I present my PROTO: 87 module, that I have constructed on December 2009 / January 2010. It consists the following:
1./ The infrastructure is made by blue "dow" plastic. However, I need to built the embankment with grass (πρανή με φυτικές γαίες - in greek) by the same material.
2./ The superstructure of tracks with track-parts by BAHNSINN, consists the following:
a./ Ballast form german company "NOCH" in HO size, about 0,02mm. However, the best is from ASOA (http://www.asoa.de). The ballast has "shoulders" (/"μπαγκίνα" in greek)
b./ Laser-cut wooden sleepers (gelaserte Holzschwelle) with distance between sleepers: 650mm in prototype. The sleepers cover a lenght of 30m in prototype (Gleisjoch) = 344,82mm exactly in HO.
c./ Fastenings + rail-plates (Oberbauen + Rippenplatte / Rp) out of cast brass. The fastenings used are the "K"- type (Klemmplatte) of the ex- east and west german federal railways (DB/DR Reichsbahnoberbau). In single-sleepers the Rp16 with one "K" is used, and in double sleepers (where the rails connected / Schienenstoß), the Rp18 with 2 "K"s. I present an example of Rp18 on a double inside slip (D.K.W. / Doppelte Kreuzungs Weiche mit innenliegenden Zungen) in BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways).

d./ Rails Code70 (nickel-silver) presenting exactly the rail-prototype-profil: S49 (49,43kgrs/m) before 1960s. Epoche III. Rails must be CUT and FILED in 344,82mm, such as to cover the length of the sleepers.
The rails are soldered with fishplates (Laschen) out of etched nickel-silver from inner-side of the rails. Then drilled with 0,4mm-holls for 0,4mm-bolts to pass through. The latter are soldered as well, and the excess is cut from the outer-side of the rail. Finally, the fishplates with square bolt-heads out of etched nickel-silver are soldered from the outer side (where the excess of the bolts is removed), and the rails are connected as the prototype. It is very difficult during construction, but I have enjoyed it. The length of the module is 90m in prototype = 1034,483mm in HO, cosnsists of 3 x 30m -track-lengths in prototype = 3 x 344,82mm in HO.
The fastenings of this tracks, where used in GREECE before 1960s not only in OSE (ΟΣΕ), but also in ISAP (ΗΣΑΠ), specially the part where the rails are connected (Schienenstoß). Now, the may be seen in some old abandoned tracks, with either steel /and or wooden sleepers, and in some cases on open Line with concrete sleepers. Nevertheless, the rail-lengths are according to the german standard (15m, 30, 60m), though the fastenings are exactly to the greek standard. The Greek Standard follow the french-system of 18m and 36m - rail-lengths.







a little before the railway station of Katerini, April 2002. Wooden sleepers of type "AZOBE" (Wood from tropical islands / hard) with "K" fastenings (Reichsbahnoberbau) of the ex-DB/DR (German Federal Railways / German East Railways / Deutsche Bundesbahn / Deutsche Reichsbahn).
PROTO: 87 Track StandardsLAYOUT:
The parts of the track-superstructure (Gleisbau), which will be used to each modul of my layout connected, will be the following and they will be constructed according to ΟΣΕ track-superstructure. The track will be single and NOT double, will have at 90% embankments (επιχώματα) and not cuttings (ορύγματα), and will be based on the Northwestern railway axis (Δυτικό Σιδηροδρομικό Άξονα) - Platy-Veroia-Edessa-Ptolemaoida-Kozani & Platy-Veroia-Edessa-Florina:
1./ Sleepers (Schwelle): From either laser-cut wood by BAHNSINN HO /and or plastic sleepers of the steel type with the 'K' fastenings by RST EISENBAHNMODELLBAU HO.
in model2./ Fastenings & rail-plates (Oberbauen & Rippenplatte): of the 'K' type, either out brass-casting on wooden sleepers by BAHNSINN HO , /and or out of plastic on steel sleepers by RST EISENBAHNMODELLBAU HO.
in model for wooden sleepers
model with steel sleepers
old railway station of Agios Dionysiin Piraeus, 18.01.2014. Note. As you may see the 1: 20 inclination (Neigung) of the rail according to Klingel laws of railway motion is visible.
old railway station of Agios Dionysiin Piraeus, 18.01.20143./ Rail-profile (Schienenprofil): of the type S49 (49,43kgr/m) = Code70 in 1: 87 scale (HO). In some sections of track, either curved and/or straight the type UIC50 (50,18kgr/m ) = Code75 in 1: 87 scale (HO) may be used (that mostly all of you use), nevertheless not on S & C (Switches & Crossings ) (Weichenanlagen).
in prototype4./ Jointed-track with fishplates (Schienenstoß): the fishplates out of nickel/silver and the screws out of brass-castings by BAHNSINN HO will be used, as well as the ΟΣΕ prototype for the jointed-track will be used with the german fastening 'K' and the rail-plate-type: Rp16, and NOT the RP18 (that is for double-tracks), as the latter used only in Η.Σ.Α.Π. and still used in BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways) both now on some diverging-tracks. In turnouts (Weichen), when wooden sleepers are used, the joints will have 2 Rp16s (as in straight and curved track) and when steel sleepers will be used, then there won't be a problem, as the greek prototype of joints is the same like the german.

blue-arrows: Rp16 rail-plates, purple-arrows: screws out of brass-castings, yellow-arrow: nickel/silver fishplate - 1, green-arrows: nickel/silver fishplate -2
]blue-arrows: Rp16 rail-plates
better pic I think....
better pic I think....
prototype - blue-arrows: fishplates & screws, green-arrows: 'K' fastenings, red-arrows: Rp16 rail-plates
model with steel sleepers
prototype with steel sleepers, Acharnai station, April 20025./ Track- 'shoulders' (μπαγκίνες) & length: shown by the cross-sections (Querschinitte) with green-arrows for wooden-sleeper - track (400mm in prototype = 4,598mm in HO) & with orange-arrows for steel-sleeper - track (300mm in prototype = 3,448mm in HO). The lengths that will be used will be 18m, as ΟΣΕ used the 18m/36m - lengths of the french-system (SNCF), so all my track-lengths (either straight and /or curved) 18m - lenths in prototype = 206,896mm in HO. However, the already constructed-lengths of the german prortype (DB/DR) 0f 30m = 344,827mm will stay as they are and not changed, as it will be a very small section of the layout.
model with wooden sleepers
prototype x-section with wooden sleepers
prototype x-section with steel sleepers6./ Ballast: it will be the one I use until now, that is the fine exact to prototype: 2cm = 0,23mm in HO from NOCH HO. However ΟΣΕ uses also 6cm = 0,68mm in HO almost white one, which I can get from ASOA HO, when this finished.
This is the work I did till now, and for the first modul (shown in some of my P87 wagon upgrades) an embankment will be constructed as it contains a bridge, as well as wooden base for substructure, and in the second modul containing till now 2 x 30m german sections, in the one side there will be a straight of 18m greek section, and in the side curve of 18m greek section with a radius of 1m = 87m in prototype, as well as a wooden base for substructure. The rest of the single-track moduls constructed will contain 18m lenghts, as menioned before. As my space is very small until now, I will try to complete these 2 moduls, and then if I find space in the future, I will construct the loop I want.
As the curves & the superelevation as well as the turnout type & the station that will be used, will be announced in the next topic.
Dimitris































