembled bits with some broken pieces.

I had wanted to put it on the main line near the station (as previously shown in "pre-station" days) but this didn't fit in with my current plans for that site.

'As was' .....

Current plans for the original site .....

The link line (or chord) was the only suitable place and I dug out the hillside to accomodate it. I like it amongst the vegetation and intend to build a small shack next to it (pump house?).....

 

[trammayo]

Looking back to when I last did something to the lighthouse (post 156) I find it hard to believe it's over three months I last did any work on it. Worse still, I had a partially used bag of cement heading towards terminal uselessness!

Having sorted out the corrugated tin for my new building, I had a look at the cement. It wasn't all hard but was heading that way, so I thought I'd finish off rendering and filling the stonework and general area. I had the assistance of junior moggie - who thought the mortar was for him to jump about on. Soon sorted him - confined to barracks for the duration. Here's some pics.

It was also an opportune time to rectify the lighthouse's slight list to port!

When the mortar is fully dried out, I'll paint the concrete to represent some greenery in the right places, and also make some walls to go round the lighthouse (continuing from the railings). Then I'll make a keeper's cottage and garden by the start of the bridge.

 

[simon@mgr]

You could have rolled him in it and had an interesting garden ornament

 

[trammayo]

You could have rolled him in it and had an interesting garden ornament

He was doing that himself

 

[trammayo]

Whilst testing for clearances in and around my new shed/depot, I took a few extra shots (and then I remembered I'd bought some S/H figures to populate this corner of railway.

Before I remembered! .....

..... and then I did .....

Also did some ballasting - not sure how long it will stay in position without PVA or cement. These days, there is no continuity on suppliers (best price and profit margin is the order of the day - not the quality!).

 

[beavercreek]

Looking really fabulous Mick. Your line just gets better and better. The buildings and placement are spot on.

 

[playmofire]

Beavercreek says it all, Mick.

 

[trammayo]

Thanks for your comments Mike and Gordon.

In the above pictures, the Big Hauler - used for testing the clearances around the new shed - is minus its' front cutbar and mounting brackets. This dilema arose when it nosedived off the bridge (the continuing bridge wasn't in place) - doing quite a lot of damage. Most of it was repaired using nuts, bolts and glue.

The tiny brackets for the cutbar were moulded plastic and refused to stick together. Left on the bench for a few weeks, I finally finished it off today. Galve metal was cut into narrow strips, 1mm holes drilled in after forming, a new bar was made from brass and the brackets clenched around the bar. An 0.8mm drill bit was used to drill the holes on top of the pilot and cut down pins were used with a drop of superglue. Painted in black undercoat the given a coat of satin varnish to match the finish of the plastic.

I had to test it, so made up a short train. Then rain stopped play. I took a few pics, ditched the worst, and the resulting two are the best of a bad bunch. I tried pre-focusing but this hasn't improved them!

 

[trammayo]

Its always raining when you feel like testing trains. Today started off ultra bright, then wet around lunchtime, then bright again.

I had purchased some box cars from forum members (two Aristo shorties from Steve - Big Jack and three longer ones from Steven Large) and wanted to standardise the different couplings. By the time I had sorted the couplings it was already looking dull but I wanted to see them behind a loco.

An Aristo 0-4-0 with slope back tender was chosen and off we went. Steven Large had also sent an Aristo caboose so I left one shortie as it was and fitted a Bachmann knuckle on one end only for the other. With a total train length of over 10.5feet it was hard to get it in view on the camera but I had a go.

The leading car is the original Bachmann one I have had since new ...

on the extension (outwards).....

.....returning ......

Outwards on the bridge - dark and wet .......

returned coming off the bridge ....

On the link line - not enough room for shot of full train ......

Coming up to the junction ......

Rain really did stop play. The loco slowed to a crawl even though the power was full on. Problem eventually traced to the tender (which uses track power for the sound) - thank goodness the loco was OK.

 

[Richie]

Love the station building Mick really looks the part

 

[steven large]

awesome!!! yes seen this 3 boxcars and caboose! look great on yr lines,......
glad u likes them...i like tht steam loco....

 

[playmofire]

Magnificent photos, Mick. It's wonderful how a bit of dull weather really brings the colours in a scene out.

 

[trammayo]

Thanks for your kind comments everybody. I could get totally immersed in the railway if it wasn't for domestic type chores!

 

[trammayo]

Whilst others enjoy snow(?), we had sunshine here. The dreaded white stuff might appear tomorrow so I thought I'd run a train for my enjoyment. The last time (other than testing) was October and only one track was in use.

So I set to and cleaned the track - the cold kept my own temperature down whilst I carried out this manoeuvre - and hope that all would work.

I got the anorexic 45 tonner out to pull a rake of freight cars on the outside track. So that worked OK in the main, with just a dicky connection at the points. If the switch blade was up against the rail head it there wasn't a problem.

Then I thought I'd give the Lil Hauler a run.

Then it derailed. The track had moved, opening up on a curve (insulated joiner). This was rectified and further circuits completed before an early lunch was heralded "It's on the table" (yes, we do use plates ). I put the diseasal away and some of the freight cars and hooked up the two shorties to the Lil Bash.

I'll try the high level line (I thought) - same coductivity problem at the points. I managed to get it go up the 1 in 30 before the problem (poor conductivity) repeated itself. So the last pic is where it came to a halt.

So now I definitely need to trace the bad joint. I received a nice 100w soldering iron for my last birthday and this will be put to good use when the warmer weather arrives

 

[garrymartin]

Nice pictures Mick, both loco's look very well

 

[playmofire]

Nice weather, Mick, and nice pics. The little one looks good on the rails.

 

[trammayo]

Thanks for your comments both. As for the pics - that's down to luck! Doubly so on this occassion as I had dropped the camera on the concrete floor and shattered the battery compartment lid! Need to see if I can get a spare! Meanwhile, its temporarily spliced back together with the added assistance of gaffer tape. :thumbdown:

 

[mike]

great photos mick, bad conductivity isareal pain, ive done the railclamps.. adding multipull feed wires this year too..belt, braces

 

[trammayo]

Cheers Mike.
My problem is that Mk1 version was single with long passing loop and 8 insulated (switchable) sections.

When it became double track (Mk2), there were still 8 (but longer sections).

Mk3, the high level trestle line, is fed from two (unswitchable) feeds at either end and insulated in the middle - and it is this thats giving the problem.

Mk4 with the extension across the drive is fed from main track and a seperate feed along the hedge side. I haven't tried this for a while.

I'll have to get the test meter out and check the joints - I have some clamps, so maybe I'll try that.