Best way to ensure connectivity for removable track sections

Ralphmp

Ralphmp

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I have a couple of bridges on my layout whose installation was approved on the understanding they could be easily removed when no running was taking place. They are currently connected to the tracks either side with some "bridge" clamps I got from Brian at Glendale Junction, and to date these have worked well in ensuring no connectivity issues.

However, being a clumsy so and so, I've found the clamps fiddly to use (I've lost screws on a couple of occasions) and the result is the "easily removable" bridges have tended to become more of a permanent fixture.

I've therefore got to find an alternative way of ensuring connectivity that is simpler for me to connect / disconnect, and I wondered how others have tackled this.

Thanks
 
Do you have a photo of the clamps Phil?

Seen something at Mole's, but whether they are the same ones....
 
Why not use some sort of push connectors ? Basically a male/female plug arrangement. The ends of the male connector lead would be soldered to the stationary rails, while the ends of the female leads would be soldered to the bridge rails. Then it would be a simple matter of unplugging the connectors when you want to lift out the bridge.
 
I used sliding fishplates when I had a removable bridge. Slightly looser than the normal grip but easily pushed into place with some long nose pliers. A little graphite grease helps the movement and I never had any connectivity issues either.
 
I'd have thought something like a miniature sliding bolt soldered to the side of each rail at the joint? Does the job of locating the rails and carrying the power. The sort of thing often used on layouts to locate and power traversers etc. in fiddle yards, and often made with square brass tube.

This kind of thing:
5.jpg
 
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I have some and they do work as I use 2 sets on my Lifting Section. Not sure why you would loose the screws as once fitted they need no manipulation of Screws? I have another Bridge that I remove on occasion and on this I have the normal Massoth Clamps, loosening them enough to slide them out of the way the odd times that I wish to remove the Bridge. However I have to say that the Bridge Clamps that I also got from Brian have worked well for me, in fact every time I operate the Railway they get used as part of the Line would be inaccessible without their use.

http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/RailClamps.html

JonD
 
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dunnyrail said:
I have some and they do work as I use 2 sets on my Lifting Section. Not sure why you would loose the screws as once fitted they need no manipulation of Screws? I have another Bridge that I remove on occasion and on this I have the normal Massoth Clamps, loosening them enough to slide them out of the way the odd times that I wish to remove the Bridge. However I have to say that the Bridge Clamps that I also got from Brian have worked well for me, in fact every time I operate the Railway they get used as part of the Line would be inaccessible without their use.

http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/RailClamps.html

JonD
Click to expand...

They are the ones that Mole uses, as I mentioned in post #2....
 
What is wrong with normal fish-plates, slacken them very slightly with a screwdriver so they are a tight slide on the rail and the act of sliding them rubs the crepe off the rail and keeps the contact. Indistiguisable from a normal rail joint, and keeps the alignment correct.. If they slacken off too much in use they can be re-tightened with a pair of pliers.
 
I found those clamps from Glendale work well enough even if you don't tighten the small screws. If you tighten them just enough so you can still remove the track vertically, then that seems to be enough to hold them in place and to provide electrical conductivity. I have two removable sections which have behaved well this season. It helps if the removable section and the track sections before and after are square and level.
 
What is wrong with a piece of wire. we are talking connectivity here. why not just jump a wire from one side of the bridge to the other, with a lead off to connect the bridge rails themselves.
Simples.
 
stockers said:
What is wrong with a piece of wire. we are talking connectivity here. why not just jump a wire from one side of the bridge to the other, with a lead off to connect the bridge rails themselves.
Simples.
Click to expand...
Yebbut - while I agree with the honourable gentleman, many of us decide on lift out sections for access purposes after we've got past the point of being able to bury a cable :confused::confused::confused:

I've got a quite long lifting section - motor mower for the use of - so I've used some Accucraft split rail clamps wot I happened to have in my bin. Now, I don't like the Accy clamps, because they aim to be universal, and are simply a wedge shape, unlike the Hillman clamps which match the profile of (LGB only) code 332 track. However, they do make a clamp which is split on the inside, so you can clamp permanently to the fixed rail, and release the lift out rail.

This has worked satisfactorily for me for at least, ...............................ooh ............................................



once :cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
 
Hi,
I have three removable bridges and use the Hillman Bridge clamps; the bridge drops into them and I ensure continuity by a drop of oil on the wider section where the bridge sits.


Gelndale sell them just search for 'Hillman Bridge clamps' having just done a quick 'search' for a longer life a wipe of Vaseline in the depression also works.

Yours Peter.
 
Thanks for the replies. It looks like I may have misunderstood how to use the clamps from Glendale - I thought I had to have one screw on the fixed track and one on the bridge track, but maybe I should have both screws on the fixed track somehow? (When I say screw I mean both the grub screw and the little Allen bolts)

If someone could take a picture of the clamps with bridge in place and one without the bridge that would be very helpful in confirming I've used the clamps in the correct / incorrect manner.

Thanks again.
 
I'll try and take a picture of the Accy clamp when I'm back home - Thursday or the weekend.
 
A photo >:)>:)>:)>:)

The lift out section just has plain rail ends that sit in the clamps, which are then tightened up for running sessions :nod::nod:

Blimey, the forum has been trumped, and is not playing ball

I'll upload the photo when it lets me do it
 
Isn't / wasn't there a clamp where the 'open' part had a spring-loaded ball-bearing (like a cupboard door catch) arrangement, that gripped / clipped-over the flange, when you pushed the track into it??
 
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