[Reverse loop question - is this possible?]

Sorry - I should have been clearer! I did indeed mean a dual frog juicer - one output for each rail. I went with juicers because I’ve used them before for point frogs so stuck with what I knew!

 

What I wasn’t so sure was where to put it or even whether I need two dual juicers

 

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I’ll try to wire it up this evening and I’ll let you know how I get on. You may hear the swearing on here!! 

[Reverse loop question - is this possible?]

Thanks so much. Really appreciated 

[Reverse loop question - is this possible?]

I must confess to not really understanding the difference between using a frog juicer or a reverse module! What is the difference and which one do I want?? The main criteria is I don’t want to have to stop trains but allow them too run through

 

Would either of these work?

 

[Reverse loop question - is this possible?]

Not sure if what I am trying to achieve is actually possible!! On my double track oval I have a reverse loop to get trains back to the terminus. Hopefully this picture demonstrate this 

 

 

So I was planning to wire it up like this - using a double frog juicer which I’m pretty sure would work 

 

 

But then I wondered if I could use the empty space top left for a bit of a yard or engine shed. And if so how would I wire it - and indeed could it be done?

 

 

Do I need another juicer below the point? How do I wire the yard to keep all the tracks live and stop my sound fitted locos going quiet? 

 

Am I asking too much of DCC??

 

Many thanks 

[Point decoders and frog switching]

Thanks for explaining. So if the decoder switch is basically a micro switch but without the alignment issue then it ought to be more reliable than the old fashioned use of switches? If so it would seem daft to buy a decoder with that option (because I like the DCCConcepts products) and then pay for a juicer to basically do the same thing as well

[Point decoders and frog switching]

So if I’m honest I don’t fully follow the discussion above!!! I’m a simple soul who doesn’t fully understand wiring or DCC. 
I model in N gauge and use Peco solenoids. I never managed to get their micro switches to work reliably so the frog juicer seemed like the answer to my prayers!

 

Given all this what I’m trying to work out is what is the best way to switch the frog polarity on my new layout. I’m ruling out micro switches. So should I go for frog juicer or use the switching facility on thr DCCConcepts decoder - I’ll admit I don’t really know how either work!

[Point decoders and frog switching]

After years of failing to get Peco micro switches to work reliably when I was on DC I was delighted to discover frog juicers when I switched to DCC! Using them alongside DCCConcepts solenoid decoders worked perfectly. 
 

Now 10yrs later I discover than the basic decoder has been replaced with a slightly more an advanced that seems to include frog switching - the ADS-8fs. 
It would be cheaper to use this rather than buy a cheaper decoder and a frog juicer. Is there any disadvantage to this plan other than extra wiring (seems like you need a track feed for every point unlike the juicer. And does it work reliably?

 

Any advice and tips gratefully received!

[GUV/CCTs in passenger trains]

Right until the late 80s the 1615 from Fort William to Mallaig was designated a ‘mixed train’ - with the most often seen wagons being fuel. So clearly no ‘ban’ on 4-wheeled stock running with passenger coaches there

[The ‘classic’ loco spur]

So it seems that they were more common at the busy city terminus with intensive commuter services - and perhaps less so other stations. My ‘Minories’ is a medium sized terminus in a smallish city so I think I’ll have the loco spur extended and doubled up as another platform for parcels or perishables. 
 

Thanks everyone for the details - I especially liked the aerial shot of Moorgate 

[The ‘classic’ loco spur]

Now many plans - especially those by CJF have a terminus with a loco spur. The classic being minories - where the loco spur was inspired by the one at Liverpool Street Met. But how common were dedicated loco spurs at stations? Or would the station pilot just rest in any spare platform, siding or headshunt?

[Heljan LNER 2-8-0+0-8-2T U1 Garratt]

1 hour ago, Michael Hodgson said:

If you want to run it on a GWR branch, just use rule 1 !

It would also be two times oversize for my N gauge branch sadly! 

[Heljan LNER 2-8-0+0-8-2T U1 Garratt]

I’m pretty sure the WR borrowed it in the 50s (after the Wath electrification) to trial on the gradients in the West Country. It looked a little odd on the single track china clay branches!

Im sure I didn’t just dream this…..

[Solenoid accessory decoders]

I didn’t realise they were coming out again. I worried they were a discontinued product 

[Solenoid accessory decoders]

Thanks. They are basic Peco point motors 

[Solenoid accessory decoders]

On my last layout I used an 8 way DCC Concepts accessory decoder to operate the points. Now I’m building a new layout and I have more points! The updates DCC Concepts decoders are out of stock everywhere. Can anyone suggest a simple alternative. I don’t want anything fancy or complex - just a way I can operate the points from my NCE Powercab
 

I model in N gauge and all the point motors are fitted so it’s too late to suggest a different way of operating then!

 

Thanks. 

[Minimum gradient to keep a gravity-worked slate train rolling?]

I’m sure I’ve read that (sadly) trains were not gravity worked across the cob. Instead they were brought to a halt at Boston Lodge then pulled across the Cob into Porthmadog 

[Modelling a Complete Fleet]

I think you can model the entire Lynton and Barnstable - locos and stock - in OO9 with rtr stock. Not bad for a pre-grouping company!

 

I think my father might actually have have all the stock!!!

[Smallish sub-shed near bigger shed]

I ‘think’ what I’m looking for is something that will fill a bit of a gap on the layout and give me an excuse to show off my too large loco collection rather than hiding them all in the fiddle yard! I’m also rather fond of the GWR Churchward style sheds and the coaling stages with the water tank above!

[Smallish sub-shed near bigger shed]

I’m not against a turntable but it’s the challenge of fitting and motorising it in N gauge that concerns me! Far better to assume there is a triangle nearby on which locos are turned!!!

[Smallish sub-shed near bigger shed]

Thanks everyone. Some good examples. Malvern Road seems to fit the bill with it being a short distance down the line from the terminus at St James

 

Interestingly I was looking through the Railway Modeller archive last night and found drawings for the coaling stage and water tank at Stratford Upon Avon, along with a track plan. Again looks a good example of the size I was looking for 

 

What did we do before this place and google!??

[Smallish sub-shed near bigger shed]

Sorry for the confusing title - I didn’t know how phrase it better!

 
For my Minories-ish layout I’d love to add a small two road GWR and the typical coaling stage. However the set up assumes this is a secondary small city terminus away from the main station (think Birmingham Moor Street) -so assumes there is bigger station and shed not too far away. Clearly I don’t have the space to model a huge shed like Tysley or Laira!

How likely would such a scenario be? Are there any examples? Or would there be a just couple of stabling sidings - with perhaps a coaling stage?

 

Ultimately it’s my train set and rule 1 applies 

[Fiddle yard camera?]

Doodling plans for a new layout and I’m wondering about the above to make operation easier. At home the layout is against a wall and the fiddle yard will be hidden by the back scene. Some kind of camera system would allow me to see into the yard without standing up and leaning over!

 

Any suggestions? Perhaps something that can stream to my phone? I thinking of something along the lines of baby monitors!!

[WCRC - the ongoing battle with ORR.]

I was just concerned about how all the students were going to get to Hogwarts in September. Glad it’s resolved - not sure how many the Knight Bus can for as a rail replacement service

[How to tell of it’s a Poole or modern model]

5 hours ago, Padishar Creel said:

Hallo,

item numbers of Poole produced models were 4digits, Chinese produced models are 3-3digits.

 

es grüßt

pc 

Is that still the case for Poole era tooling models that were later released and sold by Bachmann? I know of a few that this could apply to 

[How to tell of it’s a Poole or modern model]

I fear I may have just paid over the odds for a 20+yr old model that won’t run on my DCC layout. Caveat emptor!

My fault - I’d completely forgotten the history of Farish and the older models 

 

Fingers crossed I can cancel or sort it out.