Transporter wagons

[Cambridge Paul]

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

[Cambridge Paul]

Here's the picture

[Cambridge Paul]

Here it is again, using tripod & delay

[Cambridge Paul]

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.

[garrywhiting]

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

[JulienW]

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

[Cambridge Paul]

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

[Cambridge Paul]

Here's the same thing from underneath

[Cambridge Paul]

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.

[Cambridge Paul]

And the last two

[B.Meldon]

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

[Cambridge Paul]

Brian
That's really interesting

[B.Meldon]

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

[Darren Hedges]

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.

[Crichworkshop2000]

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