Theakerr

In some ways i am finding that the advent of superior RTR models is actually spurring my interest in kit building, detailing, improving my skills to match the improved quality of the RTR and other methods of adding uniqueness. For example, i have just purchased a set of coal hoppers to run behind my soon to arrive Hornby 01. As received they were much of a muchness. So all have been re-weathered, the underframes "blacked" to represent coal dust, the wheels painted, new coal added, etc. Now pretty well every hopper is different. As high quality RTR models that were specific to where i am modelling have arrived I have become much more interested in getting my layout to be more typical rather than generally representative. Hence I have started building single bolster wagons and will soon start on a proper LNER bogie bolster wagon. Also, my generic card model based station is soon to be replaced by a model that is much more representative of a real station.

Really enjoyed the video. Thanks

FYI, I always understood a K3 was a known as a "Tango" on account of their rough ride

Hi JCL, I just noticed where you live. My son (Roger John) also lives in Fernie and is into Mountain Biking, Skiing. He works the Bar at one of the local hotels (next to the Crysler Dealer). I grew up in Grimsby and my 1st wife came from Louth. When we were courting our Saturday night activity was driving to the various country pubs within about a 40 mile radius of Louth, so it is almost certain we would have found some of the pubs in Wainfleet. I now live in Deep River ON and have an OO layout based on the Grimsby to Boston Line although I cheat and have A4s, A1s and A3s running. Maybe we can meet up next year when we do our annual visit.

I would suggest that one area you might find interesting for your program is why there is a relatively large number of expats who model British out-line. So m uch so that both north America and Australia (New Zealand?) have their own Associations (BRMNA and BRMA). I suppose an interesting corollary might be why there are a number of UK residents modelling overseas prototypes (NA primarily)

My memory from "cabbing" the horse boxes when they came into the yard was that the entire interior was a dark maroon. The wall painted and the seat, if you could call it that, a dark maroon cloth. The groom who travelled with the horse was pretty low on the totem pole so no luxuries for him.

Very nice. Reminds me a bit of Peterborough North which has to be a positive testament to what you are doing. Will be watching to see how it progresses. Also makes me glad I decided to stay with DC though.

I dont know what it is with the DJH motor and gear box system. but i have to agree with TW. They just seem to run quieter/better than the alternatives I have tried. I had a Little Engines J11 and a Craftsman A5. I started out with Anchoridge open frame motors and tried Porterscap, but both always ran rough and noisy. Then I came across a comment from TW that described the problem with my J11 to a tee. Changed to a 50:1 DJH and without doing anything else it became a really sweet runner. Duplicate story for the A5. I am currently building a chassis for a Bachman J39. I will start with a Portescap motor since I have a spare (see above), but I suspect I will be ordering a DJH set-up.

Mallard 60022, I really do have to agree with you. I follow this thread pretty well everyday whereas I tend to follow others rather sporadically. I also have found that it does inspire me to do just that little bit more. I just wish some of the changes I would now like to make did not involve such a major change to my layout. Whilst I do not model the ECML, my layout is based on the ER with an attempt to model a bit of Grimsby, a bit of Lincoln and a bit of the Grimsby to Boston line (which of course ended up in Peterborough) and I do it as though the proposal to upgrade the line from Doncaster through Grimsby to Peterborough to reduce the ECML traffic, especially freight, had gone ahead. This allows me to run A4.s A3, etc. On top of this Peterborough, was a changing point when I used to go up to London with my father and to visit my Grandparent in Chatteris. So Peterborough North brings back many nostalgic memories to an ex-pat.

For some reason I have missed this thread before, so I have really enjoyed the last 20 mins reading it. BR E is my interest having spent most of my younger years at Grimsby. So from time to time I did pass through Grantham.

Some-one had posted a link to U-tube clips of someone in the US doing exactly the same thing except for the induction charging. Thought I had it bookmarked but I dont. Having a DC system i am really interested in how this works out since it will, if I understand things correctly, do some DCC type playing without all the cost of a complete conversion

While doing some research for my layout, I came across a picture (Eastern Steam in Colour by Hugh Ballantyne) that might (or might not) be appropriate to model since it is a little unusual. Specifically a WD 2-8-0 on a 4 coach Mk1 maroon passenger train in May 1962. It is described as being on the down ECML at Werrington troughs north of Peterborough so one has to assume it came through or started at Peterborough North. I would try to post the picture but I am not sure of the copywrite issues.

Bit of useless history. My Dad and I used to catch the 06:00 stopping train from Grimsby at New Waltham, get off at Louth, have a coffee (sorry tea in those days), wait for the 07:00 semie express (stopped at Willeby, Firsby, Boston and Spalding) to Peterborough and then non stop to Kings Cross. Less frustrating than the all stopper you reference. This practice gteed a seat at Peterborough and there was a restaurant car so we could have a "proper" breakfast on the train.

Re Double Headers. 40 km is not that far. As I remember Aberfoyle is close to 30 km from the start point and that always gets a lot of visitors. With the quality of your layout, I think you might be surprised.

Re the unadvertised up Grimsby to Kings Cross, it is all part of the greater plan to show an absence of riders so that the line Grimsby to Boston can be closed. Seriously, it actually happened to me. I was going back to Grimsby from Kings Cross and I knew that there was a 17:30 (cannot remember exact time) but when i went to confirm the Platform # it wasn't showing at all. Asked about the train to Grimsby and was told the routing was the York train change at Grantham for Lincoln and Grimsby. Went over to Platform 11(I Think) where my normal train left from. There was a train there so I asked the Guard where it was going to - Grimsby and Cleethorpes. The local paper printed several other similar incidents. Dirty Tricks - your guess.

Do you ever take part in the Double Header Tours? I live up near Ottawa and I do sometime get down for the DH Tours although this year it is The Great British Train Show.

Not much to say except FANTASTIC. Really appreciated the video.

I had to go back to make sure this was EM, not O. The detail in those coaches is incredible. Nothing else to be said

To make my Springside lamps a little weathered I dip my thumb and forefinger in black weathering powder and roll the lamp between them. Often happens naturally when I am drilling out the hole.

To follow up on my previous post, I did shorten the front bogie spring on one of B1's and at the same time put some graphite powder onto the bogie axles. There is an improvement. I can pull at least two extra coaches without it slipping. As I understand it Bachmann have not upgraded the front bogie on the new version chassis, so this remedy will apply to them.

Thanks 34theletterbetweenB&D Interesting info on split chassis front bogie. In general 9 coaches meets my needs so I had not experimented any further but your comments are good to know, appreciated and will be the subject of an investigation this weekend. Also good to know that there is some room in the new chassis since over time (and as the old split chassis's wear out) I will replace the chassis's on my detailed older models.

Back to practical questions!. I can remember the B1,s pulling 13/14 coach trains. My current Bachmann B1 manages to pull 9 close coupled and gangwayed Hornby Gresleys on a nominally level circuit. I read on one post that the pulling power of the Bachmann B1 seems to be down on the new chassis. Does anyone have pulling numbers for either or (or both) the new Bachmann and the Hornby? Also, does anyone know if it is possible to add extra weight.

For a number of reasons I use insulfrogs throughout my layout. As i pointed out on the paired Bachmann B1 thread, I have had to put tender pickups on all my B1's (and J38's). If Hornby have tender pick-ups that will be the decider for me. By the way, my track is very clean (that will mean something to someone)

Re drilling the Springside lamps, I also put a small indent with a micro point from a filed down mini screwdriver. I find my fingers are the best medium to hold the lamps since I do less damage to the lamps although I have put a drill into my finger a couple of times. Doesn't hurt much but it does seem to bleed a bit. Note I do keep my tetanus shot up to date

Very Nice