Rhubarb Loop

Thanks, Jerry. I'm looking forward to it... and the sunshine! Alex

Simon, Has the date of this year's extravaganza been revealed yet? 😇 I work 1 in 3 weekends, so I might need to start arranging a swap sooner rather than later. Alex

Butley Mills! This sounds too good to miss. It’s good to hear that Hepton Wharf and Longeood Edge has a safe future. Are the whereabouts or demise of Roque Bluffs (P87) and Woolverstone (P4) known? Alex

It was featured in Your Model Railway magazine, March 1986.

Hi Mark, Thank you so much for the update. It's always a pain when real life gets in the way of far more important activities like model railways! One thing I forgot to ask... I stumbled across your layout while I researched CBUS for my next project. I'm gradually getting my head around it all. Presumably the "relay boards" for the electro magnets are just the MERG "U-RLY Universal Relay Mounting PCB" (Kit 921) kits or similar? Cheers, Alex

Can we have another update please Mark? I need to see some more neat wiring photographs to feed my addiction! Cheers, Alex

What a beauty Nigel!

By complete coincidence, today I've discovered a number of Peter Gray's photographs available to buy online. http://www.transporttreasury.com/p1033857966/ea968c9b3 Maybe a large scale print and a magnifying glass would reveal the detail you're after? Cheers, Alex

In "Railway Scenes From The Past: 19 - Railways In And Around Newton Abbot And Torbay" by C. R. Potts there is a marvellous photograph captioned: Assuming everyone's understanding of the allocations are correct, the train is formed thus: Hall Class 4-6-0 No. 4934 Hindlip Hall DW3 Bogie Match Truck Crane No. 3 Ransomes & Rapier 36-Ton DW3A Match Truck / Crane Tender / Weight Tender (sheeted) DW8 Match Truck Crane No. 8 Cowans Sheldon Standard 15-Ton –Mk2 Swan-necked Jib Four Wheel Riding Van BR Standard Brake Van 5101 Class 2-6-2T No. 5183 It's a superb photograph and well worth tracking down if you haven't already seen it. I was wondering, does anyone have any details about the little 2 axle mess coach? Presumably it was part of Newton Abbot's Breakdown Train. It's quite a clear photograph so assuming there were no early shenanigans and it's an ex GWR passenger vehicle I should be able to work out which diagram of carriage it was in its earlier life. If it did end up at Didcot, is it this one perhaps? http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=64 Cheers, Alex

Hi James, Except perhaps some old siding it would all be flat bottom. Maybe I missed it but what was your objection to using PECO? I’d have thought their Code 55 concrete plain track ( https://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3309,3310&CAT_ID=3315&P_ID=17117 ) and Code 55 turnouts ( e.g. https://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3309,3310&CAT_ID=3315&P_ID=17103 ) would suit your needs admirably. If prototype fidelity is essential then FiNetrax is probably the way to go. But with those curves and ambitious staging yard I’d certainly rule out 2mm Finescale. Alex

I wasn't born until 1983 so I'll admit my knowledge of the 1980's Thames Valley scene is limited. I've tried looking for photographs online, but I'm currently limited by work internett access (can't get Flickr etc.), however my gut feeling was that concrete bearer turnouts would have been incredibly rare in 1989. All the junctions on the Thames Valley would have been re-modelled in the 1960's when the panel box schemes (Slough 1963, Reading 1965 and Old Oak 1967) were done. Concrete bearers for turnouts, as far as I'm aware, didn't become prevalent until the 1990's so probably featured in the Slough IECC resignalling and closure of Old Oak Panel in the mid 1990's at the earliest. Based on what I've read about your project so far. If I were you I'd go for PECO timber points and concrete plain track and stick to N gauge. As others have said it would be an ambitious project in 2mm Finescale and I think if PECO track is well laid, painted and the layout presented at a suitable height you'll find it suitable for the intense operation recreation of a Western mainline you desire. Cheers, Alex

Insanely good Richard!

It seems Nigel is already ahead of you Jerry. Not sure how this quote will appear but I found Nigel's initial post lurking in the "What's on your 2mm Work bench" thread... The Fowler 2P comment was more tongue and cheek because to my Western eyes I can never tell the two apart. Though, if the reverser is the only obvious difference in our scale (presumably aside from dome and chimney) my eyes aren't as bad as I first thought... Alex

My knowledge of all things Midland, and especially the relationship between the MR Johnson '483' Class and LMS Fowler 2Ps is always a bit sketchy. 40505 and 40509 would haven been 483's would they not? Presumably a Fowler 2P kit will be following after you've done all this hard work? Alex

Nigel, Very interested indeed! I'm a bit late to the party on this one, are you test building a future kit? Cheers, Alex

Well, The linked article suggests: VR1 - 10K TR1 - Any small signal or general purpose NPN such as 2N2222A, BC107, BC109 TR2 - NPN power transistor capable of handling at least 3A and 20V such as TIP31A, TIP31C, TIP41A or 2N3055 F1 - one amp fuse as some basic overload protection I've tried looking on the Maplin and RS Components for a 10KΩ potentiometer and matching knob, not as easy as I thought. I'm sure we used to use ones like these https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/10k-andohm-miniature-log-single-gang-potentiometer-jm77j all the time when I was at school and there were matching knobs to go with it. I'm looking for something more visually appealing than a bare wire and crocodile clip really, appearance is just as important as function. Ideally a panel mounted knob and direction switch with electrical gubbins hidden out of sight. If the circuit above will actually vary the current (which would hide faults) would I be better old fashioned rheostat controller, perhaps the Hammant and Morgan Minipack?! Cheers, Alex

Ah, thanks guys! Armed with a couple of searchable terms I came across this basic controller design... From this article -> http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-controllers-for-DC-motors-inc-PWM-inertia/ I'm guessing that should do the trick nicely? Presumably an analogue ammeter would be useful. Would one such as this http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/analogue-panel-ammeters/0244834/ do the trick if inserted prior to the direction reversing switch? Thanks for you help so far! Alex

Hi guys, I'm looking for a basic controller with no fancy feedback or the similar to build into a fixed locomotive testing rig / rolling road etc. I'm lead to believe that with no feedback it won't hide any tight spots. Any suggestions, perhaps something from a start set that can be picked up cheaply on eBay? Cheers, Alex

Hopefully it's just a temporary glitch but I keep getting "The webpage cannot be found" when trying to visit their website http://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/ ?

Tom, The other thing which you may or may not have spotted already is that often the top of the boiler isn't actually polished because the cleaners can't reach without a little more effort. The effect shows quite clearly in your photograph of the prototype. Cheers, Alex

Jerry, Did you ever solve the problem of the Hymek bogies and body being on a different agenda? Alex

Appolgies if this has been discussed elsewhere but why the change of scale? Is the pannier just a little folly or are there greater layout ambitions?! Alex

No booked "emergency locomotives" on either the DBS run Torbay Express or WCR Weymouth trips. The 47 on the Weymouth stock is just to assist in shunting and on the date you travelled I think it went on the Loco Spur (between Platforms 5 / 7). Alex (Signalman Bristol Panel)

I'd also be interested I reading more about this layout. Surely it was in the Railway Modeller at some point? Alex

Fantastic as always!