Fallowfield Road 2019

[Chris Vernell]

A dry Tuesday, so I seized a couple of hours and my small circular saw.


First, a length of 2x6 to connect the trestle to the terminus. The slightly offset approach was not planned, but I think it will work out better than the straight line along the terminus edge that I had intended. Serendipity.


And a diagonal brace to help support the 24-inch overhang at the tree end of the terminus (see post #36).

 

[Chris Vernell]

Wot is this? Could it be ... track? Just seeing how things might fit. I have plenty of bits and pieces in the shed to make up a layout.



End of track, to station approach -- the last of my Aristo-Craft X-wide points --, to trestle across the newly mowed "lawn" ...



... to junction.
I shall be having fun with the Dremel metal-cutting disc.

 

[Chris Vernell]

Um, wot is this? A giant hole? Has a meteor hit? Could be, 'coz I see no dinosaurs.



Or is it aliens in a disc?



Ah, a cunning plot ...



Onward!

 

[Chris Vernell]

Further to the cunning plot ...



2x2 "beams" placed and screwed in.



Check to make sure turntable does fit. The lazy susan is 12" nominal diameter (actually 303 mm). I drew a 12" hole with a compass, cut it freehand with my old B&D jigsaw -- I had to run the 30m extension cord down the yard for that -- and cleaned up the edges with a sanding drum.



The moulded lines on the lazy susan make it easy to position the track.



And everything stained.
The turntable will be covered in wet weather during the operating season, and removed entirely in winter.

 

[Chris Vernell]

Laid track along the trestle and tested it.



Darn, it looks like I should clean the camera lens.
I did discover that I'll need to raise the terminus framework a quarter-inch or so to avoid a nasty bump at the joint between the trestle and the final span. bottom right in third photo. The problem wasn't obvious until I had the track fastened down. Fortunately, I have a good supply of plastic shims to slide under the legs.

 

[Chris Vernell]

Fettling the substructure to remove unwanted bumps in the trackbed.


Yep, the 2x6 bridge is now level , and a pair of small angle brackets that I found in my shed are providing line at the east end; they are screwed to the underside of the 2x6 but not to the 2x4 support.


This hasp keeps the other (west) end of the 2x6 in line and level, while still allowing easy removal. And the composite (Trex type material) shims have raised the terminus bench approximately 1/4" to bring it level with the trestle at the other end of the 2x6 bridge.


And the overall view.

 

[Chris Vernell]

Approaching sunset, I finished connecting the branch line from "main" to terminus, and tested it.


Crossing the fettled bridge, and reversing at end of track.


Heading for the quarry loop, and disconnected for a tad more work underneath.

 

[Madman]

Fettling the substructure to remove unwanted bumps in the trackbed.

View attachment 256898 View attachment 256899
Yep, the 2x6 bridge is now level , and a pair of small angle brackets that I found in my shed are providing line at the east end; they are screwed to the underside of the 2x6 but not to the 2x4 support.

View attachment 256900 View attachment 256901
This hasp keeps the other (west) end of the 2x6 in line and level, while still allowing easy removal. And the composite (Trex type material) shims have raised the terminus bench approximately 1/4" to bring it level with the trestle at the other end of the 2x6 bridge.

View attachment 256902
And the overall view.

Chris, where did you get your 2' level ? It fits nicely on the crowned 2 x 6..........The photo must be getting distorted on my screen.

 

[Sean.]

Great progress Chris !

 

[Chris Vernell]

Chris, where did you get your 2' level ? It fits nicely on the crowned 2 x 6..........The photo must be getting distorted on my screen.

This 2' level is one of those whose bubble gives different readings depending on which way round it's placed. Luckily, I've never needed it for a critical levelling.

 

[Chris Vernell]

And we has track laid in the branch terminus



Thanks to my stock of bits and offcuts from previous projects, I only had to employ the Dremel to trim two lengths of rail.
Looks like the gnomes are getting a quick start on the station garden.

 

[PhilP]

You got an offcut of 6x2 handy?

Don't want stock overrunning that turntable!

 

[Chris Vernell]

You got an offcut of 6x2 handy?
Don't want stock overrunning that turntable!

Yes, a stop is in the Cunning Plan.

 

[Chris Vernell]

And further to PhilP's well-placed comment about overrunning:


The Playmobil shunter's jackrabbit starts did give me a moment of anxiety when I was attempting to centre it on the turntable. In the end I used the Great Left Hand of God to make sure the loco didn't do a lemming while the Right Hand controlled the throttle -- and dragged the loco to the right spot..


However, the alignment with the approach tracks is good.


I decided it would be a good idea to provide support for the start of the goods sidings, so I replaced three 18" planks with 23 1/2" lengths from the offcuts bin.


Meanwhile, the horticultural gnomes studiously ignored the clattering, smelly beast testing the tracks.

 

[Chris Vernell]

No further construction Friday, but I did take the first train up the branch:


Circuit of the main line ...


... then flipped the points and headed out ...


... to reach the branch terminus.


Oops, I knew I should have made sure the points were locked straight. There, that's better.


The long view.