Club marshalling yard design hints

[David Hale]

Photographs of the yard itself.
The shuttering that can be seen was to enable the links to be made to the sidings from the diagonal feeder line. The concrete was laid on Saturday 17th December, so concrete laying in the yard is complete apart from the base for the turntable which will be to the north of the steaming bay, and two short lengths linking to the turntable.

David.

Yard seen from the south west.

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Yard seen from the north east showing the bridge carrying the main line over the Prestleigh Brook.

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Yard seen from the north west showing the pit for the steaming bay.

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[Richard Phillips]

Looking good David, I thought for a moment the steaming bay was a base for a yard signal box - are there still plans for that?

If only there was some way of adding some holes to that headshunt, would make a good coal drop! See the video on youtube of Dave's hopper http://youtu.be/7G2_AXeaTSA

[David Hale]

Hello again Richard.

I guess that it would be possible to use the steaming bay as a coal drop. The rail over the steaming bay is to be mounted on 3"x1" box section steel to provide access to the underside of locos if needed, so it could be used as you suggest. However, it would not be very authentic!
As mentioned, there is space to allow for the headshunt to be extended, so it might be possible to incorporate something there.
I have taken a look at the video several times. Very impressive.

How is the wagon building going?

Hope everyone has a good Christmas.

David.

[Richard Phillips]

Hello again Richard.
...
How is the wagon building going?

Hope everyone has a good Christmas.

David.

I moved across to building the Brit, but now the motion isn't going together "as planned" so I'm back doing a few bits of all those mineral wagons I started (I'm trying to still produce 1 wagon a year!). Still, the hopper is pretty much functional - so I'm keen to try it out.

Happy New Year

Richard

Edit - I just looked at the essmee site http://www.essmee.org.uk/?p=576, I note mention of a second yard now being near the skew bridge. The older plans I saw indicated a parallel track down to a yard before the lake, but the current layout precludes that (unless the main running line is paralleled towards the stream). I guess I'll have to get down to the clubhouse (and pay my subs..!) and have a look..

[David Hale]

Richard, I have just spotted your EDIT.
Yes, the original layout has been changed a bit due to space limitations. However, at some time in the future it just might be possible to have another yard down beyond the lake, out of sight of the existing yard, thus adding interest as trains would leave the current yard, disappear out of sight, and subsequently return in a different configuration. However, amongst other considerations, a second yard would depend upon the the amount of use, and the interest the current yard generates. So, yes again, you need to rejoin us.

Today's update.

A start has been made on laying track as the photographs show.

David.

The first length of track with a 15xx and assorted wagons P1010142.jpg (57.8 KiB) Viewed 33211 times

The headshunt P1010143.jpg (48.25 KiB) Viewed 33211 times

[Robin-GWR-Toad-71]

An update on the Bath and West Railway Duel 5"/71/4" Railway.

The 5 regulars plus extras, has continued to grow the 5 inch yard,The mixed guage railway now has a Mixed guage left hand turnout fitted, which provides access to the 5 inch yard, and being the running line, this point can be locked in and out, under the control of the Signal Box. It is of all steel construction and was made by Roger Hill-Cottingham.

The team has developed a more simple design of turnout, as we envisage the need for up to 16 points, and therefore ease of construction is essential.

At the time of writing we have 4 sets of points completed, and about to be fitted, with 5 more complete sets of kit parts cut and ready for assembly, Our aim is to have as many sidings in operation as possible by the Royal Bath and West Show.

Robin Duys

[David Hale]

I hope everyone enjoyed the article in the most recent edition of "Turnout" relating to the construction of a marshalling yard at the Royal Bath and West of England showground. Members are continuing to lay track, and more concrete to provide the connection with the existing main line.

During May I turned my attention to building a small yard as an added feature to my own 5" garden railway. In a little over six weeks I mixed and laid about 2.5 tonnes of concrete, and subsequently placed three sets of point plus the major part of the sidings. It now remains to make two more sets of points to provide a run around.

If any member is in the vicinity, perhaps passing by on holiday, please feel free to make contact, and call in.

Regards,
David Hale.

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[Keith1500]

It looks a fine piece of work. Very nicely done. The trackwork neatly in the middle of the concrete is very pleasing.

What size rail have you used and sleeper system?

[David Hale]

Keith.

Thankyou for you kind comments.

The rail is 16mm aluminium from MRSC, and the sleepers are made from Iroko, cut to 240 x 32 x 18mm. spaced at 60mm apart giving a reasonable scale appearance. The sleepers are drilled on a jig to maintain the gauge providing for two screws outside each rail, and one inside. I use 3/4" x 8 zinc finished round head pozidrive screws with an M4 stainless washer under the head to reduce any reaction between the screws and the rail. The same method has been used on the yard at the Bath and West.
On my own yard, once the concrete had dried thoroughly, the top surface was coated with a cold applied bitumen called "Cromaprufe" (from Toolstation) to try to prevent moisture being drawn up into the sleepers. Similarly, the underside of the sleepers was coated with Cromaprufe whilst the tops and sides were treated with a Creosote type preservative.

David.

[Richard Phillips]

David,

Excellent. I fondly remember spending time on an wonderfully warm summer day driving on your railway, I can't imagine that now with this prolonged rain we're having! Now I'm nearly up to 7 wagons if I'm ever have the opportunity to make it over I'd very much like to come over again. It's unfortunate I now live so far away. If there is a GL5 stand at the Bristol ME exhibition I might get a chance to chat to you then. Failing that I'm hoping to be at Gilling in August.

Richard

[David Hale]

Hello Richard.

Good to hear from you. You would be welcome any time.

I'm waiting to hear from Paul (Hutfield) as to whether there wil be a GL5 stand at Thornbury. I plan to be there on the Friday. I have already made arrangements to be at Gilling in August, so will see you at one or other.

David.

[David Hale]

Having completed the trackwork on the yard in the garden some time ago, I thought it time to upload a few pictures to show the finished job.

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P1010545 crossover in place - the points are linked to be operated from one lever..jpg (129.74 KiB) Viewed 31481 times

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P1010542 close up of buffer stop - made from offcuts of rail..jpg (119.17 KiB) Viewed 31481 times

Hopefully, it will have its first proper use within the next ten days.

David

[Richard Phillips]

I like the buffers, and that point rodding cover(?) looks very much like a scale barrow crossing.

[David Hale]

Thanks Richard. Yes, the point rodding is covered to prevent accidental damage from big feet!

[David Hale]

Saturday 27th October 2012 - bright and sunny, but with a very cold northerly wind. The shunting yard was put into use to help to iron out any problems.

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Thanks to all who assisted, and supported.

David.

[David Hale]

September 7th 2013 - a very auspicious day for ESSMEE!
The new marshalling yard had it's first use, having now been connected to the society's main line.
Whilst we had only a small number of standard gauge wagons, these were augmented by a rake of quarry style tipper trucks.
All who were present agreed it was a successful day giving something to build upon.
Our President filmed the event, some of which can be seen on Youtube.

http://youtu.be/Ny2QxWCeQQ8
Other information relating to ESSMEE can be found on the club website at

essmee.org.uk

David Hale.

[Dave Noble]

Brilliant, when can we come and play?

[David Hale]

Recent progress on the ESSMEE 5" yard at Shepton Mallet

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P1010979 turntable pit.jpg (131.29 KiB) Viewed 29517 times

P1010978 steam raising pit (shed!!).jpg (142.97 KiB) Viewed 29517 times

David Hale

[Alan Wood]

just for interest , what diameter is the turn table and what are you proposing to do with the steam raising pit .

[David Hale]

Hello Alan.

Thanks for your interest.

The turntable will be 2.5metres long, the pit being the largest we could fit into the available space.

As far as the steaming pit is concerned, the recessed portion, ie. to the right of the steps in the picture, is to be bridged with rectangular box section steel with the rail fixed to the upper surface. The space between the two lengths of box will be open to allow access to the underside of engines should that prove necessary.

Hope the above makes sense.

Regards,
David