Delivery of New Open Wagons

 An exciting day with the delivery of two open wagons which were part of the original order placed with Mini Train Systems from early 2023.  

Although considerably overdue, it was great to finally receive the wagons.

The wagons have flexible seating arrangements, and have been supplied with one longitudinal seat and a total of four transverse seats which can be fitted in various positions.  

Each wagon has an electrically actuated parking brake on one bogie, operated from a switch inside the wagon, with power supplied from a small sealed lead acid battery.  The battery is recharged when the wagon is connected to the locomotive, and can also be recharged separately if needed.  The need to recharge should be infrequent as power is only required to apply or release the brakes, otherwise they remain in the last commanded setting.

The intention is to use one wagon as the usual "driving wagon" rather than have a dedicated "driving truck".  This was the original reason for fitting a parking brake to one wagon, then it was decided to make both wagons the same, i.e. both with parking brakes, so they could be used interchangeably.  This will make it simpler, e.g. if operating in the reverse direction on the railway.

Preparing to crane the crate from the truck

The wagons were well packed inside.

After removing the top and one side of the crate, we were able to slide each wagon sideways onto the track.

Ready for the first test run..

Completing the Passing Loop

In the same delivery with the two open wagons, was also a 10 m radius point needed to complete the passing loop at the rear of the garden near the dam.  The point was transported, by train of course, and unloaded close to the installation site.

Later the same day, with the area conveniently shaded, the temporary curved track sections were unbolted, some of the ballast removed and the new point test fitted in place.  The temporary track sections had been in place for about 6 months, meaning that the passing loop had been in use as the through track for a considerable time - see Tracklaying in the Passing Loop.

The accuracy of the prefabricated track sections was such that the fixing bolts all fitted with no adjustments needed.  With some temporary packing with pieces of wood, it was possible to run trains over the point at low speed.

The tracks on both the main line and passing loop both need additional ballast to raise them to match the height of the point, which is dictated by a large tree root which we don't want to disturb.

There is still quite a bit of work to be done, including digging out the ballast to slide in long timber sleepers on which the linear actuator will be mounted to control the points, as well as connecting the 12 V power from the nearby solar panel and battery and installing the receiver for wireless remote control of the point.

The new point roughly in place.  The long timber sleepers ready for the linear actuator mounting are to the right of the track.

The partly exposed conduit is for a 12 V power cable from the solar panel and battery installation which is located in a more sunny spot mid way along the passing loop, from where power is fed to the points at both ends.