Dan Griffin

January 27

An update. It was the PCB that had gone faulty. I changed it for a Bachmann spare and everything now works as it should. So happy days.

January 22

Unfortunately it looks like my DCC sound 15xx is going back. The 1st one i had (1501) had a hideous stalling problem and couldn’t even manage to change direction on a straight piece of track without stalling, But the retailer (Trains4u, who have been fantastic) had no 1501’s left, so we swapped out another chassis off a plain black 1504, As i wanted to Keep the lined black livery with the intention of adding cylinder lining myself. However This has ran ok for the hour or so in each direction running in and now its dead. No sound, light or movement. It will occasionally jerk into life, do a quarter wheel turn, but then stops dead again.
a real shame. Considering how well my Thunderbolt (although original model went back due to stalling!) J70 tram and jacks green run, i’m genuinely surprised as to how poor the 15xx runs.

i think i’ll wait now for a second batch and hopefully the gremlins will have been sorted then.

January 22

On 21/01/2024 at 17:52, zoomer1979 said:

Personally, my table lamps are on a separate function from the general lighting. My F0 does the head lights, tail light and coach lighting and I have F9 for the table lamps on their own. I'm guessing you are on the Bachmann supplied DCC chips?

Neil.

Yes Bachmann chips as supplied in the unit. I have a feeling its the pcb. The coaches all work properly when connected to one power car, but the other 60090 seems faulty. I have had the decoders tested and its fine. I have ordered a pcb so will swap it over and see what happens. They are £18 from Bachmann so i’m not spending a fortune.

January 17

Hi, reviving the thread from the archives but i have just bought a Midland Pullman that seems to have a strange problem. Its the nankin blue dcc fitted version.

the unit is mint and has seen little to no use at all.

the power car A, 60090. Interior lights work. As do cab & head and tail lights. The table lamps however are a different matter. When F1 is selected nothing happens, when F1 is off they come on, but very very dim. There seems to be not enough power to them as the table lights in Cars B and C do not work, even though the interior ones do.

i have done a CV 8 to 8 programme but no effect. Other than the table lamp problem it runs and works as it should.

The other half of the unit works exactly as it should.

any advice? Or do i need a new pcb, which i can obtain from Bachmann.

thanks

dan

January 9

The whole thing just seemed so.. underwhelming. It lacked the ‘pizzazz’ of past announcements. There didn’t seem any enthusiasm from the guy presenting and just read the descriptions word for word was off putting. Maybe i’m just used to SK’s delivery but still.
and is it me or has every year for the past few years been ‘catch up year’?
Another thing, with the mid year announcements will stop me buying the catalogues now, same with Bachmann. Whats the point in spending a tenner on a catalogue in January of by April its out of date.

November 1, 2023

Sorry but £550 for a four car unit. £650 for DCC sound. They are pricing all but the most affluent people out of the hobby now with that.
However, The price for the Booster is very reasonable for a new tooling.

October 7, 2023

Hi all.

i have refurbished a Wrenn 08 Shunter. I have re magnetised the magnet using a Ronald Dodd machine, leaned it thoroughly and got it running.

however when i tested it, it seemed to run and then gradually slow down, so i pit it on my rolling road, and it ran fine for about 4 minutes then gradually stopped. After a minute or two it starts again. After prolonged running ( say 6-7 minutes) the metal chassis is warm (not hot) to touch.

has any else had this? And can anyone point me in the direction of a cure? I’d like to DCC fit this shunter as it has alot of sentimental value. But it needs to be performing better that it is before i do.

thanks

Dan

October 6, 2023

Hi all

when did regional railways branding & livery start appearing on 150/2 units? Replacing the ‘Sprinter’ logo?

i have a Reggie Rail Bachmann 150 & i’m contemplating masking the blue & stripes and painting the bodysides grey and adding Sprinter logos. This will save a full repaint.

thanks

Dan

September 13, 2023

Morning.

i have tried sending an order through to Shawplan via email (brian@shawplan.com) , but it keeps getting bounced back, Mailer Demon stating 'message unable to be delivered'.

does anyone have any advice, or an alternate way of contacting Shawplan? any help would be great, thanks

Dan

September 5, 2023

10 hours ago, DaveF said:

Benton Quarry Junction Class 55 up Aug 81 C5538

Evening Dave

this is 55017, identifiable by the filled in front step that only this deltic carried.

all the best

Dan

July 15, 2023

11 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

I presume that many of the excellent photos must have resided all these years in the Studiocanal archive, without the majority of enthusiasts being aware of their existence?

from what I've read so far, a local chap who was present during filming, took extensive photos behind the scenes of filming and the cast, and they were left to the author upon his passing, so the majority of the pictures are unseen & unpublished.

there are some fantastic pictures featured. Thunderbolt on its gauge clearing runs, filming the museum extraction scene & so on.

the 1 and only criticism i have, the beautiful illustrations of the film trains go over the fold in the page, which ruins them slightly. This is Unavoidable unless they were published smaller which would then loose some of the detail.

July 14, 2023

what an excellent book this is. really is top notch.

i have had mine a couple of days and already half way through. the content and pictures are brilliant.

thanks for you effort producing this. it is a fitting tribute to an excellent film.

July 14, 2023

22 hours ago, DaveF said:

Steamtown Hunslet 0-6-0ST 5th June 76 C2756

I've never seen a tank engine with a bowler hat on before. :-)

June 14, 2023

5 hours ago, Kaput said:

First thing to try is make sure DC running is disabled via CV29.

How do i disable CV29? What do i imput to disable it?

June 14, 2023

Hi

i have a Hornby class 60 fitted with a TTS sound chip. When i had a dynamis it worked perfectly. However, i have upgraded to a gaugemaster DCC 04 with walk around.

The 60 will not work properly now. The sounds work fine, but if the lights are on the loco will not move. With the lights off, works fine in both directions as does the sound. I have noticed that the lights will not come on once the loco is in motion.

What is going on?

I also have a 2nd 60 that will start and move off, but then will not respond resulting in a runaway. This one is fitted with a Bachmann 36-553.

both 60’s have been reset cv 8 to 8 but no joy.

all my other locos work fine, no issues.

why am i having problems with these 60’s? Can anyone shed any light.

June 2, 2023

33 minutes ago, VIA185 said:

It is advertised and 'previewed' in Steam World magazine each month as it is a Steam World publication. . Not sure it's in Steam Railway, too. (CJL)

yes there's a full page advert in Steam railway every month. after being uncertain about the advert for 'Never Again' and then being blown away y the quality of those books, this was a must have and i was not disappointed.

June 2, 2023

I have recently purchased 'Gavin Morrison Steam Photographer' after seeing the adverts in Steam Railway magazine.

This is a 200 page volume on good quality paper, and this book is worth every penny.

It is packed with both black and white & colour photograph's, all of which are high quality.

this has a place on the shelf next to 'Never again' and is an excellent read.

well worth it.

May 28, 2023

Hi all

I have recently purchased a Gaugemaster DCC 04 Wireless controller set up. But am having some trouble.

the base station works fine, as does the tethered handset.

The problem is with the wireless walkaround. The handset works fine, but it will not talk to the base station when the dongle is in place.

the handset is set to Cab1 and the switch on base unit is ‘cntrls 1-8’

Does the Dongle fit into the handset or the base station? I have tried with the handset and i cannot get it to connect.

any help it pointers would be great.

May 25, 2023

20 hours ago, RedgateModels said:

Sorry dan, forgot all about you. Here's what I do:

Firstly using a largish drill remove enough of the rivetted over brush guide to allow the front brush guide assembly (white plastic bit) to be removed

Drill out the remainder of the smaller hole in the front plate to match the larger original one (try not to damage the edge of the bearing like I did!)

Drill and tap the plate with suitable small screws to secure the brush guide assembly to the front plate - you could araldite it on, but I prefer a more mechanical arrangement.

Brushes are now isolated from the chassis and can be wired up for DCC

Thank you very much. This seems a lot simpler than trying to but the insulated parts from Germany. As no one ships to the uk! I’ll give it ago and see how i get on

May 22, 2023

Hi,

I have several Fleischmann locos, a Warship, a DB103 electric, and a couple of steam locos. They all have the same ‘silver seal’ type motor.
However the motor housing/brush plate is live.
is there any conversion kits, similar to the Hornby Conversions, or ways to easily convert these loco’s to DCC?

the plate that house brushes is live, will plastic screws isolate this?

thanks in advance.

Dan

May 14, 2023

Mystery solved! Quite by accident! The parts above come from the tops of Heljan Co-Bo bogies! I had fitted head code discs to the model and noticed when i put it back on the layout where they were. I bet they became loose when i took the body off to fit a chip. The body was very tight fit! At least i can stop checked all my rolling stock now!

May 14, 2023

With regard to the Polo mints and BR Arrows on the bodysides of class 92's. In late 2004, i was told by a fitter in Crewe Electric that they were cast as part of the bodyshell and were integral, and could not be removed, is this correct? if so have GBRf had to grind them off the bodysides? This has always made sense seeing as the exported 92's still carry BR arrows and Mints whilst powering around Romania etc.

i know the polo's on the EPS 37's were removable as i have seen some at auction before. But i've never seen any from a 92 for sale before.

Can they be easily taken off?

May 14, 2023

12 hours ago, Strathwood said:

Thank you for your response Kevin, however, it is unduly harsh in my opinion.

The way money is these days, if you had placed an order for over £60, for anything, and then had no update, despite trying after 7 working days, twice, would you not enquire? I had started to assume the worst, but not of Strathwood, of the courier services who have a habit of leaving parcels in full view outside the house, or indeed as one did, leave it in a bin that was clearly out on collection day!

"the public holidays that everyone else has been enjoying, I was forced to work during those holidays." I too have worked all the recent holidays, 70+ hours a week, Christmases included, so you have my sympathy there Kevin. i do appreciate the long hours company bosses put into their (your) work.

regardless when i ordered, bank holidays aside, i still waited 7 working days before phoning the warehouse. it is not as if i have posted, or phoned the next day 'demanding' an update, A simply 'we are awaiting stock' explanation or email would have sufficed as an update. It was clear having spoken to your staff at the warehouse they were aware of the out of stock items from when they picked the order up, so would a simple email to that effect be possible?

"we have given you both FREE postage & packing and a FREE book with an RRP of £28.95 for your £64.45 spend,"

This really is not relevant as its not an offer you have given me personally, this is open to all customers.

"to answer your questions publicly which you requested here"

writing a post on here was a last resort after going around in circles on the phone and after having sent a personally private message (since deleted as I have a 'public' response on here) which was not in the public domain. As mentioned i was told by your staff they would send it next day, and as nothing had shown up, enquiries have to be made.

"however you demanded a response Daniel as soon as possible"

This is wholly unfair and incorrect, if you read my initial post, at NO POINT have i demanded a response, what i actually said was 'any update would be appreciated'

"Is this really the worst customer experience? You have chosen a public forum to express yourself in"

Yes, with Strathwood, this IS the worst experience i have had. Having been buying books directly from yourself, either via online, or when you used to attend shows over the past 15 or so years, this is the only time i have had no update on an order, or had to contact the warehouse number in enquire about an order after 7 working days. Again, you say i have chosen a public forum, but as a last resort after getting nowhere.

Like i said in my initial post, an update was all that was needed, as one of the items was a gift for someone else.

thank you for your thorough response, even though it does come across as slightly harsh.

I too am back at work at 7am Monday for a long spell of 12 hour days, lets hope our respective working weeks are as hassle free as possible.

enjoy the rest of your weekend Kevin.

May 12, 2023

10 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

If you tag @Strathwood it will flag up that they've been mentioned.

Thanks, i didn't know i could do that.

May 12, 2023

Good evening.

i am posting this in the hope it gets somewhere with Strathwood.

i have been buying your books for years, directly from you, and i placed an order (worth over £65) almost two weeks ago, monies taken and then nothing.
I have messaged on here, to no response, and i have phoned the warehouse twice.

Yesterday on my second phone call i spoke to a very polite and apologetic lady who said one of the books on order was currently out of stock, fair enough, but she ensured me the rest would be sent via DPD for delivery today, as one book was a gift for someone else.

i have had nothing, no parcel or dispatch email.

In all the years i have bought from Strathwood this has to be the worst customer experience i’ve had. They are usually very good and fast delivery.

Are there bigger issues going on at the warehouse? Or have i just copped an unlucky order?

i do have a couple of questions though,
firstly why promise a next day delivery if thats not going to happen, and second, why does the website allow books to be bought if they are not in stock?

i do still want what i have ordered but i feel like i’m going around in circles trying to get a straight answer.

any update would be appreciated

regards

dan

Profiles

Forums

Blogs

Gallery

Events

Exhibition Layout Details

Store

Posts posted by Dan Griffin