fiddle yards, traversers, sector
plates and cassettes
Most modellers have far more rolling stock
than they can fit on their layout. It is therefore necessary to devise
ways of storing stock out of sight. It is also usual to operate trains
that subsequently 'disappear' while new trains arrive. The most common
solution is the fiddle yard. This is situated 'off scene' and is usually
at the end of a layout or behind it, such as in the example below.
A fiddle yard may be no more than a series of
loops or sidings, allowing the operator to select where to park and
dispatch trains. As a general rule, this is the solution I prefer although
there are additional costs associated with the pointwork, motors and
wiring. Another downside is that for any given train length, much more
space is needed to accommodate the point fan.
Other methods dispense with pointwork
altogether.
The traverser solves the question of point
costs and space but raises a whole bunch of new issues. It should be
constructed in a rigid plywood box to minimise any chance of movement. The
arrangement must slide easily so it is worth considering installing high
performance
drawer slides. It is essential to prevent the unit going slightly
out of alignment and wedging solid.
The next thing you will have to do is to
develop a method of locking the traverser in the correct positions. This
becomes more and more critical as your track gauge become smaller. Below
are two methods which may be useful.
You must also bring power to the traverser. I
favour bringing wires to the tracks from under the table. This prevents
any contact problems. If you are DCC, you can do this with just two wires.
If you are still DC, you will have to bring separate leads to one rail of
each track (the other rail can be common) and select which track you wish
to energise with a selector switch.
Some have even built vertical traversers.
see
here
In many ways, an easier solution is the
sector table. Here, one end is firmly attached so alignment issues are
minimised. Below is a workmanlike arrangement although a heavy one, being
built using MDF.
If a sector plate is pivoted at the centre,
one then has effectively a long turntable which may be an excellent
solution if you wish to turn your trains.
By leaving a shallow depression in your
baseboard, you can run your trains into cassettes, pick them up and turn
them around. Some even store their rolling stock in such devices. These
can be built using plastic wire trunking for instance.
this is one way of
transferring track power
and another
the cassette system of David Taylor
the cassette system of David Taylor
the cassette system of David Taylor
One of the problems with the first fiddle
yard were the oblique angled track joints between the layout and the yard.
The smallest variance would result in derailments and constant attention
was needed to preserve alignment during running. When we built our new
fiddle yard. the connecting
tracks were removable lengths of track with right angled joints. The
ends of the fixed track both on the layout and on the yard are soldered on
to PCB board, (insulated by a saw cut).
The rails have 'mini bolts' soldered to them
in 1.5mm brass tube and 1mm brass rod.
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