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    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.
  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.

Looking at double track layouts in 00-SF

Quick reply >
So I have been looking at seeing if I can fit a double track layout into my space in 00-SF, I really enjoy the layout of Bucks Hill
1630411919808.jpeg


So I was trying to invert the plan a little bit but due to not wanting platforms on extreme curves and needing the R/H side for he fiddle yard (with 2ft curves in and out) I don't think it's possible in the space I have.

Maybe I should just stick to my Single Track line plan Dexfield instead (it is almost built track wise) but I feel it's missing something interesting operational and viewing wise..
 

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@MikeH_83

Hi Mike,

Welcome to Templot Club. :)

With a space of over 4 metres it should be possible to fit in a double-track 00 layout if that is what you want. You need to put more of a curve in the platforms so that the end curves can be a larger radius. Sharp 2ft radius curves don't really go with 00-SF layouts, and would need some gauge-widening or 16.5mm flexitrack. For 00-SF it's best to keep above 750mm/30" radius if you can.

Note that you don't have a running clearance here:

mike_00_sf.png


Such sharp curves need extra track-spacing for a running clearance between the vehicles.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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Thanks @Martin Wynne

I was just looking at ideas really and was struggling to make it look half decent. I can certainly look at putting the platform areas on more of a curve.

I also think I should just ignore my urges to change and continue with the single track with passing station idea... Made good progress so far in 00-SF

20190812_163943.jpg


20190817_115420.jpg


20200723_161348.jpg


20200723_161439.jpg
 
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Been playing about with the idea some more, It's still horribly wrong in many places. Its kinda working and kinda looking horrible at the same time
 

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Hi all,

Been working on this idea some more since I am not feeling the single branch line so much anymore and I have been really getting the urge to make my layout have alot more operational and viewing potential. So therefor I have refind the plans somewhat. I have tried to get the track clearences smaller than the massive gap that peco wants you to have but not quite prototypical because I have some sharper curves. Anyway if anyone wouldn't mind having a quick look to make sure I have not messed something up big time that would be much appreciated. Ignore the bottom part (still WIP) and the super tight trackwork going into the fiddleyard as I will open that out to 00 standards (it's just so I can squeeze in as much scenic and fy space as possible)

dexfield.png


Thanks
 

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Thanks @Martin Wynne

I was just looking at ideas really and was struggling to make it look half decent. I can certainly look at putting the platform areas on more of a curve.

I also think I should just ignore my urges to change and continue with the single track with passing station idea... Made good progress so far in 00-SF

View attachment 2041

View attachment 2042

View attachment 2043

View attachment 2044
Hi Mike,
I'm currently building a 00-BF scissor and liked the look of your trackwork etc. May I enquire as to what rail, sleepers and chairs you are using?

Terry
 
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Hi all,

Been working on this idea some more since I am not feeling the single branch line so much anymore and I have been really getting the urge to make my layout have alot more operational and viewing potential. So therefor I have refind the plans somewhat. I have tried to get the track clearences smaller than the massive gap that peco wants you to have but not quite prototypical because I have some sharper curves. Anyway if anyone wouldn't mind having a quick look to make sure I have not messed something up big time that would be much appreciated. Ignore the bottom part (still WIP) and the super tight trackwork going into the fiddleyard as I will open that out to 00 standards (it's just so I can squeeze in as much scenic and fy space as possible)

View attachment 3439

Thanks

Yes that would be a single slip.
 
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Yes that would be a single slip.
Thanks that's good to know. I assume anti clockwise goods would shunt over to the clockwise main before moving across into the goods line/platform 3
Hi Mike,
I'm currently building a 00-BF scissor and liked the look of your trackwork etc. May I enquire as to what rail, sleepers and chairs you are using?

Terry

Hi Terry,
Thanks very much. I used C&L code 75 HiNi Bullhead track, Exactoscale chairs and for the sleepers I cut up some 1.5mm ply into sleepers (yes it took forever lol) and stained them with some Jacobean Oak woodstain I think it was. I think next time I will just buy laser cut sleepers and just paint them after using an airbrush to save some time!
 
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Thanks that's good to know. I assume anti clockwise goods would shunt over to the clockwise main before moving across into the goods line/platform 3
An anti clockwise train would carry on past the second trailing crossover and reverse into the yard.
Regards
Tony.
 
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The anticlockwise train would travel to the far end of the loop and reverse back into the loop from the main.
 
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Oh ok thanks, I'm not sure what the purpose would be of the single slip is all, short of having a train change direction after stopping at the station? Thanks for all your help btw, Trying to make it as prototypical yet fun as possible
 
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Hi Mike.
Take the case of a clockwise stopping freight train. It would stop in the station clear of the crossover and then reverse over the crossover into the loop. If the train were too long to run round within the yard, the loco would have to return to the main line, then cross back to the other running line via the slip road and continue past the loop to reverse into the far end of the loop via the second trailing crossover. Double tracks are usually referred to as either the Up or Down road, which makes things clearer, although single tracks can have an Up and Down direction.
Here is a link to a video of Heckmondwike, a layout I was involved with. Scroll down the page to see it. The stopping freight appearing at about 5 minutes in demonstrates the principle.
http://scalefournorth.org/heckmondwike
Regards
Tony.
 
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Last edited:
Hi Mike.
Take the case of a clockwise stopping freight train. It would stop in the station clear of the crossover and then reverse over the crossover into the loop. If the train were too long to run round within the yard, the loco would have to return to the main line, then cross back to the other running line via the slip road and continue past the loop to reverse into the far end of the loop via the second trailing crossover. Double tracks are usually referred to as either the Up or Down road, which makes things clearer, although single tracks can have an Up and Down direction.
Here is a link to a video of Heckmondwike, a layout I was involved with. Scroll down the page to see it. The stopping freight appearing at about 5 minutes in demonstrates the principle.
http://scalefournorth.org/heckmondwike
Regards
Tony.
Ohhh, I see it now! Thanks so much! Been trying to wrap my head around that one for awhile and now it becomes clear. Thats a good video that is, I tried to find some of exhibitions recently on youtube with similair layouts which also had the slips but any kind of proper goods working doesn't seem to get filmed so often lol. Thanks again.
 
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Hi Mike.
Your most welcome. Writing that description made me think there had to be a better way to illustrate it. A picture says more than a thousand words, but a video is better still. One of the reasons the film was made was to show how railways operated in the days of steam. It nice to know it still serves that role.
Regards
Tony.
 
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Hi all,

I have been tweaking the design abit and I would say that it is pretty much there.. I have kept it to 24" curves in 00 for the fiddleyard entrance/exits just to conserve abit of space. (Still needs a little tweaking) Anyway I hope I havn't missed anything? I was thinking about having the branch rise upwards on a shallow incline to give it abit of a profile compared to the mainline running at the back. I still need to shove the timbers but just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a glaring issue before I started that painful job lol. Theres alot of complex pointwork on a curve too so fingers crossed that won't cause any issues.

Thanks
 

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Hi Mike.
Its coming on.
I have found a few minor issues. A couple of Turnouts did not align with the plain track underneath. The correct way to make sure that turnouts are perfect aligned is to insert a turnout into the length of plain track. I have filled in the gaps in the rails where the crossovers didn't meet and removed the plain track duplicating the pointwork on top. I have also edited the box file title to match your layout name. I have also deleted the unused templates in your storage box and tidied up a few other things. Your pointwork on the curve looks OK to me, but the 24" end curves concern me a little.
Amended Box file attached. Over to you for the timber shoving.
Regards
Tony.
 

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  • dexfield_3_2022_07_31_2220_38.box
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Hi Mike.
Its coming on.
I have found a few minor issues. A couple of Turnouts did not align with the plain track underneath. The correct way to make sure that turnouts are perfect aligned is to insert a turnout into the length of plain track. I have filled in the gaps in the rails where the crossovers didn't meet and removed the plain track duplicating the pointwork on top. I have also edited the box file title to match your layout name. I have also deleted the unused templates in your storage box and tidied up a few other things. Your pointwork on the curve looks OK to me, but the 24" end curves concern me a little.
Amended Box file attached. Over to you for the timber shoving.
Regards
Tony.

Thanks very much Tony, Glad you noticed them cause I had totally missed them not being aligned. I don't know why but when I store & background track that I have been working on for some reason it seems to make a duplicate sometimes, I'm probably doing something wrong somewhere as I have just learnt from clicking things and seeing the end result lol.

Yeah the 24" curves were designed to be opened up to 00 standards just to help give me maximum fiddleyard space but I have a tiny bit of wiggleroom to open them out to about 30" or so if I can work some magic with the fiddleyard trackplan (that's the truly difficult part)

Thanks
Mike.
 
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Thanks @Martin Wynne

I was just looking at ideas really and was struggling to make it look half decent. I can certainly look at putting the platform areas on more of a curve.

I also think I should just ignore my urges to change and continue with the single track with passing station idea... Made good progress so far in 00-SF

View attachment 2041

View attachment 2042

View attachment 2043

View attachment 2044
@MikeH_83 Are these tracks hand laid throughout with chairing? If so is it GWR 2 bolt or Standard 4 bolt? Curious as I myself am looking for the special chairs in 2 bolt form :D
Current build and design looks on point!
 
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@MikeH_83 Are these tracks hand laid throughout with chairing? If so is it GWR 2 bolt or Standard 4 bolt? Curious as I myself am looking for the special chairs in 2 bolt form :D
Current build and design looks on point!
Hey, Yes it is all hand laid with chairing. It's 3 bolt chairs for what I have done however my new layout will be more gwr so I shall order some 2 bolts. You can get the exactoscale chairs from EM gauge society and the P4 Society (you can also get C&L ones from C&L Finescale but obviously best to check about postage and stuff first. I have ordered some 2 bolt slide chairs from ModelU so will be interesting to see if they work well as I don't think they were specially designed for track making
 
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There's no problem with using Modelu slide chairs, I think that the jaw has been altered to suit code 75 BH rail.
 
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Hey, Yes it is all hand laid with chairing. It's 3 bolt chairs for what I have done however my new layout will be more gwr so I shall order some 2 bolts. You can get the exactoscale chairs from EM gauge society and the P4 Society (you can also get C&L ones from C&L Finescale but obviously best to check about postage and stuff first. I have ordered some 2 bolt slide chairs from ModelU so will be interesting to see if they work well as I don't think they were specially designed for track making

Its worth noting the new C&L 2 bolt chairs now come with a pair of J (joint) chairs, a pair of L1 (bridge chairs and a pair of functionable H section fishplates, C&L also produce 2 bolt flexitrack in both EM & P4 gauges. The sleepers are in 60' panels with 12" sleepers at both ends and the appropriate sleeper spacings. Its has a thicker 1.6mm base

Examples will be at Scaleforum at the end of the month (pre-orders can be picked up saving postage) a limited selection will be available

I have used the Modelu 2 bolt slide chairs quite a few times, a great product. I used industrial grade superglue to fix them
 
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Great if you want 60 ft panels, but us branchline modellers would prefer 45 ft panels and even some 30 ft panels for sidings and anyway it's easier to distress ply sleepers and timbers than plastic. Also, if you plant your own timbers you don't end up with dead uniform spacings and ends, as per the prototype.

When I was in the PW gang on the ESR and were relaying a couple of panels, the sleepers were laid in by eye. When spot resleepering with new sleepers, the ends did not necessarily end up in line with the existing sleepers.
 
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Hey, Yes it is all hand laid with chairing. It's 3 bolt chairs for what I have done however my new layout will be more gwr so I shall order some 2 bolts. You can get the exactoscale chairs from EM gauge society and the P4 Society (you can also get C&L ones from C&L Finescale but obviously best to check about postage and stuff first. I have ordered some 2 bolt slide chairs from ModelU so will be interesting to see if they work well as I don't think they were specially designed for track making
I'm about to order my next bulk GWR 2 Bolts includig some brass crossing chairs, the rest I will order 3 bolt variants and modify to appear 2 bolt.
My copy of "GWR Switch & Crossing Practise" arrived this week, so lot's of reading ahead. Will post my updates on my thread - https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/gwr-branch-terminus-journey.445/page-2#post-4404
 
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Great if you want 60 ft panels, but us branchline modellers would prefer 45 ft panels and even some 30 ft panels for sidings and anyway it's easier to distress ply sleepers and timbers than plastic. Also, if you plant your own timbers you don't end up with dead uniform spacings and ends, as per the prototype.

When I was in the PW gang on the ESR and were relaying a couple of panels, the sleepers were laid in by eye. When spot resleepering with new sleepers, the ends did not necessarily end up in line with the existing sleepers.
Phil

Sorry I missed your reply, in the absence of anything better remove either 6 sleepers from one sprue or 3 from both and you more or less have 45' panels, as you need 18 sleepers per panel you can use the surplus ones to make more panels.

There are pro's and con's for the material used for timbers and sleepers, many prefer the connivance of ready to lay. My main preference for plastic timbers is the permanence of the bond between plastic to plastic, something plastic to ply cannot replicate.

In the end its personal preference
 
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Great if you want 60 ft panels, but us branchline modellers would prefer 45 ft panels and even some 30 ft panels for sidings and anyway it's easier to distress ply sleepers and timbers than plastic. Also, if you plant your own timbers you don't end up with dead uniform spacings and ends, as per the prototype.

When I was in the PW gang on the ESR and were relaying a couple of panels, the sleepers were laid in by eye. When spot resleepering with new sleepers, the ends did not necessarily end up in line with the existing sleepers.
A question if I may, I found the document for making 44' 6" 18 sleeper panels in Templot, but I saw your comment regarding 30' siding panels? Was this normal? and is there a documented sleeper spacing guide I could programme into Templot? :) I'm trying to create some jigs to assist in my hand laying of track.
 
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Sidings would utilise anything 2nd hand that was usable 30ft panels could be old 85lbs rail cut in half as these came in 60ft lengths, usable sections of crippled rail, rail that had damaged ends would be shortened to remove the damage and cascade down.

What you find in sidings is pot luck, no hard a fast rules, as they are only low speed and not carrying passengers. They were mostly ballasted with ash, some to sleeper level and others to rail level in wheeled vehicle access was required. Areas of sidings with heavy vehicle traffic may have been cobbled or more laterly concreted.

Nobody is going to pick you up on it. On my quayside layout I am using ash and cobbles.
 
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Sidings would utilise anything 2nd hand that was usable 30ft panels could be old 85lbs rail cut in half as these came in 60ft lengths, usable sections of crippled rail, rail that had damaged ends would be shortened to remove the damage and cascade down.

What you find in sidings is pot luck, no hard a fast rules, as they are only low speed and not carrying passengers. They were mostly ballasted with ash, some to sleeper level and others to rail level in wheeled vehicle access was required. Areas of sidings with heavy vehicle traffic may have been cobbled or more laterly concreted.

Nobody is going to pick you up on it. On my quayside layout I am using ash and cobbles.

Hi @Phil O
This is good to know, thank you! I was more inclined to set rails in heavy ballast/ash anyway for effect, was simply curious as to the practice, if as you say, is whatever they had around then that works for me :) I wasn't able to find this information myself, so I am grateful. maybe I need more books!

Cheers,

James
 
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Hi James,

The, published information tends to concentrate on the standards for passenger carrying traffic, not the lesser trafficked lines, such as freight only and sidings, where a mishap less likely to result in serious consequences, just inconvenience.

I only found out by working in the PW gang of a preserved railway and getting hands on experience, not in text books. Nothing beats getting your hands dirty, for getting the information. When I did a bit of PW work on the Plym Valley Railway there was an 80 year old retired ganger called Les, who laid out a tandem turnout by eye and a bit of string, to line up the crossings.
 
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Hi all,

Well I have spent some time ripping out all my old trackwork and altering baseboards for this new trackwork (except I have ran out of 9mm birch ply and the cost of it is astrominical at the mo)

So after laying out the trackwork on the new baseboards I have came to abit of a dilemma, The Lye-By for the slow goods as shown between the blue and orange circle is currently 6ft in length which visually looks quite small and was hoping for it to be a tad longer, however I don't want to extend it further south because I would like to leave some space there. So a few options for me..


dexfield_lye-by.png


1) Leave as is, Only stopping any goods trains that are 6ft or less in length (as most will be anyway bar 1)
2) Remove the blue set of points and have trains reverse in.. This means they would pass the signal at the end of the station and be half on that curve heading into the fiddleyard before reversing for that 1 long goods train. (Not sure how that works with signalling)
3)Move the orange set of points back 1ft and remove the blue points to increase it to 7ft in length and have the length from orange points to end of the platforms be 7ft

Given the fact that my fiddleyard space is limited im slightly inclined to go with option 1 or 2 and just run more smaller goods trains but sometimes its nice to get the opinions of those more experienced with railways in the real or model form.

This will be set in GWR (with probably some lms or lner or southern mixed in at times for shared running veriety)

Cheers
 
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How about a bridge of some sort just after the branch junction, to disguise the fact that the loop is somewhat short?
 
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How about a bridge of some sort just after the branch junction, to disguise the fact that the loop is somewhat short?
Not sure if the supports will fit so well inbetween the track spaces I have but certainly a good idea and worth looking at! If all else fails maybe a big oak tree on the corner to just block line of sight or something...

To be honest the station isn't that long anyway, Probably just a tad longer than 5ft. With not having a long stright line space I have had to be somewhat creative on how to fit everything in without it looking too silly. Hoping it all pans out in the end :)
 
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Hi all,

Well I have spent some time ripping out all my old trackwork and altering baseboards for this new trackwork (except I have ran out of 9mm birch ply and the cost of it is astrominical at the mo)

[snip]

Cheers

I think the whole birch ply ship has sailed. Where I used to get mine from, import direct from Russia, so unless there are other sources in the world for it, I suspect it will be a very long time before we're able to get it and I can't imagine what the cost will be. My last full sheet of Birch ply was over 100UKP.

I've decided to go for a high quality MDF with the appropriate dust extraction and PPE. Without tempting fate, with the new house and model layout space, I'm lucky as my eventual layout will in the house, and not exposed to extremes of temperature or changes in moisture.

Shame, as I love the look of birch ply - especially when varnished/waxed/sealed/?? with Osmo Poly-X matt.

All the best

Richard.
 
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I think the whole birch ply ship has sailed. Where I used to get mine from, import direct from Russia, so unless there are other sources in the world for it, I suspect it will be a very long time before we're able to get it and I can't imagine what the cost will be. My last full sheet of Birch ply was over 100UKP.

I've decided to go for a high quality MDF with the appropriate dust extraction and PPE. Without tempting fate, with the new house and model layout space, I'm lucky as my eventual layout will in the house, and not exposed to extremes of temperature or changes in moisture.

Shame, as I love the look of birch ply - especially when varnished/waxed/sealed/?? with Osmo Poly-X matt.

All the best

Richard.

I think your right there. It's looking like any decent sized sheets are getting to around the £200 mark, There's no way I am paying that for some wood that im going to cover in scenics! Is sealing it a good idea then? Mines been in the loft for about 7 years without any issues but I havn't actually dumped any water on it from ballasting etc yet
 
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I have made some slight changes to the bottom half of the layout. Instead of having a small straight section on the left hand side I have tried keeping a shallow sweeping curve instead to see if it looks and flows better. I decided to try getting rid of the branch as it followed the mainline far too much and instead tried adding in a junction. Not much space for the fiddleyard mind. I still need to tweak the industry bit but if I can pull it off I think it'd look better. Not sure what else to do with the branch line tbh

dexfield_junction_fully_curved.png
 

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Hello Mike.
You could try moving the junction back into the curve to make more room. As the slip road is on the outside of the curve it would work.
Box file attached.
Regards
Tony.
 

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Hello Mike.
You could try moving the junction back into the curve to make more room. As the slip road is on the outside of the curve it would work.
Box file attached.
Regards
Tony.
That's a good shout tbh! Thanks for the edited file. It's funny how I started it wanting a nice countryside station on the GWR in the 30's and before you know it there is track everywhere lol
 
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If it's a 1930's GW layout, the crossover at the bottom would be trailing, not facing as drawn. Sorry to be a bit picky.
 
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If it's a 1930's GW layout, the crossover at the bottom would be trailing, not facing as drawn. Sorry to be a bit picky.
Always appreciate the feedback. It might not be clear on my plans but the spur at the bottom is basically a branch line splitting off from the mainline so that’s why I have it facing. It basically comes out of the fiddleyard and heads up the mainline before crossing over into the goods loop line and into the 3rd platform.
 
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