Suzie

Eckon signals are designed as 'common cathode' unlike all the other makes of signals and the resistor is intended to be wired in series with the negative connections of the LEDs. The four aspect and those with feathers will have extra 'common' connections that have their own resistor so that only one LED is using a resistor at a time to ensure even illumination. They don't draw much current, typically only 10mA or less per LED so a simple 12V 1A 'wall wart' type power supply will run a hundred signals. If you are just going to use switches connecting the common wires via the resistors to the negative terminal of the power supply, and connecting the positive terminal of the power supply to the switch common will be fine, but if you intend to have some automatic operation in the future you might like to adjust the wiring as most DCC decoders will expect you to have common anode signals.

The trick to making this work is to power the whole section below 'B' as a reversing section. The simple answer will be to power it via an auto-reversing booster, but if you don't have too much on that section you could possibly use a simple electronic auto-reverser. But, I would just use a double pole switch that works in conjunction with point B to change the polarity of the track below point B. Some motors have a double pole switch, like the Peco PL15. Wire point B so that it has insulated joiners in the outer rails at the frog end, and you do not need isolated joiners on the frog (both frog rails are always at the same potential). As long as point B is set correctly you will be able to drive straight through.

If it has a 6-pin socket then it will only need a 2-function decoder. If it has an 8-pin socket, then it is very unlikely to need more than a 2-function decoder. If it has a 21-pin socket it is still most unlikely to need more than a 4-function decoder, but if you have a choice why not plug in a 4-function decoder and see if it works - if it does not try a 6-function decoder. With the 21-pin socket there are two types of decoder where the higher functions might be logic level or full voltage so it is not straightforward. Zimo for example have decoders for both versions - MS440C (or anything else with a 'C' suffix) with logic level and MS440D (or anything else with a 'D' suffix) with full voltage. With the other sockets (which are a lot better) there is a good chance that any decoder you plug in will operate all possible functions.

Yes, change the bulbs for LEDs because the bulbs will melt everything around them! Express Models do a nice lighting kit which will be easier to fit before everything gets melted..

Another interesting tower from Colchester. This one is at the hythe and tall presumably to allow galleons to pass underneath. All of the other lines (33KV and 25KV train supply) go under the river, only the 132KV goes over. It is unusual having floors both in the tower and on the arms.

To get operators get used to the idea you have to think of the two ends of the fiddleyard as the two ends of the line, operating both ends together becomes a bit less intuitive then. Have a track diagram that goes in a straight line rather than an oval helps, and having the local controls for the two ends of the fiddleyard 30' apart helps a lot too. Probably harder to do when you have a fixed operating position, but when the operators are walking around while driving it all becomes a bit more straightforward. I just need to get the operators used to switching the track isolators off before driving in to the fiddleyard!

Any service that is fewer than two trains a minute will result in comments like "nothing going on here" With a club layout there is a constant battle between the "Shunters" that want to leave a couple of wagons on the main for half an hour while they shunt, and the few of us "Exhibitors" who want to put on a show. Service frequency, and the infrastructure to allow it (like being able to change the points seperately at each end of the fiddle yard) are key to putting on a show. As much as I love to see a whole load of near identical trains with subtle differences this is for an operating session and not for the exhibition where the customers are going to want to see variety that reflects maybe a whole decade of operation!

There are two rods, one going up each side of the tower, you can see them in the picture as they are fatter than the corners with cross pieces to suport them. One side appears to have an operating lever rather like the ones used on 11KV poles, but on the other side the operating rod appears to end suggesting that the lever has been 'borrowed'. Looking at the lower wire on the far side it appears to not have a connection, so I wonder if both circuits are in use, or if the disconnectors have been bypassed. I am sorry that the picture is not very good. I will try and get a better one.

Here is the termination adjacent to the B1022 where the line from Colchester dips under Birch Airfield. The B1022 loops nicely round it for a good view, sorry photo is a bit fuzzy. Just before is an isolating tower which looks like it might not be used much now since one of the operating rods does not appear to be all there! Not seen one of these anywhere else so it might be a bit rare. And a more recent addition I guess where the line dips under the Great Eastern at Feering made of wooden poles - quite a contrast to the 1940s structures. Presumably this was done because of clearance issues with the 1959-1962 25KV electrification work. This is adjecent to the A12.

Bang road is 4-aspect - but the blocks are longer. There are several places on the A12 where you can see the single yellow and double yellow distants. I have yet to see any of them show green.

Just use the +5V as common, that is the way it is done.

Best not to leave anything that is irreplaceable in an electric vehicle when unattended. The likelyhood of fire is pretty low, but it is quite random when compared to faulty petrol cars.

Some of the class 321s had a 'P' suffix on the unit number denoting where the parcel area was. I often had to attend red star offices to empty the accumalated brake dust out of the very old computers which often stopped working because the heat sinks got buried and they over heated, or more often the floppy disk drives (that they booted from) got too dusty. Red Star offices must have been the most unhealthy places to work with about a quarter of an inch of dark grey dust coating the floor in every office.

I have experience of using all of the connectors mentioned so far so have real world experience. The only ones I could recommend without question are the Speakon. Cheap, easy to use (both plugging in and wiring) and extremely rugged. The matching 4-way 25mm^2 flexible speaker cable won't go in any of the other connectors. Yes, you can get some good XLR connectors, I would recommend that you go for a known brand such as Neutrik to be sure of having something that does not fall apart. Can get 1.5mm wire in to the 3-pin connectors, the connectors with more pins have smaller pins. One nice feature of XLR is that pin 1 connects first which can be handy if you have a common wire. Again, 'D' connectors can be very good if you go for a good make, but you might need to double up the wires for a DCC bus since it is hard to get wires bigger than 16/02 on the pins. The GX plugs can break, the plugs have parts made from thin metal which can snap if the wires are not properly secured, and it can be hard to get suitably fat wires in especially when using the high number of pins versions. I am glad that no one has mentioned DIN plugs... For your track bus try and think beyond the normal DCC running current of 5A or 10A or whatever - you need to consider fault current and make sure that you have a low enough impedance so that any short is detected very quickly and any resulting spikes are properly dissipated around the layout. DCC is not DC, it is a very dynamic environment with much more power available for short periods of time that need to be considered. Some DCC decoders are very immune to voltage spikes, some might get corrupted and need to be reprogrammed, and some will let out magic smoke at the earliest opportunity. Don't be let down by connectors that are not designed for the type of environment that is a DCC model railway.

There are lots of things to break on an XLR when used on a portable layout. I guess that some are good, the best 3-pin XLR is good for 15A, but you find that in use the retaining latch release levers come off (making it hard to disconnect the plug!) and sometimes the plastic insets come out of the sockets. You can't get very big wires in either the plugs or sockets. Yes, XLR can be handy for DC where you need the extra pins, use thin wire, and don't need the high current - but are not ideal for your DCC bus when better alternatives are available. The 'aviation' connectors are more suited for audio applications. You will normally find them used to plug in a microphone or headset. They are a bit better than a DIN plug but are not suitable for putting a lot of current through.

Speakon are cheaper, more rugged, and higher current than XLR - and fit in the same cutout. They are good for 40A so no real need to double up, but you can!

Bear in mind that servos typically pull about 900mA when operating, so make sure that your black and red wiring for the 5V supply will take the15A or so that will be drawn when you power up without sagging.

A dumping ground for all the engine making bits of the businesses ready for an orderly shutdown. Makes sense having a reduced range of IC powertrains for use across the entire range of vehicles. It will help other makers too - look under the bonnet of a small Mercedes Citran van and you will see a Renault engine already...

If you use good quality connectors and good wiring then link the boards with plugs and sockets. I would recommend the use of 'Speakon' connectors which are quite inexpensive and very good quality. You can get matching 2.5mm^2 speaker cable in 2-core and 4-core to make the jumper cables and underboard wiring. They are available in 4-pin and 2-pin variants so you can have your DCC track bus and an auxiliary supply as well. I have used bothe methods and there is probably just as much work doing it either way, but the simple jumper cables between boards is a lot neater.

I changed to a new tarrif with EON that required me to have a smart meter. Not a problem for me as the although the gas meter is outside the electricity meter is very hard to read and I was fed up of having to read it. Of course they kept nagging me to arrange an installation, which was tricky because I had to arrange a day off of work so that I could empty out the garage so that they could get to it and I needed a van to put all the stuff from the garage in in case it rained! So, I got it all arranged and booked to appointment. On the alloted day I duly emptied out the garage in anticipation of the meters arriving, and I waited until four in the afternoon. By that time I thought it was getting a bit late so I telephoned to see what was happening. "Oh, if they are not there yet they won't be coming today. Did they not telephone to tell you why they are late?" Of course no one had telephoned. No one came, so I put all the stuff back in the garage. Next day I telephoned to see what had gone wrong. "Why did no one come?" "Oh, we are very sorry. I don't know what happened." "How do I get my £30 compensation for you not turning up?" "Don't worry that is automatic." Very irritating but I waited a week and no compensation, so I phoned again. "You failed to arrive at the appointed time to fit my smart meters, and I have still not got my £30 compensation, so how do I get it and the additional £30 compensation for net compensating me within seven days?" "Oh, very sorry about that. I will look in to it." lots of hold music... "I will have to pass you over to the manager." "Oh. Very sorry. The compensation will be paid automatically." I wait until the next bill, and in the mean time receive another harressing e-mail to have a smart meter installed. The bill comes, no mention of compensation, and no money in my bank. I phone again. "Oh. Very sorry. I will have a look to see what has happened. Oh. I see you did book an appointment, but we had to cancel it as we do not have a smart gas meter suitable for your medium pressure supply." "I have several questions. 1. Why are you harrassing me to have a smart meter installed when you cannot supply one, 2. Why did you not tell me you had cancelled the appointment, 3. Wh when I telephoned did no one know that no one was going to turn up or that the appointment had been cancelled. 4. Why did you not just install the electricity meter when I don't care about the gas meter as it is outside and you can read it any time you like." "You can book an appointment to just have an electricity smart meter - would you like me to book one for you?" "No. I don't have any holiday left. I have already wasted one day waiting for you to come.... < extended rant here> and why did you not tell me it was cancelled?" "We sent you a text message to cancel the appointment." "No you didn't. I have my phone here, and there are no text messages from you." "Yes we did." "But I want my compensation" "We cancelled the appointment so there is no compensation." "But you did not notify me. I got no e-mail, no leter, and definitely no text message." I was clearly getting nowhere, but at least someone knew what was going on. ...Three months later I had to test a new phone so I put my SIM card in the new phone, and then put it back in my phone. Beep. Beep... lo and behold 37 text messages come through all at once including one from EON telling me I had booked an appointment to have a smart meter fitted, and one sent an hour later cancelling the appointment! There is no rhyme or reason why these messages had been delayed since I had recieved other messages in the mean time. They keep harassing me with telephone calls and e-mails - but I have no confidence that anyone will turn up and I know they will not pay the stated compensation for not turning up, and customer service is utterly useless, and communication is non existent unless it is for harrasment purposes. How can you run a business relying on text messages as the primary and only means of communication - A lot of people don't use text messaging at all, and it is clearly not anything like reliable. They can send e-mails for harrasment purposes but not for meaningful communication - they can make harrassing phone calls but cannot make critical phone calls. They can send you a confirmation that they are coming on the website even though they know that they have not got suitable equipment to install. They have call centre staff who have no access to any information whatsoever! Probably the most incompetent organisation I know of.

As others have said my 86s run fine on Peco code 75 track. I have re-wheeled some of them with Ultrascale but the pulling power is considerably reduced - they need a lot of weight.

If you put 12V on the 'L' and 'M' terminals ('L' = '+' and 'M' = '-') the LED will light, and whatever colour you see is the colour of the LED that is fitted to the panel. It does not change colour.

So, do we have a modelling compatible estate car yet like an electric Volvo 960? Any car with a nice 6' x 4' x 2' load space that we can put a packed up layout in would be jolly handy. I had to get rid of the Volvo because it was petrol/LPG and only did twenty to the gallon (and the LPG was useless - you think finding a working charger is hard - try finding a working LPG pump!), I now have a Mercedes E-class estate that does around fifty five to the gallon on a long run, but it is a bit diddy by comparison to the Volvo with about half the load space (4' x 3' x 2'). I am thinking that a Tesla Model X might have a bit of room, but I am not sure how the space works, turning up at the showroom with a van full of layout might not go down well. I think my budget is really only going to run to second hand, so that will cut down my choice a bit more I guess.

I am often puzzled by this short run of pylons in Colchester, probably about half a mile from the substation (close to the former power station site) to where it goes underground. It starts at the 132KV substation with five insulators. Then in the middle of the run goes down to four insulators And at the end only has three insulators. Is the current so high that the voltage drops from 55kV at the start to 33kV at the end? I suspect these structures date back to the 1930s because there are similar structures nearby that appear to have been built to take a section under an airfield built during the war.

Leicester had semaphores in 1982 which surprised me at the time.