Shadowlands and Tellynott

[Mark Dalrymple]

Your benchwork is a work of art.  So neat and symmetric.

Jeff

Thank you very much, Jeff and Jim.

I'm pleased to be through the vast majority of this, although, I'm sure there will come a time in the future when I will be itching to do some more benchwork and there will be non left to do.

Cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi guys.

After some changes made to Hope here is an updated plan.  The insert at left shows the new hidden fiddle yard underneath the new mountain town of Hope, with a one loop helix between the two.  The sawmill has been moved to Wilmot and a conveyor takes the timber down to a wharf where Dolly the horse pulls a wagon loaded with timber around the tram line for loading.  Geographically, this is Big Bay.  The sawmill is inspired by the Port Craig sawmill.


Cheers, Mark.

[jerryrbeach]

Mark,

Thanks for taking time to scan and post your layout diagram with the recent changes.  I downloaded a copy so I can print it out and have it handy to refer to as you describe your progress.  Love the changes, by the way!

[Mark Dalrymple]

Mark,

Thanks for taking time to scan and post your layout diagram with the recent changes.  I downloaded a copy so I can print it out and have it handy to refer to as you describe your progress.  Love the changes, by the way!

Great to hear, Jerry!

Here is a link with a image of the Port Craig sawmill.  I'll change things up a fair bit, so lets call it inspiration.  My tall timber viaduct was inspired by the Percy Burn viaduct.  Just arrow across on the images to see the sawmill.

https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/9234/Port%20Craig%20Sawmill%20and%20Settlement

A shipment of Peco points is on its way across the Tasman sea and I got some cork roadbed laid last night.  I buy my cork in pieces around 32"x24" from a flooring specialist at a fraction (I worked out a sixth) of the cost of buying from the craft shops.  It pays to shop around.  I use 3mm (1/8") cork.

Cheers, Mark.

[jerryrbeach]

Mark,

That sawmill looks like a rather large building to have hanging on the side of a cliff.  And, "rather large" is definitely an understatement.  I'll be watching to see the scene on your layout inspired by this image.  You must be getting excited to be this close to finishing up the carpentry part of the layout.  The fun stuff comes next as you start the structures and develop the scenery on the layout.  I'm excited, and it isn't even my layout!  

[Mark Dalrymple]

Mark,

That sawmill looks like a rather large building to have hanging on the side of a cliff.  And, "rather large" is definitely an understatement.  I'll be watching to see the scene on your layout inspired by this image.  You must be getting excited to be this close to finishing up the carpentry part of the layout.  The fun stuff comes next as you start the structures and develop the scenery on the layout.  I'm excited, and it isn't even my layout!   

Hi Jerry.

Its a great looking structure.  I'd certainly have to reduce its size somewhat, although I may go up instead of out.  Log ponds and log hauls were generally not used in New Zealand, as NZ timbers tend to sink.  So having a conveyor to transport logs down to the wharf is a real bonus!  I also like the way the mill is built into the side of the hill.  I have a book called 'Viaducts against the sky' which is all about the Port Craig story and has a great deal of information on the mill, the viaducts and the tiny mill township.  There was also a great timber wharf tower for aerial loading of tramp steamers which couldn't dock at the wharf.  I would love to build this (it reminds me of Sheepscot's Arcadia granite) but there just isn't room.  Indeed, I think the port Craig tramway would be a fascinating subject to model and could easily occupy my entire model room!  If I was starting again I may well choose to do this.  However - I try to keep blinders on when I model!  Maybe in another lifetime...

Cheers, Mark.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi guys.

A little progress so I thought I would update.

Photo 1 - I got the track plan plotted on the 16mm MDF and cut and glued the 3mm cork roadbed in place.  The pieces across the join are fitted but not glued.  The MDF is screwed to the joists below, but not glued, so can be removed.


Photo 2 - The summit line from the Edith Cavell parabolic arch bridge has been redone to fit with the  change in elevation of the new mountain town of Hope.  This trackbed was not glued in place, so after some careful measuring and marking of new riser heights, it was removed.  I used my skill saw to cut the rises in place.  I had to also remove a couple of braces and then reinstate.  Things worked out well and I ended up with a 2.4% gradient with easements at each end.


Photo 3 - here is a photo looking across the two high bridges (the MDF in the foreground is the new high trestle to be built).  I like the new gradient here.  I will mock up the trestle soon and compare with the through Howe truss bridge.


Photo 4 - Here I am mocking up the helix.  I was able to cut, unscrew and then tap the roadbed off the rises.  I cleaned both sides of this off with a chisel and paint scraper and when flipped it fitted well.  The bottom piece will need a new piece cut and a slightly bigger radius to come closer to the new wharf area.  All this track will be hidden, as it will be at or below water level.  Access is good, with an access hole cut in the helix.  The hardest part is working up the courage to send in the demo crew!


More soon, cheers, Mark.

[deemery]

What's the radius and slope on the helix, Mark?

dave

[Mark Dalrymple]

What's the radius and slope on the helix, Mark?

Hi Dave.

Image 1 - shows the spiral/ helix coming down.  It starts at 4% at Hope, then changes to 3.1% at the top of the image.  After completing a circle it changes back to 4%.  There are easements at each end.  The Helix has a radius of 438mm (17 5/8") and is based on Peco #2 sectional track.  I figure any locos that have 18" as their tightest radius will do 17 5/8".


Image 2 - shows my tallest loco in the helix.  Things are tight so I need to get things accurate as I build.  I'm thinking I may use code 100 sectional track to help make things bullet proof here.  I will super elevate as well.  I may also rebate the 2mm galv supports into the bottom of the 16mm MDF to give a little more clarence.  With a lot of work I could lower the height of the North Hope yard to increase the clarence in the helix, but I still don't think I would get my fingers over a train in the case of a derailment.  Besides, it would increase the helix gradient.


Cheers, Mark.

[deemery]

Mark, that's definitely "ruling grade"    Curvature adds to train drag, both on the prototype and in models.  The easements will help, but there'll still be resistance as you pull cars/wagons around the circle.  You might want to test-run trains on that grade AND curvature to see if the results are acceptable, are you in a position to slap down some flextrack and try it?

dave

[Mark Dalrymple]

Mark, that's definitely "ruling grade"    Curvature adds to train drag, both on the prototype and in models.  The easements will help, but there'll still be resistance as you pull cars/wagons around the circle.  You might want to test-run trains on that grade AND curvature to see if the results are acceptable, are you in a position to slap down some flextrack and try it?

dave

I can give it a try.  The alternative is 5/8 of a circle at 4%...

Cheers, Mark.

[deemery]

If you happen to have a ~36"/800mm square piece of MDF, you could lay a circle on that, and try various grades to see how many cars your loco could haul around that circle.  That would be a pretty easy testbed to lay down, I think.  

dave

[Mark Dalrymple]

If you happen to have a ~36"/800mm square piece of MDF, you could lay a circle on that, and try various grades to see how many cars your loco could haul around that circle.  That would be a pretty easy testbed to lay down, I think. 

dave

It shouldn't be too hard, Dave.

I had a wee peek this morning.  I have found 8 pieces of #2 peco track and have the MDF cut to that radius already.  The rises are currently set to 4%, but I can either screw jack rises to the side of these or add blocks to change the grade.  Spaces can be added between the two pieces of MDF to support the top piece - one each side.  Then I can add the sectional track, wire in a controller, set up a train and test.  My little 0-6-0 camelback will pull 20 wagons around a 600mm radius at 4%.  Only a half circle.  If trains have to 'double the hill' so be it.  I've already decided that locos will always be on the downward side of trains at grade.  A string of wagons on a 4% grade quickly gets up to an impressive speed!

While walking the dog I had a thought that maybe I could take the trackwork across into module 10 under Wilmot and turn back there.  This would add enough distance to lower the grade.  But on measuring there is insufficient room.  The whole point behind the helix is so I can gain a dedicated arrival/ departure track for the North Hope yard.  Without the helix I have to continue the grade right through on the main line.  This means trains would need to be backed into the arrival/ departure track and then run around, or driven in and then run around.  If I do this I calculated this morning that I could get the grade down to around 3.2%.  The curve at 438mm at the south east corner of module 9 would still have to go through 225 degrees (which translates to 1720mm).  That's one loco and 21 wagons - which is already at my maximum train length - so I'm not sure if I would gain anything anyway.

Cheers, Mark.

Cheers, Mark.

[deemery]

Well, if you've measured the performance and are happy, go for it!  

dave

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi guys.

I tested a train on the mocked up helix.  My 0-6-0 camelback pulled 16 wagons around the loop.  There was some wheel spin towards the end where the grade increased to around 4%.  After rethinking things (again) I have decided to shorten the track to the mine (and perhaps curve it towards the centre of the loop somewhat) so that it does not cross the helix.  This will mean the first track to cross the helix will be the line to Wilmot.  This track is a further 250mm along the helixes decent.  I drew another spiral, carefully working out my heights, and at a grade of 3.1% I can make this work.  I will have to cut a 6mm rebate in the bottom of the trackbed to Wilmot to give my 85mm clearance and add another riser for extra support.  The 3.1% grade will continue right through to the North Hope yard - with easements at both ends.

I did discover another problem - my coal wagon's buffers clash on this radius curve.  All my other wagons are fine.  I guess I will have to change out the couplers for ones with long shanks.

More soon, cheers, Mark.