The Sweeper

ge_rik

ge_rik

British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
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I`ve seen these before on this forum and elsewhere but decided it was time I set about making one for myself. I know it`s not the most elegant of models, but it does a useful job. Would have been better a little narrower as the pulley likes to grab overhanging vegetation as it passes - but when I tried shortening the bottle brush on the Mk1 version, all the bristles fell out - so needs-must!

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HLW wagon chassis (with Bachmann metal wheels)

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A bottle brush with its handle cut off

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A couple of bits of brass rail and some brass sheet

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and a 12v motor plus 9v of NiMh batteries.

If it only lasts me one season I shall be happy.

Rik
 
And here she is in action!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSnByboLO0[/youtube]

Rik
 
Blimey. Wouldn´t want to get in the way of one of those. Great vid. ;D
 
And I thought it was a post about football............ ;)

Elegant it may not be, practicable it is, and if it saves your knees and back for just one season, be worth it's weight in gold. :)
 
I've blogged its construction in case anyone wants to learn from my mistakes. I'm sure some among our community could do a much better job - hopefully my fettling will help you along the way ......
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-i-constructed-track-sweeper.html

Rik
 
Absolutely brilliant ! You built a proper machine for a proper job...
 
Rik,
Super job, there is s prototype for this beastie. They used to use a similar thing on Tram Systems for Sweeping the Roads. I expect Tram Car Trev will be able to post a piccy.
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
Rik,
Super job, there is s prototype for this beastie. They used to use a similar thing on Tram Systems for Sweeping the Roads. I expect Tram Car Trev will be able to post a piccy.
JonD
Click to expand...
Indeed they did but not in Au. We had all manner of mechanical apparatus to remove/eradicate vegetation from around the rails but had no need for a snow sweeper as we have little snow falling on tram lines since the closure of the line to Mount Pleasant in 1970 ( I think)

here is one in Budapest.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm1PFx3ntAg
 
Fantastic, I really like builds where there is a real life function, its what seperates modelling to running a real, but small railway
 
CoggesRailway said:
Fantastic, I really like builds where there is a real life function, its what seperates modelling to running a real, but small railway
Click to expand...
Thanks - I must admit I tend to go more for practicability than for appearances - hence most of my model making has a sort of half-finished feel to it.
Now I've used it a few times I realise I'm gonna have to encase the works somehow - debris is starting to accumulate onboard.

Rik
 
and so the outer shell will also be there for a reason... i used to enjoy propelling out of steam live steamers back to the workshop with a battery diesel for this reason- some areas of my track are inaccessible and so it was a real operating function. i don't know why but i like this.

by the way if your models look half finished then mine are lucky to be a quarter..... :D
 
Definitely need one of those. Pain in the butt getting around behind my trees and bushes to shift debris off the tracks. Usually involves crouching down with various implements on broom-handles and poles.
 
Made a couple of modifications since the original post.

Using an O-ring as a belt (the elastic bands kept breaking)
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and added a shield to deflect the debris forward (some was propelled backwards on to the body of the sweeper)
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Still thinking about a body-shell - probably go for something like a guard`s van

Rik
 
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