Track Cleaner Mini project

 

Track Cleaner Mini project

I picked up a cheap Triang track cleaner wagon on EBay you know the one with those ghastly chunky wheels and cast bogies, no good for code 75 track.

Under the knife it went off came these bogies and the under frame was modified to take CAMBRIAN C72 "Ride-control" Bogies. Flattening the domed moulding that supported the old bogies then rivet holes in the domed moulding were opened to 5.6mm the clear the head of the slotted screw before gluing the body pivot moulding concentric over to original pivot hole on the domed moulding.

Sections of Evergreen 4.8 mm angle was glued to the wagon underside and butted to the body pivot moulding for extra support.

Looks better already, just waiting for some 3 hole 12 mm wheels to arrive

Alan Gibson 3 hole 12 mm wheels arrived this morning, Reamed the bogie frames to fit the top hat bearings ad fitted a magnetic coupling. Gave the wagon a quick test run, there is quite a bit of drag from the felt so a heavy loco was required to haul it!

2301 Class Dean Goods second impressions

 Well most of my locos were laid up from mid April so it was time to clean the track and have a running session. Well I was disappointed the Dean Goods stopped, started and generally misbehaved the sound was appalling. Investigation showed that the tender pickups were not contacting the wheels photo taken after I tweaked the first two. More troubling was the fact that when I was rechecking the locomotive CV’s when I put it onto my programming track it would not sit correctly. In order to rule out any track irregularities I laid a new length of code 75 track onto a work top secured with double sided tape. As you will see from the video the locomotive rocks from side to side.https://youtu.be/LZv_S73EanA . You can also see/hear the sound issue where it commences after the locomotive has travelled around 2 feet and the sound output is barely audible. Well its gone back to Oxford Rail via Hatton’s to get sorted.

Hornby Adams 415

The latest arrival on Pix Valley a Hornby Adams 415 a smooth runner tested on DC on my rolling road. it seems that the bogie pickups have inadvertently been wired to the lighting output pins on the decoder socket a check with the multi-meter and resoldered the offending chips to the correct pins.  Reprogrammed the chip in my ESU 53900 popped in the loco socket test run on main track and tweaked CV’s. Body won’t fit now chip to big! Also these two bits were loose in the packaging when I first opened it got to find where they go. There is no space for a chip other than in the bunker.

There is not a lot of useful information on chipping the loco. After surveying the loco I removed the coal load and proceeded to trim away the bunker floor to gain space for the chip to fit, as it turned out it was more the a trim in any case removing all that plastic gave me the space I needed and allowing air to circulate around the chip. A final tweak was to trim the coal load flush. When it was reassembled I was pleased to say it looks just as it was out of the box!  Shame I had to hack so much away from a brand new model.

 

Hornby Dublo footbridge refurbishment 05/09/2020.

 

Hornby Dublo footbridge refurbishment 05/09/2020.

Vallejo 70.908 Carmine Red arrived it wasn’t a success to me it looked a little pinkish, so I reverted to good old Humbrol No 30 matt enamel. Masking is a real chore so fiddly I can only hack an hour stint so I guess it should be read by Tuesday! After all the painting I’ll flatten it with Vallejo satin varnish blown on with the airbrush. 

Hornby Dublo footbridge refurbishment 25/08/2020.

 Finally stripped and repainted my 60 year old Hornby Dublo footbridge bought from Ebay sound but cosmetically in drastic need of TLC; it took an age to strip to old paint back to the casting. I did have one of these and the through station but I lost track of my railway when I joined the military in the mid 60’s I suspect my younger brother trashed it!

Paint stripper is not as good as pre 2011 Nitromors Master Craftsman's Paint and Varnish Remover now they took out the active ingredient dichloromethane as the casting is zinc based caustic soda is a not a good idea. Under coat using a Halfords rattle can white primer. I airbrushed Railmatch acrylic cream over the whole structure. Now it’s a waiting game for my order of Vallejo 70.908 Carmine Red to arrive so I can pick out the ribs.

11/05/2020 platform restoration concludes.

Without thinking I left the track powered up whilst tweaking something or other; these metal watch straps get hot when they short out the track.

At last the layout is back together. A surprise early morning visitor on the 7/6/2020 Mr Michael Portillo filming Great British Railway Journeys Series 1001 apparently on D-Day +1 a train pass through Rushmoor station. Time for a few pictured of the refurbished MPD and yard.

  

26/04/2020 platform restoration continues.

26/04/2020 platform restoration continues.

50mm masking tape has been removed misting with a light dust of diluted Wilko Water based blackboard paint. My 3M 6200 Half Face Mask Respirator cost me £8.39 pre COVID-19 now trading at £34.70! Best leave for things dry I have other household tasks so that’s it for today.

25/04/2020 Continuing platform restoration

25/04/2020

All platforms now have their brick face paper attached. Fishplates arrived yesterday allowing me to re-lay the track and paint the rust and sleepers I shall mist a coat of black when the ballast dries out. 50mm masking tape stuck down where the platform will sit trimmed to the size of the platform footprint. This is a better way then ballasting with the platform in situ they don’t get stuck if they are needed to be removed at a later date. Ballast was laid this afternoon wetted and soaked in 50% PVA and water. I only used the cheapest from the pound shop it sets rock hard as my chisel will testify. That’s it for today 

20/04/2020 Platform restoration

20/04/2020

I successfully split the terminus section from the layout and removed the platform sections so I can cut the track and replace the section that had magnets fitted. This is turned into more of a nightmare than a walk in the park I thought just refurbishing the terminus would be easy it's turn into a right can of worms. Are well got another 3 weeks to get though! Stripping the brick paper off the MDF is not as easy as I thought I had to resort to a detail sander. Eventually all stripped sanded and sprayed white. Two sections have their brick paper reapplied.

Western Hills MPD extension part4

18/04/2020 

After putting off splitting the storage yard from the main layout I removed the bolts and separated the board. I took the opportunity to perform a little TLC with the wiring whilst I was able to turn the board over. The modified Hornby turntable can be seen using a small low geared motor from China directly coupled to the pinion [S.9643] that drives the Geneva drive parts [S.9602 & S.9573] are not used. The motor assembly is DCC controlled and works much quieter than the old Hornby motor. Next I plan to remove the terminus section of the layout to fit uncoupling ramps. More of that later

pix valley operational once again

New track arrived and laid secured with a couple of pins whist it was tested 2409 negotiated the newly laid section with no issues as did a couple of larger types. The track was ballasted and the greenery reinstated.

Re-purpose an Airfix OO gauge 20t grey brake van to track cleaner

Wednesday, 8 April 2020

Pix Valley wagon works has been busy repurposing an Airfix OO gauge 20t grey brake van. Using Evergreen strip and plastic card I fabricated a cradle to fit under the brake van some fettling of the inside of the under frame was required. I made a plate from 60thou plastic card weighted with lead flashing is positioned under the frame supported on two 2mm Allen bolts 2000 grit carborundum paper provides the abrasive pad. Additional weights were fitted inside the van to provide some down force and the plastic wheels replace with turned metal ones. I shall try Scotchbrite Scouring Fibral Hand Pads grey #600 in place of the carborundum paper

Essential travel in these difficult times

Crew arrive today for the Dean Goods despite travel restrictions all the way from Bristol. I am going to put them up in a hotel until their uniforms arrive, oh and while the track is re-laid.

Modelu 1070-076R and 1073-076L

The April fool

2301 Class Dean Goods first impressions

So what have I been doing? My new locomotive arrive the other day from Hatton’s a Class 2301 Dean Goods 0-6-0 2409 in BR Black with early emblem DCC Sound fitted. It’s a very tidy loco detail is good my only reservation is the moulded coal load which is easily rectified. I’ve tidied up the retaining wall on Arlesworth station which was slightly damaged. That’s really all I’ve up too. Oh you tube “pulled” my videos because I had music playing in the office and I could be heard on the video.

2409 Dean Goods 0-6-0 has had a little tweak of the CV’s only loco ID and deceleration. For some reason which I have eventually established the leading driving wheels left the track on the first curve out of Arlesworth just behind “Arkwright’s open all hours” shop.

Filming the derailment fro two different angles I realised that the track bed is twisted. As you can see in the video the leading driving wheels on the right hand side are off the track so the flanged are no longer in contact with the running rail hence the derailment.

I have ordered more track and will rip up the offending section and relay it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64qYGVbZ6M8

Arelesworth winter maintenance

Due to ham-fisted attempt to fit magnets to uncouple the loco from the train I made a right LuLu resulting in the running rails splayed out of gauge. The time is right to refurbish the platforms whilst the damaged rails are removed.   More to follow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1Iio1hpGE

As you can see the ballast was wetted and old damaged track and ballast was removed, left for a couple of days to dry out. A light sanding of the trackbed before tacking new rails in place. A test to see where the uncoupler should be fitted masking off those sleepers and the area where the platforms sit. A quick rusting to the track before re ballasting. New self adhesive wrappings for the platform printed from Model Railway Scenery sheets printed and fixed to the platforms before fitting back on the base board. 

A smattering of static grass to simulate aged trackway.