steveNCB7754

One that springs to mind, is a Post office. There was a 'classic' one at Caeharris, where a railway track emerged through the terrace, right next to the Post Office there. Search online for Caeharris Post Office and you'll even find a great colour image with a train emerging into the street. For general inspiration, have you seen Robin Weaver's excellent and atmospheric black & white images, on Wales Online? Here is a link; https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/gallery/robin-weavers-wonderful-welsh-pictures-8850405 Really love the 'Corner Shop, Dowlais', about halfway down the page! Oh, and just to mention, I am now a member of the WRRC (enjoying reading the back issues I've recently been sent). Steve N

Hi, thanks Phil, Your last point, was along the lines of my thinking. My early career was in engineering, where I worked at a company which was part of the PD (Powell Duffryn) group. They used to operate 08's at the Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen Disposal Point near Ammanford (Swansea) and I quite fancy the notion of one (even just as a static model) in their 'Powell Duffryn Coal Preparation' scheme of white and blue, with 'wasp stripes' on the buffer beam. Yet another potential distraction, from what I should be concentrating on (LOL). Steve

Hi All, So, I've done a quick search of RMWeb and cannot find a dedicated Gauge 1 forum, or any info on this item, but I've just seen in a Kernow Model's emailing, that Bachmann are producing a Gauge 1 'Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends' version of the BR Class 08 shunter (due November 2021). Not strictly of any particular interest to me, but at 'only' £195 each, I wondered if anybody knows how 'to scale' this product is going to be (for instance, is it a new tooling, or based on a previous 'toy' scale item)? TIA Steve N

Also looks like someone's been a bit over-enthusiastic with the overhead crane! Guess the maintenance guys will have to come and re-rail the hoist carriage. Steve N

Thanks for the reply and the tender-to-tender haulage would be unusual (at least to the general public). Also, I think I've seen a shot (or maybe video) of even the banking QJ being tender-first, but don't quote me. Presumably, having two QJ's banking, might just be a way of moving an engine to another task/location, rather than necessarily needing its tractive effort on that load (and so avoiding a 'Light Engine' move)? Look forward to seeing this layout again, once its possible. Steve N

Looks much better. Have asked/mentioned this as a possibility before, but are you going to demonstrate banking in future shows (i.e. a QJ banking a QJ, or QJ double-headed train)? Steve N

Err, smaller chimneys? Steve N

Looking good - the 'glow' from the backscene really stands out now under that lighting. BTW, given the density of housing on both sides of the line, do the railways there ever provide a means for pedestrians at least, to cross the tracks (directly or via an bridge)? Steve N

The source I have doesn’t say why, but we can reasonably speculate. Needless to say, removing the tanks from the loco, reduces potential tractive effort. On the other hand, by the time this was done, these ‘veterans’ would have been used for less onerous duties anyway, having been supplanted by newer machines sourced secondhand from the ‘main line’ system. Probably just expedient to remove them once the tanks required extensive repairs or replacement, especially if you have access to surplus tenders from scrapped or surplus engines. Other advantages I suppose are; easier access for maintenance, and improved forward visibility whilst shunting (with no side tanks in the way). HTH Steve

Hi. As others have hinted, this is actually a South African locomotive. This was one of four standard tank locomotives operated by the Springbok Colliery at Vandyksdrif near Witbank. Built by North British Locomotive Company, two locomotives (#2 and (here) #4), later had their original side tanks removed and the water carried in an auxiliary water carrier (making them tank-tender locomotives). All the coal was still carried in the original bunker behind the cab. Steve N

Perhaps for the truckers, its an essential apéritif, so that when your order eventually arrives you will be too far gone to worry about how bad the food is!

Hi, Apologies; a) if you have answered this elsewhere and b) for my ignorance, but what is the 'fit' between your wheel centres and the society's tyres? In other words, what holds them together - press-fit or glue? TIA Steve

Wait, that guy in white on the right - is that Al from ‘Quantum Leap’? ;-)

Useful advice, I hadn’t considered that aspect, thanks.

That’s a good idea and would look suitably ‘crude’ (no criticism), more in keeping with narrow gauge (rather than standard gauge) operations.

1. That’s what I was thinking and, as you say, keep it simple - I can imagine such a crossing would be expensive and difficult to repair if it got abused. 2. Thanks for the information.

Hi again all, its me again and I have a couple more questions, this time related to track layout/design features (009/NG). First though, a disclaimer. Please do not assume that because I am asking further questions, that this means that I have actually made any progress on this fantasy (LOL). So, Q1: Concerns 'Diamond Crossings' (and their use in UK narrow gauge). There is an 009 layout (an iteration of 'Dinas Junction'), for which I have a plan (the same location was also rendered in 16.5 I think as well) and I might be tempted to use it (modified/flipped) for the design I have in mind. In it, for space-saving reasons, the builder utilises a Diamond Crossing. Now, from the OS mapping, I cannot be sure whether the real location used such a thing, but it does save valuable space (but is a complicated and costly thing to produce). So; a) Did UK narrow gauge lines generally, make use of such crossings (I have not found any photos, but then my NG resources are not extensive) AND; b) Does anyone make a RTR or kit for such a crossing in 009? Q2: Concerns 'Sector Plates' on the (real) NG and in model form - by which I mean, a single-tracked 'device' that a locomotive ran onto, to be redirected to another, adjacent track. This is obviously similar to what a set of points does (or even a turntable), just in a much shorter space (especially if there is more than one alternative 'route'). The Corris (I think) intend to use such a system at Corris station, due to space restrictions that did not exist historically. So; a) Did any UK narrow gauge lines use such a Sector Plate? AND b) Does anyone offer such a thing in 009? I have seen something by Noch for HO (called a 'Segment Turntable'), but it appears to cost around £175(!!) and Faller appear to do one at around 95EUR, though I suppose you could scratchbuild one at a push. TIA Steve

Er, I’m no expert, but I think that white building in the middle is slightly over-scale!

Playing (or maybe, drinking?) Devil's Advocaat here; if a particular track (in the real world/China) is actually restricted to (say) banker engines only, would/should the signalling reflect that (even if only a sign on the pole)? Steve

On example 2, I've always found a slightly faster (longer) freight/passenger working, gradually passing a slower ('wheezing') freight (on a 'slow' line) much more 'evocative', than the 'two fast trains rushing passed each other' norm on a lot of layouts. Just my 2 cents worth. :-) Steve

In doing a bit of a catch-up on this thread, I think I can see a pattern emerging which might suggest a reason why the layout operation is sometimes not 'optimal'. The word 'Pub' seems to crop up a lot in exchanges between yourself and other operators - maybe the state of intoxication is having something to do with it (LOL)? Steve

That is, as with all design decisions, the difficulty with 3D printing; which parts are best suited to what production process and/or materials. Probably better to make the ladder (or use a commercially available item if possible) in etched brass as a separate item, especially for an exhibition layout (can’t imagine a ‘plastic’ one lasting very long). Steve

Have just got back from a very pleasant 'stroll' up the hill above Llangurig. Thrushes are singing and the boughs of (I assume) either plums or Damsons, are heavy with blossom. Last year of course, all were burnt off by an earlier frost, so we might see some fruits this year. Get in touch if you are coming for a visit, it would be good to meet up.

One of the design ‘Tenets’ I remember from my early career went something like, ‘If someone can do it the wrong way, someone will’. Hind sight is a wonderful thing of course, but even the development of the steam locomotive was predicated on mistakes (sometimes even fatal ones). Now I realise this may not be physically possible, but one way around this would be to NOT have these sockets near each other AND then have each lead plug only capable of reaching its designated socket. Obvious I know this is easy for me to say, sat at my kitchen table, but maybe next time. Not withstanding all this, the layout is looking great and I look forward to seeing it in action again :-)

China does experience earthquake damage of course, so any repairs you make are entirely prototypical.