Badger boy

Hamburger - many thanks for your helpful and comprehensive reply.

Hi - dabling in DCC sound for the first time and have got a Loksound 5 decoder and would appreciate a bit of help please (Neil from Wheeltappers away at the moment so thought I'd try here) 1. There is about a one second delay between the loco moving and the 'chuff' starting - is there a cv to adjust this delay ? 2. Is there a single CV to adjust the volume of the random sounds ? 3. Am I correct in assuming that after changing volume cv's CV31 and CV32 should be changed back to their default value ? (tried looking in the Loksound manual but must admit most of it goes way above my head) Many thanks in anticipation

Thanks all for your helpful input. I like the idea of an ex keepers cottage as I quite fancy the look of the Metcalfe gardeners cottage which along with the crossing gates etc should make a nice scenic detail. I'll put a pw hut on the other side of the crossing so I think that covers all bases.

Hi Stationmaster I did think about moving the signal box next to the crossing as as you say that would be logical - this would put it about 70yds from the first point (into the goods yard) but thought in real life it may cause visibility problems in fog etc but maybe that's not a factor.

Thanks becasse for your reply - understand about the need for interlocking but can you briefly explain what running shunts are please ? I have a couple of spare huts so would like to keep the porter dry ! Thanks Joseph for your comment - can't change the track layout so that bit will have to be covered by rule one ! As an aside the hand opened gate crossing at Brundall (right next to the platform) was until very recently operated by a man in a brick built hut right next to it - don't know if he was a proper signalman and if there was any other signalling equipment in there but there was a signal box a bit further up the line at a junction.

I'm considering having a level crossing with gates for a country road over a single line approach to a BLT. The crossing would be approx. 100yds scale distance from the station signal box. I'm assuming that the gates would not be opened by the signalman ( or would they ?) so in these circumstances would a crossing keepers cottage be realistic or would something along the lines of Lambourn with a crossing keeper's hut manned at short notice by a junior station staff member just before the train was due be more likely? I want to try and keep as close as possible to prototype practice. The layout is set in the 1950's with Southern Region influence. Many thanks.

Hi - thanks Nigel and Robert that all makes sense. I did wonder about Hornby's reply as the sheet that came with the Hornby decoders did not have CV19 shown in the list of CV's.

I am starting to use a prodigy express2 controller and am having problems making up a 'consist' with locos fitted with Hornby decoders (R8249's). No problems setting up a consist with Bachmann decoders. I have 4 locos fitted with Hornby and none will consist either with each other or with a Bachmann fitted loco. I used to have a Digitrax Zephyr controller and Hornby decoders would consist with no problems. I have contacted Hornby who state that R8249 decoders support CV19 (consist) and am awaiting a call back from Gaugemaster. I have tried resetting all decoders to default (CV8 = 8) but it makes no difference. It also seems unlikely that all 4 Hornby decoders have suddenly failed so I'm thinking that the problem lies with the Prodigy Express2 ? Any thoughts /suggestions would be most welcome as I'm losing the will to live !