St. Mary Hoo - P4 Southern Region third rail

Heather Kay

Heather Kay

Western Thunderer
Being a huge fan of the Marsh Country, I look forward to seeing SMH develop.

I live on the outskirts of Chatham, and when the mood strikes (and tides and weather suit) I head off to the Hoo Peninsula with the camera gear to try and catch sunrise over the estuary. Without realising it, over the years I became quite a fan of the area.
 
Simon Glidewell

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Thanks Heather. I'd really like to live around that area, or at the very least explore it over several weeks. I've never been to the Hoo peninsula but the photos of the isolated estuarine landscape really are very appealing.
 
Simon Glidewell

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Hello Jonte; I did contact Barry Norman who was the guest editor at the time (thanks to a lead in and suggestion by Geoff of Llangunllo fame) about this around a year ago. He seemed interested in doing a layout feature on SMH and asked for some good quality photos to assess its suitability for the magazine. I still need to do these, but would prefer to delay them until at least one of the new extensions is complete.

All the best
Simon
 
Simon Glidewell

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Sorry! Yet more boring photos of the bisected point! I wish I could show something more artistic, but that will happen soon. Progress is painfully slow and quite tricky; one section of angled rail is only about 4mm long (necessary because of electrical breaks) with its associated check rail. I am slowly adding square "metal" support plates under the diagonal rail intersections, as per prototype practice, and these will have their own special fixing chairs. I have lightly super glued the rails onto these which is necessary to give some of the rails more support. Wiring the tighter areas of the crossing will be a total nightmare. I will eventually add coupled four bolt fishplates to the intersections as found on prototype diamond crossings. The baulk timbers will have cosmetic stretcher bars between them which were used to maintain gauge and prevent backwards and forwards movement of the timbers as trains rumbled over. I plan to scratch build my own functional scale detailed switch blade stretcher bars rather than use a well known commercial product which I think looks rather crude in appearance. The basic point and crossing are nearing completion, leaving fine detailing and wiring.

All the best
SimonPoint2.jpgPoint1.jpg Point3.jpg
 
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Simon Glidewell

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
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Simon Glidewell

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
I haven't been able to do much work on the point lately, but yesterday I started again. All the standard chairs have been added (since these photos were taken) and all the rail laid, leaving just the tiebars; fishplates and wiring. Test pieces of stock roll through the crossing in all directions very freely. All the rail intersections on the crossing will have four bolt fishplates added (as per real diamond crossings) and supporting metal plates with low profile chairs (plasticard). The baulk timbers have had wooden and "Metal" stretcher bars added.Crossing1.jpg Crossing2.jpg Crossing3.jpg
 
Simon Glidewell

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Many thanks Jim and Lyndhurstman. I think the bit of "missing" rail Jim is one of the many electrical gaps (about 10 in total). These will be filled in due course; I wanted to avoid the danger of short circuits so made the gaps a bit wider, with the intention of adding non electrified dummy rail. I've double checked the track formation tonight and all is present and correct. Copper clad would have undoubtedly been easier, but not much in a physical sense; it's the cutting and correct angle filing of the tiny bits of rail through the flat crossing that are the real problem (holding the little blighters whilst filing). Copper clad would make the wiring easier for sure! The next tricky bits of the point are the working third rail and scale scratch built stretcher bars and tiebar.

All the best
Simon
 
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jonte

jonte

Western Thunderer
Full of character like the rest of the layout, Simon.

I too admire your courage; the thought of having to add 'third-rail' would have had me heading for the hills!

Jonte
 
Chuntybunt

Chuntybunt

Member
Hello Simon. It's great to see SMH on the web again I really enjoyed following it on RMweb and it provided much inspiration for my own planed layout of Allhallows-On-Sea, although it will never reach the fantastic standards of SMH.

Simon Glidewell said:
I'd really like to live around that area
Click to expand...
Simon do I remember correctly, from your RMweb days, that you live in the south of France? If so I am more than happy to do a house swap, it would be difficult to tear myself away from Medway but I would put a brave face on it if it meant that you were able to visit Hoo whenever you wanted and were inspired to provide us with more of your fine work.

Mike
 
Simon Glidewell

Simon Glidewell

Western Thunderer
Many thanks Mike for your very kind comments and the offer of a house swap! It would certainly be an interesting idea; the only problem is that my father in law lives here too and would be in residence full time! If I had my own place I would jump at your offer. And you are of course right that I live in the south of France. I would love to see your Allhallows layout, however far you've progressed with it.

All the best
Simon
 
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