[For those interested in "Modern Classic" Cars]

That scissor lift looks an impressive bit of kit, sadly as new price is too much for me.

[alan gibson]

On 05/04/2024 at 20:30, stewartingram said:

I emailed an order back in Feb, about a week later I got a phone call and made the payment. It was a small order for loco frames and an 03 conical chimney, he amended the frames to make it simpler for me, and closed the call by saying that he would get them made. I've heard nothing since and have sent 2-3 emails with no response.

Further to this, does anyone have a mobile number to contact him?

Reason to ask, is that I think I also put my mobile number on the order. Now where I live, mobile signal is not good (which obviously doesn't matter much to me, it is a mobile after al, which is what I want when not at home!

I've had a few unknown mobile calls, sadly I've deleted records, but if some gave me his mobile number I might recognise it, or would do if he did ring.

[For those interested in "Modern Classic" Cars]

I like the look of that scissor lift, do you have any more details?

[Peterborough North]

2's & 3's - in my period they were in the 300's! Youngsters today....

[Single line working through platforms]

2 hours ago, Wickham Green too said:

Interestingly, that's the opposite of the principle on the UndergrounD where stations are often on a hump - the entry rise being used to slow arriving trains and the dip from the platform end used to accelerate away.

"Hump" and "loop" are two different things. As described the Underground uses gradients to its advantage for slowing down and accelerating. However, previous answers up thread are describing loops, in the horizontal plain.

I must admit, I'm in the thought of the entry to a loop being straight, in both directions, with the exits being curved (to the right) via the points, as a train starting will be normally slower. However I accept there would be cases for a straight through " road, and a "loop!" curved at both ends.

[Skip Raiding]

WhenI was working (for a contractor) on the Underground, I was paired with another guy one night to do a job at Marble Arch station, accessing via the Oxford Street entrance. We had to park in a side street just round the corner, which was blocked off from Oxford Street, and had to come in from the back. At the blocked off end there was a skip, they were refurbing a hotel adjacent. My mate saw some marble worktop thrown in the skip, he soon had that loaded in the van. He was another "Trotter" who usually had some odd deals on the go ,and the van was well overloaded! We shot off rather quickly, to deposit the load at hiss place west just off the A40. We then went back to the station, we did have a job to do.

It took him months to sell that lot on, but made a tidy sum.

[Steam loco detailing]

A piece of thickish copper wire, say from twin & earth, can be stretched to make it stiff. That makes the hose, then wind some thin wire round it to simulate the ribbing; solder the 2 together, cut to length and bend. Vary the wire thicknesses as required.

[What's the best back to back measurements for Triang locos ?.]

I've used Peco 100 track, and all Triang era locos work satisfactorily through it, with a tweak to the B2B, usually wider. Never measured it, did it by eye with a small screwdriver behind the wheels to lever them out.

[Peterborough North]

Bridge Replacement Bus Service

[WCRC - the ongoing battle with ORR.]

Going a bit off topic (as we do), I've been thinking.....

Do the Royal coaches have CDL? If not, do they have B&Q door bolts and stewards at every door?

Only asking.

[WCRC - the ongoing battle with ORR.]

2 hours ago, phil-b259 said:

The ORRs concerns have their origins in fact that IF the underframe do not stay in line with each other during a derailment and one rises up and impacts the relatively flimsy body then the damage to the passenger 6 will be far more extensive than with a monocoque design.

 

 

The nuclear wagon test crash with the class 45 and mk1s, actually seemed too show the strength of the mk1 design?

[Dave F's photos - ongoing - more added each day]

Definitely a train (+loco) on the left in the sidings. Not far enough over for the Bletchley line. That's my old school playing field!

[alan gibson]

I emailed an order back in Feb, about a week later I got a phone call and made the payment. It was a small order for loco frames and an 03 conical chimney, he amended the frames to make it simpler for me, and closed the call by saying that he would get them made. I've heard nothing since and have sent 2-3 emails with no response.

[Aluminum coach wheels any good?]

Having used a number of led torches made of aluminium, I feel the aluminium oxidises rapidly. The -ve of the battery is usually via a spring to the end cap that screws on. Conductivity soon fails on the thread of the cap where it screws to the body,

[Spelling Mistakes on Models (and the prototype)]

Model Bus Zone - Model Errors & Variations List

 

Quite a few bus errors on the above link

[WCRC - the ongoing battle with ORR.]

I went to the EATM at Carlton Colville on Friday, for the relaunch into service of the Blackpool "Terror Tram". Whilst there I partook of rides on the trams, buses/trolleybuses, and n.g railway. I noticed an operating practice in use on all of these modes which I've never encountered before.

"Back in the day" as they say, we had 'proper' buses, with open rear platforms, and conductors. The conductor rang the bell (2 rings), to tlel the driver "off we go". You don't hear that nowadays, just a single ring to tell the driver to stop (at the next stop)

So, at the museum, the 2 rings were indeed used, to set off, but were accompanied by the driver (whatever the vehicle) replying with 2 toots back from his horn/whistle. Sensible acknowledgement in fact. But, if the driver wasn't in the cab when the vehicle was loading,, there was more to it. (And in fact this was almost 100% of the time).

Driver gets in the cab - he has to settle in (adjust seat, insert his key, start engine, etc.etc). Then 1 toot to the conductor/guard, who replies with 1 ring. Conductor checks he is ready to go,  2 rings, driver acknowledges with 2 toots, then moves off.

On the trams, stops are mandatory at certain places. On the buses, there are conflicting moves around the circuit. They both toot before processing.

Now this is a heritage museum, but you can see (hear) they have put into place non-authentic operating procedures, which don't really distract from the image. I have to say, I found this professionalism quite outstanding and sensible.

[EBay madness]

Was it a MOPOK production?

[For those interested in old buses (and coaches)]

We went to the East Anglia Transport Museum on Friday, for the relaunch to traffic of the Blackpool Brush railcar "Terror Tram". Having travelled to Lowestoft yb train from Ely, the absolute no.1 highlight of the day for me, was the shuttle ubs from the station to the museum. The genuine Eastern Counties LFL57, one of a handful that operated in Norwich. I'm used to the more normal LFS class, 3' shorter, but hey this was great. Come back Eastern Counties, all is forgiven, we miss you!

[Bridge collapse in the US]

We had a very long discussion about torque steer on our old Rover 800 forum.....

 

[Is there a website that gives a list of multiple units stored at Ely?]

As a user (occasionally) of the WNXX website, I would like to find something similar that covers multiple units. At this time, I'm specifically looking for any info on units stored at Potters, Ely.

Can anyone help with either query?

[Blue Peter Returns to full strength.]

7 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

Only 8Ps got BR Blue I'm afraid.

 

A2s weren't eligible, same goes for the WC/BBs, Castles, Scots, V2s, etc.

 

 

 

Jason

My Hornby B12 did!

[Scalescenes on label sheets.]

I've done this since Scalescenes started. Self adhesive labels from one of the High St. office suppliers, in packs of 100((?). No glue used at at all, saves all the messing about. I print each page of the download (except those which obviously won't be used) onto the A4 sheets. I then stick the labels to plasticard before cutting out. Construction is then like a plastic kit. Cardboard can warp if it gets damp, and I'm building the layout in the garage. I also seal the finished model with matt varnish from the diy shop.

[Wanted for Hornby class 71 (E5000) loco]

Well, I contacted Hornby. they had a look, but that was unsuccessful. Then they suggested Peters Spares, but I'd already told them that they hadn't any.

So I'm still looking for 2 class 71 buffers, or alternatives.

[Heljan and dirt]

Is it possible to electroplate the old wheels?

[Wright writes.....]

I've described the method elsewhere on RMWeb, but I fix my seeps to a plasticard base. The armature pin drives a pcb sleeper strip, with a new pin at the end. The other end of the sleeper strip has another pin, which operates a proper microswitch attached to the base. Lasty there are choc block connectors for wiring.

All thin takes 10-15 mins to assemble , all from scrap items, lying around except for the siwtches, which cost pence on ebay.

Advantages:

1) Easier fitting - the new pin locates easier into the tiebar. Basically it starts off as a long btass wire, snipped to length after fitting.

2) Inbuilt seep switches are useless, requiring very accurate fitting of the seep., otherwise will not work properly.. This baseplate makes that much easier, and the frog switches are now reliable.

No soldering, on your back, undereath the layout. Choc blocks are simple screw connectors.

3) A couple of small simple jigs (if you can call them that) align both seep armature, and tiebar, to centre position for fitting, along with a simple mark under the board. 

If a unit goes faulty, it is easy to remove and repair on the bench. I've had odd failures, but never thrown one away. Just dry joints needing soldering.

I really will have to take a couple of pics of my sample build and post on here.