Trams from all over the world
A selection of historical trams which did not feature on the layout
Introduction:
Momentum Tramways are modelled on a Continental old time Tramway. The Tram cars date from the early 1900's up to and including 1980. The rolling
stock originates from all over the world, representing the following countries: The Netherlands, West Germany, East Germany, Austria, Norway,
Sweden, England, Denmark, Switzerland, U.S.A. and Australia. The trams are a mixture of Brass, plastic and white metal - mainly in kit form.
Trams from all over the world
A selection of historical trams which did not feature on the layout
Construction:
The layout is mounted on what we call "Chipboard", which is a kind of pulp compressed wood (not suitable for damp climates).
Fortunately the climate here on the Highveld is of a very dry nature, so the use of Chipboard is permitted. The shape of the circuit is a letter 'W'
or 'M', depending which way you look at it. The city of Momentum is situated in a loft 77sq.m. in size. The length of track utilised is around
36 metres, consisting of 14 tram routes servicing the City. The track used varies from 70 gauge double track, to 70 gauge single track.
The majority of the track is code 100 moulded into a proper 'Girder' Rail', with the exception of the interurban and private right of way sections which is
mostly double track. In the street sections, the rail is counter sunk into the street, as in the prototype. This feature is achieved by soldering code
70 rail at right angles to the inside of the code 100 rail. This method is costly, as you virtually double up on your track costs.
The track is completely sectionalised, this was done before DCC control came into being. The layout was started in 1978, so the question of
running one tram behind another would be possible on this layout, with the use of the overhead current collection being the 'common', while the left or
right rail being the positive in the individual trams. Since then, the city has been upgraded with "Digitrax Command Control", allowing this realistic
operation, which is even better than was originally planned. The sectional construction did not hinder the change over to DCC.
View across the river
Notice how the buildings in the foreground blends in with the background
Buildings:
These consist mainly of the branded variety as supplied by the likes of Kibri, Vollmer, Heljan, etc., There are a few American
models on the layout, but they are not to scale and have to be selectively placed, so that they do not detract from the remainder of the buildings.
All the buildings are internally illuminated and street lights are evident throughout the city and provide a interesting
atmosphere in the evening. Some of the street lights have been purchased, but a large number were made by me with different
widths of Brass tubing and using a larger type LED as the bulb. The period of the buildings are in keeping with the times
during which the trams reigned the streets of our cities.
De Markt & Bakkerij
Some of the great buildings found on the layout
Drawbridge:
The drawbridge, which is quite a prominent feature in the city, was scratch built by one of our members. The material
used consists mainly of 'Summerfeldt' traction poles and solid Brass rod. The base is mounted on PC board, with
re-enforced rail. The mechanism driving the bridge consists of a 6.3V DC, (old radio mains transformer) powering a 12V DC
motor, governed by a limiter switch arrangement. Warning lights are displayed at each end of the bridge, warning drivers
of the position of the bridge.
Drawbridge
The magnificant motorised drawbridge with a passing tram
Overhead Power Supply and Contact wire:
The traction poles are solid brass rod, 4mm thick and have a thread turned on the baseboard side, by which they are
housed on the baseboard. A 4 mm hole was drilled through the board , giving a tight fit. The poles are secured with two 4mm nuts and washers.
The trolley contact wire is secured 72mm above rail height. The bracket from which the 'arm' is constructed is a simple
carton staple (in everyday use in the commercial world), soldered to the brass rod. At point of contact a small 1mm hole is drilled, together
with a similar hole on the other side. Through these holes the support are soldered to which the contact wire is secured,
by way of an 'ear'. A solid brass rod is used to simplify the power connection to the buss bar running underneath the baseboard.
With the exception of the Inter-Urban section of the layout, all the brass poles, with their gantry were made by me on the
workbench. Pull-off poles are identical, but without the brackets. A 1mm hole is drilled through the pole for the attachment
of the pull-off wires. There are several slight variations with the traction poles, in as much as the bracket arrangements
and whether they be single or double poles. Where I have a situation of three tracks being parallel to one another,
I use code 70 rail for the brackets, bent to shape. The Inter-urban catenary is manufactured by Summerfeldt, together
with the lattice poles used for this construction. It is very realistic overhead, but costly to come by.
The Contact wire is .25mm thick phosphor bronze wire. This wire is very 'springy', so cannot be used for pull-offs, but
very useful for the manufacture of springs pertaining to the construction of the overhead. With overhead catenary, for
those that prefer this on their traction layout, will know that breakages are common. For this reason I use a 5 amp
single strand annealed copper fuse wire, for the pull-offs this is high in lead content, so it stretches to fit, but
also acts as a safeguard in breakages for those waving human arms.
Traction Pole
Handmade from a solid brass rod - the contact wire is 72mm above the rail height