TomJ

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!!

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

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

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.

For locos produced by Farish both past and present (black 5, 8F, castle etc) is there anyway of telling from the numbers if it’s an old Poole tooling or a modern Bachmann release. Because I know Bachmann did sell some of the older locos - and so the box still says “Graham Farish by Bachmann” Seen an offer on eBay at a decent price but hard to tell from photos (unboxed) which it is Thanks

I love the fact that whilst the current operator can’t even run their existing service we’re discussing here how they could run more…..

It may surprise some visitors that the Highlands isn’t actually just a theme park for tourists. Real people actually live and work there. Many use the train to get to school, appointments, the ferry etc. A heritage operation wouldn’t help them The reason Chris Green and Scotrail trailed the steam service back in 1984 was to actually help the viability of the Mallaig line

It was only on seeing them on display alongside other stock I realised just how small they are!

Thanks. I’m on the P&R bus in. See you all soon

Any updates on queues etc today? Live fairly local and wondering if it’s worth visiting? Not a fan of queuing for a couple of hours

Newquay branch on summer Saturdays

There are some 3-d printed push pull coaches available here http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/3D-printing/3d_printed_sg-trains2-southern.htm Could be an alternative to etched brash scratch aid?

Thanks. I really like what you’ve done with the space. And I really like the Scalescenes card buildings I have two walls of a box room and an interest in something more than a BLT - hence the questions…….!

I’ve just found this and really enjoying it. As a fellow N gauger it’s right up my street! I might have missed it - what are the dimensions?

I should have mentioned that both are to be operated from the rear. Fairly key point - sorry! It’ll live in an alcove so I want the front to look good and complete but I’ll take it out for running sessions

Does anyone have any thoughts on these - which might look best or be best to operate. I was thinking that with just one operator for the split level design I could run an auto coach or DMU on an automated shuttle whilst I shunted the clay works The first plan would be less visually interesting I think - and a bit more intensive to operate but would allow more variety passing through the scene I am very undecided as to which one to build!!

Whilst pondering bigger plans for my main layout I have decided to build a small layout that will fit a 6ft alcove in the spare room - somewhere I can run my china clay stock on. This is a mixed bunch ranging from late steam early 60s to 80s blue diesels - so its a remote backwater in Cornwall, inspired by places like Moorswater, Carbis Wharf, Wenford Bridge etc Design is 6ft by 1ft and should be able to cope with either two coach passenger trains (pannier and auto-coach or DMU) and a loco and 5 or 6 clayhoods First plan I doddled is this one Trains emerge from the traverser at the RH end - passenger trains run straight through to the LH end (could be a cassette) whilst freight can shunt the small yard. The traverse will complete the loop for run rounds. Station would be a very basic halt with just an ex-GWR pagoda The next plan is the same space but here I've moved the passenger line above the freight and made it totally separate. Could perhaps use an auto-shuttle to keep a 14xx-autocoach or DMU shuffling whilst I shunt the yard below. Again mainly china clay but perhaps scope for some other traffic such as calcified seaweed or coal like Drinnick? The passenger will cross over the lower lines over a tight narrow bridge- perhaps the levels will add some scenic interest What do people think of them? Any ideas or suggestions? And which one do you think might be more interesting to build and operate? Thanks

My resolution is to do a little more real modelling and less armchair modelling!

I think it suffered from a previous designer (He Who Must Not Be Named) announcing pretty much every loco that was ever built to appear in N gauge. And in the next year…. New management seemed to have pretty much started afresh and with different, more limited but sensible plans

I’ve got loads of plans of the go - now I’ve ‘finished’ my existing layout. So it’s really prevarication that stops me choosing one. That and the fact it has to fit in a 9x6 box bedroom along with my desk! All in N gauge - because that’s what I have! 1) Oxford Riverside. The university forced the GWR station to be even further out. By the turn on the century it was getting crowded - and the Met were planning on their own line much closer to the city centre. So to kill two birds with one stone the GWR built a new station on a short branch closer into the city by the river to take the local and London traffic. A cramped Minories style terminus, inspired by Birmingham Moor Street 2) Highley and Alverley colliery in the 50s - pre the SVR. Prob not enough space! 3) Indian Queens Junction. Ad part of the North Cornwall competition the LSWR extended and rebuilt the Ruthinbridge line to meet the GWR near Indian Queens. An agreement gave the GWR access to Wadebridge and the LSWR to Newquay. A junction station purely for interchange like Bala Junction with a few sidings for the marshalling of clay traffic 4) Inverlui. Something completely different but inspired by this years holiday! To try and stop the CR the West Highland/North British built a branch from Arrochar over the Rest And Be Thankful down to Inveraray and along Loch Fyne. Built by the same contractors as the Mallaig extension. Somehow it’s survived into the 80s - maybe it’s the appalling local roads or perhaps the secret naval base on the Loch?? Too many ideas….

My wife seems to know enough to tell when I’ve brought a new engine!

A superb day out on Saturday. I’d already decided to drive before the strikes (trains just too long and expensive). Journey ok till the last 30min getting into the car parks. To be fair it’s only what I expect at such a venue - and we ended up by the arena only a short walk to the hall Special thanks are due to the junior modelling kit building and the Inglenook shunting puzzle. Both run by great volunteers who help restore a flagging child. The only problem is that I now have to build a OO puzzle to put his new shed on! It seemed slightly quieter than pre-pandemic but equally it was great that there wasn’t too much shoving and pushing. Some great layouts and lots of inspiration. Maybe the big ticket ‘show-stoppers’ were less than before but I suspect the last two years have limited clubs in building these Overall huge thanks to everyone organising and volunteering. See you all next year!

Simply superb - and as a nearby resident the hotel is instantly recognisable

Are advanced tickets valid for either day? I’ve already got my tickets, was planning on coming Saturday but might switch to Sunday

More shopping trolleys and dead cats in them than Venice as well I have a soft spot for Brum but having visited both I have say that the Grand Canal just trumps the Grand Union!