As a very recent returner, what is the current situation on this idea? 25 years ago the issues were:-
1) What actual gauge did one use for the 'standard' gauge stock
Here's the picture
Here it is again, using tripod & delay
Now I did knock up, some years ago, a transporter wagon using brass channel. It's a 4 wheeler because there's no way to get bogie swing in the 00 back to back. Here it is in all its crudity, but it does work.
A useful guide to the subject was published in the summer. NGRS magazine "The Narrow Gauge" issue no.203 is a monograph devoted to the UK variants. Entitled "British Transporter Wagons" by Sydney A. Leleux. About
Quote from: Cambridge Paul on December 16, 2008, 13:22
As a very recent returner, what is the current situation on this idea? 25 years ago the issues were:-
1) What actual gauge did one use for the 'standard' gauge stock
My ghasts are well and truly flabbered. Winco duly delivered one red and one grey transporter wagon. Marvellous service, particularly at this season. A big thank you!! http://www.winco.uk.com
Here is the red one. It's a 12 wheeler
Here's the same thing from underneath
Getting a piece of 16.5mm track from the garage, I found a particular Oakwood Press paperback just the right thickness to mock up a loading track. Picture 1.
And the last two
A few years back, Jack Carter and I tried several different combinations of wagons and transporters and we came to the conclusion that it was just not possible to successfully model an operating transporter wagon of any type with out using the hand of the operator in some way. The standard gauge wagons just role off the transporters if not properly secured and uncoupling the standard gauge wagons is also very difficult when they are on the transporter. In the end we opted to fix the standard gauge wagons to the transporters permanently. One other problem that we had was with the six wheel bogies, these have far too much rolling resistance so these have been replace with modified 4 wheel roco timber bolsters. The couplings that have to work on the layout for shunting and running round are fitted to extensions to the bogies so they are properly centralised.
There is a transfer siding on the layout with the HOe track dipping below that of the standard gauge and the transporters wagons are often shunted in to place but no actual transfers take place. We also found that the choice of standard gauge wagon was critical; it had to be as light as possible and have good levels of detail. The HO couplings also look very out of place on the standard gauge wagons so these were removed.The other consideration is the clearances required for transporter wagons. The tunnels have to be bigger than standard gauge and clearances need to be sufficient throughout the HOe sections of the layout to allow transporters to pass all buildings, scenery and each other.
The maximum loading on my layout is two transporters and three other vans, (or six vans) so normally only two transporters are in use on the layout at any one time.
Brian Meldon
Brian
That's really interesting
It would take a long time to go into all the details of the different methods we tried to get these things to work.
The main problem, as you have already mentioned is how to fix the standard gauge wagon to the transporters. In reality the stop blocks are set by hand both sides of the four wheels of the standard gauge wagon. Any mechanism fitted to the model would look out of place on empty transporters. Also automatic uncoupling of the standard gauge wagon is virtually imposable as the couplings are above the transporters.
Brian Meldon
couple of crazy ideas for you to think about.
With regards to the couplings, why not use Greenwich, Paul Windles, or similar and use a delayed action uncoupling as we would on our narrow gauge stock, you could uncouple on the loading dock and propel the wagon on to the transporter.
As for holding it in place, why not try those tiny yet powerfull neo magnets that Greenwich do for the uncoupling. just place one one the transporter where each standard gauge wheel would be. Of course you would have to stick to a standard wheel base lenth.
Darren.
Re transporter wagons,
The attached photo shows one of my transporter wagons which has been modified with rivetted plating to resemble a more British looking wagon. Excuse the poor sign writing on the standard gauge wagon, but it was done over 20years ago in my modelling infancy.
I removed the centre wheels off both bogies to make it more free rolling. The other wagon has been left as bought apart from a bit of weathering and a kit built standard gauge wagon on. I found that if the next wagons to the transporter ones have coupling that have some sideways movement then there is no problem around any 9" curves and have done successfully at 3 shows.
Andy
Hi Andy
Your added riveted plate work is very effective at anglicising the Liliput transporter wagon.
As to the rolling resistance I did find this a problem, but it was not the only reason I replaced the bogies on these vehicles. On my layouts every goods vehicle must be able to couple and run with every other and also with every loco. Running round, shunting and marshalling of goods trains is an essential part of running the layouts. Because of this, having to run certain vehicles next to each other is an undesirable restriction. The replacement bogies have extended coupling mounts fixed to the bogies thus enabling the transporters to couple up and run with all other vehicles on the layout.
The shunting, uncoupling, coupling and general running of the trains at exhibitions and on the large layout at home is near 100% reliable, making operating the layouts a joy.
Brian
Brian,
Thanks for the compliments. The rivet work took ages. Bought a proper rivetting tool, spent a while setting it up so the rivets weren't too large or small, then set to with the help of a large bench mouned magnifying glass. Seems a shame to hide all the detail but at least it looks more British now. Regards the operating, I tend to put the tranporter wagons behind my garratt and just run the train round the outer circuit on my layout and don't do any shunting.
Andy
Quote from: Crichworkshop2000 on October 03, 2009, 20:22
The rivet work took ages. Bought a proper rivetting tool, spent a while setting it up so the rivets weren't too large or small, then set to with the help of a large bench mouned magnifying glass. Seems a shame to hide all the detail but at least it looks more British now.
I saw this in the flesh yeterday and it does look very effective, all that work has certainly paid off.
Darren.
Many thanks again for compliments. I'll have to now convert the other 2 wagons I've got and enlarge the tunnel mouths to accept a box van on one of the wagons. If I ever get chance to build another layout I'll have to put a proper wagon unloading area on as at present Avyn-A-Llyin has no room to spare to incorporate a little scene.
Andy
I know it's a long time since this topic was started but here is the latest development on working transporter wagon I'm doing for Avyn-A-Llyin. It's all analogue operation using the same controller for both narrow gauge and standard gauge wagon. It just requires a little bit of tweeking for me to be happy with then installed on the layout hopefully within the next couple of months. Once happy and article will be on its way to the 009 news.
The link to see the operation is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyrKbpIdDwk or just type Avyn-A-Llyin in teh search on you tube.