dmu 156

I've had response from Hornby in regards converting the 8 pin main boards on the 2017 Class 87 to the new 21 pin version. Their tech team has confirmed what I thought that it should be a straight swap, so I'm now waiting for the correct part number and price as the service sheet HS436B is wrong. I'll post a further update as soon as I get the info.

Another gantry for the 'Making Tracks 3' layout. Just need to add the linkage to connect the tensioners to the catenary wires.

I'm not sure what stock is going to be run at Chester but its usually a mix of eras and regions so I'm hoping for the blue/ grey stock especially 86s and 87s so the pans are on the wire, as for Hornby, I got an initial response which didn't answer what I was asking so I emailed more clarity as to what I was asking but I'm still waiting for a response to my second email. When I've got time, I might just swap the pcb boards over and see what happens. Charlie from DC KIts has given me an ESU V5 decoder plus the sound file for the Class 87 8pin version to test and see what needs to be changed on Legoman's sound file to suit the new 21 pin board to be able to operate the head and tail lights individually. Once the changes have been done there should be 21pin version sound file available which will have improved lighting control. I've put a sugar cube speaker under the board at the speaker end of the chassis for now before I look at other options.

Just had a look at the service sheet and the seating units are separate parts. They appear to have a shoulder/tab on the sides which suggests you might need to spread the body sides apart to remove them.

The pan is useless to me as I operate 'on the wire' as those of you who have seen the locos I've modified for use on the catenary system I installed on the 3 'Making Tracks' layouts so I will be changing mine asap, probably for a Heljan one, although I would like to see if its possible to fit a working Bachmann or Accurascale one.

I acquired one of Hornby's latest 87s, 87006 City of Glasgow which is now fitted with the 21 pin DCC socket. However as per their 2017 releases you can't fit a standard sized decoder in it. The new decoder position is under the circuit board above the drive shaft which is too narrow for a standard sized decoder. I had to put the chassis block through my milling machine to remove about 1mm from each side to depth of 3mm to fit a decoder. The pantograph is as the 2017 version which is still not good enough but on the whole it's still a pretty good model of a class 87. The positive to take from the 21 pin version is that you can now turn off the lighting at each end individually so you won't have tail lights on when pulling a train. I've enquired with Hornby's technical dept. to see if I can retro fit the 21 pin board to the earlier 8 pin models as according to the service sheet they share the same lighting circuit boards but the same service sheet says they have the same main DCC board, which they obviously don't. I'll post their reply as soon as I get one.

Some pics showing a couple of the previous OLE equipment I shown on here now installed on the 'Making Tracks 3' layout. the contact wire is not fully tensioned yet as you can see in the picture with the loco, the pantograph is pushing up the contact wire slightly. The '87' is Hornby's but with a modified Judith Edge crossarm pantograph.

I customise lengths of the Peco/Sommerfeldt wire, this year I've extended some lengths to over 600mm by using a 380mm cut in half and soldering it to a 500mm length after shortening the droppers at one end of the 500mm length so the contact wire and catenary wire aligns with the corresponding wires on the cut down 380mm length . The tensioner assembly in the picture has single 0.5mm brass wire connected to the catenary system in the same way the prototype does at the end of the bay platform at Milton Keynes. All the other tensioners ( another 12) will be installed in the same way as the prototype and operate as per prototype keeping the the contact wire fully tensioned at all times.

That's the best livery for a 323.

Some more pictures of OLE equipment for 'Making tracks 3' , the 25kv booster structure will have a 3D printed power supply box fitted to the framework near the bottom of the structure. the structure is laser cut plywood the same as the others we've made, all the other parts are brass with insulators from Sommerfeldt. The tensioner assembly is all scratch built from brass and will be providing tension to the wire when its all installed.

Yes they can, as with the previous 2 Making Tracks layouts I always install fully working tensioning masts as per prototype. However good working pantographs are required, some factory fitted ones like the Hornby 86 Stone Faiverley or Brecknell Willis fitted to 86s, 90s, 91s or 92s as well as any plastic ones are not good enough and neither is the Heljan Stone Faiverley type. However the Brecknell Willis fitted to Heljan's newer 86, Bachmann's 90 and Accurascale's 92 will work fine. I've modified the pans on some Hornby and Heljan locos using Sommerfeldt pans and a Judith Edge kit for an 87 crossarm pan {see earlier posts in this thread}, have a look at various videos on YouTube of Making Tracks 1 and 2 and you will see locos running with pans on the wire as well as those running with their pan down because they're not good enough. Let me know if you want anymore info.

They can stop in an emergency from 90 MPH in a little over 500yds and when it comes to a stand you wouldn't spill a thimble of water.

Having driven 323's for 17 years it's a unit I wish was avvailble as a RTR model, member JDW is correct the vehicles are 23 metres long and around 40 tons each, the TS vehicle being slightly lighter than the DMS vehicles. A driver's unit if ever there was one.

Below are a couple of pictures of some of the catenary brackets I've made for the 'Making Tracks 3' layout, which again will be at Chester Cathedral and the Great Electric Train Show. The gantries are again laser cut but this time from plywood rather than MDF.

For anyone going to the Great Electric Train Show this weekend , I'll be there with 'Making Tracks 2' making sure the OLE is working correctly, so feel free to come and say hello and I'll answer any questions regarding the OLE or any other aspects of the layout.