A thought on track feeds.

[Chris]

Hi David.

I'll start by saying thank you for updating the traverser. The offset allos the traverser table to supply power to only one track at a time (except for the two feeder tracks which are in line).

I was messing about last night with the orientation and positioning of the tracks with contact plates on either/both sides when it occurred to me that there is a way of indicating their location on AnyRail. Ironically, it was the one where you have added this indication that prompted the thought, namely the power feed rail 8590 (and the 55mm 8580 ow which I have a few). This has two lines sticking out at right angles to the track. The actual lines could be slightly further apart and project just a bit further — equivalent to 25mm and 14mm on the actual track piece. (The same dimensions also apply to tracks 8588 and 8598. Alternatively, the boxes themselves could be outlines of the rails (as I have done, bottom right, in the appended track plan). It wouldn't catch every possible clash but it would, at least, highlight potential ones.

All the best,
Chris.

[David]

You are right that adding the boxes to the track would help. However, we do not have the exact measurements for them. We should also take the width of the sleepers into account.

David.

[Chris]

Thank you for your response David.

Dimensions are as follows.

Sleepers —
   Total length of sleeper: 12mm

Tracks 8580, 8588, 8590 and 8598 (power and isolating) —
   o   Trapezium base 27mm, outer edge 20mm and height 12mm, centred on track length.

Track 8587 (55mm uncoupler) —
   o   Rectangle length 36mm and height 7mm. With solenoid away from you,
   15mm from left end of track and 4mm from right.

Track 8597 (110mm uncoupler) —
   o   Rectangle length 36mm and height 7mm. With solenoid away from you,
   45mm from left end of track and 29mm from right.

Straight Points —
   o   Solenoid starts 5mm from start of curve then out at a right angle by 2mm.
   o   Solenoid ends 8mm from end of curve the out at a right angle by 3mm then
   46mm parallel with the straight leg of the points then
   taper back to the start of solenoid.

Curved points —
   o   5mm from start of inner radius of point then at a right angle by 1mm.
   o   Solenoid ends 8mm from end of curve the out at a right angle by 0mm (sic) then
   straight outer edge 86mm long.
   o   On outer radius there is a 3mm high protrusion, 43mm from end of outer radius. The
   protrusion is 20mm long with end tapered outwards at 45 degrees.

Double slip —
   o   Solenoid is 56mm long with the height at the centre 10mm from sleeter ends.
   It is very slightly curved curving towards the sleeper ends by 1.5mm at both ends.
   There is a slight chamfer at each end which can probably be ignored.
   o   Opposite the solenoid is a terminal block 30mm long and protruding by 4mm from sleeper ends at its centre.

Contact track 55mm (8589) output side upwards —
   o   Output side 6.5mm height over 56.5mm starting 2.5mm before left end of track length.
   o   Input side 6mm protrusion and 20mm long tapering slightly at both ends.
   16mm from left and and 19mm from right,

Contact track (8599) output side upwards —
   o   As above but starting 27mm from track ends.
   o   Input side 6mm protrusion and 20mm long tapering slightly at both ends.
   Centred on track legnth

I'm tired so, curved contact tracks will have to wait.

All the best,
Chris.

[David]

Wow, thanks for the list!
Another solution would be to put all the parts on a scanner, and send us the jpg's.
If you scan a ruler with it, we can make sure that we got the scan 1:1.

David.

[Chris]

Now why didn't I think of that. Must be old age.

Will do it in the morning.

Chris.

[Chris]

Hi David.

Well, I think this covers it all. Now I can get some breakfast. :o)

All the best,
Chris.

[Chris]

And the rest. I think that covers it all. Do let me know if it doesn't.

Chris.

[David]

Thanks Chris!
We'll try to update the library soon.

David.

[David]

Hi Chris,

In release 3.13.0 of AnyRail, all the extending solenoids are added to the Märklin Z library.

Of course, you need to replace your existing turnouts etc. by the new ones to make them visible.

I hope it's not too late for you to make use of this!

David.

[Chris]

Hi David.

I am really grateful for that. I only wish it had been there from day one! (If it had been, I would probably made the inner rail of the loops common instead of the outer one. Never mind; no good crying over spilt milk, as they say.)

Layout is all ready for the exhibition on Saturday and am making out description cards for the static displays. Will take a couple of photos on the day. :o)

With best wishes,
Chris.