Rossi Railways in the sun

[Rossi]

Time again for replacements!!!

Front of the railway now showing too much wear and tear. The decking has begun to warp slightly and the track has decided to move. The old Tri-ang platforms are showing gaps where passengers could disappear without ever coming back. The artificial grass frontage is decaying and...well, you get the picture.

Work on the computer has now finished so I've more time for the railway, especially with friends arriving next week.

So...out with it all!!!

Brash statement, because you know it always becomes a bigger job.

Bags of cement, blocks, sand...bucket and spade and a worrying Mrs Rossi as she surveys the scene.
All the wiring now looks like the proverbial Spaghetti junction. It was colour coded, but damned if I can remember as it all cascades out into a jumbled heap. Keep thinking it might be time for a complete re-wire.
I'm also thinking of a different approach to the track laying, something I've not tried before.
Chipboard and decking, treated wood...all tried. Anyway, off to the builders yard.
Seemed like a good idea at the time!

[traingeekboy]

It's good to see you back and posting up images.

Maybe it's time to try recycled plastic planks. But what is the real issue with the lumber water or heat? Even an indoor railway needs proper bracing or ply will warp. Maybe you should consider more standard indoor bracing styles.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Rossie good to see you back on your layout, did the warping have any issues with trains running as the real railway isn't all flat either.

Be a big job fixing the warping going by the pic, as Griff said may need some bracing, square metal tubing be the way to go, are few of the guys over here in Australia have done that on their outdoor railway, I don't have to go to that trouble as my layout isn't permanently set up would like it be.

Our winter is over and back in full swing working on my layout before it does get too hot outside, only have 4 months, in between getting back into woodturning, have my own lather, got a stack of pens to do, they make a grate gift, more pics posted on my page.

[Rossi]

Up and running is the good news!

Bit of a mammoth task is an understatement, but the basics are in place.

Extra passing loop added as well (if you view original plan) so a couple of trains can be held in the station platforms.
All the wiring actually came good when I remembered the colour coding.

managed to add some scenics. 
The track is now laid down directly onto the blocks (type of breeze block in England, I think). Long slim nails holding firm into the block, although some did bend when encountering really hard rock. I also put a dab of super glue here and there to make it more firm.
We'll see how all this reacts in a years time!!!
The track does seem more realistic than when I had it on decking.

Thinking of making some sort of detachable station roof so the standing trains have some shelter from the sun.
Also looks like a visit to the garden centre is needed. Some of the plants didn't take too kindly to all the upheavel

[traingeekboy]

That looks great. Fast work too.

[mick]

Maintenance is all part and parcel of keeping an outdoor line running and personally, I wouldn't want it any other way. I found that decking boards tended to warp when I used them on my previous layout which was the main reason I opted for plywood this time round. It can be frustrating when you encounter a problem that requires a major rework but as has been mentioned previously, real railways are like that too. I quite enjoy the task of keeping the line in operational condition and if there's ever a major problem there's usually a solution to be found that allows us to improve or even add something new to the layout at the same time. We could all benefit from an additional passing loop.

It's looking good Rossi. Can't wait to see some trains on the renovated section.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Rossi, how are you going with your village railway, what issue are you at now, do you have the church kit, I would like to get that one .

Fixed the rebuild scenery cutting, sure way ahead of me, slow going, once I pass the Tehachapi loop tunnel 9 module, the rest of the building should go quite quickly, aiming at getting the main line up and running, or just the TL loop.

Tony.

Edited December 13, 2014 by Guest

[Rossi]

Bit of an update on the railway...and we all seem a little quiet at the moment, so I'll show the progress (if you can call it that) in the last few weeks.

Oh, and Tony, no church kit as yet. I'm up to issue fifty, so still waiting. It'll be in two issues. I'll let you know when they arrive.

I mentioned putting some sort of roof/station building over the front tracks to give a bit of shade from the sun. This would enable a train to stand in one of the passing loops.

This (I think) is a link for the last video on the railway. Pretty sure the address doesn't have to be that long. Someone will probably see if I've done it right.

Had a delivery of a sound capsule from Train-Tech. 40 pounds. You can judge for yourselves whether it does the job. It's in the truck behind the class 24 diesel.

Downside is the battery life...300 minutes. That's five hours, but you'd be surprised how quickly that goes when you let the train go on loops whilst socialising!!!

And a bit of advertising...The latest book is out on Amazon .co.uk. Called "A Tale of Two Stories."

Nostalgia from the 60's decade.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Rossie, was wondering how you were going , that video clip was pure awesome, like the station roof and the plants match in very well, some very good choices there.

The replacement 5pole tender drive motor for the Flying Scot had arrived, with both tender driver tenders the matching poles will be able to pull 16+ coaches ,can pull 11 with ease with the 5 and 3 pole motors.

http://www.oogardenrailway.co.uk/gallery/image.php?album_id=90&image_id=3089

Yeah you will have to let me know what issue the church is in, have been trying to get a list up on all the issues, very hard, 120 issues all up very expensive layout, costing $2.300+.

Are you up to the loco yet.

Tony

[Rossi]

Clearing stuff off camcorder. Here's a couple more vids from the past few months.

This was moving stock about in the station. As I've said earlier, I sometimes run a sought of timetable...well, it keeps me off the streets!

 

This one (with wind effects) stopping a train in the middle lines dead section (points control) and allowing passing trains either side.

Now off to get my wish list ready for Santa as our Grandson comes over next week from Uni...so fingers crossed. Maybe Mrs Rossi would like an early Xmas sherry. (Now that sounds like a cunning plan!)

Oh, quick PS.

Came across this bag of "something" in the garden centre. Not being green fingered, so not sure what it is, but it looks mighty good for ballast

[ba14eagle]

Vermiculite - Im not sure, but I think this will absorb any moisture and swell up - thats what its used for in horticultural circles - keep soil moist

[IanR]

I don't think it swells but it does hold moisture. It could be beneficial as it will soak up more glue, give it a try.

Aren't the granules too big though?

[Rossi]

Mmmm....

Always good to read the small print first. Just translated the Spanish and it does make reference to holding moisture.

This is what happens on impulse buying....And yes, they do look a little on the large side.

Will try it on a small siding in the station, though not sure before Christmas.

Delivery of some more "Build a 60's railway" mags and had a small sachet of "coal" amongst them, so I thought I'd top up some of the steam tenders to make them more realistic.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Rossi, not all lost you could you could paint the stones black and use them as coal load for coal hoppers, so long they aren't too heavy, just an idea.

Going over to a friends house tomorrow and going to replace the 3pole with the 5pole replacement motor for the Flying Scot, having a few problems getting the 5pole motor in the tender chassis will go only one way but the wires will have to be swapped around.

Looking forward to going to the train club and getting the members going again, hope to be able to pull 16 coaches before other members start turning up at the club while the layout is quite, 10ft train length limit, be ok on my layout.

How many steamies have you got, I have four really five because one of the Flying Scot's has duel power tenders the second one I will rename and number, Thomas the tank engine and a Aussie steamy the famous 3801, like the steamy pic

Tony

[traingeekboy]

The new roof over the terminal really brings the scene together. It's got a nice look to it. Nice job.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Rossi, will have to agree what Griff has said, here is a couple of pics of the Flying scot double tender drive tenders with matching 5 pole motors, if you go back to the other pics of my FS the front tender is different to the first pics. Luckily I had the tender shell from the other single tender FS as the 3pole tender would fit the 5pole motor, worked out well in the end.

http://www.oogardenrailway.co.uk/gallery/image.php?album_id=90&image_id=3315

http://www.oogardenrailway.co.uk/gallery/image.php?album_id=90&image_id=3317

I am now couplers hat will bring the two tenders closer together and the rubber stuff that goes between the two coaches, not sure what they are called.

Hopefully the nem couplers for the coaches will arrive before next Tuesday, going to my train club to run the FS, can't wait.

Merry Christmas, Tony

[Rossi]

Where are we all?

It seems the winter has put a lot of modellers into hibernation, or so it seems from the amount of posts recently.

Looking back at some stats I noticed that the most people on line was last year (February 20th), a huge 89.

So what occurred on that specific date to encourage so many to gather?

Not much to report myself on the railway as we've been doing a thorough spring clean on the house. Sharp decisions made on "letting go" some of the baggage that has accumulated over the years...and it`s surprising how much there is (was).

Most of my musical amplification is being given to a friend who a few years back handed me a few locos from his childhood, so a run with the trains will be made next week as well as a run on a few beers.

No new photos, so a quick look at the back end of an express through the rear cutting.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Rossi, happy new year it's been pretty cold in England , what's the weather like were you are on those islands, ever get cold in winter, it the opposite over here, hot and hot. I have only been able to do work on the layout after tea, which I did today and still humid, looking forward to the cooler months, got a couple of hours done, pics to follow.

What issue are you up to in the your garden railway village as the news agent can't tell me what issue the church is on.

Good pic of that coach.

Tony.

[traingeekboy]

I still lurk. Just not posting as much. And not really doing trains as much. I do shop for things on ebay, but nothing has really lured me with a low price yet.

I had been pondering a really small indoor layout, but who knows. Besides, spring is coming. We had a 72 degree day yesterday which is quite uncommon for January.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Rossi - Griff good to see you managing to say hi on the forum, Griff , sad your not doing much on your layout outside, Mick is building an indoor layout as well same with Roy from Blue Mountains down under, he is pulling his out door layout down, found rotting in the base boards, a big issue with our hot and wet summers.

Yeah an email friend that lives in Oregon is saying the same too about the weather, not much snow in the mountains at the back of Seattle, wont be much water in the lake for summer, New York didn't get that bad storm as predicted either, who wants 3feet of snow.

Strange that as yesterday we had a nice cool day for a change peaked 29 degrees, hope it is like that on Saturday as it's voting day, state election, I am booth captain for one of the candidates, having a break in the afternoon and going back to keep an eye on the ballot papers being counted, fingers crossed be a new Government ALP.

That 72 degrees is 22 degrees Celsius over here, cool but nice what we have during the day in winter.

Tony