Wentworth Junction

[Michael Edge]

 

 

The up line catenary has been i place for some time, now I've added the same length to the down line. I couldn't remember what colour of green I used last time, this one is Tamiya cockpit green.

The concrete enclosure is for an anchor post.

 

This quite a sharp curve so the portals have to be quite close together but I think it looks reasonable.

 

 

The wires (and pantographs) go well down as they enter the tunnel.

The compound catenary is all soldered up as before from .4mm piano wire but I might try using brass wire for the droppers next time - it all has to be painted green so the colour doesn't matter.

 

 

[Chas Levin]

On 07/07/2024 at 18:21, Michael Edge said:

This quite a sharp curve so the portals have to be quite close together but I think it looks reasonable.

 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it looks far better than 'reasonable', Mike: it looks superb!

[woodenhead]

And despite it being sharp, it still looks in keeping with the Woodhead route, especially into the portal, lovely squeezing down of the pantograph as the wires drop to fit within the tunnel.

[Bri.dolan]

The distance looks fine  to me Michael 

Here’s a picture of my late uncles of between the silkstone tunnels showing the gantry’s 

 

 

Brian 

[Michael Edge]

I've set the portals as far apart as possible by laying out a straight line in the gauge (16.5mm), this just keeps the pans under the wires - they are just over 1ft apart here. I think in full size the wire runs would stay nearer the centre line. There is only one sharper curve than this and that's just the spur on to the colliery branch which only has to be long enough for an electric loco to hook on to the train off the pit.

This how it's set out on the track plan, the red line is track centre, straight black lines between the portals to keep within the track gauge - the pan heads are wider than this. I was a bit worried about the EB1 with its pan in the centre rather than over a bogie but it didn't cause any problems.

. I

[gr.king]

You'll be using an EB1 model for its intended purpose then? Far more interesting than copying the reality of sending it into exile to shunt some North of London carriage sidings

[Michael Edge]

Of course - and why not? I might run one of the EF1s as well, they were kept in store to use here and did get BR numbers. 26504 even kept its original North Eastern livery under the muck and pigeon droppings.

[St Enodoc]

5 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

Of course - and why not? I might run one of the EF1s as well, they were kept in store to use here and did get BR numbers. 26504 even kept its original North Eastern livery under the muck and pigeon droppings.

Any EMUs?

[65179]

13 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

Of course - and why not? I might run one of the EF1s as well, they were kept in store to use here and did get BR numbers. 26504 even kept its original North Eastern livery under the muck and pigeon droppings.

 

So it did!

 

https://www.thetransportlibrary.co.uk/m/page/1?hits=1&per_page=25&search=26504#media_17df4fab-1a73-4cb7-8090-8970b4bc8450

 

Simon

[Michael Edge]

That's a bit less likely, i think they did try running 506 sets on the main line beyond Hadfield once although i don't think as far as Sheffield. As far as I know there were problems with overheating traction motors and the project was abandoned - running on the branch would have been even more unlikely and anyway I haven't got one....

[Fair Oak Junction]

10 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

That's a bit less likely, i think they did try running 506 sets on the main line beyond Hadfield once although i don't think as far as Sheffield. As far as I know there were problems with overheating traction motors and the project was abandoned - running on the branch would have been even more unlikely and anyway I haven't got one....

 

There is a photo somewhere on the internet showing a test run 506 at Penistone, but yes they were found to be unsuitable for the longer run.

[Michael Edge]

I think that's as far as they got.

[Michael Edge]

More work on the OLE now,

Next two portals and one anchor mast here, these portals are a little wider since they are either side of Moorend Lane bridge wher up and down split apart round the central girder. The portals are mostly 2mm H brass sections with etched components for the brackets, Y hangers, catenary supports and register arms. The anchor mast is nearly all brass section with some etches.

Anchor mast placed in it's concrete enclosure next to the down line.

Looking the other way, the next two portals, the electrification test train visible here. This EM1 is the only electric loco I have which has grubscrews in the final drives so they can be disconnected to push along under the wires.

 

The coaches are attached to make it easier to propel the loco under the wires - note that the previously offending Eckon distant signal has been replaced now - I hope this one is a bit better.

 

 

Previous sections of catenary have been in 3ft lengths but these have a tendency to curve between portals so the next ones are being built in separate lengths. Drawn out on the computer and printed to make a template, steel piano wires taped down and the vertical hangers soldered in. They are also easier to paint at this length, the short turnup of the contact wire at top left is part of a system for getting across the baseboard joints, more on this later.