My fledgling railroad

[5H17]

Note to self. Build a proper bridge.
I have already incurred the wrath of one signalman for my unorthodox use of railway equipment!

 

[5H17]

Made some real progress today. Finally picked up a bunch of 4.8m treated boards, spent an age messing with various alignments and geometry, and things started taking shape

Even SWMBO has got involved today. Finished painting the shed for me, and started on the fence

 

[Shawn]

What a difference from the first post/picture. The stump: why not cut a whole through it and run the tracks through it. Looking great

 

[5H17]

Thanks Shawn. I actually feel like im getting somewhere now.
We gave up with the stump. Dug down about 4 feet all round it, and STILL the mini digger wouldnt shift it! Gave up and cut it off at ground level eventually, but theres bits of it still standing proud.

Those boards are actually level, believe it or not. The fall on the garden is slightly more than I thought. That actually works quite well for my chosen track plan, as the track laid directly at ground level has a very natural fall for the dive-under.

Will get a load more done today I hope.

 

[Mez]

Amazing progress.
How long before the first test?

 

[trammayo]

Quite some line - been looking at your thread and keeping up with your progress - like what your'e doing. You'll have a decent run there! Keep up the good work.

Mick

 

[5H17]

Amazing progress.
How long before the first test?

Well.....it *might* even be today. Its by no means ready, and still loads to do, but i just KNOW that once ive got a full figure of 8 laid im not going to be able to resist the temptation hehe.

 

[5H17]

Quite some line - been looking at your thread and keeping up with your progress - like what your'e doing. You'll have a decent run there! Keep up the good work.

Mick

Thanks Mick. Appreciate the comments.
The only thing im not entirely happy with at the moment is how the gradient on the reverse loop is going to work out.
(the reverse loop is the right hand one out of the tracks laid on the floor)

Thats got to go under the dive-under, and then back up to rejoin the upper line on the far right (which goes to the shed). Its quite a grade, which I dont really want. Some more fettling required to get minimise that. Thats todays project

 

[Hofabooz]

Hi Dave

Looking great is always good to see the start of a new railway.
Can't wait to see where it goes as it grows

Top Job keep the pic's coming


Regards


Mark

 

[5H17]

Thanks Mark.
This may take a while. I just cant get these gradients how I want them. Grrr.
Ill keep moving stuff around, and sooner or later itll just come to me in a flash of inspiration (or perspiration....its bloody hot out there today!)

 

[robsmorgan]

Its a bit juddery on my track....diagnosis dirty track after some indoor testing.
Thats a day on my hands and knees for me tomorrow then. Mind you ive done well...that track has been in my shed for 18 months.

Congratulations on sticking to the job, looks as though it's going to be well worth your efforts!
I've got the same loco - but converted it to RC (mostly to cope with my return loop(s) .... I used to have real trouble with my attempt to model 0-16.5 outdoors!!! - No trouble at all now.

Regards
Rob

 

[5H17]

Yay! Sussed it

Ive modified the track plan (again!) and moved the reverse loop, so in effect it now joins the two ends of the figure 8, if that makes sense.

That means I:
A) Save track (a LOT of it!)
B) got rid of the severe gradient that was giving me a headache
and C) can actually turn trains while they are out on the run, rather than ONLY being able to do it on the way back to the shed.

The big box of 45mm offcuts I bought 12 mnths ago has proved to be a godsend as well. Saved me a bunch of dremmel time!

 

[5H17]

Now ive just got to figure out how im going to support it all, and get the boards cut :wits:

 

[5H17]

Oh and I must remember to disconnect the reverse loop before I put power to anything. Theres no insulators in it

 

[Dave Hub]

WOW, Dave thats a lot of work in a short space of time, After seeing how big your garden is in real life I know how much effort you must be putting in.

Some of us jealous types might say you've got to much time on your hands.

Go on admit it you've got a team of people working on this project!

 

[Tony]

See dave you didnt need johnnies track youve got more than god already i am very envious of your garden though just look at the length of them straights
Tony

 

[Steve]

Whens the open day ?

 

[5H17]

WOW, Dave thats a lot of work in a short space of time, After seeing how big your garden is in real life I know how much effort you must be putting in.

Cheers dave. Its definitely getting there aint it

Some of us jealous types might say you've got to much time on your hands.

Haha and thats coming from a train driver! Sheesh!

Go on admit it you've got a team of people working on this project!

Not quite. Just the two of us. I suffer a lot with my back and knees, so a mate of mine (ex landscape gardener) is doing all the heavy lifting. Top man he is.

 

[5H17]

See dave you didnt need johnnies track youve got more than god already i am very envious of your garden though just look at the length of them straights
Tony

Ayup tony. It actually wasnt the track I was after Youve got yourself a stonking collection there. Enjoy it
You'll have to bring some of it up here for a run sometime, when ive got it all level and straight

 

[5H17]

Whens the open day ?

Soon....once ive got it all sussed, wired, level, etc etc.
Note to self...but a BBQ!