Suspended railway project

[Montblanc]

Hi!

After getting my wife's permission (thanks to her!), I started planning a suspended railway in our house. I will take some time, but this is where I stand.

The inspiration (a very beautiful but very expensive US product):



The plan (made with Rail modeller, on a mac):



The first trials:





It's a very simple wood construction, screws, nails and time? I will probably seek help of a carpenter to make the curved sections.
Your suggestions will be welcomed!

Jean-Pierre

 

[Phil]

Why not make it into a squashed figure 8? would mean you could have longer trains, and it wouldn't be as boring as it going in a circle all the time?
just a suggestion..
Looks great other wise

 

[Montblanc]

Yes, that was my first idea. My problem is that the smaller part of the 8 has to be made with R1 curves, due to lack of place. And some loks I plan to run will need R3.

 

[bobg]

Great ! Jean-Pierre, looks good. Would a 'diamond cross-over with slip' not solve your problem? Then the big locos could be kept to the larger curves.

 

[Glengrant]

Interesting stuff Bob, I see you are employing a rather similar method of suspending the track as I did, only yours looks a bit more professional. I'm afraid I didn't ask permission. I just said to her one Sunday, do you want to come upstairs for the opening of the hanging railway this afternoon? The WHAT!!!!!!!!!, she said.
There are snags, one is that I have hardly any scenery built for it. Also, the thing hardly gets used. I don't really have enough rolling stock to operate this and the one outside. I also would like to extend my outside line but can't really afford the track, so I look at this underused rail often, but it seems a shame to break it all up. It's not many can have two, albeit it modest, railways. Best of luck Bob

 

[Montblanc]

Glengrant, your railways looks fine to me. It does the job!
Bobg, please explain what you mean by 'diamond cross-over with slip', I'm interested.

Jean-Pierre

 

[bobg]

Glengrant, your railways looks fine to me. It does the job!
Bobg, please explain what you mean by 'diamond cross-over with slip', I'm interested.

Jean-Pierre

A diamond cross-over is like any crossover but with a shallower angle. The slip can be single or double. The slip allows the train to pass from the straight ahead track to the one on the angle.
Sorry looked for a pic I could legally nick and failed, perhaps someone else has one.

 

[Rob s]

One like this ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320759168742?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

[steve parberry]

One like this ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320759168742?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Just remember the LGB ones are still only radius ones so dosent improve the situation...

Do you intend to use both tracks together? if so make sure there is plenty of clearance

 

[bobg]

One like this ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320759168742?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Just remember the LGB ones are still only radius ones so dosent improve the situation...

Do you intend to use both tracks together? if so make sure there is plenty of clearance

Another method would be a cross-over and two sets of points (turnouts) linked to push the radius our to R3 or more.

 

[Montblanc]

Never thought of this solution! Thanks a lot. I'll try to visualize it with railmodeller.

 

[rpallwood]

You hae done a very good carpentary job very neat .Was the timber costly?Does the management approve?

Roger

 

[Glengrant]

Yes, I think that's what caught my eye J-P, the professional carpentry work, very smart, chic, one might say. Mine, as you see here, was much more of a lash-up, and I used sometimes MDF, sometimes ply, and as seen here, sometimes nothing. This shot is where on my layout the two lines are separating levelwise, so that when they emerge at the back opf the loop one track is above the other, this was because of space limitations.

Sorry, old boy, I seem to be taking over your thread, just a few thoughts, we don't see many indoor layouts, summat to do with the "garten" I expect

 

[Montblanc]

The cost will not be too high, because I'm using basic long pieces of pinewood, easily found in DIY shops. The curve sections will probably be sawn into 2 cm plywood. Basically, the whole process involves more time than money: cutting, nailing, sanding? and I'm definitely not a professional!
Glengrant, for the vertical rods, I might use metal ones like yours, instead of wooden ones. The trains will be more visible this way.

 

[Glengrant]

Yes, we, that is my engineer and I, felt that the metal rods were useful especially where I had an undulating section between the two levels. They were very handy of course in the over and under bit because one rod supported both tracks. They came from B&Q, I think they were about two feet, 60 mm long, must have been at least that, so long ago I can't now remember, and it was useful to be able for the first few months anyway to be able to adjust them, presumably as the ceiling was started to collapse. No, that last a joke (I hope)

 

[bobg]

In the Trade, often called 'studding'. It is available in many sizes, 6mm would be more than adequate, and cheaper per metre than 10 or 12 mm. Purchase from an engineer's merchant (Cromwell's. Others are available) and it will be a lot cheaper than B&Q. Put plain washers below the nuts to spread the load on the timber.

 

[Glengrant]

There you have it, the professional's advice, yes we remebered to put washers in to spread the load, all in all a satisfactory exercise which, of course, we never finished. We can run trains on the inside loop and outside loop simultaneously, at the same time, but the computerised version which was going to allow us to cross trains from one loop to another without collisions has never appeared

 

[Montblanc]

Well, at least you spared yourself computer problems!
Btw, do you know what computer specialists say?
"99% of computer problems have their source between the keyboard and the back of the chair."

JP

 

[bobg]

Well, at least you spared yourself computer problems!
Btw, do you know what computer specialists say?
"99% of computer problems have their source between the keyboard and the back of the chair."

JP

Not sure I can concur with that.............I don't even know enough to muck it up in the first place!