Wykeham - Somewhere in the south!

[Bandit Mick]

Lovely modelling - well done

[Brian]

Hi BB
Did you fit the Peco Pot spacer washers under each Pot?
We found on our former club OO third rail layout we had to remove all the spacing washers which then lowered the Conductor rail and allowed all EMUs etc to run correctly.

[bulleidboy]

Hi Brian - I didn't fit them - I think it said they were for use with Code 100 track - I use Code 75. I had noticed in one or two places, usually at the end of the conductor rail, that the "springiness" in the rail caused the end pot to lift very slightly. These are now glued in place. BB

[bulleidboy]

I've been in the stock cupboard again - Class 419 Motor Luggage Van S68001. This loco has 3rd rail pick-up shoes the same as the 2-BIL pictured yesterday - however this one does not foul the 3rd rail.

IMG_0758 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

IMG_0759 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

[Chris]

very nice model

[bulleidboy]

One of the things that bugs me about Wykeham - other than I don't have more room - is that I can get a train from the branch line platform onto the main line, but I cannot get from the main line to the branch line. You may recall that Wykeham is basically Cyril Freezers "Portable "U"", and on the original plan there was a link from main line to branch, but as some may have experienced, the track geometry on some of CJF's layouts, is great on paper, but in reality it doesn't work. I did try the link line when I built the layout, but it just didn't fit. I'm looking again, and have downloaded some Peco point plans to see whether it could be done - not sure why it would fit now when it didn't then!

The picture depicts where the link was shown on the original track plan - on the right as you look at the picture - it looks simple, but the curve radius doesn't allow curved points to be installed. The main lines are to the left of the signal box, the branch line to the right (depending on how you look at it ).

IMG_0351 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

[Steve M]

Time for some handbuilt points?

I would have thought that the link should be possible but you may have to set the main running lines on a slightly different alignment. By that I mean work out how best to link the two lines then rebuild and relay the running lines to suit the point work rather than the other way round.

[bulleidboy]

Hi Steve - In the long run I think I may have to live with it. To realign the main line would require a fairly major rebuild of the curve. The radius becomes more pronounced ( due to the width of the layout/room) once the main lines enter the tunnel - they terminate in a curved point just inside the exit portal at the fiddle yard end. Unfortunately Peco Code 75 curved points only come in "large" format, so to incorporate one of those would mean moving it closer to the station - perhaps I should have experimented more when I started. Barry

[Steve M]

Only one option then................rip it all up and start again.

Or..........hand built points.

[Hound Dog]

What if the branch ran on to the spur, that would bring it closer to the main line and perhaps allow for a set of points ? ........ just a thought