Trailer layout - time for a change?

[tramcar trev]

I am impressed with the trailer and the extended draw bar. Your lucky you live where you live, if you lived here you would not be allowed to make mods to the trailer without numerous "engineers reports" to ensure your "towed vehicle" complies with the ADR's then you would have to be a licenced person to do the work.....
Great work!

I was thinking of building a short street around 3metres long with the remaining ornate traction poles I have with a terminus at each end to take to exhibitions..... Then I woke up and reality kicked in and I realised I had not got this tramway running let alone worry about attending exhibitions....

 

[Gizzy]

From what I've got now, I'd lose over 20 feet of straight track. The station are is the worse for this - I could get a three coach train on the front line, a two coach on the passing loop, and next to nothing on the other tracks.

What do you think?

I'm probably a bit late with this given that you are now extending the trailer, but if you put the points on the curve, you can effectively lengthen the loops.

I've done a diagram to explain; on one side the points are positioned in the middle of the curve and on the other, at the end. You could also put the point at the other end of the curve, closer to the long straight section, but this shortens the loop.

The points are R1 and the grid squares are 300mm (1 ft)....

 

[trammayo]

Your welding looks nice, Mick!
Mine always used to look like I had stood three feet away and thrown the weld metal at the joint with a putty knife!
Are you going to reuse the back and front panels of the trailer body, and extend the side panels?

Alec - you are two kind - I've done my share of bird muck welding (and can still achieve it without a great deal of effort!
Problem is, the maximum metal thickness (chassis) is 2.5mm and the rest is 1.5mm! "Thar she blows" doesn't really mean I'm having a whale of a time - just lingered a microsecond too long!

Yes. Im hoping to use panelling again. The end shutters will go back in the extended frame, and the side will need the two existing ones moving along and one new one making.

Thank you for your comments Mike. Overcoming obstacles? Making a rod for my own back sometimes. Hopefully it will be worth it! Also, without having to demount everything at each show, I can improve on the scenery and make life easier.

 

[trammayo]

Hi Trev - thanks for your comments! I think the EU (or the way it's going) will be just as bad as your neck of the woods. Regulations, more regs, etc. I try and comply with the regs just for a quite life!

WEll it wont'be too long before you inaugurate a regular tram service - so why not build a portable line? I enjoy talking to peope at shows. Its great craic

 

[trammayo]

From what I've got now, I'd lose over 20 feet of straight track. The station are is the worse for this - I could get a three coach train on the front line, a two coach on the passing loop, and next to nothing on the other tracks.

What do you think?

I'm probably a bit late with this given that you are now extending the trailer, but if you put the points on the curve, you can effectively lengthen the loops.

I've done a diagram to explain; on one side the points are positioned in the middle of the curve and on the other, at the end. You could also put the point at the other end of the curve, closer to the long straight section, but this shortens the loop.

The points are R1 and the grid squares are 300mm (1 ft)....

Hi Gizzy - yes I see what you mean! But, in my case, I wanted the running lines to the viewing side of the trailer - and in a 14ft long trailer the 'return' lines were extremely short. On my layout, with the drop down end boards, there is room for a reasonable length train on the return - as welll as the long straight at the front (and the back out of direct view).

As I only run analogue it would also be hard work operating two way. But thanks for your thoughts

 

[trammayo]

Well the weather wasn't as bad as forecast. There were a few drops of rain and a nuisance wind but I managed to get quite a bit done in the end (spent 10 hours today on it)

First off is how it looked yesterday evening after stripping everything off the end and starting on the framework. ...

Of course, with and open end, it had to be covered up. The breeze made it hard work and in the end I got a six foot length of timber and put it on the roof to hold the sheet down...

Today I needed to get busy. The work already undertaken either needed welding underneath or the the undersides painting in bitumen. During the strong winds a couple of weeks ago, the trailer was tipped up by the gales. That gave me an idea, so a "controlled" tip up was undertaken! ....

The stepladder isn't carrying more than a few ounces - the trailer is finely balanced - but there was plenty of room to weld and paint...

Once that task was comleted and the trailer returned to "as was", I made some spacers and welded then in - thus further strengthening the frame ....

After lunch, I set to and started tacking the frame together. The rain did stop me for a little while when all the electrical things had to be put in the shed. My brother paid a visit and lelped with the tape measure and holding lengths of metal. etc. After another bout of rain, he left, then it dried up so I got the basic framework extension up. It still needs to be squared up and braces inserted but you get the idea,,,,,

Then it was time to try and sheet it over again for another night.

 

[tramcar trev]

Hi Trev - thanks for your comments! I think the EU (or the way it's going) will be just as bad as your neck of the woods. Regulations, more regs, etc. I try and comply with the regs just for a quite life!

WEll it wont'be too long before you inaugurate a regular tram service - so why not build a portable line? I enjoy talking to peope at shows. Its great craic

A chap who was a close personal friend and confidant made the suggestion that a portable tramway would be good.... When they take me to the "War Veterans Home" he says I could take it with me....

 

[playmofire]

A good day's work there, Mick. Well done!

 

[trammayo]

WEll it wont'be too long before you inaugurate a regular tram service - so why not build a portable line? I enjoy talking to peope at shows. Its great craic

A chap who was a close personal friend and confidant made the suggestion that a portable tramway would be good.... When they take me to the "War Veterans Home" he says I could take it with me....

Well let's hope that it will be many more years before you get taken there Trev. But its always a good idea to have a second string to your bow

 

[trammayo]

Thanks Gordon. It's rained all night, still raining (but not as heavy) maybe I'll take it easier today.

 

[playmofire]

Thanks Gordon. It's rained all night, still raining (but not as heavy) maybe I'll take it easier today.

Sounds a good idea. Mull over what you've achieved so far and relax.

 

[trammayo]

Thanks Gordon. It's rained all night, still raining (but not as heavy) maybe I'll take it easier today.

Sounds a good idea. Mull over what you've achieved so far and relax.

It sounded good to me too. I did mull things over and thought "So+ it! I'll cut some metal in the shed" So I have - but now all the raw ends need fettling. Still, when done, things will be ready for the dry weather (some hope).

 

[Gizzy]

From what I've got now, I'd lose over 20 feet of straight track. The station are is the worse for this - I could get a three coach train on the front line, a two coach on the passing loop, and next to nothing on the other tracks.

What do you think?

I'm probably a bit late with this given that you are now extending the trailer, but if you put the points on the curve, you can effectively lengthen the loops.

I've done a diagram to explain; on one side the points are positioned in the middle of the curve and on the other, at the end. You could also put the point at the other end of the curve, closer to the long straight section, but this shortens the loop.

The points are R1 and the grid squares are 300mm (1 ft)....

Hi Gizzy - yes I see what you mean! But, in my case, I wanted the running lines to the viewing side of the trailer - and in a 14ft long trailer the 'return' lines were extremely short. On my layout, with the drop down end boards, there is room for a reasonable length train on the return - as welll as the long straight at the front (and the back out of direct view).

As I only run analogue it would also be hard work operating two way. But thanks for your thoughts

Noticed later that the picture I posted was only half of whay I meant to post.

So here's a re-sized version....

 

[trammayo]

From what I've got now, I'd lose over 20 feet of straight track. The station are is the worse for this - I could get a three coach train on the front line, a two coach on the passing loop, and next to nothing on the other tracks.
What do you think?

I'm probably a bit late with this given that you are now extending the trailer, but if you put the points on the curve, you can effectively lengthen the loops.

I've done a diagram to explain; on one side the points are positioned in the middle of the curve and on the other, at the end. You could also put the point at the other end of the curve, closer to the long straight section, but this shortens the loop.
The points are R1 and the grid squares are 300mm (1 ft)....

Hi Gizzy - yes I see what you mean! But, in my case, I wanted the running lines to the viewing side of the trailer - and in a 14ft long trailer the 'return' lines were extremely short. On my layout, with the drop down end boards, there is room for a reasonable length train on the return - as welll as the long straight at the front (and the back out of direct view).
As I only run analogue it would also be hard work operating two way. But thanks for your thoughts

Noticed later that the picture I posted was only half of whay I meant to post.
So here's a re-sized version....

Hi Gizzy. I assumed the other half was a mirror image. It was just that I thought there might be a conflict of train movements if they were running in opposite directions. At the moment there is (was/and will be) a continuous track around the trailer with a return loop at either end to give a double track at the front with two passing loops parallel to the station and an inner loop inside one end.

I need to draw it really don't I before I confuse myself! But my layout gives me the ability to have one train running continuously whilst there are four other trains already awaiting dispatch.

 

[trammayo]

The track layout - (very) rough sketch!

Also managed to cut to correct size, the bracing struts required to finish off the end framework. Had to put more ropes around the tarp (after taking the pic below) to stop the forecasted winds doing their bit.

 

[tramcar trev]

Mick, have you ever thought of making "Custom" trailers for a living?

 

[trammayo]

Mick, have you ever thought of making "Custom" trailers for a living?

NO It's bad enough doing things for myself (wouldn't like to work for somebody like me )

 

[trammayo]

I did better than expected yesterday - despite having to put the welder away twice because of the rain - and got the framework finished. Managed a coat of primer (and it rained immediately after I put the brush down!). I used Wilko's red oxide as I can't get anything like it over here - have gallons of stuff for the hayshed but not good for normal painting!

Now ready for flooring and panelling.

Sun shining an hour ago. Great, get rid of the essential chores, feeding goats etc., and get the floor to fit, lift it up again and coat the underside (and the rest of the "to be hidden" framework) with bitumen.

So, dry off the wet stuff (don't want the wood getting wet prior to treatment), and accomplished this. Then it rained again.

 

[playmofire]

It looks a very sturdy and sound construction, Mick.

How many goats do you have, btw?

 

[trammayo]

Hi Gordon - thanks. I hope it will survive the roads of Mayo (they get better - sometimes - out of the county)!

Just three. Two Billy's (well they were before the nutcrackers) and one nanny. We were going to breed and get milk but, she got mastitis so that put paid to that. The one with the horns and the female are twins. The lighter coloured one was our first pet.

They've decimated the trees and eat brambles like slurping spagett. Grass has been in short supply so have to give them hay and a supplementary feed.