Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Super elevation, check rail and gauge widening ? 
Col.
Col.
Breaking Ground - Finescale - of a sort
- Thread starter Richard Insole
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- peter insole
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Thank you Tim, I will try and keep going - wealth and heather permitting of course!
Definitely all three I should think Col! Although I hope to avoid a check rail if I can. Too much temptation for some persons of a naughty disposition to jamb stones in the gap... "just to see what happens?"!
In theory, with all wheels at or near 7 1/4 inch (Narrow Gauge) profile I don't suppose I need to be that worried about them commin' orf, (apart from the above) but it will be interesting to see if the little engine has enough traction to drag a bunch of kids (big and small) all the way around???
Pete.
Definitely all three I should think Col! Although I hope to avoid a check rail if I can. Too much temptation for some persons of a naughty disposition to jamb stones in the gap... "just to see what happens?"!
In theory, with all wheels at or near 7 1/4 inch (Narrow Gauge) profile I don't suppose I need to be that worried about them commin' orf, (apart from the above) but it will be interesting to see if the little engine has enough traction to drag a bunch of kids (big and small) all the way around???
Pete.
simond
Western Thunderer
Pete,
I can’t recall whether your rolling stock has rigid wheelsets or wheels able to spin independently on each axle, but I think the latter will help in this case.
I guess your little loco wheels have very little coning, this will perhaps prove the limiting factor.
fingers crossed!
Simon
I can’t recall whether your rolling stock has rigid wheelsets or wheels able to spin independently on each axle, but I think the latter will help in this case.
I guess your little loco wheels have very little coning, this will perhaps prove the limiting factor.
fingers crossed!
Simon
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Thank you for your reply Simon.
You are right, none of our wheels have any significant coning - save only sufficient provided by the manufacturers to allow release from their moulds! All the stock, bar the locomotive have free running wheels on fixed axles - as per Horwich practice.
It is an issue with the loco - and I am still seriously considering the option of finally "biting the bullet" and fitting proper steel jobs...!! The real problem is that the plastic wheels were the only viable option at the time, even though they are completely wrong... and let's face it, utterly horrible... but up till now, they have actually worked! Too damn well as it happens, so there has not been nearly enough incentive to do anything about it?!
I suspect that the "terrible top curve" may end up being the determining factor?!
There is almost certainly a great deal of skidding going on at the rail head, although it is not readily apparent when examining the gunge and aluminium deposits on the tyres. The only rail contact on the massively over scale and steeply angled flanges is on the shallow, inner radius - as evidenced in the above photograph.
I am not so sure either that I am quite out of the woods with the rest of the rolling stock though - such as it is.
The chosen wagon and carriage wheels where something of a no-brainer - again at the time - and remain so at less than a fiver each, despite a significant rise in price!
Of course, there is always a downside to being a cheapskate! I have just taken another photo to illustrate the issue here.
These little beasties run so freely, that the slightest breeze catching the wagons, even down at ground level in the garden is enough to set them rolling - I kid you not! It has been the cause of some amusement during operating sessions!
However, while the wear pattern clearly shows similar contact with the rail in regular running - in this case the flange angle is far too shallow! The complete loss of "blacking" on the flange faces indicates significant scrubbing on the inner face of the rail head. Again, this has not seemed to be much of a problem on the gentle curvature.
All will be revealed... sooner, rather than later, I hope!
Pete.
You are right, none of our wheels have any significant coning - save only sufficient provided by the manufacturers to allow release from their moulds! All the stock, bar the locomotive have free running wheels on fixed axles - as per Horwich practice.
It is an issue with the loco - and I am still seriously considering the option of finally "biting the bullet" and fitting proper steel jobs...!! The real problem is that the plastic wheels were the only viable option at the time, even though they are completely wrong... and let's face it, utterly horrible... but up till now, they have actually worked! Too damn well as it happens, so there has not been nearly enough incentive to do anything about it?!
I suspect that the "terrible top curve" may end up being the determining factor?!
There is almost certainly a great deal of skidding going on at the rail head, although it is not readily apparent when examining the gunge and aluminium deposits on the tyres. The only rail contact on the massively over scale and steeply angled flanges is on the shallow, inner radius - as evidenced in the above photograph.
I am not so sure either that I am quite out of the woods with the rest of the rolling stock though - such as it is.
The chosen wagon and carriage wheels where something of a no-brainer - again at the time - and remain so at less than a fiver each, despite a significant rise in price!
Of course, there is always a downside to being a cheapskate! I have just taken another photo to illustrate the issue here.
These little beasties run so freely, that the slightest breeze catching the wagons, even down at ground level in the garden is enough to set them rolling - I kid you not! It has been the cause of some amusement during operating sessions!
However, while the wear pattern clearly shows similar contact with the rail in regular running - in this case the flange angle is far too shallow! The complete loss of "blacking" on the flange faces indicates significant scrubbing on the inner face of the rail head. Again, this has not seemed to be much of a problem on the gentle curvature.
All will be revealed... sooner, rather than later, I hope!
Pete.
Osgood
Western Thunderer
But as the wheels are nylon they'll never wear up, and friction losses due to flange/rail interface will be minimal.
As you say an absolute no-brainer
However - the urgent requirement for a programme of retrofitting handbrakes to all wagons is quite apparent
P.S. here's a fairly economic wagon brake solution - just needs some chord
As you say an absolute no-brainer
However - the urgent requirement for a programme of retrofitting handbrakes to all wagons is quite apparent
P.S. here's a fairly economic wagon brake solution - just needs some chord
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Thanks Tony for that great suggestion!
I do have one slight reservation though....
(Copyright image shown for illustrative purposes only)
Pete.
I do have one slight reservation though....
(Copyright image shown for illustrative purposes only)
Pete.
simond
Western Thunderer
Pete,
I’m not sure there’s anything to be done about it, but a (much) bigger radius at the flange root would help, I think.
Difficult to achieve, I fear.
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Yes indeed thank you Simon and Mike. I am not so concerned about wear, but more the combined effect of adhesion loss on the loco due to insufficient coning, and flange contact causing just a little too much drag on the following stock!
On the latter point, I am reassured by Tony's comment that the nylon, by it's very nature, should not cause that much of an issue.
I was all set yesterday to carry on with the curve roadbed, but unfortunately the weather intervened. The forecast for today - and the rest of the week does not look very promising either, so any hope of getting the first extension rails laid by the weekend appears doubtful now?!
My home-made rail bending tool has worked perfectly well to date, but has not proved quite durable enough. While being surprised that it lasted as long as it did, I had already guessed it would require some modifications in order to deal with the fearsome "top curve" radii!
I am afraid that descending into the dark, dank, dungeon of a workshop to fix this little object is beckoning! It had do be done anyway, so under the circumstances, the pitter can patter as much as it likes above ground!
Before I go, here are some pics from earlier that might go some way to proving that it is not just my physical capabilities that are lacking sometimes...?
As the job was reaching the farthest end of the "estate", I was baulking at the prospect of lugging all the bricks, hardcore, sand and ballast right the way down to the bottom.
I know you can, dear friends, have already guessed what follows...
"Hang on a minute" I says to myself...
"I've got a railway...!!"
Doh!
Oh dear, it is rather sad isn't it... considering how long it has taken me to work that out...??!!
Pete.
On the latter point, I am reassured by Tony's comment that the nylon, by it's very nature, should not cause that much of an issue.
I was all set yesterday to carry on with the curve roadbed, but unfortunately the weather intervened. The forecast for today - and the rest of the week does not look very promising either, so any hope of getting the first extension rails laid by the weekend appears doubtful now?!
My home-made rail bending tool has worked perfectly well to date, but has not proved quite durable enough. While being surprised that it lasted as long as it did, I had already guessed it would require some modifications in order to deal with the fearsome "top curve" radii!
I am afraid that descending into the dark, dank, dungeon of a workshop to fix this little object is beckoning! It had do be done anyway, so under the circumstances, the pitter can patter as much as it likes above ground!
Before I go, here are some pics from earlier that might go some way to proving that it is not just my physical capabilities that are lacking sometimes...?
As the job was reaching the farthest end of the "estate", I was baulking at the prospect of lugging all the bricks, hardcore, sand and ballast right the way down to the bottom.
I know you can, dear friends, have already guessed what follows...
"Hang on a minute" I says to myself...
"I've got a railway...!!"
Doh!
Oh dear, it is rather sad isn't it... considering how long it has taken me to work that out...??!!
Pete.
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Do candles qualify?
I've been disconnected!
Pete.
I've been disconnected!
Pete.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
.....lights on, no ones home !
Col.
Col.
Tom Insole
Western Thunderer
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Hi Pete.
Just to say it's great to see you back and with such enthusiasm to continue your entertaining journey in to the unknown. My personal best wishes.
Brian
Just to say it's great to see you back and with such enthusiasm to continue your entertaining journey in to the unknown. My personal best wishes.
Brian
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Wouldn't this be the cue to acquire a second loco for either double heading or banking purposes?
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
I think it's from a wartime image after the use of a German Wehrmacht Schwellenpflug or Schienenwolf by a retreating army either from Italy or the Eastern Front.
Here's two short films of one them action.
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John Ross
Western Thunderer
According to Gunther Utch one of the engineers involved in the design and building of this device, who later went on to work for The North British Locomotive Company. Well engineered the plough failed to stop the advancing Russian army as they used a steam rolled to flatten the sleepers. This was followed by a gang of women who anchored the sleepers back together again with giant staples. The line was also re-gauged to the Russian standard of 5 foot at the same time.