chris Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Great work, great photos. If you want to take a belt and braces approach to the section in the tunnel then I'd suggest soldering two bonding wires over each rail join so if one fails you have a back up. It may look a bit messy having a couple of wires on both sides of the join, but it's in the tunnel so who is going to see it. While I'm mentioning rail joints, if you trim the chairs off the end sleepers then that will make room for the fishplate and you won't get a gap in the sleepers at each joint. I wish I'd twigged on to that before I first started laying track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzanoid Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Mick, like I said, rocket fuel! With the warm weather on our side the glue was setting very well, so much so that the single track by the shrubs was stuck fast, so we removed all the bricks between there and the country village section and pushed a few carriages around... just to make sure the track was smooth you see *ahem* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzanoid Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Great work, great photos. If you want to take a belt and braces approach to the section in the tunnel then I'd suggest soldering two bonding wires over each rail join so if one fails you have a back up. It may look a bit messy having a couple of wires on both sides of the join, but it's in the tunnel so who is going to see it. While I'm mentioning rail joints, if you trim the chairs off the end sleepers then that will make room for the fishplate and you won't get a gap in the sleepers at each joint. I wish I'd twigged on to that before I first started laying track. Definitely will do that - the tunnel roof will be removable in case of derailment / stray hedgehog etc in any case! With yesterday's laying we were doing just that - snipping the chairs off. We're going to re-lay sleepers under the missing sections once we've got all wiring in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ba14eagle Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Gosh! You guys really have cracked on and it looks great! Like everyone else, I cant wait to see some photo's and videos of trains running. As an aside, isnt this brilliant? Am I right in thinking, you guys didnt know each other before meeting on this website? If thats right, well done Mick! What a great hobby we enjoy - being able to get together and work together for each others benefits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Thanks all for the feedback. If we had a bit more free time between us we could probably complete the track laying by the weekend, but due to other commitments, like work for example, we are restricted so usually only meet up every 2 or 3 weeks for 'train days'. The next stage of construction, probably in 2-3 weeks time, may see the raised timber sections put in place. I have 3 decking boards for this, I may need one more. I also need to purchase some more track very very soon! The girder bridge and viaduct will be constructed once all the decking boards and track are in place. When the tracks meet we will have a celebration. It will be tested by my 1970's clockwork train! One for You Tube me thinks! Hampton Field Railway - Me and Bazzanoid have known each other for around 8 years. However, another poster on this forum -from Romford Garden Railway, lives in the same area as us. We've never met, but perhaps we will in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzanoid Posted September 20, 2011 Author Share Posted September 20, 2011 Me and Bazzanoid have known each other for around 8 years. And that is through my wife and jaybee's wife (who is also a train enthusiast, but prefers to focus on the finished product and the real thing), who have been best friends for about seventeen years. Adding to the timeline, i've known jaybee's wife in passing as a friend of my wife for around the same amount of time, only becoming good friends when i started dating my wife 11 years ago, and i've known my wife for 25 years... and i'm only 31! Phew! In a couple of weeks we're off to the Ilford & West Essex Model Railway Club show (http://www.iwemrc.org.uk/exhibition.asp''>http://www.iwemrc.org.uk/exhibition.asp'>http://www.iwemrc.org.uk/exhibition.asp), so as long as there is time, weather and the wives are comfy enjoying a girly day we'll crack on when we return! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesRGR Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I'm off to that show too with any luck too. Seeing all these updates reminds me, I must update my thread.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzanoid Posted October 2, 2011 Author Share Posted October 2, 2011 Today was a good day.... while hard construction hasn't taken place, once we returned from the show we adjusted a curve as it was a little too close for carriages to pass without scraping, then checked using the highly technical carriage-on-carriage method http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040516.jpg' alt='URL>'> While the curve was setting in place we had lunch, and afterward laid the remainder of the track in jaybee's stock... searching for some more now, the last batch of 20 cost a little under £30 and since they're £65 for a box of 25, needless to say we want to repeat that success........ the flowerpot makes for an ideal runoff section while awaiting construction of the bridge.... http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040519.jpg' alt='URL>'> So, with a couple of hours left, what to do?? Dig out the controller and run some trains up and down of course! unfortunately, jaybee's controller was a remnant from his long-gone (hehe) childhood days, and as such, did not want to work. So, a little testing revealed the variable controller wasn't working, but the 12v constant D.C. accessory output was. in go the wires, and warp speed! full pelt or zero as the only speed options.... good to see the steam loco at the top of the incline comfortably, and this of course warranted a photo.... http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040527.jpg' alt='URL>'> And naturally, since it was such a milestone, we took a video of it running on both lines individually. Purely for testing purposes, you understand *ahem*. Here's the video, and since we had warp 9 or full stop, i've halved the video speed in post-production....... still only 20 seconds of video, but a momentous occasion nonetheless. mE1jIRl07fs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 A momentous occasion indeed! Congratulations on the video 50% speed reduction - barely discernible - and good to see something on the move. I'd still be holding my breath when trains are passing on the curve depicted in the first photo Are you sure that's a photo of 'after' the realignment? The clearance still looks very tight but if you're sure you can get by without fouling.... I was looking at the price of track the other day. It appears that the wooden sleeper type has increased in price to, as you suggest, approx £64 per box of 25 yards, while the concrete sleeper type remains £10 cheaper at 'only' £54 for 25 lengths. (source: Hattons) I guess you'll be on the look-out for a decent controller now? Do you have anything in mind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 The curve is tight, but the cars are now no longer touching. Phew! I'm now on the look out for a used HM 2000 as my old controller, a R900, would not work properly. The whole railway will be DCC eventually! My old Intercity 125 failed but after Bazz had cleaned the wheels it moved, but was constantly 'screaching' along, and think the wheels were als slipping (any ideas what this could be)? My brand new 'DCC Fitted' BR 4-6-0 Standard 4 '75062' ran perfectly. Roll on the next train running day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyR Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Looks superb Jaybee, great job. Didn't manage to get any time today, maybe missed the last of the good weather! How did you join the two video clips together? I have a few I'd like to post but not got round to doing it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzanoid Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 How did you join the two video clips together? I have a few I'd like to post but not got round to doing it yet. *puts official Windows Guru hat on (seriously, it's my job title)* Windows Live Essentials.... free download from microsoft.com, a great little program called Windows Live Movie Maker - you literally drop in the video clips you want to use, re-arrange them into the order you want them in, then you can trim each clip as appropriate, add transitions between them, colour effects, change the speed, add titles and captions, end credits, overlay music, etc. Changing the speed does drop any in-video audio out however. You can then save out as a video file for various different things or burn to DVD, or upload straight to Youtube (as long as you have an existing youtube account) *takes hat off* With the weather coming in, we may not get many more chances this side of spring to construct much, but we'll certainly be trying! Next step is bridge construction, getting and laying points and then laying track through the tunnel afterward..... Forgot to mention, while we were running the trains on sunday, we put in place a temporary bridging wire across the isolated fishplates between block sections - until a DCC controller with computer input and block arrays is purchased, each track circuit (i.e. inner and outer) will be electrified as one without isolated sections to enable simpler operation.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traingeekboy Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I have to say that the S curve with the train on it is very nice in the video. it all looks very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drmalesis Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Great stuff, I can't believe how much progress you've made in such a short time. Keep the photo's and Vids coming. Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyR Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 How did you join the two video clips together? I have a few I'd like to post but not got round to doing it yet. *puts official Windows Guru hat on (seriously' date=' it's my job title)* Windows Live Essentials.... free download from microsoft.com, a great little program called Windows Live Movie Maker - you literally drop in the video clips you want to use, re-arrange them into the order you want them in, then you can trim each clip as appropriate, add transitions between them, colour effects, change the speed, add titles and captions, end credits, overlay music, etc. Changing the speed does drop any in-video audio out however. You can then save out as a video file for various different things or burn to DVD, or upload straight to Youtube (as long as you have an existing youtube account) *takes hat off* With the weather coming in, we may not get many more chances this side of spring to construct much, but we'll certainly be trying! Next step is bridge construction, getting and laying points and then laying track through the tunnel afterward..... Forgot to mention, while we were running the trains on sunday, we put in place a temporary bridging wire across the isolated fishplates between block sections - until a DCC controller with computer input and block arrays is purchased, each track circuit (i.e. inner and outer) will be electrified as one without isolated sections to enable simpler operation....[/quote'] Thanks Windows Guru, I'll have a play with that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essex2visuvesi Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Just spent my lunch break reading through this and its very good What did you use to hold the bricks in place in this picture? http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040516.jpg' alt='URL>'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Thanks for the comments. The bricks are not held in place. Assuming you mean the bricks under the track, they are bedded into the soil. The ones to the side are just placed there temporarily. Interestingly though, the bricks which we have used for the tunnel sides are are held to the paving stone base using Gorilla Glue. It's very strong stuff that - who needs sand and cement when you can use Gorilla Glue? Really looking forward to the Spring when we will continue. I have more track, I have shed roof felt, I have Dent Station, I have more platforms and I have Honeysuckle Cottage... Jaybee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzanoid Posted April 1, 2012 Author Share Posted April 1, 2012 Well Spring is most definitely here, and taking full of advantage of that rarest of sundays when we have decent weather and i'm not at work (the joys of working 5 over 7 days), we're cracking on with construction. We've stopped for lunch, so I figured I'd upload a morning update, then another this evening! A survey of the winter's effect on the track revealed a brick or two had shifted slightly so we re-set them in position. The track is starting to get tarnished nicely for that 'real' effect! http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040654.jpg' alt='URL>'> We found a crew hard at work on one end of the line, and we gave them some assistance in laying the next section of track. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040646.jpg' alt='URL>'> We then laid out a couple of bits of track to get an idea of how the sidings / station arrangement would look, and then set about the points, remembering to insulate the join between as part of the block section system. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040642.jpg' alt='URL>'> http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040648.jpg' alt='URL>'> Opening up the tunnel mouth, there was some dirt inside but this won't be a problem once in use as the roof will be better sealed than it is at the moment. After laying the points in place, while waiting for a piece of track to dry into place up the top end, we laid some more track into the tunnel..... and that was the morning! http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040653.jpg' alt='URL>'> Lastly, as requested, a short step-by-step on the track fixing process on concrete using the gorilla glue. Lightly dampen the area to be glued, and the bottom of the track as well, then dab a small (literally pea-sized) blob of glue on the concrete. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040650.jpg' alt='URL>'> Get the track into position (this may be by just placing it, like the below picture, or by lifting it up to glue underneath if it's an additional section) http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040651.jpg' alt='URL>'> And then clamp it with something for a few hours. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/Garden%20Railway/P1040652.jpg' alt='URL>'> When dry, you're left with 'packing wotsits' residue between the sleepers, which just picks off like dried foam leaving a neat, clean, VERY well attached track. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/P1040460.jpg' alt='URL>'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzanoid Posted April 1, 2012 Author Share Posted April 1, 2012 So, this afternoon brought more sunshine and the essential rocket fuel... we ran the inner circuit from the top back corner where it was left before winter down to the points we laid this morning, and ran another few feet of track through the tunnel. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/P1040655.jpg' alt='URL>'> http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/P1040661.jpg' alt='URL>'> http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/P1040665.jpg' alt='URL>'> Now this left us with nothing more to do while we were waiting for the glue to set in, since the bricks clamping the track would prevent us from laying the outer circuit along the back edge and left curve. So we turned our attentions to the other end of the garden, and as a result of the advanced preparation on Jaybee's part, we positioned and secured track to the semi-temporary bridging pieces he had made and felted. The long term goal is to have prototypical bridges/viaducts/whatever-looks-awesome instead, and in the mean time we are using the felted beams. As an aside, this is of course just shed-grade roofing felt wrapped round decking planks cut to length. The track was trimmed to the precise edge of the board, a necessity as there will be either a gated or drop-in section crossing the path which will be removable / openable for access. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/P1040659.jpg' alt='URL>'> http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/P1040662.jpg' alt='URL>'> http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/bazzanoid/P1040664.jpg' alt='URL>'> A slight height issue on the corner piece resulted in long carriages becoming derailed when travelling 'down' on the outer circuit, and while this is not the planned direction for that track, it was something we needed to address. So, a few mangled sleepers and extra track pins later, i was readying the hammer and chisel to remove some of the offending brickwork that was the cause of the problem. Stonechips flying everywhere and a small directional adjustment, and it was sorted and good to go! Bring on the next free weekend!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traingeekboy Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Wow nice big sweeping curves on some of that. I can't wait till your start posting scenes of long passenger trains snaking around them. Great progress shots. I also seem to notice a loco shed waiting for track to lead to it. That should be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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