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Patriot87003

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Everything posted by Patriot87003

  1. How does the wheelset face to face measurement compare with other stock? If Hornby have used a finer flange depth, or a thinner tread width, or a combination of both, then a slightly wider back to back measurement maybe required to maintain continuous contact with the crossing and wing rails when traversing points.
  2. I always liked seeing a rake of oil tankers so when Cavalex announced the TEA wagons a couple of years ago I pre-ordered a rake of 10. They arrived this morning … I have 7 of the Total branded unweathered tankers … Also a triple-pack of the unbranded grey wagons … The tension lock couplings allow for close-coupling … (I’ll replace with the Westhill WagonWorks Hunt magnetic couplings in due course) The rake successfully had a few laps around the layout … I’ve had a further running session this evening and tested around the layout, over the junctions between the slow and fast lines, also through the complex point work in and out of Yard 1 and all successfully negotiated … no derailments yet! Very impressed with these lovely wagons.
  3. I received the delivery update email this morning … and due today! Sure enough … the Royal Mail have delivered … and the benefits of working at home …. I was due a ‘Screen break!’ 😀😜 Very well packaged … Lovely boxes for a rake of 10 … The usual clam shell box along with goodie bag for each wagon … I went for the unweathered Total wagons … very well detailed … Along with a triple pack of the un-branded … Even with tension lock, close coupling … I’ll still probably replace with the Hunt magnetic couplings like I have with all the other rakes … A quick couple of laps around the layout … very impressed, smooth running … and look forward to lunch break and later today for a longer run! Many thanks Cavalex for producing these lovely wagons …. While I don’t think they ran along the WCML that much, I have seen videos on YouTube from the 80’s and 90s of tanker wagons passing through the likes of Warrington BQ … it has made me realise that I don’t have any petroleum 37’s, 47’s, or 60s … well not yet anyway!
  4. It took a while but I’ve wired and tested the new Yard 4 sidings …. also a few running sessions with the new arrivals in recent months …. and captured in the video below …
  5. It looks a bit of a dinosaur …. So Cleverdesignersauraus? 😉
  6. Well … that was quick! Just seen the Bachmann website and the sound fitted RES, EWS and G&W have arrived to Bachmann …. While the non-sound fitted versions of them plus the Spring announcements of Virgin, Mainline and Freightliner Grey are now all expected during June/July. https://www.Bachmann.co.uk/category/model-railway/branchline/electric-locomotives
  7. Further to 97406 info and pics … I’ve taken these of the Class 90 and the Heljan BW fitted 86 … The Bachmann 90 BW pan in the lowered position … As I’m on DC only, raised the pan and temporarily held in position with a screwdriver … The Heljan 86 BW pan … Another view … Hope these help
  8. A very good selection of AC loco’s …. And having lived in Croydon as a youngster, I caught the XC trains via Mitre Bridge Jn with the loco changeover a couple of times … I only took one bad pic on my old camera during 1986 or 87 … The Mainline 90 looks good, is that the non-sound version or sound?
  9. Excellent choices Bachmann to produce more good liveries for the 90’s …. Although not so good for my bank balance! I have the non-sound versions of the Virgin and IC Mainline 90’s on pre-order and see these are now showing an eta of May/June on the Bachmann website …. And interesting to see that all of the new version announced today (RES, EWS and G&W) are also showing eta of May/June.
  10. Thanks 87027 and 97406 … the Gaugemaster site does show both types of Heljan Class 86 pantograph as spares with a pre-order price of £25 each. Hopefully the link below works … https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/catalogsearch/result/?manufacturer=205&q=pantograph
  11. Instead of asking Sue Gray to investigate … I’m going to admit my guilt!! The Hornby Mk3’s do have buffers, but the old Lima Mk3’s I think had the buffers knocked off during my youth … never got round to correcting! I have been tempted to retire the rake but I do like it’s realisability . ps Cripes … closeup photo’s do reveal quite a few flaws! Need to re-do the renumbering of 34 as the backing papers have yellowed …
  12. I’ve got a few of the Horny 87’s and have found them to be ok when propelling full length trains … however I don’t propel them up gradients, also I only propel around curves 3rd radius or greater. As Darius has said above, fixed bar type coupling can also improve reliability. I use the Hunt elite magnetic couplings within fixed rakes, however I use small tension locks at the end of each rake to facilitate automatic uncoupling. Another thing to watch out for is coupling ‘droop’ that can lead to overriding. So it’s best to check the interface between couplings is at the same height, also the surface of each are smooth as any burr could create addition friction and lead to increased risk of derailment. A couple of pics … the first is an older Lima coach with old large D style coupling. The Hornby 87 coupling is a decent height match and this rake is very reliable propelling. This rake is a Hornby Virgin Mark 3 (about 15yrs old) and for some reason the coupling raises up! Meanwhile this particular 87 has a droopy coupling … hence the increase risk of the couplings overriding. So I need to spend a bit of time correcting both of these couplings … Hope this helps … good luck with your 87
  13. Regarding the real 87002, I understand that dummy multiple working sockets and cables were added to the front following it’s repaint to BR Blue. This arrangement was kept during it’s time in the Caledonian Sleeper livery, but the dummy sockets and cables were removed during the relatively recent repaint to IC Swallow livery. A few pics I’ve taken are below … 87002 at the Long Marston Open Day, June 2008, repainted back to BR Blue Screenshot of 87002 running into Rugby on a rail tour during October 2017 87002 at Glasgow Central during the recent Intercity rail tour, with the multi working sockets and cables removed. TDM cables still attached and working as the loco propelled the DVT and Mark 3’s back south.
  14. The Bachmann website currently shows that the sound fitted versions of the IC Mainline 90026 (32-613SF) and the Freightliner Grey 90048 (32-620SF) have arrived … link below. So retailers should be receiving them during the coming days. https://www.Bachmann.co.uk/category/model-railway/branchline/electric-locomotives The non-sound fitted versions are due during March/April, while all versions of the Freightliner Green and Virgin livery are due during April/May. My funds also depleted following the arrival of the 86’s … and a failed fridge/freezer! So currently saving again for this year’s pre-orders including the IC Mainline and Virgin 90’s.
  15. A few updates to report following the festive period; Before Christmas I had a sort out and tidy of magazines, files etc that are stored under the layout, purchasing new magazine files and labelling. Next project has been to install a new 6 track storage yard (Yard 4) underneath the countryside and river section of the layout. This will be used to store the push-pull sets, HST and Pendolino (with the loco or motorised end used to haul up the gradient to the main layout, rather than push). This will also free up some space in Yard 3 for potential new rakes in the future. I planned the yard using lining paper and Peco point templates, then purchased the plywood and timber, cut the plywood to size then transferred the plan back onto the plywood. Once happy, the frame for the plywood was cut and installed using PVA and counter-sunk screws. I decided to cut out the holes for the points so that the Peco solenoid point motors can attach directly to the points. The first two boards were installed. A point from the line that connects Yard 2 to Yard 3 was installed for the short branch towards Yard 4. The branch then has 5 curved points to form the 6 tracks. Dropper wires added … The boards for the new yard created with cut-outs around the legs for the main layout. The boards lifted into position and joined with the approach boards as well as screwed to the legs. The new magazine files can be seen below upon a heavy duty shelf. A view along the new boards prior to tracklaying … LED rope lights were repositioned to provide lighting above the new yard. The six tracks laid … each is long enough to accommodate 12 coaches. The gradient from the lower yards to the main layout can be seen just to the left. A piece to spare timber used for the end of the yard to prevent any disasters! I’ve connected some of the droppers just to test a loco and pleased to say it worked ok. Next job is to complete the wiring … including a new small control panel, diode matrix, the power dropper wires, the point motors and point indicator LED lights. The addition of this yard now gives me the following … - Yard 1: 8 Tracks: Same level as main layout: Used for freight - Yard 2: 8 Tracks: Lower level (underneath Davidson Parkway): Loco-hauled through services - Yard 3: 8 Tracks: Lower level (underneath Yard 1): Loco-hauled through services - Yard 4: 6 Tracks: Lower level (underneath countryside and river): Push-pull, HST & Pendolino A few new arrivals as well including the pre-ordered Heljan Class 86/4’s and 86/6’s … several years worth of Christmas and birthday pressies! The Bachmann Collectors club Class 90 in Belgian SNCB livery … Heljan 86404 in IC-Exec livery 86426 in the 1980’s retro blue livery 86416 in Rail Express Systems livery 86634 in Railfreight Distribution triple grey livery Finally 86622 in RFD European livery. The two RFD 86/6’s have been semi-permanently coupled using a Bachmann hose as they’re intended to work the container train … The lineup of new 86’s … they have been tested and run-in … lovely loco’s.
  16. A few pics from today’s Intercity ‘Electric Scot’ tour from Euston to Glasgow and return. 87002 had a tapchanger relay issue near Actor Bridge that delayed it by approx 50mins, but soon resolved by an onboard fitter for a lovely run north. 87002 rolling into Rugby … A couple after arrival at Glasgow Central 87002 arrives with the ECS from Polmadie about to push the return working DVT 82139 ready to work the return working
  17. Thanks … probably not a review (I’ll leave the detailed reviews to the experts!) but for me it looks like a good 86 and the mechanism is the now standard heavy, reliable and smooth chassis … but I do plan to record and load a running session of each of them soon.
  18. I collected the 5 loco’s that I had pre-ordered yesterday (my belated Christmas pressies … also early pressies for the next 4 years!) As mentioned above, the shop checked the front handrails … one had partially detached from the front. It appears the foam packaging block sometimes knocks the handrail in transit. Although I could have glued the handrail back into position, the shop happily swapped the loco for another … I’ve coupled the two RFD liveried loco’s together using a Bachmann hose coupler and commenced running them in. The IC Exec loco was a teeny bit stiff at first, but that and the others are now very smooth runners. A few pics below … Very pleased with them, I like how the buffer shanks have been picked out in silver. Hopefully 86401 in NSE livery and perhaps an IC Mainline livery may follow at some stage, as well as some 86/2’s.
  19. I initially thought the same … likewise no IC Exec upgraded HST Power Cars (as these go for silly money on a certain auction site). However, I have a suspicion part of the thinking is as there are still quite a few Mk3 old tooling IC liveried coaches still available in retail at the moment, also a significant chunk of the 2021 range was for the IC liveried era … then the 2022 strategy is targeting other MK3 liveries first, before moving onto the IC liveried MK3 re-tooled carriages in the future; hopefully 2023! I also wonder if Hornby are also mindful that Oxford Rail have ‘modern tooling’ IC and BR Blue/Grey MK3’s available (albeit loco-hauled and with some flaws). As Simon said during his presentation, he’s always keen to hear ideas for the future. I’m not too disappointed that today’s announcement doesn’t include retooled MK3s or HST in IC Exec/IC swallow … gives me a chance to pay-off plenty of the 2021 range pre-order items still to arrive! Hopefully they’ll be in a future range (I might drop Simon an email to remind him when the dust settles) … although it does leave Hornby a little bit exposed if a competitor has developed a super-duper-cheaper-quick-to-market HST/MK3 in popular liveries.
  20. Yes, the venue has several seats along the side of the layout … also has step free access and toilets. No refreshments though, but as it’s in the town centre there’s several cafes, shops and restaurants close by.
  21. Good idea … although if you arrive early enough or at a quiet time, you might be lucky enough to meet Simon during this event! I visited this morning just after opening and had a lovely chat with Simon before staying for a couple of hours to walk round, view then find a location to watch the trains go by. Simply amazing project and great to see for real. Considering that it’s the first public outing, very impressed with the reliability and running and automation. Eg One snippet I noticed is that the passenger trains often receive a through path / more green signals on average compared to the freight. Each board is it’s own interesting detailed diorama … and interesting plans for the future to include a station around the curve beyond the current scenic break. By the time I departed the numbers attending had increased; good to see and hope the recent publicity results in a success … as I would definitely like to see again and can thoroughly recommend a visit. I wonder how many steps per day Simon walks … do you have a Fitbit or pedometer? Good exercise! I echo this … the ladies looked after my bag during my visit. Had a good chat; very pleasant and good to hear the number of visitors growing per day as the word spreads. They did mention that opening time and mid to late afternoon are the quieter times to visit (a bit like other model shows).
  22. Patriot87003

    New hst

    For my sins … I used to be a gauging engineer for a few years! Just seeing the Sectional Appendix, the Class 43 Power Cars are still not allowed / not route cleared along the GEML to Norwich. However, thanks for the info about the Class 43 Power Cars having made it to Norwich during 2011 … I’ve had a Google and seen a clip on YouTube of the power cars at Norwich, also a pic of Flickr of them at Ipswich. It therefore looks like one possibility is that the visit during 2011 was a special run/jolly for the PC’s, perhaps with a special temporary route clearance certificate. These often include a long list of restrictions such as speed restrictions past tight clearance locations, platforms/line that are prohibited (weaving/special pathing required) such as where platform coping stones/edges are tight or high, or even adjacent line blocks (to prevent another train passing if passing clearances are tight). Certain bits and bobs attached to the bogies of the Power Cars do require additional clearances compared to other vehicles. Regarding the Mk3’s, only modified Mk3’s (and modified Mk3 DVT’s) are currently route cleared along the GEML; the mod being those fitted with a centre pivot lateral bump stop (to reduce the amount of lateral movement). So it’s not just NR changing their mind or the asset condition/size changing … vehicles can also be modified and change!
  23. Patriot87003

    New hst

    There’s one occasion that I know of where the NMT Mk3’s ran loco-hauled without power cars … I worked for a while advising the HST/Mk3 replacement development studies (later to become IEP/Class 8xx). One key feature was the gauging/size of the vehicles as the new vehicles were proposed to be up to 26m long, and track interval data (distance between tracks) was key to understanding passing clearances and room available (or not!). One of the NMT Mk3’s is fitted with a laser scanning system that collects track interval data. For a period of time the NMT went on a bit of a jolly away from it’s routine/timetabled routes to collect data for other routes sections/potential IEP routes. One challenge we faced was the DfT originally thinking that Anglia maybe ideal for IEP, therefore required track interval data to be collected. However, while Mk3’s were already route cleared along many Anglian routes, the Class 43 Power Car’s are not route cleared (such as Liverpool St - Norwich). The team that manages the NMT rose to the challenge though and used loco’s top-n-tailed for a few shifts to take the NMT Mk3’s on a jolly around Anglia to collect the data (during 2007 from memory). Back to the Hornby HST … January 10th will be interesting to see what is revealed with respect to the HST and which liveries maybe next. Also whether the new coupling/detailing will be fitted to the 2021 announced HST’s that have not yet arrived (including the R40162 DVT). I’m also interested to see the robustness/reliability of the new coupling arrangement in ‘push’ mode with a full rake (especially on gradients/complex geometry). Model HST’s typically spend 50% of their time ‘pushing’ … I’ve always found the current Hornby HST’s to be reliable in terms of both performance and coupling reliability; with tension lock or with Hunt Elite magnetic couplings.
  24. I’ve had a few ‘Error Code 666 timeouts’ this weekend …. (The wife calling me away from my IPad to do domestic jobs!) Joking aside … Since I’ve began to create a few videos of my layout for YouTube, I’ve realised that it takes quite a bit of time and effort to plan, record, edit and upload content … so greatly appreciate the efforts of all those involved to create and publish the excellent content for another wonderful virtual show this weekend.
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