Hi,
Does anyone know if a OO to 009/HOe crossing exists. There are various mixed gauge bits on the international models website, but no crossing. I'm thinking of the new WHR/Cambrain flat crossing at Cae Pawb - image here: http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/2006/arup-camb-021106-2.jpg
If not, does anyone know someone I could contact to fabricate this for me as trackwork is one area I've never even considered doing myself!
Cheers,
Colin
Yes, Roco did one many years ago as part of their Minitrains range. Examples turn up on eBay USA about 2 or 3 times a year. Not seen one in the UK for some years, try a WANTS ad in 009 News, which can be surprisingly productive.
Hi there,
I've seen a few on Ebay, some old AHM Minitrains jobs, but I think (not certain) that there have been a couple of Tillig? items.
Sorry I couldn't be any more positive!
Regards
Ken
Hi Colin
All the ready made standard/009 crossings that I have seen have dead frogs. That is to say that the bit where the rails cross is plastic. This makes it virtually imposable to achieve good running on the 009 track. The gap in the rail is also a problem as the 009 wheels will tend to drop down in to the space required for the standard gauge flanges. You could always build one your self but even then the gap required for the standard gauge flanges can be a problem.
One way round this is to only use fine scale 00 wheels with tiny flanges and build your entire 00 track and all the 00 locos and rolling stock to this standard.
On real railways the difference between narrow and standard gauge wheel flanges is quite small and crossings, like that installed at Porthmadog in the photo linked below, have very small flange gaps:
http://www.isengard.co.uk/images/JPEGS/S14_NF2-11-06Cambrian%20Crossing.jpg
This is not easily achievable in 4mm scale and certainly not using ready made crossings. A 90 degree crossing is not a good thing at all because both wheels will hit the gap at the same time, on the real railways these are normally avoided as is the case at Porthmadog, by being on a slight angle. At the other extream crossings at acute angles will increase the length of the flange gap and the resultant hole.
So the question remains as to how to make a 009/00 crossing that will work 100% at slow speeds. I think I would cheat and have 4 rotating sections of rail that are turned for either 009 or 00.
We have a working
Thanks Brian, some really useful notes there.
The idea, was to possibly model the section between Portmadoc New and Pen-y-Mount with the Cambrian, WHRC and WHRP (WHHR) working. You could have Russell arriving at PyM to connect to a Beyer-Garratt on the 'main line' and a steam special on the Cambrian! However, it might just be that the crossing wouldn't be reliable enough and I'm not into standard gauge stuff really (so altering wheelsets on RTR OO stuff isn't my idea of fun). There's also some quite unusual catch points that would need modelling too and the layout would be an odd shape too.
Maybe there's an idea for someone else though??
Colin
Quote from: B.Meldon on February 02, 2009, 10:57
So the question remains as to how to make a 009/00 crossing that will work 100% at slow speeds. I think I would cheat and have 4 rotating sections of rail that are turned for either 009 or 00.
We have a working ‘point’ where the standard gauge cuts into the narrow (HO in to HOe) so both can access a goods shed and we have achieved 100% slow running over this using a rotating section of rail and a single point blade. I have seen examples of this type of track work on the continent.
Sounds much like that seen at Ravenglass back in the 1930s. Was known locally as "The Big Points"
http://cra.photos.gb.net/p38982340.html (http://cra.photos.gb.net/p38982340.html)
More acute than the Cambrian, mind.
Andy
The plastic crossings mentioned are somewhat a collectors item - and hence command silly prices on eBay!
I recall that 3mm SMR once upon a time doing ready built pointwork for OOn3 (Irish / Isle of Mann NG) and somebody had some examples of 009 track (may have been David Gander) built to order but I can't recall who made them. I suspect that building copper-clad pointwork is something that someone out there does, and it may be worth dropping Dabvid an e-mail (see TLO details in 009 News) to see if he has any ideas. It may also be worth trying the UK Model Shops Directory website to see if there is anyone in their listings who would give it a go.
Something that may make life easier is some templates. Keith Angus (?) did some some time ago. If you are a member of 009-Group on Yahoo I think they are in their files somewhere. If not, let me know and I can e-mail you some pdfs. Having recently seen a handbuilt 009 crossing it does not look too dificult (no point blades to file ot move about) so with a template and track gauges (OO and N) you may even decide to have a go yourself.
There is a Roco/AHM HO/HOn30 mixed gauge crossing on eBay today. Item no. 300294266525 from the USA.
check out ebay.de for auctions number 330306837600 and 330306838076. There are 3 crossings and they are currently at EUR1.50 !!!
They finish on 19.02.09 at 20:09:20 CET
I am sure you will be able to get one of them
Iain