Rolling Road Easily constructed for testing or running in your loco Designed by Howard Moutray of Heywood Model Railway Group

Although this particular one was designed for "O" gauge locomotives, it could be scaled down to suit "OO" gauge by using smaller ball-races.

Parts list for the rolling road. 1. 2 x Plywood Timber base 9mm ply 80mm wide up to 300 mm long 2. 1 x Aluminium angle 1 x 2 metre length external width 19mm 3. 12 x Small ball races (for 3 axles) size 13mm diameter 5mm wide centre for 4BA bolt 4. 12 x Nuts and bolts for bearings 4BA x 10mm with washers and lock nuts 5. 12 x Nuts and bolts for baseboard 4BA x19mm with washers and plain nuts.

The road seen with a new loco on test and being run in. Note that only 4 rollers are shown on this one. The other two for the centre wheels are seen parked at the rear and could be brought into use if needed.

A close up view of the rollors made from Aluminium angle and small ball-races.

A second slightly smaller model made by Howard for one of the other club members. This gives a better view of the overall construction.

Construction of the road Cut two lengths of the plywood slightly oversize. Glue together to produce a board 18mm thick. When dry trim to exactly 80 mm wide this is important to get a correct O gauge of 7mm. Cut two pieces of the aluminium to the same length as your base. Lay inverted one on each side of the base, clamp and drill 6 off 4BA clearance holes per side through both angle and base. Position these holes to allow you space to slide the positions of the bearings to suit your stock. Invert the board and countersink the holes you have drilled in the wooden base. Insert the bolts from underneath and secure with appoxy-resin. Re fit the angle pieces and secure lightly with plain nuts and washers. Next make the bearing supports by cutting 6 pieces of angle 35 mm long and de-burr. Scribe a line 4 mm down from the top edge on each piece. find the centre point of that line and mark 2 drilling points 8 mm to left and right of this centre. Drill clearance holes for the 4BA bolts that will secure the bearings. Fit the bolts from the inside with a bearing then a washer then the angle followed by another washer and locking nut. Tighten these just enough to remove any side play. Position these completed bearings as required under the main angle to suit your particular loco. To complete the installation cut additional pieces of angle to support bogie wheels and tender. Lubricate the bearings sparingly with light machine oil Power is supplied by connecting the angle at each side of the unit to your controller. Bearings were sourced from yellow-pages looking under "Engineering and bearing supplies" and were 90 pence each for the ones manufactured in China.

This page updated 12th September 2009