Clifford Road

Hi Claggy, Good to see your back, even if your only dabbling at the moment .... Oh the sound of 114 climbing up there on the ballast! Lol! I must admit, my interest has been there in abundance lately, only problem is so has work!!! However, finally managed to get a couple of hours with the video camera over the weekend, and filmed Clifford Road a little for the first time (08 and 20s feature on it - saving the LL 37 for the next installment!!) - just added it to my topic. Must say it came out really really well. Perhaps something around that kind of thing may work, its hands on, completely different, and if you don't like it you simple erase the tape and haven't spent any money!!! Welcome back anyway - your route knowledge must go far and wide these days! Rich

Happy New Year PCM! Looks good Peter. I prefer the large logo livery on 47s, personally, but there's something about your model that seems to give it an edge over the normal all over blue 47s! Rich

Hi Gary, Happy New Year to you! Well 1930s LMS in 7mm sounds good to me! Its not quite blue and grey with the hearty throb of an EE power unit, but its not far off! Everybody seems to start developing resistance to going O gauge when they see that Large Logo 37! With most they must get good at it, as the resistance (or is it the lock on the wallet??) works! But the odd one or two win through and take the plunge! Doing Clifford Road really has taught me that you don't need a huge space for O gauge to be able to achieve a lot, something i'd never grasped previously. I've never exhibited a layout before (have plenty of experience of watching many of them from the spectator side) but I think i'd love to in the future ..... Although CR is definitely a stay-at-home beast ... mainly because the layout framework (which is securely bolted to the wall!) means its a solid 13ft baseboard ... try getting that in a van! ..... Back the HGV this way Mr Stobart! But given your skills I think an O gauge layout would be a superb project and a good draw at exhibitions (esp if you went 1980s like Glenuig) .... if you were open to operators i'd happily volunteer! Now ... never mind the sketch book and tape measure .... find the pencil and rubber first! Having said all that, I love Glenuig though! I see something new in the photographs almost everytime I look at them! Rich

Hi Leon, Its a while since i looked at your layout ... to be honest I lost the thread and couldn't remember the name! Then I saw a post of yours on another thread and hey presto, found you again! Your layout is really looking superb .... from my occasional visits to Cardiff and the odd official wander around Tidal yard, its really true to form! Well done ... and premier traction too! Class 37s! Rich PS Love the grass around the buffer stops!

Hi Gordon, Sorry to hear that - I thought things had gone quiet given the quantity of previous posts. I echo Derek's comments and wish you a speedy recovery and all the best for the New Year. You must be in double pain - that from the back and frustration of not being able to do anything ... not good - get well soon. Rich

Hi Gary, Well if Chris has done the pictures, it will be a superb article! I'll look out for that .... were you approached or did you put it forward? - well done either way! Over Haddon is superb! What a contrast from pre-1948 LMS to post-1980 BR! Think i still prefer the Sulzer and EE motive power lol! But the standard of Over Haddon does you proud! Well done mate. Rich

Hi Gordon, Just been reading through the 14+ pages of the thread ... Great work! How have things moved on since early November? The stone walls look so realistic! Well done. Rich

Hi Gary, How are things progressing on Glenuig .... hope all is still running to time and not too badly affected by the recent dustings of snow! Rich

Hi Pete, Are you making any progress with this? or have the demon's struck and pulled you back to 2mm again .... think 7mm good, 2mm bad lol! Seriously, am keen to hear any progress your making, plus how are you getting on with switching between 7mm and 2mm? Doesn't it make 2mm modelling even harder? Rich

Ah! Now your talking!!!! Superb shot ... i can hear them whistling away from here! Yes my pair will be heading down to Springburn for the Christmas break - some BR red tape has stopped the crew training move .... a lot of rubbish if you ask me, just because they've no numbers to identify them! Pah!!! So anyway I gather the works odd-job guy has been sent to B&Q for some stickers and they are to be attached over Christmas, before returning to Clifford Road before New Year hopefully for crew training to recommence!!!! I've not had any issues with buttons as yet on my system and know a couple of people who are Digitrax and they are ok too. The only downside I would say if you look at Digitrax (and it may not be an issue for you anyway) is don't bother with Transponding (where the system can identify which locos are where - with appropriate decoders) .... as it don't work, so numerous people have told me! Don't work is perhaps a little strong - dodgy is better!!! I notice there's no Christmas decorations on Llanbourne .... is that that station porter whose a union guy laying the law down again, or British Health & Safety going on about ladders? lol! Well done anyway, have a great Christmas. All the best Rich

Hi Peter, Superb photograph .... although I think the 20s in the background would be a little more interesting for me!!! Really looks the part though! Everyone has their own interpretation of which DCC system is best - but I've got Digitrax and would totally recommend it - worked well for me and I played with ZTC, Lenz and Zimo before going for Digitrax. If you've any questions, feel free to fire them across - i'm not an expert but i'll help if I can and will *try* and give you an honest unbiased opinion!!!! Rich