Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Well, that last sentence in my previous comment prodded me into action this evening. Since I have a neighbour who plays the saxophone I don't have much remorse when it comes to switching on the jig saw or drill. Anyway, the plywood sheets are all screwed down but a few more side pieces still need to be cut and attached. Almost ready for cork but I really want that double slip before committing glue to cork, etc.

The first photo shows what I have been calling the "diagonal" baseboard which will take the four platform and release roads. The terminal building will be at the far end.

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A close up of the far end shows the two traverser footprints and the floor plan of the station building. No scale compromises here at all.

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There will be some serious surgery of the plywood for the traverser modules but once cut out I will add strengtheners and supports as necessary. There is going to be a slight "skew" between track and concourse but it will be in the wrong direction to the actual plan. I don't have a choice in that, it's all about bending the plan to fit the room.

There won't be trains running along Moor Street itself, by the way, the Jubilee and four coaches will be behind scenery. One of the buildings is still Marks and Spencers today, though not much else has stayed the same.

Tomorrow is another day.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Tomorrow has arrived and today has been a bit frustrating so far. I really do need the double slip to work out the geometry of the platforms and orientation of the two traversers. I am also finding it very difficult to fit a 4 coach rake into the longest platform and allow the locomotive to pass down the release road without rubbing against the rear of the coach set. Yesterday I showed the blank canvas, here are some with track placed in approximate positions.

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This design keeps all curves at 1800mm radii. If I move the double slip 20 cm away from the station I will compromise this rule but it is an option. The coach is placed as though there are three more between it and the traverser.

The traversers were staggered and I will do the same. Total lateral travel is approximately 8cm, I am allowing 9cm. The next two photos show the two traversers in their extreme positions. First with the traversers extended under the island platform:

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Second with the traversers in the release mode position (note that locomotives only "ride" on the centre track:

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The centre platform is wide because of the space needed for the traversers and I have left a strip between them for strengthening. I plan to build the traversers to sit in rectangular spaces laid with cross rails. These rails will be fixed to a thick plywood sheet larger than the rectangular spaces and screwed from below, creating a shallow pit. The drive for the traversers will be fixed under this sheet of plywood with a slot for a brass rod attached to the underside of the traverser and linked to the drive below. The drive will need to be able to move the brass rod sideways up to 10cm and have limit switches to line up with the tracks. A simple two button left/right control coupled to a red/green light as in the prototype.

I should add that small flanged wheels will be needed to roll the transverser along the cross rails. I am also thinking of using Tufnol sheets for the traverser tables.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
This afternoon I started on some theoretical solutions to designing the traversers, based on comments above. I have quite a lot of stuff in my "spares box" which may come in useful. Some 4mm bullhead rails for the cross rails, soldered at right angles to long lengths of printed circuit board sleeper strips in turn glued to the plywood base. I'll use 7mm bullhead for the actual track on top of the traverser table and I think 5mm Tufnol will probably be sufficient, so I will send an order off to Plastic Direct tomorrow for two sheets 600mm x 300mm. I have some C&L chairs to glue to the Tufnol so that will be a good solution. Detailing the top of the traverser tables should be easy given some excellent photos that are available.

The problem will be some sort of wheel to run on the cross rails. I may have to machine them unless a suitable small grooved wheel that straddles the 4mm bullhead rail can be sourced. Not all of the 9 rails need be used and only two wheels per rail will be needed on each traverser table unless there is a need to spread the load. I have some unwarped quality marine ply 15mm thick to mount the cross rails on so this should be sturdy enough once screwed up into the 10mm base ply.

Please tell me if I am thinking badly!
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Tomorrow has arrived and today has been a bit frustrating so far. I really do need the double slip to work out the geometry of the platforms and orientation of the two traversers. I am also finding it very difficult to fit a 4 coach rake into the longest platform and allow the locomotive to pass down the release road without rubbing against the rear of the coach set.

If you want to 'cadge/buy/steal' some more space for the platforms and as a suggestion I would (using one of your earlier photos) move the point I have circled green back to where the front of the van is. The goods loop remains as shown. This should enable the double slip and platform pointwork to move back as well. I don't know whether this would shorten the carriage sidings though.

It may alter the geometry slightly but this can be accommodated by possibly using two curved left hand points rather than Y points at the station throat.

Moor st IMG_0226.JPG
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Thanks, Dave, I'll check this out on site tomorrow. The problem with those Peco curved points is that they are not curved at each end so are not very efficient.

I have half a mind to replace all the track one of these days with Marcway but that option is not in my budget at the moment. The scissor crossing that remains from Penmaenpool is a gem (and as expensive as a gem) but my locos and stock do love passing through it. The other option is of course is to relay the station using Templot and hand made track and keep Peco only for the main line and loops.

Meanwhile I have set up my Dremel Treo to start cutting the rectangles for the traversers:

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The Treo is an interesting tool which I first used to cut a circle for a Peco 4mm turntable about 5 years ago. It is also very useful for cutting tiles when I installed a kitchen in my apartment. It's good to see it being put to use again. That American (inches only) square is one of my legacy tools that still gets use. The small Stanley measuring tape is my favourite - I bought it in 1992 before going to Tunisia to do fieldwork - it has both feet and meter scales - and it still retracts like it did when new. The modern ones seem to last a month or two and that's it.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
This morning I cut out the space for the Platform 3 traverser and then cut a slightly larger piece of 15mm marine ply to form the floor of the space. I will probably need to add spacers between the two depending on what wheel size I eventually source. Once screwed into place the original strength of the baseboard will be somewhat enhanced.

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Next I placed a few strips of printed circuit board sleeper material and some spare 75 code 4mm scale bullhead rails to simulate the substructure that the traverser will sit and roll on. Edit: The code 75 rail is too small, I have a better idea!

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There will be nine rails on each traverser as in the prototype.

Now the bad news. The Tufnol board I was planning to use is either out of stock or if bought from the UK the shipping charges are, well, more than I want to pay! A French supplier is out of stock until May 25. I shall keep looking. I have settled on 4mm thick "Whale" board which is recommended for the purpose.

In doing a search for various suppliers other than Direct Plastics I came across the Tufnol Company, based on Wellhead Lane in Perry Bar, Birmingham. Well, that address rang a church bell in my brain, because my paternal grandparents lived at No. 35 and the address was used on my father's military papers during the First World War.
 
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simond

Western Thunderer
Paul

Don’t forget a slot for the drive pin from the leadscrew!

Atb
Simon
(Currently under the English Channel)
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Hi Simon

Hopefully in the tunnel? Yes, the slot will be there! Travel needs to be 8-9 cm so there will be a 10 cm slot cut in the centre of the base. I have dismissed the 4mm scale code 75 rails as too small so I have a new plan for the "rollers". I have ordered these. I am not sure what rails I will use until I get the roller bearings, but code 75 will be far too small.

Spent lunchtime on the beach and the rest of the afternoon starting a jigsaw puzzle of City of Truro at Highley. Then cooked supper, so no advances on my last post.

When we got back from the beach there was a card in the mail box - La Poste could not deliver the parcel with the double slip in it, so I will collect it tomorrow after 11 am. At least it's here.

Paul
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
This evening I cut the space for the Platform 1/2 traverser and have temporarily screwed both 15mm ply bases in place. The bases will eventually be deeper so the four screws in each are truly temporary. This overhead shot shows two panniers in the centre roads ready to be moved sideways by 8 cm to the release roads. The wide island platform will cover parts of both traversers and Platform 1 will also cover parts of its traverser. So that slight aberration I made with the Dremel Treo won't be visible! The release road (R, the track on the left) will have an open area adjacent to it, the only visible evidence that there are actually three tracks on either traverser.

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Edit: There's some significant distortion in that photo, everything is actually square!
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
The small Stanley measuring tape is my favourite - I bought it in 1992 before going to Tunisia to do fieldwork - it has both feet and meter scales - and it still retracts like it did when new. The modern ones seem to last a month or two and that's it.

In the days when Stanley tools were quality and made in Europe. I have one of these tape measures from the 1980s made in France.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
In the days when Stanley tools were quality and made in Europe. I have one of these tape measures from the 1980s made in France.
Yep, mine was made in France as well! In fact, some tools still are made in France though the people at Leroy Merlin recommended my table saw which was made in Britain! The company is called Evolution and their products do seem to be well made.
 
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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
After a long morning chasing bean bags all over Perpignan (for the grandchildren!) we finally returned with two successful purchases from different Leroy Merlins. I must say that the people in both stores were very helpful. I think my French improved a notch as well in the course of explaining what we wanted to buy to umpteen different members of staff. Anyway, this afternoon I picked up the parcel from Tower Models with a double slip and left hand point. So this evening I did some trial and error adjustments to the station throat and I think I have resolved the situation by rotating the double slip and still allowing a 6ft radius loco to run into the platform roads. Pictures tell the story:

I cut a double track piece of cork underlay for Platform 3 and release road, placed a straight edge and adjusted pieces of track to get four B set coaches to be passed by my Large Prairie:

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The critical curve is tested here by rolling the Lee Marsh Jubilee around the tightest curve. No problem. In case you are troubled at pushing the Jubilee, it has a helical gearbox and can be carefully pushed by hand (there is no power on the track yet).

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This having been successful, I trimmed the curved track to match the double slip and the left hand point. Platforms 1 and 2 will now be served by a RH curved point which is offset from the left hand point by about 5 sleepers/ties. I have also removed the end sleeper from the left point to gain a bit of space for the 4 coaches - every bit helps.

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So here is the station throat ready to be laid tomorrow:

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The cork underlay has been glued. Platforms 1 and 2 will be limited to shorter commuter trains. I don't have a choice.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Dave

I agree. The only problem with these short trains is that during rush hours the Large Prairies regularly pulled 8 coach trains. When you realize how often they stopped and started on both the Leamington and Stratford runs and the fact that the climb up from the Avon Valley to the Birmingham Plateau included long inclines of around 1:120, this just goes to show what an excellent locomotive the Large Prairie was. I will admit that most trains I remember leaving from Moor Street only had four coaches (then DMUs with three) so that helps. The longer trains down to Cheltenham and beyond generally left from Snow Hill Platform 12 (except the Cornishman, Platform 7) and could have as many coaches as the locomotive could pull.

My Rule 1 is going to include historic trains like the Alcester Branch as well as make believe extensions from Birmingham to Shipston-on-Stour via a line never built from Shipston to the S&MJR at Ettington. This would have been a "light railway" so a Dukedog (one was assigned to Tyseley) would be perfect (and I have one nearly ready to run). I might even have the Dukedog pull some ancient ex-GWR coaches. The Alcester Branch train would have to reverse direction to get to Moor Street, so a 14XX with two autocoaches front and back would be perfect!
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Good news, Platform 3 will hold 4 B set coaches and allow a Large Prairie to run round. No photos this evening, I have track weighted down while glue dries so there is nothing much to see. I have also started to lay track on Platforms 1 and 2 and the double slip is in place but not wired. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. . . . . as far as track laying and wiring is concerned. But there is still a lot to do.

Tomorrow will see a month of work on Moor Street. I probably won't keep this work rate up now summer is trying to assert itself. I have a new challenge, to learn to Stand Up Paddle before the grandchildren arrive in July and show me how it's done.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
I finished the basic track laying of the station platform roads last evening and will take photos today after a clean up.

On the traverser design, some headway has been made and last evening I placed an order with another French supplier for 4mm Tufnol board large enough for the traverser dimensions. I tried looking for large sheets of copperclad but could not find anything remotely large enough. I hope to get the Tufnol by the 17th May. Meantime I have gathered together a design for the rails below the traverser using mini ball bearings. I’ll show a photo of the concept later. Progress has been slower on the Arduino bits and pieces but that will be my next priority for completing the traversers.

The wagon hoist has been given a lower priority but I do expect to lay the three sidings soon, followed by the two coach sidings. Then all the track will be laid and wiring can begin in earnest (ugh!).
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
The photos:

819970C3-AD22-4185-B4CF-6F87BA33489D.jpeg 4578D27B-A167-45BF-871C-DD611A1BCCA2.jpeg

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And here are the parts for assembling the rails under the traverses. C&L rails and C&L chairs across the floor, nine to each traverser as in the prototype. Grooved ball bearings on 3mm rod, and brass angle drilled to hold rods and glued to underside of Tufnol plate.

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Focalplane

Western Thunderer
The last photo in the previous post shows my latest thinking for the traversers and I am giving full attention to this. The drive mechanism is not a problem, Simond of this parish is helping me get my Arduino act together, it is me. I keep going on line to look at recommended bits of kit, reading about how they go together and how I would connect them to the actual model. The problem I have is that I have always been used to going to a shop, browsing around and seeing how I would fit the pieces together. In the States it was Radio Shack. More recently I quite enjoyed Maplins but they never seemed to have what I was looking for and now they're gone anyway. The shop in Montpellier was inconveniently closed for three days when I had planned to be there over a week ago.

I suppose I am reluctant to buy items I have not seen and handled in the flesh. Is this a common trait?

I also have two identical traversers to build. Do I buy two of everything now, or buy one and then re-order? The latter option seems to be risky as so much has to be back-ordered these days or is no longer in stock.

So, after an hour of browsing on line this morning and ending up with six tabs open, I gave up and closed the whole lot down.

Chicken!
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Ol' Yella signing in with an update. No orders been made yet but I have been working on the traverser table:

First I soldered up three 3mm rods in holes drilled in brass angle, having threaded the right (almost) number of mini ball bearing "wheels" on each side of the centre brass angle. The upper surface of the brass angle will be bolted to the underside of the 4mm thick Tufnol plate on which the tracks will be fixed along with cosmetic plating and rivets, etc.

The C&L track has been bonded to the plywood floor with Butanone, each rail being 5cm apart and mimicking the nine rails on the prototype. The mini ball bearing "wheels" sit on the rails and the whole assemblage moves easily from side to side.

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A close up:

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The structure doesn't look exactly square but it will be by the time the Tufnol plate is added. Here is an odd shaped piece of 6mm Tufnol placed on the framework. As noted before, the floor of the traverser pit will eventually be lower:

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To put the traverser table in context, here is the cardboard plate with a Pannier posed on it, ready to the translated toward the release road:

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The only space where the underlying cross rails will show will be as in this image. The pit will be enclosed by a low brick wall.

Next, how will the traverser table be driven? I plan to use one of these "linear rails" on each traverser:


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The linear rail will be fixed under the traverser pit with a drive pin (or two) passing through a groove yet to be cut in the pit floor and attached to the underside of the Tufnol plate. The linear rail has 10cm of movement, perfect for this application.

Right, back to the shopping list!
 
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