Project 16 - Up Line Operational

Regular followers will know about enhancements I  made to Peco track to make it look more authentic for 4mm scale. I don't mean the current work on Misterton, which uses 3D printed sleepers, but earlier work for Hewish Gates that retained the Peco sleepers. The most significant change was to space out the sleepers.

This week I learnt that Peco intend to introduce code 75, 00 gauge Bullhead flexi track in 2016 and maybe Bullhead turnouts later. Guess what - the track "will feature proportionally greater spacing between the sleepers". This is very good news indeed. I have one concern though looking at their CAD drawing. The rail chairs include the characteristic oak key but it does not protrude beyond the chair, so typical of the prototype. I hope Peco change in this respect.

Now I have both main lines running I shall take a break from track laying and focus on fabricating station platforms.

To Part 8.

 To Part 1.

Project 16 - Starting Up Line

Track laying has started for the Up Main Line. The distance between Up and Down tracks, is known as the 6' way, measured between the outer sides of the inner rails. But, I have seen this stated as 6' 5.5", which equates to 25.83mm (4mm scale). On curves the tracks are spaced further apart than this to stop passing long rolling stock hitting each other.

Having fixed the Peco single slip and 3-way turnout down and taken the measurement I find Peco has set it to about 33mm, which equates to 8.25'. I assume Peco set this dimension for uniformity with the wider spacing necessary on curves ?

This photo also shows the removable/lifting bridging baseboard between Misterton and Hewish Gates. It joins the Misterton baseboard at the blue line. It is not a good idea to cut the rails at such an acute angle as the gauge can become distorted. I prefer to cut the rails at or near to 90 degrees. To achieve this the track bed extends onto the Misterton baseboard (bounded by the red line) and for strength is made from hardboard instead of cork.

On the previous layout this lifting board for access beyond was non-scenic because I did not want cumbersome scenic items to get in the way or be damaged due to lifting the board. Instead a portable back scene was placed at the front of the baseboard to give a view of landscape and hide the bare railway. Access beyond was never found to be necessary so, this time I am going to landscape the board whilst retaining its remove-ability. At the far end will be the portal to Crewkerne tunnel, the other end of which already exists on the Hewish Gates side.

To Part 7.

To Part 1.

Project 16 - Down Line Operational

Very pleasing to get trains running again, albeit only on the 'down' line.

Initially I was stumped on how to create the complex curve but, it was simple. The apex measurement was transferred from the plan to the baseboard and then a length of flexible track was used to define the curve, set by eye looking down the length of track.

To Part 6.

 To Part 1.