Wakimany Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Hello,can I build a figure 8 layout using a set of Hornby R909 elevated track supports ? There is no need for realism. It will be a toy-train layout.Thank you in advance for all your answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 In theory you probably could, but the gradients would be severe, and locomotives may struggle to climb the up hill part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rana Temporia Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Like this? /media/tinymce_upload/2d613a9c8b705074003759154347e05a.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo1707820979 Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Hi Wakimany. Welcome to the forum. Instead of using R909 supports why not fabricate your own with a less severe incline, since realism is not involved ? Small blocks of wood or similar cardboard cubes of varying hights would do the trick and you could adjust them to suit the climbing ability of you loco(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Trouble is the top track has be clear of the bottom one to allow a train to pass underneath. You need at least 2 inches and no matter what you use there isn't much length to rise that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 The raise is 80mm and the distance from where the high level crosses the lower to the top is 1357 mm approximately, which by my calculations gives a gradient of 1 in 17. Being on a curve there will be extra resistance caused by friction between the wheel flanges and the rails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Oh dear - sounds like you may have to add some more straight track to ease the extra resistance a LC says above!!! Or here is another idea - do away with the bridge & fit either a Left-hand Diamond Crossing £14.75Item Code: R614or Right-hand Diamond Crossing£14.75Item Code: R615 so that you don't have to worry about the gradient!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 That is a very good idea JJ, especially if only one train has to be running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Thank Raf 😀 - Might be a bit more fun with 2 - try & see / make sure that the 2 Locos DON'T crash in to what ever the other Loco is pulling!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 The 'figure of eight' using a diamond crossing was an old favourite with toy train users going right back to early Hornby days and before . It has no equivalent in the real world but can be quite entertaining as a plaything. When Charles Spooner was adding steam traction to the Horse worked Festiniog Railway in North Wales, he had a 3 1/8 inch gauge live steam scale model of his new steam locomotive together with a portable figure of eight track layout built at Boston Lodge works to demonstrate his ideas.https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/TopsyIt still exists and is on display at Porthmadog Harbour station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doc Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 Not only will many locos struggle on the gradients, but the transition from flat to incline, combined with it being mostly curved, could well lead to derailments. This was less of a problem 40 years ago when toy trains had large wheel flanges (and often unflanged centre wheels) but modern Hornby locos, made to finer tolerances, are more prone to derailments if the track laying isn't perfect.On the other hand, the 0-4-0 locos should be fine (even if they can only pull a few wagons), and my Bachmann class 08 diesel copes with a gradient of about 1 in 10 on a curve! Just don't expect to see Flying Scotsman pulling a scale length train on your layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rana Temporia Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Or even the Hornby version from the 3rd edition track plans book Which I came across yesterday. /media/tinymce_upload/a8cc7f753fc34c25a3ea451001ac2022.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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