Wednesday 24th October

Worklist:
Point rodding and 'signalling'.
Review sound module.

Fortunately a full house this week, with some serious discussion required to decide what we are going to do.

Geoff and Stephen had circulated emails regarding point rodding and 'signalling'. Geoff had proposed using Wills SS89 4mm point rodding and parts kits. 2 packs would be required to obtain 4 facing lock units and enough rodding, which Stephen estimated to be 1.8m. (This included the 4 locking mechanisms which Geoff had previously thought could be wire operated, but subsequently solid linkages were favoured). The lever frame would be handmade to 7mm scale.

Stephen had reviewed the Wills packs and queried the rod support centres, which he'd calculated at 10ft (40mm); confirmed by Geoff. To maintain 10ft in 7mm, we would need to remove a support from every piece of rodding, which seemed wrong. Stephen had previously floated the idea of making our own kit-of-parts, and this now sounded quite plausible. We considered square rodding, but this would be prohibitively expensive, so round/tubular rodding was agreed. Geoff proposed straightening coiled wire, but Stephen argued for rigid wire to overcome the likelihood of in-situ damage, which would look unsightly and be difficult to rectify. Geoff pulled out an ancient box of piano wire pieces which were mic'd-up - 0.8mm looked perfect. Sketches of the supports, rationalised for our situation and modelling capabilities, were created and a design quickly firmed-up. Laser-cut cardboard seemed obvious, but would it be solid enough? Would the card delaminate? Maybe a coat of dilute PVA or even shellac would help? One way to find out was to make some, so Geoff drew up the pencil design and cut some out of 1mm card. With a piece of plastic rod for the top retainer, the 'plates' and packers were difficult to keep aligned, so another hole, where the pulley spindle would be, was added, which worked well (if incredibly fiddly). After more trials to get the hole size right for easy assembly, we had a kit of parts. About 80-90 pieces were cut for Stephen to have a go at, at home.

An initial rodding scheme and embryonic support design.

The support design transferred to CAD.

The first batch!

Original support with single hole and the final double-hole supports and packers.

A three-rod support unit (without the top retainer). These will be glued onto card baseplates.

We were very pleased with the speedy progress and the components we had created. We will need to see how they behave once assembled, and try some rodding mock-ups. And then there's the cranks and lever frame that need to be considered, but it's a good start.


The rodding and lock units also form part of the system to prevent 'incidents' on the approach to the station and the proposed sequence is:

1) A train arrives from Cottesmore or the quarry and stops at the appropriate 'holding' sign, at which point a treadle triggers the bell and a light on the lever frame. The bell rings for (say) 10 seconds, but the light remains on.

2) The pointwork is set by the controller, the light on the 'holding' sign is illuminated and the train advances into the station.

3) The lights on the lever frame and the sign are turned off.

This could all be achieved with manually operated switches for each element, but automating part or all of the routine had been briefly discussed. With this in mind, Stephen had been experimenting at home with some IR detectors that could be used to automatically trigger the bell and lights scenario. Never having used them before, some research was required and the simplest option had been to employ an Arduino Nano micro-controller. This would also have the ability to be programmed for further parts of the sequence. Once it had been successfully rigged-up, a sound unit was added, as used for the generator engine, and a bell audio track recorded. Stephen now successfully demonstrated the unit, albeit that the bell sound was very poor. This was not improved by substituting a better speaker, so further investigation is required. This will be developed in parallel to the manually operated switch option.

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Homework!

Based on the discussions, Stephen updated his drawing to calculate the number of each type of support. Some questions about rod-end connections and crank orientation came to light, which have to be investigated.

He then assembled several 3-rod and 2-rod support units. The two plastic rods certainly helped assembly, and the dilute PVA that was brushed over the completed units firmed the card nicely. They'll be cleaned up and painted before next week.

Wednesday 17th October

Worklist:
Rectify electrical issue
Review Chris Holmes' latest comments

As the layout had been packed away the previous week, just the board with the problem was retrieved and clamped upright on two trestles. It was immediately clear that what we thought was a single section on the release road of the platform was, in fact, two sections that had been created some time ago. One was fed from the point frog and the other from a duplicated section feed to the other end. The problem only occurred when a loco straddled the track break, but it was worth addressing. We could either bond the frog feed through, or create a separately switched section for the yard end of the platform, which was the preferred option. The second feed was separated on the board and control panel, and a new switch inserted on the panel. This also required repositioning of the electromagnet push switch and a point switch. As Stephen couldn't remember how he'd wired-up the illuminated push-switches, the exercise took a little longer than it should have, but we got there in the end - albeit well after our lunch break.

Following on from the 'log-jams' encountered during the previous meeting, Chris had sent an email raising another issue regarding control of trains arriving at Worton Court from the mainline (Cottesmore) and the quarry. How should approaching trains be admitted to the station area to avoid congestion?

"I suspect there ought to be “Stop – until called forward” boards displayed on both approaches – one on each – within sight of the Blockman / Controller, who then shows the relevant flag to hold the train or accept it into a clear road."

Stephen had immediately seen the potential issue as an opportunity to increase the 'operating features' on the layout. Stop signs and an animated figure waving a flag? All sounded exciting! Furthermore, the solution of this issue seemed to overlap with another issue that Geoff had also been considering.

Issue 1 - Ideally, the four passenger-critical points at the entrance to the station should have a locking mechanism. We could get away with a small, manual lock on each point or we could add a lever ground frame at the end of the platform that included locking mechanisms? Geoff was leaning towards the lever frame, which, although creating a lot more work in a 'completed' area, would create an interesting and realistic feature.

Issue 2 - If Chris's concerns were to be accepted, the signs could easily be added and the prospect of having a man at the lever frame waving a flag sounded wonderful (to Stephen, at least).

After setting-up the layout, Geoff was asked to explain the consequences and solutions of the issue raised by Chris. However, an unforeseen problem was immediately found - the quarry line stopping position was not in sight of the lever frame, so a waved flag was not feasible. Geoff then described an alternative solution where the incoming train stops at the sign and either whistles or sounds a horn waiting to be advanced using a flashing light. A 'modern upgrade' was suggested whereby the train wheels would depress a treadle ringing a bell in a box on the lever frame. The controller would then set the points and give clearance to enter the station by activating a flashing light on the sign. Stephen was delighted - bells, flashing lights = sound modules, micro-LED's, and buttons!!!

Consideration was then given to the original point operation issue. Eight levers would be required for the four points - one for each tie-bar and one each for the locking mechanisms. Geoff advised that a sprung-loaded wire could be employed for the locking mechanisms, which might simplify the rodding installation. A route for the rodding/wires was provisionally worked out. This was guided by the positions of the existing point actuators and minimisation of the disruption to the existing trackwork.

The affected area and key features:

View from ground frame

The signalman could probably walk across the timber-plank path to check the quarry train position, but the bell system obviates the need.

An 'artists impression' of a possible sign with a white micro-led on top.

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Post meeting, a further enhancement was discussed. With the addition of the lever frame, it would be prudent to add rodding operation only to the point adjacent to the fuel tower (fourth point in cross-over) so that all regular point operations could be handled from the frame. The adjacent quarry siding would remain hand-operated.

Wednesday 10th October

Worklist:
Play trains!

Although Laurence was feeling under the weather, we had the pleasure of another visit from Chris Holmes. Chris will be operating with us at the Burton show and had brought some stock along for a running session. Geoff and Stephen also had stock to run and the cassettes were soon filled, prompting the need for more of them to be constructed.

Our usual light-working of trains had (presumably) never created the need for two loco's in tight proximity before and the intensity of this session soon showed up some problems. Electrically, we discovered that two sections were fed from stock rails rather than frogs, which meant those points were not isolating the sections beyond. The operational problems were again due to over-population with trains/loco's, which we wouldn't normally have done. Basically, both passenger trains and goods trains to-and-from the quarry all need to perform a run-around manoeuvre. If passenger and quarry trains are worked through the station area at the same time (for operational interest), the sequencing of these manoeuvres needs to be performed in the correct order. We will rectify the electrical issues, but we will also develop some basic running principles that obviate 'log-jams'. There is also limited operational work in the simple station area, e.g. yard deliveries, coal and coke deliveries, ash collection, non-mineral deliveries to and from the quarry etc. We need to develop a list of these activities to remind us of the prototypical movements available.

John's Peco Hunslet and Gakken coaches. Stephen's bo-bo diesel based on Woolwich, using a GE-44 chassis.

Chris's Bagnall ‘Katie’, built from a Roy Link kit (before the kit was taken over by Wrightlines).

Chris's scratchbuilt Kerr Stuart diesel and bogie wagons made from modified 00 Ratio kits.

Geoff's Japanese brass, 0-6-0 diesel kit. Chris's bogie wagon made from a modified 00 Ratio kit.

The 'new' mineral wagons. 17 were show today - all empty - which prompted the need to get half of them filled with rocks.

Chris’s Barclay ‘A’ class, built from the Wrightlines kit on a Hornby (?) L&Y Pug mechanism.

Chris gave the new location for the station water tower the thumbs-up (he'd suggested this on his previous visit). Using this facility created our first 'log-jam'. Uncoupling and moving the loco forward to the tower gives a tantalising opportunity to bring another train in, but the run-around is blocked. We determined that it will be necessary to complete the refuelling and then move the loco to the front of the coaches, before bringing in another train. Obvious enough, but we got caught out at least twice.

Geoff keeps adding little details and often waits to see if we notice them. This week he owned up to a pair of 'Beware Trains', which means that the post box and plants must have crept in a few weeks ago.

Wednesday 3rd October

Worklist:
People
Water tank surroundings remedials
Lorry repaint

The previous week had been cancelled due to personal commitments, so we were all ready for the days tasks (that is, if we could remember what we were working on).

When we arrived in the workshop, the newly painted chipboard floor had been painted. In accordance with application instructions, a further coat will be applied in a few weeks. With the floor markings locating the trestles now gone, we had to remember the setting out criteria..... which we did, eventually.

With the layout set up, Geoff planted himself at his desk and carried on painting figures. He'd circulated some YouTube videos of 'ordinary life in the early sixties', with the intention of investigating the dress-codes of the day. He'd also produced a sheet of typical attire photos, which he used to modify some of the modern Preiser figures. He actually made and applied a paper overlay to replicate the blue dress (top right) and painted it the same colour, which looked excellent.

However, when a mobile phone had been removed from young girls hand, the whole arm flew off, which we never found. He'll sort it out with some filler or heated plastic sprue. Some of the figures are quite tall and slim, which will also require some additional work.

The crane mechanic now has an assistant.

One figure took Geoff's eye - a young man in a dufflecoat - a typical rail enthusiast?

Stephen returned to the relocated water tower base and scraped away the excess plaster filling around the old area. Paint was then applied to the bare plaster to prepare it for re-grassing. This was then applied using a Flockit applicator. Having spoken to an exhibitor at the Woking show, Stephen took their advice and applied a thin coat of PVA and found the grass stayed more upright than previously. Once the glue has dried, some contrasting foliage will be applied.

Meanwhile, Laurence worked on replacing the steel axles that he'd had to cut in half to remove the wheels from the lorry he was repainting. We only had some slightly larger brass rod, but this was cut to length and the wheel hubs drilled to suit. Primer next week?

Stephen then sanded the filler applied to the two cows he'd worked on previously. These were skinny, whitemetal beasts that needed some beefing up. The 3D printed cows also got a bit of sanding. Geoff thinks that if we go for Hereford's, we'll need to beef them all up a bit more. Stephen thought they looked fine and just wanted to paint them - any colour. Maybe a trial run next week?