Hump Yard Retarders?

[NightStar]

Good Evening, I am interested in finding a simple set of lined drawings of a simple hump yard car retarder? Anyone know of such a site? How about a OO scale model kit or HO scale model kit?

Oddly enough with all the scenic items available here in the US and abroad I have never seen car retarder kits for hump yard modeling. I know they most likely would not work but would still look cool.

Robert

 

[Mugby]

There may be some hump yards still in existance but I tend to think that hump shunting is a thing of the past now (in GB that is) Whether any (disused) retarders are still in situ, I don't know.

I think they could work on a model, it depends how much your cars/wagons are weighted. As you know, on the real thing the retarder squeezes the wheel flange to slow the speed whereas on a model it would perhaps lift the wheel off the rail. If you add sufficient weight and ensure the retarder has only a very gentle action, it could work, although the weight of your trains may then require considerably more engine power. Should make it more interesting though!

 

[sarahj]

The only ones I have ever seen working in model form was for a model of a grade yard on the large model railway at the transport museum in nuernburg. They were hand built, but worked, and worked quite well. Otherwise its a case of using check rails and some foam to slow/stop your wagons.

This video shows the layout, but alas only shows the hump yard for a few moments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wstm8-uw5o

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Wasn't Tinsley a hump yard fitted with retarders.

 

[dysonsphere]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ndryMwF41Kk

Try this its an americian yard but has close up of the retarders in operation and good detail might give you an idea. About 1:20 in has a good stot.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Wasn't Tinsley a hump yard fitted with retarders.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUguvy54HkE

shows the Dowty retarders working @ 2:45

 

[JohnB57]

The Tinsley Yard video is a real gem and typical of its era. I can't imagine anyone being given the title "Hump Inspector" these days (ooh err missus!) and the sight of someone smoking at work is actually quite a shock.

Off topic, but do you know of a website where these little videos are collected?

Back on topic, a Google search quickly found a number of patents, including this one, some of which contain drawings.

 

[306024]

http://www.walthamstowhistory.com/temple_mills.htm
First few pictures may be of interest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dezYPmbHs2Y
The Queen knows about retarders!

 

[NightStar]

Hi, Sorry for not getting back over here sooner. I am just very busy right now. I will check out some of the links mentioned above and see what there is in the way of tech drawings.

Robert

 

[GRALISTAIR]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUguvy54HkE

shows the Dowty retarders working @ 2:45

D4500, D4501, D4502 Master and Slave Shunters -ahrrr those were the days. I first did Tinsley in August 1970

 

[lyndhurst25]

D4500, D4501, D4502 Master and Slave Shunters -ahrrr those were the days. I first did Tinsley in August 1970

All 3 Class 13s went for scrap when Tinsley hump closed. I'm surprised that nobody in the diesel preservation movement has attempted to make a recreation. Forget trying to convert a Class 37 into a Baby Deltic; you could probably knock up a decent 13004/D4503 from a couple of 08s in an afternoon with a angle-grinder and some sheet steel.

 

[IanBanks-Jones]

Sounds like a fairly easy project. Maybe more like a few weeks than an afternoon though, I'm sure. Don't forget that it'd need remote control fitting in order to get power from the slave. Has anyone got any early pics of the 13's? I believe that originally the slaves kept their cabs.

 

[lyndhurst25]

I was joking about the time frame but to make a reasonable replica Class 13 with a non-powered slave would seem like a piece of cake.

When the slave's cabs were chopped off I believe that the driver's controls / instruments were left in place but hidden beneath an access panel. I remember taking a peek inside at a Tinsley open day in the 1980s.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Sounds like a fairly easy project. Maybe more like a few weeks than an afternoon though, I'm sure. Don't forget that it'd need remote control fitting in order to get power from the slave. Has anyone got any early pics of the 13's? I believe that originally the slaves kept their cabs.

Yes I do. They are back in England but I am returning there tomorrow for a few days so I will see what I can dig out.