jonhall

Rostock - I can't find my ticket, but in 2023 it only covered the VVW Rostock core area, so you could get to the seaside at Warnamunde, but couldn't get as far as Bad Doberan for the Molli narrow gauge . Jon vvw-netzplan-rostock.pdf

Mannheim - info from 2014 - 10 years out of date -treat with caution. German: Nutzungsbedingungen: Berechtigt während des eingetragenen zeitraums zur fahrt mit allen bussen strassenbahn und freigegbenen zugeb (DB: RE, RB und S-Bahn jeweils in der 2. Klasse) im verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar (VRN) Nucht ubertragbar, nur gultig in verbindung mit einem amtlichen lichtbildausweis Es gelten die beforderungsbedinggungen und tarifbestimmungen des VRN. Weitere informatioen unter www.vrn.de Google translate: Terms of Use: Entitled to travel on all buses, trams and approved buses (DB: RE, RB and S-Bahn, each in 2nd class) in the Rhine-Neckar transport association (VRN) during the registered period. Not transferable, only valid in conjunction with an official photo ID The transport conditions and tariff regulations of the VRN apply. Further information at www.vrn.de vrn_regionales_schienennetz.pdf

Berlin - info correct 2022 German: Gilt von ankunfts- bis zum abreisetag als fahrausweis fur eine person und beliebig viele fahrten in tarifbereich Berlin Teilbereich ABC. Der Zimmerausweis ist nicht ubertragbat. Die Berechtigung ist gff. mit einem gultigen Lichtbildausweis nachzuweisen. Es gelten die berfoerderungbedinggunggen und tarifbestimmungen des germeinsamen tarifs der im verkehrsverbund Berlin Brandemburg zusammenwirkenden verkehrsunternehmen (VBB-Tarif) Google Translate: Valid from the day of arrival to the day of departure as a ticket for one person and any number of journeys in the Berlin tariff area, sub-area ABC. The room pass is not transferable. The authorization may be must be proven with a valid photo ID. The transport conditions and tariff regulations of the common tariff of the transport companies working together in the Berlin Brandemburg transport association (VBB tariff) apply berlin-s-u-schnellbahn-tarifbereich-abc.pdf

Hamburg - info dates from April 2024 In German: Gultig wahrend des umsteig angegebenen zeitraums zu beliebig vielen fahrten im HVV-Gesamtbereich (ringe A-E) Der Zimmer-ausweis ist nicht ubertragbar. die berechtigung is gff. mit einem gultigen lichbildausweisen. Er ist gultig von tag der ankunft bis zum tag der abreise (bis betriebsschluss). Google translate: Valid during the specified transfer period for any number of journeys in the HVV total area (rings A-E) The room ID is not transferable. the authorization is gff. with a valid photo ID. It is valid from the day of arrival to the day of departure (until closing time). Needless to say one of my plans involved a journey to zone F... hvv_tarifplan_ringe_a-h_geografisch.pdf

Next Dortmund (info current April 2024) This is one of the largest areas covered Dieser zimmerausweis gilt mit eingetragenen daten vom als ankunftstag als Fahrausweis fur eine person auf allen VVR-Verkehrsmitteln (2.klasse). Es gelten die Bestimmungeb des VVR-Tarifes. Der zimmerausweis ist nicht ubertragbar. Die berchtigung is ggf. mit einem gultiggen lichtbildausweis nachzuweisen. Weitere informationen erhalten Sie auf www.bus-und-bahn.de Google transflate This room pass is valid as a ticket for one person on all VVR means of transport (2nd class) with the data entered on the day of arrival. The provisions of the VVR tariff apply. The room pass is not transferable. If necessary, proof of the authorization must be provided with a valid photo ID. Further information can be found at www.bus-und-bahn.de Schienenschnellverkehrsplan.pdf

Starting with Dresden, information correct in April 2024 In German gilt als fahrausweis vom ankunftstag bis zum anreisetag in allen nahrverkehrsmitteln ausser bergbahnen - in der tarifzone Dresden. Translated by Google Valid as a ticket from the day of arrival to the day of arrival on all means of public transport except mountain railways - in the Dresden tariff zone Jon's comment - Unfortunately the Dresden tariff zone stops just short of getting you to the narrow gauge railways at Radebeul or Freital, but certainly covers all the trams and buses you might want to use to get around the city. Tarifzonenplan-mit-Liniennetz.pdf

As an aide-memoire to myself, and in case its useful to anyone else I thought I'd record what area's each city ticket covers, because the scope does vary quite widely.

Looks like there will be a few of us at Intermodelbau, that Dresden Dampfloktreffen is the weekend before meant I could do both, and then as it happens I decided to go onward to... Hamburg! Jon

My point is, that I don't think that the various scale gauge societies should *expect* to get space (or as much space as some of them got) without also bringing something to the exhibition visitors experience. And I totally agree with your point about helping/inspiring people take the next step - which is only likely to happen *if* they get the inspiration and engagement. The York show is clearly *trying* to do this, with a very large number of both societies and demo's, but I felt as I wandered round, that the they (or more accurately a number of those they had invited) had somewhat missed the target, and were in fact just 'making up the numbers'/'filling the space', which I'm sure isn't what YMRS intended to happen. Jon

Frankly that isn't a display , and in *my* opinion should be missed out entirely. If its not worth doing properly, don't bother at all, I certainly don't want to pay to see it! Whilst I totally take your point about individual societies controlling what they put on show, I think the show organisers are acting as 'curators', they should be assessing what is in their show, and making choices about the societies that they invite, and perhaps a bit of competition for the space available might improve whats shown? Jon

I didn't want to post this too soon after the show, because I thought what I saw was overall really good, and don't want to be discouraging, when so much effort had gone into organising, but I would encourage the organising team to have a review of the demo's and societies stands. I felt there was probably too many of both, but more importantly, some of these demo's and a lot of the society stands weren't offering very much to me as a paying visitor. I saw a lot of the top of some demonstrators heads who didn't seem to be looking up to interact with visitors very much. The Society stands were often just chatting with the others behind the stand or their mates. They also seemed to be 'all the usual faces' that I've seen at York before. The show has a relatively high proportion of demonstrators and stands, and I'd like to see a bit more 'value for money', both in terms of engagement with the public, and perhaps turnover or rotation, so that there is something fresh each time. There were of course exceptions, I learns a lot about tree making from Gordon, had an interesting chat with the chap making wagon loads, and the another doing resin casting, and Tony W didn't seem to stop talking all day whenever I passed by. I'd suggest halving the number of both, and alternating them so it isn't quite so repetitive. Inevitably the subject being demonstrated will play a big part of whether an individual is interested in interacting with the demonstrator, so perhaps I've only sat down with those who were showing something that was of interest to me? I usually make a weekend of York, spending a day at the show, a day at the NRM, and a couple of days at the local preserved railways, from home in SW London, so coming to the York show is quite an investment. Jon

its either a Roxey tool hut https://www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/product/492/4b4-sr-tool-hut/ or I think the SRG did some whitemetal huts, it might be one of those. Jon

here you go DS cowans sheldon 15t crane instructions.pdf

Yes, I doubt most of the retailers have had a chance to sell out, at least partly because I have heard a number of grumbles because some still haven't had their deliveries! Jon

three out of three that were seen at my model railway club last Tuesday didn't sit on plain track properly, so it does seem fairly common. Jon

there is a nice photo of a BR VIX ferry van in sidings at Bad Shandau on the German/Czech border probably late 1960's https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/EKT543AXEECE3NVOWHHMFEG3YLZ7P6VH Jon

on the RhB a meter gauge barrier wagon, common rail dual a motor coach on the Aare Seeland at Langenthal - these are use to haul standard gauge wagons on rollbocks, so have unusual asymmetric buffers that seem to offer the option of shunting standard gauge as both common rail and 4 rail, and consequently have two conventional hooks and a narrow gauge type as well, but I might be wrong about that.

common rail dual or 4 rail dual gauge? - it makes a difference to where your buffers are placed, although I'm only really familiar with Swiss prototypes Jon

For an interesting gallery of Italian wagons I would point you in this direction https://www.flickr.com/photos/alcoalbe/albums/72157626296398927/with/6907663136 Jon

Roxey do the SR cast fogmans hut, tool hut and platelayers hut in whitemetal https://www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/category/72/4mm-scale-lineside-accessories-by-roxey-mouldings/ Jon

Can anyone point me in the direction of plans/scale drawings for a goods shed somewhat in the style of the one seen in these pictures? Technically I need something Austrian, and probably a bit longer. A half-timbered with brick infilled panels might be suitable as well. Thanks Jon

The bogie is unique to the LT wagons, you could probably file the top plank and bolster spring from a Gambrian Gloucester Jon

I seem to recall the 1980's built bogie HW wagons had the unusual Gloucester bogies that are a bit like a Gloucester mkII but with resilient blocks to the bolster rather than coil springs- a bit like the bogies on this GP wagon. I might have a square on photo of one fitted to a GP or RW, but not an HW - what do you need it for? Jon

A lot of the trains you see on the Rhine route are effectively 'company trains', so will be loads of the same type to/from the same operators ship either in the Med or on the North Sea coast, so they aren't quote as mixed as you might imagine. The number of LKWalter blue trailers an swap bodies is noticeable, they come all their way from Italy across Switzerland and Germany to France or Belgium on rail, before being off loaded, to clutter up the motorways of Britain. Jon

As I understand it most soldering iron tips have some sort of hardened surface treatment that resist corrosion from flux, however once the hard surface has been breached, I have had several bits that eat away like I see in your photo - they can be dressed back to shape with a file, but that's only really a bodge whilst waiting for a new tip to be delivered. If your bit was new perhaps it managed to escape the hardening step? Certainly the solution should be new bit, not whole new iron. Jon