From when my Parents gave me my first train set for a Christmas present as a child, I have had an interest in model railways. I originally started in "OO" gauge, but have also built in "N" and "O" gauge. The last layout I built was my exhibition layout "Holmehurst" which was in "O" gauge, and I exhibited it around the country. Photos of it can be seen by following thislink.
I inherited some "OO9" rolling stock from my late father, including a loco I built from a white metal kit for him, and ever since living on our working narrowboat Hadar I have been thinking about building a "OO9" layout.
For those who do not know, "OO9" is "OO" scale, which is 4mm to 1ft, but the track and rolling stock are narrow gauge, equivalent to 2ft gauge in real life. Modelling-wise this means that I can used standard "OO" scale buildings, people, scenery etc. of which there is a far greater range of ready built items and kits to choose from, but it has the advantage that the reduced size of the track and rolling stock means that curves can be tighter than for standard gauge, without losing a realistic look within a restricted layout size.
I had thought about building a layout in our garden alongside our mooring at the SaltisfordCanal Centre, but after much thought decided that this would not be practical. However I built a small layout (now dismantled) which sat on the shelf above the display cabinet, in our saloon, which houses my "O" gauge rolling stock. Having finished it, my wife Jo suggested that when we stop selling coal I could build a layout in the hold. As we stopped selling coal at the end of 2016.
I have now built the layout. This is now a full record of the building of this layout and any new additions along the way.
Please feel free to leave comments, I am always interested in suggestions or questions.
Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Converting Telegraph Poles into Telephone Poles
Early stage of converting 8 telegraph poles into telephone poles.
I have started to remove the telegraph arms and convert the smooth plastic finish to a grained wood finish.
Are you sure, making the distinction between Telegraph & Telephone? I don't recall a year (or Decade) being specified for Hadarford, but I have the impression it isn't meant to be 'modern'. If so, then open copper wires on arms might be within period. Nowadays some poles just have a single multicore cable, while those feeding houses have a steel ring, around which a curly wire bracket is looped, the long curly tail is intertwined with the single pair cable feeding the property. As a starting apprentice in the 1970s I had both open wires and 'ring DPs' to deal with (DP = Distribution Point), although it's true open wires were on their way out.
Another point, apparently missed from the original poles, is the bass hook or hand hold. The top steps are an equal pair to stand on while working, but, certainly for ring DPs, there should be a single higher step. This acted as a handhold as you pulled yourself up onto the top pair of steps, then once belted, on the tool bas containing tools and other items was hung from it. You never held onto the ring, as it was made from two semicircles with a single through bolt. Pulling down on one half was liable to cause the half ring to pivot down, trapping your fingers against the pole. This safety feature is why I'm certain the should be a single higher one step to act as a final hand hold.
Where wooden arms existed one 'could' pull up on the arm, taking the risk that the unbalanced pull didn't snap a rotten arm, but even then, where could you hang the bas, especially if the wire positions were all occupied? It could be quite a stretch to lean out sideways to reach the outermost wires and insulators.
I have written this before looking for photographic evidence. Regards.
Many thanks for your comment. If you have been following Hadarford, it has a model of our narrowboat Hadar on it, this dates the layout to post 2008 when we 1st set off on Hadar after she was built. Please see later post (30/10/19) to see the final posts, apart from the cable running down the post which will be a job for tomorrow, this photo was an early stage of construction. Keith.
Are you sure, making the distinction between Telegraph & Telephone?
ReplyDeleteI don't recall a year (or Decade) being specified for Hadarford, but I have the impression it isn't meant to be 'modern'. If so, then open copper wires on arms might be within period. Nowadays some poles just have a single multicore cable, while those feeding houses have a steel ring, around which a curly wire bracket is looped, the long curly tail is intertwined with the single pair cable feeding the property.
As a starting apprentice in the 1970s I had both open wires and 'ring DPs' to deal with (DP = Distribution Point), although it's true open wires were on their way out.
Another point, apparently missed from the original poles, is the bass hook or hand hold.
The top steps are an equal pair to stand on while working, but, certainly for ring DPs, there should be a single higher step. This acted as a handhold as you pulled yourself up onto the top pair of steps, then once belted, on the tool bas containing tools and other items was hung from it.
You never held onto the ring, as it was made from two semicircles with a single through bolt. Pulling down on one half was liable to cause the half ring to pivot down, trapping your fingers against the pole. This safety feature is why I'm certain the should be a single higher one step to act as a final hand hold.
Where wooden arms existed one 'could' pull up on the arm, taking the risk that the unbalanced pull didn't snap a rotten arm, but even then, where could you hang the bas, especially if the wire positions were all occupied? It could be quite a stretch to lean out sideways to reach the outermost wires and insulators.
I have written this before looking for photographic evidence.
Regards.
Many thanks for your comment. If you have been following Hadarford, it has a model of our narrowboat Hadar on it, this dates the layout to post 2008 when we 1st set off on Hadar after she was built. Please see later post (30/10/19) to see the final posts, apart from the cable running down the post which will be a job for tomorrow, this photo was an early stage of construction. Keith.
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