The Railway in the Valley of the Mill

[philipy]

Great as always Trevor. You need slate facings on those bits of wall though

[Trevor Thompson]

I know you are right - but I will think about that when I start to create the slate workings.

I have had enough of hauling stones and barrows of mortar up a hill to last me for a while!

trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

Almost ready to lay track. There are 11 lengths of track made up and 3 points here:

IMG_4502.JPG (2.12 MiB) Viewed 23632 times

and a double slip almost ready:

IMG_4503.JPG (2.27 MiB) Viewed 23632 times

I am wondering about actuators for the points. Something printed in the short term I think.

Trevor

[philipy]

That double slip looks very impressive, Trevor.

[Trevor Thompson]

That double slip looks very impressive, Trevor.

Took lots of effort to make it - three mornings in all. I just hope it works as well as it should.

Trevor

[ge_rik]

Most impressed with your handmade track.
I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

[gilfachphil]

I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

[gilfachphil]

That double slip looks very impressive, Trevor.

Took lots of effort to make it - three mornings in all. I just hope it works as well as it should.

Trevor

Trevor,

and I hope those of us lucky enough to be invited round to play will be able to work out how to switch each end to go the desired way through it. I always find a double slip confusing. The worst time I had to operate one was in preservation and had to bar and clip each end for a movement.

Looks like everything is going great guns towards the new terminus being in operation soon,

Phil

[Trevor Thompson]

I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

I finally lookout it - and see what you mean about magnets. It does look interesting and I never thought of using magnets to hold it in position.

Might be better than a bit of bent wire!

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

Rick thanks for posting the link to a point lever - but I have designed and printed one this morning. So this is based on something I found in one of my books on the Festiniog:

IMG_4508.JPG (2.58 MiB) Viewed 23585 times

and:

IMG_4507.JPG (2.14 MiB) Viewed 23585 times

There is an over centre spring just about hidden within the body You can see a glimmer of it in the photos) to give positive location. The bit of pressure is required because I like to drill a hole through the outer rails and the blades and solder the wire to the blades. So moving the blades slightly bends the wire hence the need for a bit of force. I find this technique holds the blades in position - they can't work their way out of the fishplates.

It works! So I am sending multiple copies to the printer.

Trevor

[gilfachphil]

I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

Magnets? I see no magnets! What bit are you interpreting as a magnet? could it be the solder holding the blade to the operating wire

Trevor

Trevor,

I looked it up on Thingiverse where it mentions magnets. I think perhaps they might glue into the holes in the lever and the body and work as non-contact springing,

Phil

[Trevor Thompson]

I've not tried it but this point lever looks interesting
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5264721

Rik

Yes, that does look an interesting point operating lever.

I presume the magnets are to hold it normal or reversed,

Phil

Magnets? I see no magnets! What bit are you interpreting as a magnet? could it be the solder holding the blade to the operating wire

Trevor

Trevor,

I looked it up on Thingiverse where it mentions magnets. I think perhaps they might glue into the holes in the lever and the body and work as non-contact springing,

Phil

You are of course correct - its me that wasn't reading your post properly.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

Today I started to lay the track work:

IMG_4510.JPG (4.6 MiB) Viewed 23415 times

IMG_4511.jpg (2.44 MiB) Viewed 23415 times

Trevor

Only problem I can see at the moment is that I think the point levers are going to hit the sides of the rolling stock - so a modification might be required. Oh and I need to order more fishplates.

[philipy]

Only problem I can see at the moment is that I think the point levers are going to hit the sides of the rolling stock - so a modification might be required.

I did wonder about that when you posted the initial picture yesterday. I had exactly the same problem when I printed my own point levers.

On a separate point (!), that half slated roof looks fabulous, its a shame you have to finish it!

[ge_rik]

That slip looks even more impressive in situ

Rik

[Trevor Thompson]

That slip looks even more impressive in situ

Rik

I will see if it works this afternoon when it is all connected up.

Having made it, I have worked out how it works! in that each point lever "points" to the road it is set for. So in the photo it is set for as a crossing connecting the far left road to the near right road. I think I can cope with that.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

Only problem I can see at the moment is that I think the point levers are going to hit the sides of the rolling stock - so a modification might be required.

I did wonder about that when you posted the initial picture yesterday. I had exactly the same problem when I printed my own point levers.

On a separate point (!), that half slated roof looks fabulous, its a shame you have to finish it!

It does suggest an opportunity to put a "half built" building somewhere on the railway. After all in the 1870' buildings must have been going up all over the place as the slate industry expanded.

[SimonWood]

Today I started to lay the track work:

I'm properly excited now! Looking forward to running on this.

It does suggest an opportunity to put a "half built" building somewhere on the railway. After all in the 1870' buildings must have been going up all over the place as the slate industry expanded.

Or reroofing slightly older buildings. Either way, men with ladders and ropes up there... and for the railway maybe a short train with as loads the building supplies?

[Phil.P]

I really must get some track down somewhere...

Would love the idea of a proper length of railway, rather than a little circle.

Awaiting a 'through train' video.

Phil.P

[Old Man Aaron]

Damn fine work. And your workshop looks very cosy too.