Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I have been working on the hidden track plan today and the problem of the Peco Curved Point reared its ugly head. For those who may not have experienced this, the geometry of the curved point is poorly executed. There are two straight bits, one at each end, which throw off any careful alignment on plan to the actual track layout. I found this out on Penmaenpool so I had hoped not to use curved points except where it would not matter. But no matter how much space you may have, there will always have to be a compromise. (Some adjustments can be butchered into the point but I prefer not to do that).

In this case I had hoped to put four tracks representing Snow Hill and insure that all radii were equal to or more than 1800mm (6ft approx). Hidden tracks must be as well laid, if not better, than those out in the open, so I spent most of today working on this problem and ended up with the realization that I could fit three concentric semicircular tracks in but not four. The solution I came up with is to have the centre line available to both Up and Down lines. In some ways this is a better operational solution but storage of trains out of sight is cut by half.

I should add here that if I was ten years younger I would be using Templot and making my own track. Peco track is, for me, a compromise.

In consequence I am going to invoke Rule 1 (again) and put in a couple of coach sidings, one adjacent to the Platform 3 release road (where the Goods Shed was in real life) and the other in the goods "hoist roads" adjacent to the main line.. Coaches were often stored in one of the three hoist roads, though they may have been full brakes and parcel vans, it is hard to tell.

Here is half of the plan, again using my drone camera:

IMG_0216.JPG

I am using AnyRail 6 to print off the plans. It is reasonable software and does at least have the capability to flag any part of a flexi curve that doesn't meet the 1800mm rule. So I have some confidence my largest engines should not derail when out of sight.

The tracks are purposefully kept apart, no 6ft rule in the hidden area. At each end the centre track can be switched to either Up or Down running lines out in the open. And no curved points!
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Cork and track laying has started and I am on schedule for a complete oval before the end of the week. Maybe more. Then I stop for a break as Mrs. A returns. Thank you Adrian for the news that Vimeo should work, I will record early circuits of the oval and we will see what happens.

Another question, how do people take movies from the track? Is this GoPro in action? Andrew Pearce on Gauge O Guild recently posted his April monthly movie of Bath Green Spa and the effect is very impressive. Another movie I saw some time ago is posted on Lee Marsh's web site of double headed Jubilees taken from a "window" in the first coach, though the "cameraman" was leaning out quite a long way! The Jubilees start at 3.13 minutes into the movie.

Paul
 

simond

Western Thunderer
Paul

a Go-Pro fits on a suitable wagon, within gauge, if you take it out of its housing.

There are some rather natty transmitting cameras available now from the drone market, as well as some remarkable things which we saw in a shop I can only describe as "owned and operated by Q" in Akiharbara last summer. Small is not an issue! :)

a quick google found these on Amazon - many similar products available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makerstack...ocphy=9045105&hvtargid=pla-855075010232&psc=1

atb
Simon
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Paul

a Go-Pro fits on a suitable wagon, within gauge, if you take it out of its housing.

There are some rather natty transmitting cameras available now from the drone market, as well as some remarkable things which we saw in a shop I can only describe as "owned and operated by Q" in Akiharbara last summer. Small is not an issue! :)

a quick google found these on Amazon - many similar products available.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makerstack...ocphy=9045105&hvtargid=pla-855075010232&psc=1

atb
Simon
Wow, Simon, who needs a GoPro when "Q" is around! Many thanks, I will have to expand on this research. All the model shops around here focus on airplanes and drones so I can take a look but on line is probably the way to go.

Paul
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
By the way, I don’t have a drone camera - see earlier posts - it’s only a tall step ladder.

The cork is all laid for the oval and one loop’s track has been laid. But I still need to wire up two points and some/all of the yard long tracks before I can bring out the video equipment. Still, I have three days left before the deadline!

I am already thinking about the platform area, designing traversers and hoists, etc.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Looking at traverser options, there are kits for oo and n gauge here. They confirm the basis for my design with a screw drive underneath a prototype model as shown on warwickshirerailways.com. I would not use either MDF or deal for the framework, probably 15mm ply and brass strip with an inert base for the traverser, perhaps printed circuit board on tufnol, not sure. I will be leaning on the experience of the turntable design and build. The stepping motor might do the job but if it is also used for n gauge then probably not. Gauge O locos weigh a lot more.

The hoist could use some form of screw drive as well, only mounted vertically. My “jack of all trades” mentality is intrigued.
 

simond

Western Thunderer
Paul,

A stepper with a ballscrew (or a pair of ballscrews) will handle anything you’re likely to need. Arduinos are easy to interface with steppers (have a look at my Arduino thread in the other place) using an A4988 driver chip.

Drop me a pm if you want a chat about it!

Atb
Simon
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Simon

Thanks but at this hour my brain hurts as soon as I read Arduino! However I am willing to learn so let me think about this a bit more. I know what I want but I have little idea how to get there. I am sure you are streets ahead of me.

Bon nuit, à demain! Paul
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Early this morning I started to learn about stepping motors and their controllers and their application to the various moving items at Moor Street. I have often wondered about replacing the rubber belt dive on the turntable and this could also be included as a future project once I have mastered the process. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself and need to get the basic layout up and running. Phase I is almost finished and I know I shall want to get the "diagonal base" installed for the platforms.

I also re-read the original post and note that "ready to plonk buildings will be used". I am not so sure about that at the moment, though lots of smaller items can be sourced. The major station infrastructure, if it is to replicate Moor Street's ambience, must look like the originals as they were in the late 1950s. These include the terminal building and concourse, the awnings and the signal box. I will, after all, have space for the terminal building in all its glory and the signal box was a unique design. It looks as though architectural detail items will be in demand!

Right, the sun is shining for the first time in several days and I must resist the great outdoors and dive into the railway room.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Pete Waterman says that he chose Leamington Spa for his layout because he remembers seeing a very wide range of locomotives there when a child. My visits to Snow Hill and New Street certainly saw a wide range of representatives from other regions, and at Snow Hill I have good evidence that I wasn't dreaming!

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: Ex-SR 4-6-2 West Country Class No 34094 is seen standing on the down through road whilst ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48417 stands on Platform 7 on 27th April 1963

The write up under the photo explains the presence of the WC/BB pacific but doesn't explain why an 8F is double heading a passenger train from "the north". Well, perhaps it does if the train came from Manchester.

Snow Hill is not that far from Villa Park, scene of many a F A Cup semi-final. Both these visitors would have passed by Moor Street!
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Well. This evening I got a complete circuit wired, the Down main line, or outer oval on the model layout. I ran a couple of locomotives to test everything and noticed that my Lee Marsh Jubilee didn't like one track connection in the hidden sidings.

Blue language ensued because I test and test again the Peco rail connectors/fishplates and this one got the better of me. Anyway, I got it fixed and it is weighted down with a couple of wine bottles in the video which is being uploaded (slowly) as I write this. All three hidden loops have been laid but not every section wired up. Also, none of the Tortoises have been wired up yet so there is still work to be done.

One negative comment - the sheets of plywood are acting as a sounding board that I didn't have with the open space Penmaenpool design. However, a lot of scenic work will dampen this down a bit. Some locomotives will cope with the background sound, some won't, so there is work to be done there as well.

The good news though, is that the Jubilee managed the curves just fine, including the super elevated curves.

The video is more a celebration of work done than an art form, particularly now that you see my "drone camera" set up in the middle of the room and other junk just lying around.

I decided to have the Large Prairie debut for the opening scene but with only two coaches. I should have added at least a couple more to be prototypical.

A quick tour. The movie starts with the train in the non scenic area. The scissor crossing comes just before the doorway lift section. Then the train passes the "Tyseley Turntable". The siding with all the goods wagons is actually the entrance to Moor Street, as yet unstarted. Penmaenpool's engine shed is temporarily placed on the layout but I have yet to decide if it should really be there. The train then moves along the "back straight" leading to the south portal of Snow Hill Tunnel where the points are, then past the wine bottles holding down the miscreant fishplates and then back to the start.

While waiting for the video to upload I will now admit to a new purchase. The David Andrews Castle kit has been identified at 5070 Sir Daniel Gooch but a couple of posts back I mentioned it would be 5014 Goodrich Castle. Well, that's because I switched my reservation for Lee Marsh's Manor to a Castle and it just happens to be Sir Daniel Gooch! So there will be the opportunity to see two Castles working to or past Moor street at the same time. Not that the build quality will be the same!

While I am waiting:

Excuse for another loco....
Simon, the Finney7 WC/BB is already on my shopping list! I remember both them and the MNs running past the Southampton University Hall of Residence in 1964 before they electrified the line to Bournemouth. Last days of steam, sigh nostalgically!

Meanwhile the upload is taking forever, so it will be in the next post.
 

Compton castle

Western Thunderer
I can’t remember where I’ve read it, it’s in one of my books some where, when Southampton played Manchester United at Villa park about 10 trains ran bringing a lot of Bullied Pacifics to the midlands, I’m not sure why certain trains took the Stratford line via Hatton North junction but those that did had an 8F as a pilot loco, not sure why the pilot man couldn’t just ride on the Bullied’s Cab!
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I can’t remember where I’ve read it, it’s in one of my books some where, when Southampton played Manchester United at Villa park about 10 trains ran bringing a lot of Bullied Pacifics to the midlands, I’m not sure why certain trains took the Stratford line via Hatton North junction but those that did had an 8F as a pilot loco, not sure why the pilot man couldn’t just ride on the Bullied’s Cab!
By then I had left Earlswood, Steve, so I have to admit no knowledge of this. Interestingly, Southampton got their revenge in ?1975. I was working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Thailand when Southampton beat Manchester United in the FA Cup; Bobby Stokes scored the winning goal. I never saw the match but listened to it on the World Service and a friend even taped the soundtrack for me back in Singapore. I kept the reel to reel tape for years. During my university years Southampton's Dell stadium was just down the road and I went to every home match with a group of friends (because we could congregate afterwards to warm up and listen to the results in my flat). The first time Manchester United visited the Dell in 1967-ish the ground had a 31,500 gate. I am not sure where they put the extra fans because our area was no more crowded than usual.

Video 66% uploaded
 
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