Buffer Stops, A Whistle Stop Tour Of Them On The Dunny Reichsbahn

dunnyrail

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Not sure how much you think about these important Line Side Accessories. With getting on for 30 Sidings on my line, they have featured both in my thoughts and in my posts before. This little journey is pretty much the full story. Much as I like them, LGB Buffer Stops while practical could not be the only ones to feature exclusively on my line for two reasons. 1 they are expensive in the quantity that I needed. 2 They are not so practical for my Peco Track where used. I have however featured some 4 LGB ones in the following Pictures. I hope that other the different types I have used and the Locations will give some of you food for thought when installing them on your line.

Gernrode.
This station has 6 sidings and just 4 actual Buffer Stops. The first two are recovered from the Ruschbahn and are simply constructed from Strip Wood. I think that Andy actually made these. Note they would probably not be suitable without a solid surface behind them as here. The next two in the Loco Shed are a simple Meccano Build with some more Strip Wood to join them as there is the possibility of a Short if Metal were used. They were used outside on my Old Line at Hemel for some 8 or so Years. Unfortunately they lift the Sidings a little and Stock tends to roll out when left. Not a problem under normal circumstances, but when the Shed is closed up the Loco Shed Roads are used for Stock Storage. Finally there are two Sidings outside that have no Stops as yet, fortunately the Shed is Tin so good Stop!

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Magdesprung
This is one of the few other x Ruschbahn Stops that I acquired on that lines Closure. This Type were made by both Andy and Myself. 2" x 2" Square Timber has been used. Roughly 3.5" long and cut at roughly 45 Degrees. 1 piece of Timber gives you two Stops. You need to cut some divots out at the bottom to allow them to slide into the Rail Gap. A hole is also useful for the Coupler Hook to slide into so that any Rough Shunts are taken by the Buffer. When screwed in place as they all are they are very Strong. However being Wood they do benefit from occasional Repaints.

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Alexisbad
The first pic is probably one of the most scenic and oldest of my self constructed Stops. It is made out of approx 10mm Strip Wood to a design that appear in a 16mm Society Journal many Years ago. A few of these spent a very long time in the old Garden at Hemel. This one has survived quite well and looks set for many Years Service at the end of the Loco Siding. The next two are Home Made from a Crib of a GRS one that I inherited from the Ruschbahn. They are made from LGB Rail for the upright and Peco Rail for the Diagonal. The cross pieces again being wood to small Nails through the wood and passed through holes drilled in the uprights. A point to remember for all stops is to get the Cross Member at the correct Height so that just the Buffer strikes it.

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Alexisbad Carriage Sidings
Though this is not a Scenic Section as the actual siding stops at the Shed Wall a Stop of some sort was deemed necessary. In this instance I decided to get a bit clever and the 1.5 x 1 Timber was screwed in place to act as a Stop. However when the Lift Bridge Outside is Lifted, the Timber can be dropped to straddle the hole in the Shed. Thus preventing any possible accidental exit from the Shed here. This can be clearly seen in the next 2 Pictures.

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Harzegerode
This Station has 5 Stops which are predominantly LGB as seen in the 3 examples shown. A further Stop is my own build and the description of that and my LGB mods has appeared in one of my Threads. The final pic shows an unashamed Bodge Stop utilising just an upright of Timber Strip Wood just screwed in from the Top. Nasty at this close up, so one day due for something different. Quite what it will get I am not sure yet.

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Silberhutte
This Station has the most Stops of any Station on the Line. It also features probably most different kinds. Somewhat unlikely for the prototype, but they have appeared for varying reasons.
First up a Ruschbahn Standard, but with some Strip Wood on top to clear the Coupling Hooks. Next is one of my own Sleeper and Ballast Jobs. Built for the 16mm Ridgemont Layout it is a square of Timber with Real Stone Glued on and Ballast on the top. Since being outside it has suffered with the Timber Rotting severely. The full story if the Mods to this were told here:-

https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/another-buffer-stop-on-the-dunny-reuchesbahn.301456/

So it has had liberal doses of Water Proof PVA slopped all over it and still survives. Being Glued in Place it has had the odd Rough Shunt that has unearthed it. This has also had some Strip Wood on top to clear the Coupling Hooks. Next the end of the Oil Siding is a strange looking Timber and Filcris Construction. It is screwed to the Building which is firmly attached to the Layout.

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Silberhutte Timber Yard.
This has two Stops. The first one is a Peco G Scale one as bought with some Nails Drilled through the Cross Members into the Uprights for added strength. Next up is another Ruschbahn Standard one with a Hole Drilled in for the Coupling Hook.

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JonD
 
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Silberhutte Gravel Siding
Another Ruschbahn Standard one without any provision for the LGB Hooks. Securely Screwed into the baseboard as there is a Big Drop after this Stop.

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Lindenburg
Has two stops, outside is a different Ruschbahn recovery, this one featured at the end of the Rack Line and is securely screwed in place again due to a Large Drop behind it. By the looks of things this one may need replacement somewhat sooner rather than later. The next one inside as another Peco Job.

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Stiege
Although this is a Fiddle Yard, I have used a variety of Stops here. First up is the aforementioned GRS Stop. A very well built and sturdy one indeed, which is why I have copied the design. Next up is a Standard Ruschbahn Stop. This one was looking somewhat worse for wear so has been thinned to fit between the Rails. Screwed in place at the end of a little used Carriage Road, I do not feel the need to replace it. Next is a real bodge job of Split Strip Wood at the end of the other Carriage Siding this was a pig to fit due to its difficult access, so will stay in place at another Little used Carriage Road unless it falls apart. The other end of this Siding has a LGB one fitted unmodified. It was bought cheep Second Hand and thus deemed OK to fit into another difficult site.

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The final 3 Roads are covered by yet another unashamed bodge of Small Timber on two Roads and finally another but slightly shorter Ruschbahn one otherwise unmodified but for the Hole for the Coupling Hook.

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So ends this little saga of Buffer Stops. There may be some changes along the way, but for now pretty well most things are adequately covered.
JonD
 
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Some of those bumpers could stop a train.....:wasntme:
 
I have both the LGB 10319 'standard' buffer stops and the LGB 10320 'oldtimer' bent rail buffer stops as well some of the Piko ones, mostly brought second hand. The LGB 10319 'Standard' ones don't always come with a buffer beam, so I have added these.

On Hardyard, I have used the Peco kit, adapted to fit LGB code 332 rail, and with the buffer beam glued at the correct height for LGB single buffer stock. They have a much smaller footprint and save space, where as the LGB and Piko ones are 150mm (6") long.

These are quite good value IMO, and possibly worth your consideration JD. They can be solvent welded for use out of doors....792574866768443aa97c5387a84cba3b.jpg
 
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Gizzy, yes the Peco ones are not that bad. The two I have used are on Peco Track. I was not that impressed with them when I first got them,but after the Mods I made with Nails inserted in drilled holes have stood up well. But I do not think I would trust them on Big Drop locations. The place where they might appear to be used at Gernrode where there are no Stops on the two Sidings will be of no use as that section is the Lift Section to the Shed so they would be pretty much too vunrable. I like where you have used them though and the Chain Fence is an inspiration. Must find a Location for some of that. What did you use?
JonD
 
I like where you have used them though and the Chain Fence is an inspiration. Must find a Location for some of that. What did you use?
JonD
It's some plastic meshing I found at the local MRC JD. Not sure of its provenance?
It just looked right, so I used it....
 
On my recent thread about my new Fiddle Yard an addition to the Buffer Stop Welter a Rock was shown as a Temporary Stop. Well it did have to change and a recent batch of help with a friends Garden Railway gave me some more Filcris Recycled Plastic Offcuts. As it turned out I used some of my existing Offcuts. But never mind. I attacked the problem today and resulted in a couple of New Stops both the same but similar to one that is looking decidedly tired.

BELOW
A couple of Pics of the Tired one, this shows well the fact that I like my Stops to have a design that does not put my LGB Couplings under Stress when in use. As can be seen from the second Pic this one is decidedly tired. Fitting the screw from the Top was not a good plan. But this was how it fitted on the Ruschbahn so was not changeable. The new one will be screwed into the end of the Board, recovering an inch or so of usefull Siding.
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This is what has been constructed for the replacement and the New Stop. Roughly 2x1 Inch Recycled Post. The Top part is some offcut from a Deck Board of the same material. Just screwed together.image.jpeg
The tire one has not been replaced yet, so its replacement sits in the Station by the Signal Pannel so it does not get forgotten about or lost. The old one can be seen Middle Distance awaiting the day when it has passed its life.image.jpeg
BELOW
The horrible Rock Temporary Stop. Does the Job I suppose. Fortunately the bit of Metal Angle being used to join the New Board of the Fiddle Yard to the existing Through Line had a hole in it in just the right place to fit the New Stop. Life does not always get that lucky.image.jpeg
Replacement now fitted.jusr screwed into the Wooden Board with a 50mm Screw.
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Second Shot from above shows how it neatly ends the Siding and maximises the space used in the Yard. The Rock sits discarded by the Track. When will the PWay gang return to remove it one wonders?

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JonD
 
I only ever had two buffers on my railway but they stayed a long time!
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Glad I found this site......help has been forthcoming pretty fast..........plenty of ideas to ponder and I sure like the humour that circulates round the topics....
 
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