MartynA

I got to finally unwrap and open my Lucknow today and it is a lovely little thing. One snag with It it though is that the packing material seems to have reacted with the cab roof. It’s not able to be wiped off and I’m reluctant to use anything aggressive on it until I’ve spoken to Rails on Wednesday. Has anyone else had a similar experience or could give me any advice? Thanks as always!

I saw this incredible railway at Stafford in 2020. I just keep getting drawn back to the pictures of it, even after a couple of years. For many reasons I personally I think this is the best ever layout. Thank you, Steve for the entertainment and inspiration.

That is a very good point about reach and operating wells and I shall remember it. I know what you mean about scaling down as I have put on loads of weight..... I used to be 8lb 7oz!

Thank you so much for the comprehensive answer, it gives me all the information that I need!

Hopefully a very simple question. I am looking to build a small industrial layout based on an N gauge one I have seen. Does OO track accurately work out at twice the size on a layout or does it need more room due to point geometry etc? Thanks in advance.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help. The layout is only on a 4’x2’ board so all runs a small. I am having a fiddle/storage yard on setrack code 80 to save space and just the scenic side powered. It’s all a bit tight but is just an exercise in modelling and experimenting really.

I have started my first small (four sidings and a passing loop) DC electrofrog code55 layout and would just like to check my understanding of something if I may. I’m fairly happy with point wiring which will be Peco style B, PL13 on PL10 to change frog polarity with point wiring cut and insulators on the frog to line rails. As I see it I will need to put dropper power feeds on the rails after the frog insulators to get any feed to the siding or passing loop. I reckon that this will mean the siding/loop will always be live irrespective of point position. Therefore I need to put a separate track isolation on/off switch in the dropper feed wire to allow locos to be stored in the siding or loop. Is this thinking correct? If so, is there a way to wire the isolator switch automatically or should I just run the wire back to the control board and put a switch where the point studs are? Thanks as always for your help, Martyn

Well here is the first attempt at a 4x2. The fiddle yard at the bottom will stay code 80 Setrack. This plan still has a couple of inches all round to play with so I’m confident the station and yard at the top will go to 55 fine scale and still give space for a Black 5 and three Mk1 coaches. All very tight but that’s the idea. Thanks again for your help, I’ll start this up on a new thread in the morning!

Thats a coincidence; I’m more of a 16mm person normally but just wanted something to do in the house when it’s not good garden weather! I’ll let you know how I get on with the 4x2, I only intend running an auto coach, a B set and some small freight trains so it could just work with some compromises.

Wow! Thank you so much for the reply! I’ve looked at the link you provided and it is excellent! It’s going to be a bit of a challenge open code 55 on a 4x2 board but I reckon I can do it by a curved point on the right and losing the river on the left. Going to be 1947 GWR/BR period so I can use stock I already have. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for the help and link.

Bit of a late post on the thread but, whilst at the show on February, I really liked this N gauge railway. Now I’m thinking of doing something simulator (but on a 4x2) as a lockdown project. Does anyone know what the layout was called? Thanks in advance.

Thank you both very much for your help in this question. I really appreciate the time taken to reply and now I an armed with the information I can decide which way I’m going to build things. All fun in model railways!

I hope this will be a simple question for the vast, and much appreciated, knowledge pool on the forum! What is the minimum radius that OO streamline track spacing will operate at? I would like to set the outer road at basically 4th radius and therefore the inner would be a little more than 3rd. Would trains of BR Mk1 coaches be able to pass each other without contact or would it be too close? Many thanks as always for all of your incredible assistance!

I am looking to get a diesel to run passenger services with my era5 midland area theme. I specifically would like a loco that ran Stafford to Shrewsbury via (what is now) Telford but I’m struggling to get any prototype information or pictures. I have lovely images of Britannias and Jubilees with three coach trains and a Duchess on a goods train but nothing for early diesel power. Could someone please give me an idea what may be suitable? Thanks as always!

Once again I am genuinely overwhelmed by the knowledge and help that can be gained on this forum! I would like to thank you all most sincerely for the advice and the time that you took to offer it on here. Looks like I shall be going for a SK of some description! Thanks once again - I just hope that one day I'll be able to answer someone's question on here so that I can repay your kindness!

I am running a crossover period between BR early and late crests. My new loco is a Bachmann Jubilee and the current rake is all Bachmann BSK - CK - SO - BSK. I can run a five coach train so what would be the best coach to complete the train? Thanks as always!

Thank you both so very much for your help! I’ll go and get some at the weekend!

I have dipped my toe into DCC a while back and am slowly expanding my setup. I still use a Hornby Select with a couple of Hornby Decoded locomotives and a Bachmann Next 18 decoder in Webb Coal Tank. I now have a Bachmann Jubilee and a 4F which are DCC ready with a 21 pin socket. Will a LENZ Silver 21 pin decoder be compatible with the Select and the other locos? I know the Select has many limitations and I will be upgrading at some point but, for now, it does enough for me! Is the LENZ an appropriate decoder to still use when I upgrade my DCC system? Anybody recommend a better decoder to use now but will be future proof? I have had a search around the forum but to no avail! Thanks millions in advance!

Thanks so much for your time replying. I shall get one on order then! Modelling the old SURCC line from Stafford to Wellington and I have lots of pictures of super power locos pulling 2 and 3 coach trains in the late 50s and early 69s. Even got a one of a Duchess pulling box vans through Gnosall where I was born!

I’m thinking of buying the Midlander Express train set to get the Jubilee and a couple of coaches, it seems cheaper to buy the set than separately. Is the 'Midlander Express’ nameplate on the smoke box removable as I want to use it as loco an a small branch line? Thanks for your help as always!

My research has got to here, Bachmann 32-135b 45xx. Would this be correct or not? Thanks again for your time!

Following advice on here I purchased a new Bachmann Autotrailer in Lined Maroon. I was astounded by the fine detail on it, miles apart from the stock I last bought in the 90s! The problem now is that the Hornby 14xx that I was going to buy to put with it is in their Railroad range and, whilst good, will not do the detail of the coach justice. Please can someone suggest a new, unweathered loco with a late BR crest that is the correct type and of similar detail to the coach? Many thanks again for all of your help!

Hi all, please excuse what is most likely going to be a silly question..... I have just received my new, and absolutely fantastic, Bachmann Autotrailer in BR Maroon. I was surprised to see insulated axles and electric pick ups on the wheels of both bogies. It’s the first new coach stock I have bought this century so is this a new standard thing? What is the reason for it? Thanks in advance for your help!

Thank you all so much for your excellent advice. I have ordered the lined maroon autocoach for my Railway!

I’m getting a Bachman Hawksworth Autocoach for a late BR Crest layout based in the early sixties. I’m using the Hornby Railroad 14xx in late crest lined green. I have the option of an all crimson auto coach or a lined maroon autocoach. Which one would be the correct livery to go with the 14xx? Thanks in advance.