Weekend Engineering 5 & Track Testing 2

Posted on 9 April 2016 by Mike

Slightly shorter update from over the colder winter period from December. I will add some more videos related to this update showing the track testing and how I did the plaster cloth later.

The first section of permanant track gets tested with a strange testing train made up of a class 20 in the middle, UK passenger stock on one side and mixed US passenger and freight on the other, being pushed and pulled round the new track. A second locomotive in the form of my second Union Pacific Heritage unit takes a couple of circuits with the US rolling stock to test out curves and points. The idea here was to try to get as many of the more torublesome and different types of items to test with. The UP loco has a long chassis and is very low to the ground. The class 20 has kadees at one side and tension locks on the other making it perfect for connecting both types of rolling stock at once. I used a newer MK3 coach by Hornby (one livery) and older Lima MK3 and a Hornby MK1 (which seems to de-rail on everything) and a mix of the US rolling stock.

Hornby R2990XS BR Princess Helena Victoria Steam Locomotive with DCC Sound

Posted on 23 March 2016 by Mike

Some steam on the layout, this is my first steam loco with sound. This is factory sound fitted by Hornby, its no. R2990XS.
Observant viewers might notice the ‘magic’ uncoupling operation, or the lack of green on one of the signals. Really observant viewers might even notice the MK1s are not actually BR…
Next video will be Weekend Engieering update/episode 5, expect it next week. The layout updates will then resume from then on now its a bit warmer.

Main Layout – Track Testing & Trains Running 1

Posted on 20 August 2015 by Mike

With the track down, time for some very basic testing. I used my old Lima class 66 and a Lima class 156 Super Sprinter, both running in DC. First issue I encountered was not really a surprise, but not having a way to get between all 3 tracks was a bit a pain for testing, so I used some old short set track points across the 3 lines. These are quite short and tight when curved but I didn’t expect the super sprinter to derail – even when at a crawl. It seems these are just too tight when put back to back, so I’ll need to order some new peco streamline points, I’ll go for the large radius electrofrog and eventually put them near the station.

[Show as slideshow]

No major problems at this stage from the track tests, but this is just flat level and all new track. I’m expecting the real issues to happen later when inclines are added. I do also need to test my US HO locos and trains as the curves might be an issue for some of them. As the initial track worked ok, I decided to run some more trains for a bit. Videos are below.

Starting the main layout & Weekend Engineering Episode 1

Posted on 10 August 2015 by Mike

With some good testing, and a lot of learning from the test layout and its problems, I’m now anxious to start on the real thing. That of course means I need more space. For this I have two options, one is to convert the loft space and build in there and the other is to use an old storage area. The loft is much bigger, but its going to cost a lot to convert it and that will take time. I want to make something while I have spare time, but I don’t want to have to re-do everything if I do get the loft sorted out in a year or so. Therefore, I’m going to try to make something partially modular in the currently available space. The first set of pictures shows the new area that I have to work with – its basically an existing bench along one side of the room, it was once used as some sort of office by the previous owner, and we have not really used it for much, except for a previous railway layout or too.

The intention is to build some extension boards to go on top of the existing bench and extend it out, there will be 2 large boards and 1 small board which will fill the gap in the middle. I’ll be using 12mm MDF for the boards with 34mmx34mm pine softwood beams to provide around the edge support, 2 cross-braces and also make the legs. The beams are cut into sections and secured to the MDF with screws from the top down. The beams are then secured together at the corners as well. The legs are positioned inside the support beams in the corners and secured to the beams with screws from the sides. The legs are not secured from the top of the MDF as I want to be able to remove them later without having to disturb the layout on top.

Below are some pictures but in addition I have decided to record a short video and decided to call it ‘Weekend Engineering’, you can now watch my updates to see how it progresses into a layout (hopefully).