Reconstruction work at Dunalistair

[tedp]

Recycled N/S Roco and Fleischmann N gauge flex rail. The Fleischmann rail has a slightly wider head, but if you fettle this down where a passing flange might catch, there is no problem.

The N sleeper web at the bottom, the area inside the crossing, and part of the PC board will be obscured by wooden decking or by cobbles. The remainder of the PC board will be covered in ballast.

[tedp]

Here is a video of the tests I ran over the diamond crossing. I ran several 009 locomotives over the points and the crossing, the wheels having various flange depths between 0.6 and 0.9mm. Some trial runs reveal the flangeways must be filed down a little. There is one flangeway about 0.6mm deep - no wonder the older chassis bump a little over it.

One locomotive (Brutus) stumbles on the plastic checkrail of a Peco point! This will have to be filed down a little as the loco has a correct BTB. Actually the crossing performs better than the points. Have fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iesCIoLOKF4

[tedp]

After various delays today, tonight I managed to correct some of the high spots in the crossings of the diamond. Since I don't have a file narrow enough to fit in the 0.8mm flangeways, I had to use a cutting disc at low power.



I gradually whittled away some of the material, using several wagons, and later, locomotives, to verify the depth. The Arnold chassis are the worst, followed by the Minitrix ones. They now only bump a little, whereas he more modern wheels hardly drop into the flangeways. I think it is enough! In addition, I did some work on the Peco point that was a little tight, and had another look at the front axle of 'Brutus'. This was set a fraction wider. Together these corrections now result in the loco running through smoothly.

Here is another detail shot of the use of the cutting disc. It is easy to set it spinning too fast, but if you keep the speed down, it will work all right.

[WALLSHIRTS]

I fill my flange ways with solder and then saw them out with a hacksaw blade. Gives me a 40 thou (1 mm) flange way. It's an old Jack Work trick that I got from Model Railroader.
Mal.

[Krizzy]

Fascinating watching the different behaviour of the locos and stock negotiating the crossing. Well done Ted, looking forward to seeing the installation on the layout.

Roger

[B.Meldon]

You are making a super job of that crossing Ted, but the question I have is why is it there in the first place?

Having two points and making the approach angle of the two lines slightly different to the way they are would have eliminated the need for the crossing all together.

Or have I missed something here?

Brian Meldon

[tedp]

Thanks, all, for your replies.

Mal, the idea of filling a gap with solder is what I did on the previous crossing. If you have a hacksaw blade that is narrow enough to cut a flangeway 0.7mm wide, it will work. The main disadvantage is that the solder is softer than nickel silver. But perhaps that doesn't matter very much.

Roger - did you notice the difference between the Arnold-powered Darjeeling tank and the Kato-powered skirted saddle tank? The Darjeeling tank clearly bumps, and the Kato just glides across. I took off a little more in the flangeways, and the Kato chassis doesn't mind. The Arnold chassis runs much better across now.

Brian - thanks for the praise. To answer your question, I needed to get a siding to the coal jetty and another to the quay, which has to move round the warehouse. Both need immediate access from the main harbour road. If you look at the plan of Dunalistair shown below, you can see there is no chance of doing it another way, unless you either introduce a fearsome reverse curve around the warehouse, or run one siding as a kickback from the other. That would however mean you have to clear the quay every time you need to work a coal train to the jetty. And finally, I like a challenge.    ::)

[Krizzy]

Ted,
        the wheel flanges of the old Arnold chassis are much deeper and coarser than the Kato. The Backwoods Barclay 0-4-0T ran well with it's short wheelbase. A lovely piece of work.

Roger

[B.Meldon]

I do see what you are on about Ted.

But if you had built the point on the coaling stage about 5cm closer to the back of the layout and then also angled the warehouse and adjacent quayside a few degrees clockwise so it was not in line with the track going to the turntable then it would have been possible to just have two points and no flat crossing at all. (and a stright between the two curves going to the warehouse.)

Obviously it is too late to change it now but I think the need for the crossing could have been eliminated at the planning stage quite easily. It would have saved you a lot of work.

But I suppose the crossing is an interesting feature of the on the layout.

Brian Meldon

[WALLSHIRTS]

Ted,
Some of my points are 30(!)years old and still working fine, and they have seen regular use over the years. I built a crossing on one of my layout sections and actually removed it because the same job could be done with a conventional point. It worked OK and I've still got it. Your crossing looks good though, and adds a lot of interest to Dunalistair.
Mal.

[tedp]

Brian - 5cm closer to the rear of the layout would have meant eliminating the harbour road which is a much needed feature in operation. The track plan was developed with operation in mind and is very satisfying as it does the job.

Regarding this particular formation, I wonder why I should have gone to such lengths just to avoid having a crossing which I could build? In real dock areas of that period space always was at a premium, and they used tailor made track formations all the time. Sometimes track crossed two or three other tracks at various angles and no one batted an eyelid.

Although my existing crossing was made less precisely than the new one, it worked well enough for 30 years, and as I said before I like a challenge.



Mal - the main reason for replacing the Fleischmann points is that they are worn out and too coarse for wheels with finer standards. As Roger says, the Kato and Backwoods wheels are quite different from the old Arnold and Minitrix ones. And all the frogs are fitted with a piece of brass shim and a triangle soldered on, which lifts every passing wheel just a fraction so the stock doesn't pass smoothly. In addition, the track is cheap N gauge and doesn't look as it should.

[clayliner]

Why do simple when you could do complicated?  :D

David.

[tedp]

I like track in cramped locations. I have found it is fun to build, and it saves space.

Such as Chatham dockyard - that's even worse than mine.



http://www.kentrail.org.uk/Chatham%20Dockyard%202.htm

The author writes: Being a dock railway, the track formations are unlike those found on standard British Rail lines. As can be seen here, a line intercepts this pair of points just after the divide, and a line branches off sharply to the left, disappearing into the darkness of the shipbuilding shed.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/hydragenic/493570224/

[JulienW]

Complex track work was not just combined to dockyards. How about this dual gauge set up at Guinness Brewery, and this triangle with another line running through it!

I'm planning to have something along the lines of the latter photo on the new version of Latham's - but don't hold your breath! :laugh: ::)

[tedp]

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Train services to Dunalistair suspended

As from today, train services to Dunalistair are suspended in preparation for track renewal.



Temporary measures have been taken to ensure a service over the line. Passenger trains between Rae Bridge and Craigcorrie will run as scheduled. A railmotor shuttle service will operate from Rae Bridge as far as the outskirts of Dunalistair, where a temporary platform has been erected (note this is off scene). The new Innisfail tram coach has been found suitable to serve as a trailer to the motor train:



The main line can be used by works trains and to serve the Caledonia Foundry. Here the foundry shunter is seen working a wagon to the Foundry siding.







Coal trains are diverted to the branch, where transhipment arrangements have been made to the North British interchange at Glenfinnan.



Ferries to and from Oban make an extra call at the pier at Kinlochalastair. Note this depends on the state of the tide. The railmotor shuttle will run at revised times as required, to ensure a connection to Rae Bridge.

By order.

T.W.Polet, general manager & dogsbody.