The rail components laid out on the patio. I had considered buying

a point kit, but the cost and the need to fit the point to my existing

curved track, I decided to construct my own.

I drew a plan by tracing the existing curve on to a large piece of thick paper,

this gave me the angle for the crossing or 'frog', so I started by making this.

The rail was bent, cut and filed to shape. The wing rails were then bent and

adjusted to match the crossing. The crossing nose was bolted through the

web of the rail, and then this and the wing rails were bolted down to a piece

of Aluminium plate to give the crossing strength.

The blades were the hardest bits to make. They were cut down the length

by hacksaw and then cleaned up with a file. The stock rails were also

cut and filed to allow the blades to fit.

Another view of the crossing. The check rails need to have some of the flat

bottom flange removed to allow the check rail to fit close enough to the

stock rails.

Sleepers are mostly salvaged 2" x 1" softwood, although 3" x 1" was used

under the frog. The two longer sleepers will take a point lever of some sort,

either a bought one or something home made. The toe of the blades rest on

an aluminium strip bolted to the stock rails. another aluminium strip forms

the tiebar.

Another view of the completed point.

Over the weekend of 27th and 28th September 2003 I lifted the panel of track to make way for the new point for the siding to the workshop. For the last few years this piece of track had been buried up to rail top in earth and moss. The softwood sleepers are remarkably well preserved!

The point in situe.

Another view of the point looking towards the Potting shed and workshop.

In the workshop, I decided to have a second siding accessed by another point, this time I went for a stub point. A piece of ply was used to keep the sleepers in place for the point. The sleepers are un-treated as they are indoors.

A close up of the 'blades'.

Close up of the 'frog'. This is to a design used in the Welsh Slate Quarries where wagons with double flanged wheels were used.

At the moment, the point is changed by hand.

The 'main'line point is standing against the wall awaiting installation, this has now been done.

The section of track stood between the stock is the 'lift-out' section for the potting shed. This has been deemed necessary as the floor is a couple of inches lower than the workshop and finances are not available yet to raise the floor to rail level. I am not too sure how I am going to over come this as yet.

No. 3 trying out the new point for clearences. All works reasonably well.

The section of track through the potting shed has been made to lift out. The ends

drop in to slots made with aluminium angle. I will bring the potting shed floor

up to rail level and bed the track in the floor, but this is a low priority at the moment.

The track dropped into the slots ready for use.

The new siding to the garage (loco shed?). More ballast required.

Number 3 posed on the new siding.