BLR - A first attempt at a garden Railway

[angr607]

Hi Jon
i could not get the roof jig to work for me so in the end used rubber bands for my whr set.

ps make sure you don't get super glue any ware near the windows ..

Hi Chris,

Cheers for that, didn't borther waiting till the jig arrived so I brought some elastic bands and did it that way instead.

WARNING- Long Post​

Moving on, after yet more arguments with the parents, the line's been moved again but its finally in a form that seems to have pleased everyone. Its returned to a out and back type of run with one major difference, a balloon loop:

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So far all my rolling stock successfully makes it round the new route except for one item, but more on that in a minute.

As you may have guessed, I've finally finished my 3 Passenger coaches. I'm very happy with the way all 3 of them turned out and hopefully they'll be the first of a eventual 6 for my railway.

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And since last time a picture of my other layout was requested, here's Doveston. My 4mm/ft OO/009 layout set in North West Wales, Eventually:

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Since its taken so long to find a route that pleases the whole family, I haven't had much spare time to think about extending the route but since that's now happened things are starting to progress. I'm planning to extend the line in two stages to make it affordable and easier to manage.

Stage 1 is simply adding the most amount of running line to the overall mainline for the least possible cost. At the moment, it should add a further 16ft of track although there is room for 4ft if funding/space is available.

Stage 2 is mainly for adding more siding space to make my life easier if I invite like minded people round to 'play trains'. As it is the lack of siding space is annoying at times so a further 'Stage 0' might get added simply adding a new siding for holding a spare set of stock out of the way of the main running line.

And finally, onto the reason causing me so many headaches. Mostly on how on earth is the balloon loop going to work now. Mainly due to the arrival of my latest engine purchased from Neil Robinson via the private sales.

A few years later than I would have liked, I've finally managed to get hold of my own LGB Stainz Engine. Now the problems its causing are mostly ones of my own creation and all to do with the trackwork and asociated power problems. I'm using a bog standard Bachmann 1amp unit to get me started which I got split from a Thomas and Friends set which is proving to be very manageable. All the track is all either LGB or trainline45, most of it was obtained second hand.

As I've never run powered trains in the garden before (the BLR was only ever designed for Live steam or Battery powered engines), I haven't ever needed to consider:
[*]How's the best way to clean the rails without buying a expensive track cleaner[*]The easiest way of keeping the power flowing though-out the line without the need to solder wire each piece of track to allow the power to flow smoothly[*]The cheapest way of running the balloon loop without having to take a piece out to allow the track powered trains to run safely Any advice on the matter would be greatly appricated as I'm rapidly learning the hard way that G scale and 00 are two completely different when it comes to operation and maintainence as well as on the planned extensions the first of which should happen as soon as the required funds are raised.

Until next time,

Jon

 

[Neil Robinson]

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[*]How's the best way to clean the rails without buying a expensive track cleaner[*]The easiest way of keeping the power flowing though-out the line without the need to solder wire each piece of track to allow the power to flow smoothly[*]The cheapest way of running the balloon loop without having to take a piece out to allow the track powered trains to run safely Jon

For track cleaning use something like this http://www.my-tool-shed.co.uk/p5569...gle&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=allprods < Link To http://www.my-tool-shed.c...;utm_campaign=allprods to clean the rails.
GRS make a gizmo that holds two such blocks and has a universal joint with an attachment for a broom handle. This saves much grovelling on your knees.

Track continuity is greatly improved by railclamps, http://www.bachmann.co.uk/prod1.php?prod_selected=aristo&prod=13 < Link To http://www.bachmann.co.uk...isto&prod=13 but these work out to be expensive.
Keeping the fishplates tight and minimising tarnish with a conductive grease works well in the short to medium term and is much cheaper. You could also use stainless self tappers as mentioned in this topic. http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=1245&high=bonding%A0%A0%A0 < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...;high=bonding%A0%A0%A0

Always run in one direction in the loop and reverse the controller whilst the train is in an isolating section fed by a diode bridge such as a KBPC606 from Maplins, their order code: AR81C. The diode bridge ensures the train always travels one way regardless of the direction of the controller. The insulated rail joints may be made by sawing through the rails in the middle of a track piece, a little Araldite or similar may be needed to prevent the rails moving and closing the gap.
The controller reversal can be automated but as the other end of your layout is a terminus you'll always need to be at the controls so automation is probably an unnecessary complication.

 

[thecsmann]

or you could put datterys and rc in it but thats not a cheap option

 

[angr607]

Thanks for that neil. Fortunately the parents argeed to pay out for a Reverse Loop Set which has done the job for me see below:

As normal, the parents keep changing thier minds and since it seems they don't want to be able to see the line from the front living room anymore (annoyingly), I've had to change all my extension plans to something a lot smaller. Effectively, Phase 1 has been cancelled to keep them happy and after a lot of rejigging/replanning, Stage 2 has been changed moving all the sidings around the corner out of site of the rear windows. 2 extra 'phases' have been added in for the form of an addition siding for a new carriage shed (Phase 0) and a extra balloon loop to make a continuous run for the steam engines (Phase 3).

See below for the changed track plan for Phases 0, 2 and 3:

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On a slightly positive note, I did manage to get the Engine shed and Station (see here: http://www.gscalecentral.net/1st-attempt-at-making-Buildings-m236496 ) into the gardan to see how they look once in thier correct positions.

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Thinking about it, the shed may need to be angled away from the running line so that it doesn't get hit by passing trains but until the trackwork for the sidings that run inside it can be purchased and installed, I won't know.

Until next time,

Jon

 

[trammayo]

Best laid plans? You shouldn't have any clearance probs passing the shed - the curve in might cause problems if stock or loco has a large overhang though. Just test and see

 

[MRail]

...the parents keep changing thier minds...

Jon,
It gets no better with the passage of time.
We older guys have that problem with wives.

 

[angr607]

Thanks for the comments gents,

After a lot of saving up, I'm managed to purchase most of the track to finish the line off. I'm genuinely very pleased with it and hopefully it'll be a great line to run trains over. At least once the weather clears up anyway.....

Hopefully it won't be long before I can get my locos out into the garden and get some shots of the line in use.

Until next time,

Jon

 

[angr607]

Well this is 'slightly' out of date, time to correct that

After seeing the track packed away for most of 2013 due to mainly continuing frustaitions with the kitbuilt coaches continually derailing even on plain track. I've finally put them up for sale on various forums and auction sites although they're annoyingly not selling. However once they're gone, it leaves the problem of what to use for passenger stock. Originally I was planning to use the 'Emily's coaches' from the Bachmann Thomas and Friends range. At least that was the plan until the Newqida coaches became available again. I didn't buy the original releases as I had a feeling they weren't going to be good quality. That was until I saw them in the flesh on a friend's layout and my opinion changed instantly. However by then, they'd all sold out. So when they became available again, I instantly brought a pair of the Harz livery coaches. After locating a suitable Brake coach from German Ebay, I've finally got a 3 coach train which I know will work without needing constant repairs.

Actual running line wise, I've managed to create two separate running lines for testing/playing. A outdoor one along with a smaller indoor one. The outdoor one features 2 run round/passing loops, a balloon loop along with potenially plently of siding space included around the main station area. There are ideas to move the engine shed road back to where it once was along with adding additional stock sidings on the outside of the balloon loop plus a potenial extension into the garden (just don't tell the parents). I'm just waiting on some more Radius 1 curves to turn up to complete the balloon loop before I can start running (along with some better weather).

The indoor line is liternally a short out and back with a small siding long enough to hold either a single engine or a small wagon/coach. Ideal for testing if things still work but not a lot else. Although it is possible to run some short trains on it.

Hopefully I'll have some more pictures of the outdoor line once the trackwork is completed.

Cheers,

Jon

 

[angr607]

And today after recieving the rest of the track on order and waiting for the rain to stop, I've managed to get out and lay the new track along with some essienal testing. Despite putting in the Reverse Loop set back in the wrong way round, it all worked as planned which can only be a good thing.

Its safe to say I'm a very happy chappie with it all at the moment. Hopefully the next purchase for the line will be another engine or some wagons. Most likely either a Piko Harz Kamel/LGB KoF Shunter or 3 assorted wagons and a brake van all to go with the Stainz.

Cheers,

Jon

 

[dunnyrail]

Jon,
Just a little thought to keep domestic harmony. Try to find something to put your stock on rather than on the Carpet. It is known for wheels to get very dirty and LGB have been known to slop Graphite from the Brushes on to Carpets with disastrous consequences. Don't ask me how I know. Let us just say that I live on my own now and all the floors in my current House are either Sanded Wood or Tiles. You could look at getting a large sheet of Cardboard from an Art Supply Shop.

But keep up the good fun work.
JonD