PhilP
G Scale, 7/8th's, Electronics
Ox Mountain Railway
- Thread starter trammayo
- Start date
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
With my Dotti build approaching a conclusion, I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone! So the locos trials (and tribulations) became a two-fold essay.
The loco moved at a nice pace whilst the unloaded tippers bounced merrily along (and off). The level sections proved to be no hinderance, but a very slight gradient did cause wheel slip! Eventually, after a few gentle pushes, I decided on just three skips.
The two AAA batteries are delivering well and should last a while. I didn't get to do what I intended yesterday as my brother called round (and I lost the best two hours of the afternoon outside). But coffee and moans about economies and politics - putting the world to rights - made those couple of hours pass quickly!
It might stay dry today so I'll get cracking with bridge repairs, etc.
The loco moved at a nice pace whilst the unloaded tippers bounced merrily along (and off). The level sections proved to be no hinderance, but a very slight gradient did cause wheel slip! Eventually, after a few gentle pushes, I decided on just three skips.
The two AAA batteries are delivering well and should last a while. I didn't get to do what I intended yesterday as my brother called round (and I lost the best two hours of the afternoon outside). But coffee and moans about economies and politics - putting the world to rights - made those couple of hours pass quickly!
It might stay dry today so I'll get cracking with bridge repairs, etc.
playmofire
Registered
A number of good sets of pictures, Mick.
And Dotti looks fine.
And Dotti looks fine.
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
Thanks for the encouragement all!
Yesterday remained fine so the afternoon was mine so I took a look at the damaged bridge. After bolting some light angle to the underside of the deck, I set it up outside. The bridge's parapets need some repair and the deck could do with a coat of bitumen. The can under the bench was just what I needed. Unfortunately, what little was left, and hardened off!
Last time I had the extension in use, I noticed a 12mm gap when the rails were connected up. This was far more than I allowed for expansion so I think that, when I dug out the stream to stop flooding, the improved drainage has dried up the bank on my side and the extension has migrated a little has the ground contracted!
Anyway, with the main part of the bridge in situ I thought I'd run something on the extension. So the metal bridge was swung across the drive and the tracks connected. Again the RC BH came into it's own.
The stream can be seen through the hedge - the latter needs cutting back because passing trains are catching on it!
The return trip...
And regaining the outer circle....
All did not go smoothly though - there were a number of derailments. The RC Big Haulers are a little light on their feet and have a propensity to side step on curves if the superelevation is too much (or not enough). The track powered variants have received weights on their pony trucks - I need to carry out this 'improvememt' on the RC versions!
Yesterday remained fine so the afternoon was mine so I took a look at the damaged bridge. After bolting some light angle to the underside of the deck, I set it up outside. The bridge's parapets need some repair and the deck could do with a coat of bitumen. The can under the bench was just what I needed. Unfortunately, what little was left, and hardened off!
Last time I had the extension in use, I noticed a 12mm gap when the rails were connected up. This was far more than I allowed for expansion so I think that, when I dug out the stream to stop flooding, the improved drainage has dried up the bank on my side and the extension has migrated a little has the ground contracted!
Anyway, with the main part of the bridge in situ I thought I'd run something on the extension. So the metal bridge was swung across the drive and the tracks connected. Again the RC BH came into it's own.
The stream can be seen through the hedge - the latter needs cutting back because passing trains are catching on it!
The return trip...
And regaining the outer circle....
All did not go smoothly though - there were a number of derailments. The RC Big Haulers are a little light on their feet and have a propensity to side step on curves if the superelevation is too much (or not enough). The track powered variants have received weights on their pony trucks - I need to carry out this 'improvememt' on the RC versions!
playmofire
Registered
Looking good there, Mick, and nice to see your magnificent engineering works in more detail.
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
With a three day gap in my "train per day" operations, I finally got around to running a train again yesterday. Still working on the bridge - might even get it back in position today.
Nearest loco to hand was the re-chassied, re-liveried, ex-seasonal one!
I have a 'neutral' liveried bobber caboose somewhere (so that it could tail on any RR) - but cannot find it!
Need to get the extension reopened on a more permanent basis - I've loads of ideas how to improve its' looks!
Nearest loco to hand was the re-chassied, re-liveried, ex-seasonal one!
I have a 'neutral' liveried bobber caboose somewhere (so that it could tail on any RR) - but cannot find it!
Need to get the extension reopened on a more permanent basis - I've loads of ideas how to improve its' looks!
penylanpip
Registered
"- but cannot find it!"
Ah, a familiar cry here. All my stock has been packed away in anticipation of a still mythical house move for some 4 years now so each time I have the 'urge' to run something, I have to find it!
There is also the danger of damage by being unpacked then repacked a number of times.
No supervisors again, Mick? Perhaps your proposed extension work will bring them out - and it won't do your doldrums any harm either. Hope you've been able to shake that off.
You'd think Sandy would chew his way through the hedge to stand in for them meanwhile...
Ah, a familiar cry here. All my stock has been packed away in anticipation of a still mythical house move for some 4 years now so each time I have the 'urge' to run something, I have to find it!
There is also the danger of damage by being unpacked then repacked a number of times.
No supervisors again, Mick? Perhaps your proposed extension work will bring them out - and it won't do your doldrums any harm either. Hope you've been able to shake that off.
You'd think Sandy would chew his way through the hedge to stand in for them meanwhile...
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
Trouble is Philip, I have too many boxes
Yes, I recognise when I'm down but normally it only lasts a short while
And the helpers - the're fast asleep (until the fridge door is opened or a bag rustled!). The wife has to let me know when they come outside so I can shut the shed door - the monkeys can climb!
Sandy has polished off most of the hedges. This one's my windbreak - started trimming it this morning so I can run a train!
playmofire
Registered
I can find things until I'm old to tidy up. After that, I can never find anything again.
Rhinochugger
Retired Oik
casey jones snr
Registered
I'm forever searching in boxes for items that I want to run but can't find. I've been looking for ten Roundhouse wagons that I stored in a box. The box was placed in another box and short of emptying the shed of all boxes I'm blowed if I can find them.
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
Fortunately (?) the shed is my domain. I always put things in a safe place - after that it's anybody's guess! In the house, my wife will tidy my desk - and that's my filing system out of the window!
I can find things when I've bought new ones and no longer need to find them
It's funny you should say that! I have several railway books (like two of each title!).
All neatly stored I see. I used to put labels on my boxes. Trouble was/still is, I never end up putting things back in the same box!
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
Well the red bridge is back. Some of the woodwork is a little warped but it is good to go. The main bridge was joined up and tracks screwed down. Then I started trimming the hedge at the side of the extension. The hedge was encroaching in the track but the sheep netting (erected before the hedge regrew) makes the job tedious. Took a pic or two then a little moisture intervened so it was in the house for a cuppa.
More to follow...
More to follow...
playmofire
Registered
The repainted bridge looks very smart, Mick.
duncan1_9_8_4
UK Railway Signaller and Garden Railway Operator
If said it before but I love that junction layout!
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
Thanks Gordon. It should last a bit longer with all the Bitumastic paint!
Well Sandy the goat ended up with a nice amount of privet for lunch ...
And, after my lunch (and an invitation from the sun to venture outside again), it was time for testing prior to my "Train per day"!
Confident that the track was clear, the railheads cleaned, points set, loco on track - it was time to switch on the power. All seemed to be going well until the loco derailed coming back through the hedge.
Initial thoughts were that it had caught on the side of one of the bags of ballast. It had but, as I realised after the second time it derailed, it had only hit the bag BECAUSE it had had derailed...
The egine had hit a branch! Well it is a branch line I suppose ...
That's the branch behind the cab on the RH side. Now it is a tall loco - over 200mm to the top of the stack - so I offer that in mitigation. Back on track it then completed the last part of its' second circuit - but not before Mae acted as a baracade and derailed it for the third time ...
(I should have used the Train Engineer to control things. It chased her down the track until it derailed again! She was OK, if a litttle startled, and the loco was fine at that stage.).
Leaving her looking through the hedge and listening to the birds tweeting and warbling (no doubt trying to decide on the menu offered), I repaired back to the house, a cuppa, and contemplation!
The branch is important - representing six or seven feet of hedging I had laid quite a few branches to reform the sprawling hedge many years ago. Maybe it was a spurt of growth and extra weight of such that had caused the 70mm branch to sucumb to gravity - or maybe I hadn't run that loco on the branch. If I chopped it off, then I would lose a large chunk of hedging - plus deprive the birds of another section of habitat!
Restricted though the access was, I cut a notch out after a rough mark out of the branch (using the loco as a template)....
So, I thought (as you do) a practical test again! I had moved the loco out of the work area so I wouldn't accidentally damage it. However it was destined for a fifth derailment as I tried to extracate mysel from the awkward working position. One of my size 11 boots nudged it - but I managed to stop it hitting the floor. However, my lunge to save it caused the damage. It's in the shed with the slide bar glued back in position and cramped up to, hopefully, set!
Oh, and there are just two rail joints suffereing conductivity problems (easily sorted). Then, maybe, apart from running a train, it will be the eviction of the dandelions! But, for now, porridge is nearly next on the list!
trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
Thanks! Not all my rolling stock does though!
playmofire
Registered
Quite an exciting dy then.
Chris Vernell
45.29 N, 75.75 W
A Californical solution.
