AFK (Altonian Complementary Railways)

[5944]

37 minutes ago, Barry O said:

That loco is...err..something else(!)

 

Keep ondoing the great work on layout and locos  

 

Baz

The originals are quite something! FS E333. One is preserved at Pietrarsa Railway Museum near Napoli. 

 

 

 

[ianathompson]

That is one of the inspirations for my loco.

Fortunately I have a small Italian book on the "Tri-fase" which is readable to a limited point if one did O level Latin.

It shows all the classes and gives the route history.

Google obviously helps with the pictures.

Histoire de la Traction Electrique by La Vie du Rail gives access to the technological aspects.

 

I was lucky enough to travel under the three phase when I was taken to Italy on holiday by my parents in the early seventies.

My father worked on the railways.

Some-one (Panorama?) set up a tour company on the principle that you could get to Italy/Spain on a reciprocal free/cheap ticket.

All they had to do was organise the accommodation/courier side of it.

 

Whilst there we went to visit the ex-curate from Batley, on the Sunday.

He was the Anglican priest at San Remo.

That was when the coast line did what it said on the tin, rather than hiding in a tunnel as it does now.

Not speaking Italian made it quite an adventure.

I well remember the wooden seats in the carriages!

 

This is probably at the root of my overseas interests.

Those Chapelon Pacifics (slightly different context I know!) could really move!

 

Ian T

 

[Northroader]

The book “Italian State Railways Steam Locomotives” by P.M. Kalla-Bishop has a section to finish which does the triphase locos, photos and outline drawings. 

[ianathompson]

On 21/05/2021 at 19:48, Northroader said:

The book “Italian State Railways Steam Locomotives” by P.M. Kalla-Bishop has a section to finish which does the triphase locos, photos and outline drawings. 

Thanks for that advice.

I have bought a copy from Flea Bay.

 

Ian T

[5944]

https://www.archiviofondazionefs.it/en/Archivio-Servizio-Materiale-e-Trazione/rs/dc645a1f203c2dd8b95ad43be5177b1c1ebf93a0/rsDataSource

 

Another source of drawings - the official ones from FS. 

[ianathompson]

9 hours ago, 5944 said:

Another source of drawings - the official ones from FS. 

 

Thanks for that. It looks fascinating and I will take a closer look as time permits.

 

In modelling terms I suppose that I am an impressionist rather than a realist!

Most of my rolling stock is a pastiche of various protoypes and my imagination.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

Work is slowly progressing towards beginning another session.

 

Perhaps as an insight into operating a large layout I spent two hours last night checking the wagon cards against the actual wagons at each location.

As "regulars" will know each wagon has a document to receive a load card and a destination card.

The documentation travels with the wagon as it makes its journey.

That is the theory at any rate.

 

Unfortunately admin practices on the AFK follow those that I adopted during my working life.

( It's an important piece of paper. Everything will grind to a halt if we don't have it.  DO NOT give it to Tommo under any circumstances, He will eat/lose/set fire to it.)

In other words, they are chaotic!

Finally everything is straightened out, although three or four documents have been lost/ never existed and the need for a few more has become apparent.

 

Meanwhile the new stock built during the inter-regnum needs couplings, the curse of the AFK, as I use home made centre buffers.

This is in hand.

Track cleaning and wheel cleaning should follow.

There will then be a traffic generating session and then I should be ready to go again.

 

Ian T

 

[uax6]

While the weather is good, you should be in the garden Tommo!

 

Andy G

[Barry O]

11 hours ago, ianathompson said:

Work is slowly progressing towards beginning another session.

 

Perhaps as an insight into operating a large layout I spent two hours last night checking the wagon cards against the actual wagons at each location.

As "regulars" will know each wagon has a document to receive a load card and a destination card.

The documentation travels with the wagon as it makes its journey.

That is the theory at any rate.

 

Unfortunately admin practices on the AFK follow those that I adopted during my working life.

( It's an important piece of paper. Everything will grind to a halt if we don't have it.  DO NOT give it to Tommo under any circumstances, He will eat/lose/set fire to it.)

In other words, they are chaotic!

Finally everything is straightened out, although three or four documents have been lost/ never existed and the need for a few more has become apparent.

 

Meanwhile the new stock built during the inter-regnum needs couplings, the curse of the AFK, as I use home made centre buffers.

This is in hand.

Track cleaning and wheel cleaning should follow.

There will then be a traffic generating session and then I should be ready to go again.

 

Ian T

 

Or at cricket

[uax6]

Well there's a railway to be laid in the garden, I'm not sure there's one at the cricket ground...

 

Andy G

[ianathompson]

8 hours ago, Barry O said:

Or at cricket

 

It is croquet all day today against Norwich in a league match!

Tomorrow might see some progress on either front, or Inverness Citadel, before music intervenes.

 

Ian T

Edited July 15, 2021 by ianathompson
typo

[ianathompson]

The new operating session has finally begun after some delay.

For a layout whose main purpose is puportedly operation it has suffered two long closures for "works".

I hope that the next inter session gap is much shorter.

 

There is not much to say about the new session that is not already on the website and the it has not progressed very far at the moment.

It is nice to be back, however!

Given that running has only just begun there is only one photograph here to act as an attention grabber. The session can be found here.

 

 

9.04 The retimed cement train rolls into Lacono at 01.12. It will stand here for some time and will be re-crewed. At this stage of the night the passenger facilities double up as freight reception roads and this train is running into platform 3, the main passenger platform. With this arrival all seven through roads are blocked. It is my intention to try to undertake minor work, such as the painting of the factory sign, as the session progresses, although previous attempts at such activities have been thwarted by the need to respond to the problems that inevitably arise when a large layout is in operation. Two ”sprung” point blades have already been found and fixed, even though the session has hardly begun.

 

Hopefully I will make quick progress but there are many other calls on my time.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The next batch of pictures is available.

 

Progress has been restricted by numerous sporting commitments.

A small selection is shown below for those who do not use the website link.

 

 

9. The crew of the cement train set the road for the Urteno train once they had arrived. When this passed they routed the following down train into the loop and cleared the signals before departing, as seen here. This is the usual AFK procedure outside the station hours. The paper train pulls into Glissent under the “take siding” indication on the four aspect semaphore. Once it is safely in the loop the crew will set the road and pull off the signals for the Fenditavalat goods.

 

 

18. Caladonno, which might or might not become Caladonno-Blittiri as displayed on the nameboard, is permanently immured in winter, rather like neighbouring Narnia, when under the control of the Witch Queen. Indeed I am rather taken with the thought of declaring this area to be an exclave of Narnia. Spain has a number of such territories in the Pyrenees across the French border. It is a small price to pay for incorporating a snow scene into the layout, particularly as other alpine areas are modelled in summer. The Lacono shunter has dropped off the two vans of blankets and is about to return to Fenditavalat. The driver is working the frame, which at this remote location is enclosed, to change the points and clear the signals, because it is outside station hours. The snow plough is traversing the country lane leading to Blittiri, a small upland hamlet. Part of the backscene has been finished but this area was simply roughed in and awaits further attention.

 

 

24. The crew of the KTT local have misjudged things slightly in their complicated shunting. The loco and two wagons are still on the mainline to the south of the station as the railcar approaches and by the time that they are in the clear the railcar has dropped 6 minutes. The crew will not be asked to explain this delay unless it becomes a regular problem.

 

 

30. The heavily laden schools’ railcar crosses the Magasorombo, to use the Marronĝaccan, with a heavy trailing load. The area is known as the Altingablecaŭtoj in Thalnia and translates as the High Reaches. The railcar has struggled with this load but it is necessary this morning as there will be no spare space on the following goods train due to the priority given to the military loads. The railcar is making the stop alongside the chapel at Aleyha to pick up pupils form this remote area.

 

Ian T

 

 

[ianathompson]

A lot more photos have been added to the website.

 

 

33. Cattle are already beginning to arrive at Breĉo de Glissent as the branch railcar runs round a couple of grain hoppers that it has fished out of the Co-op siding.  There is not going to be much time for the down local goods to shunt here today as a result of the special train running. The cattle herd is symbolic at around a dozen figures and, although I do not know much about it, I expect that a single drover, rather then the four here, could easily handle that number.

 

 

50. Looking over the Gas Works Street wall at Lacono we can see that the URT-RFK goods is pulling in early. The AFK sees no point in running goods trains to time just for the sake of it. The train was ready to leave and there was a slot on the single line so it was put out. The enlarged layout is being used as envisaged in that the shunter is working from the north end, using the loop alongside the arriving train as a headshunt accessed from the double slip. The old layout would have been overwhelmed by the number of wagons currently occupying the sidings

 

 

55. As the loco is in Cadsuiane the train is deemed to have arrived. The train is parked on the mainline using a track brake. If it was not restrained it might well run away, although today’s train is not particularly free running. The large loco just clears the station building. This had to be moved a fraction, some time ago, to allow this engine into the yard. The two wagons in the siding are loaded with cord wood going to the paper factory. They will be dropped off at Ospicio for the new local train to pick up. The crew did not read their new timetable yesterday and left them behind causing problems later in the day.

 

 

61. The busses congregate at Fenditavalat, in their five times a day ritual, to feed passengers and post into the morning railcar. This will leave shortly before 09.00 to give connections between the ancient provincial capital, Lacono, its successor, and the Kernregio, the heartlands of Thalnia.

 

Ian T

 

 

[ianathompson]

The Little World seems to have taken on a life of its own recently, what with the prospect of Narnian secession and the antics of the drovers.

Progress is likely to slow over the coming weeks, however, due to cricketing commitments.

https://myafk.net/operating-session-9

 

 

75. There was quite a bit of shunting to be done at the glassworks, which is at some distance from the station. The train is now pulling away from the river crossing slightly behind time. One of the more interesting aspects of a ‘system’ type layout is how the composition of goods trains changes as their journey proceeds. The hopper and the two vans of bottles behind the loco were picked up at Glissent and the train is now running at 140 tons rather than the 120 tons which left Relforka. The loco is rated for 160 tons but Relforka is a bit cagey about sending out trains loaded to the maximum as they can become overloaded along the way causing problems. In any case, as noted, they are short of wagons today and there are always the afternoon trains to mop up any excess.

 

 

83. The Fenditavalat goods is timed to depart once the railcar has arrived at Ospicio. There is no chance of that today. The loco enters the snow sheds to push the tanks into the goods loop. The ice is melting on the Lagunabianco and the snow is wasting away. The severity of the grade is apparent here and this loco can be ‘balky’ about reversing. This is not the place, on a vicious grade with slippery rails and a heavy load, for it to play up. Aside from the problems of the mechanism, which had to be dismantled from a class 47 and rebuilt, back in the day, another model railwayism is obvious. The loco has to pass the protecting home signal to carry out the shunt. Yet another example of pouring  a quart into a pint pot. The holes in both the home and the distant were drilled to prevent the boards being moved by the wind, althought they would not appear to have been entirely successful in this endeavour. This was a common French practice in exposed locations.

 

 

87. The KTT goods stretches its legs on this long section of single line. It is passing the ES (enirasignalo or home signal) for Boursson which is displaying the “proceed at caution” aspect (the yellow diamond) because the train will enter the loop. The less than sophisticated controls are visible in the recess below it. Working trains over the AFK is no easy matter. The loco struggled to get around the notorious “wet leaves curve” with this load but kept going, ‘with the regulator “all the way across” and the gear dropped into the fullest link’. You cannot just set the controller and watch the train run smoothly along on this model railway! The train, having been photographed, refused to restart and needed prodding to get going on the grade. I deemed this as acceptable because the train would not have stopped here otherwise! The shelves below contain an assortment of oddments including the boxes of the relatively few painted figures that make it onto the layout. I must do more in this direction.

 

 

91. Beauty and the Beast. The bedraggled tractor that acts as Isuri’s pilot pulls the ceremonial saloon into the Merkatubaxu. The local police keep a beady eye upon the tractor, especially as it sheds its protective bonnet hood during warmer weather, thereby revealing all sorts of dangerous, whirring fan wheels to fascinate the youth of the city. The saloon is placed at the disposal of the Aŭkeratuo de Vallisfissura, nowadays a ceremonial post. Once the Prince-Bishop of Vallisfissura was a person to be feared, and with reason. Enough of the history lesson, except to note that Fenditavalat, modern day Isuritakaharano, was named Vallisfissura by the Romans. Given that the saloon was completed during the recess between sessions, as documented upon one of the narrow gauge web sites, it was almost guaranteed that it would appear in this session, so congratulations if you saw it coming! The Aŭkaratuo is going to to journey to Ospicio d’Helcaraxê to formally welcome the herds as they begin their sojourn in the High Reaches. Thanks are due to David Vannerley, of the 7mm NGA, for inspiring the rationale behind the saloon’s allocation to the ceremonial leader of the province.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

Another thirty or so photos have been added to the website.

The file has now reached that stage where the file takes a little time to fully load so you will have to be patient if you want to see them!

 

 

96. Yet more woes! The bogie van in the Altingablecaŭtoj goods has a ‘hot axle box’. In reality it derailed a couple of times and when pulled form the layout it was discovered that one wheel set was wobbling as it was eccentric on the axle. A spare was inserted and the original set binned. The solutions were not so simple for the prototype, of course, and so the vehicle had to be cut out of the train. There are dice throws to simulate these problems, although I almost inevitably forget to roll the dice. The marshalling of the train was a bit of a dog’s dinner anyway due to the shenanigans at Urteno. It will now have to be pulled apart and remarshalled.

 

 

105. The CFS train pulls into Isuri just before the AFK express arrives. This train is usually a railcar but today it is loco hauled which will cause problems as the loco will need to run round this train. Evidently the CFS are having their own problems but this could cause a perfect storm today, what with the SG van on the express and the need to marshal the saloon into the down train.

 

 

117. Speaking of limits the FDV-RFK goods is at the maximum allowance and forms quite a long train for a model railway. The last vehicle is an AFK van behind the brown SG van in the distance. The train is running as closely behind the railcar as the signalling system will allow.

 

 

126. One of the pleasanter aspects of running a large multi-location layout is that the lulls on the prototype can easily be replicated. Whereas it makes sense, on a one station layout, to ‘fast forward’ the clock so that there is not a long pause there is no need for this on a larger layout. The local goods has left Boursson and the stationmistress has put the levers into the frame behind it. Now is the time to catch up with paperwork, telephone traders to inform that that their loads have arrived, unload wagons and maybe grab a quick bite to eat and a nap before the next train arrives. A couple of loads are picked up from the goods shed and an old man cycles up to the station to have a natter and collect a parcel. This figure was home made years ago and if I made another he would be in a much less active pose. The bicycle was bent up from a couple of paper clips.

 

 

129. Looking in the other direction we can see the special has not fully cleared the tunnel and that it will have to draw forward to complete the unloading. Cadsuiane stands on the promontory far above the railway. The village was well known for its intransigence in days gone by and stuck to the Julian calendar for years after the adoption of the Gregorian version. Even today, the inhabitants’ stubbornness is legendary, even in truculent Altonia. As for the Marronĝaccan dialect spoken, just don’t contemplate conversing there!

 

Ian T

[Sarcodelic]

As it is a characterful beast it is good to see the CFS' locomotive is now in operation. I had wondered if it was the loco you mentioned in the previous batch of photos as being scrapped almost as soon as it entered service, so I am glad that it was not.

[ianathompson]

10 hours ago, Sarcodelic said:

As it is a characterful beast it is good to see the CFS' locomotive is now in operation. I had wondered if it was the loco you mentioned in the previous batch of photos as being scrapped almost as soon as it entered service, so I am glad that it was not.

 

The scrapped engine was something different and rather expensive, unfortunately.

Its a bit of a sore point but plans are in hand for another attempt using much cheaper components.

 

The electric's original chassis had to be discarded as it developed a limp that could not be cured.

It was from a different manufacturer and had a different wheel configuration.

Hopefully this version will give reliable service.

 

It has just received its second coat of paint which has dried to a quite different shade from its first coat and is a different colour from the tin lid.

Eventually it wuill be called in and completed.

 

When this will be I cannot say.

There are three or four other chassis waiting attention and I would like to put roofs on all the coaches.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The session has proceeded at an unusually brisk pace, partly because I have had to self isolate before a hospital appointment.

The latest batch of photos is now available.

 

 

137. Caladonno has officially seceded to Narnia, on account of its permanent winter. The maps and the “backstory” have been modified accordingly. The Narnian Nuncio, having been informed that the Aŭkeratuo is aboard the train has dropped in to pay a ceremonial visit and exchange fraternal greetings. Meetings between the pair were somewhat fiery in times past but peace prevails nowadays. The enclave covers a restricted area and has become a retreat for those humans not enamoured by the otherworldliness of their fellow “countrymen”. It is well known for its magical potions and elixirs which ensure its prosperity. There are no customs formalities and by international agreement the AFK has free right of passage across the territory and its employees may come and go on railway business as they please. In a reciprocal gesture Urchyllu, a Narnian centaur, is employed as stationmaster here, something of a break in the tradition of employing the wives of PW gangers to look after the stations. He is giving the ’Right away’ in the traditional flamboyant manner by waving the Narnian streamer to warn passengers to board. Once this is achieved he will blow the hunting horn in his left hand authorising departure. The AFK trajnaĉefo is keeping a wary eye on proceedings from his compartment. It is all a little too NFN;~ Normal for Norfolk Narnia for his liking.

 

 

146. The loco is forced to leave two vans standing behind the train on the RT (main through road). Shunting here is difficult because of the steep gradient, as was noted in photo 84, but it is probably more apparent in this side on view. As the ice on the Lagabianco melts and the snow drifts waste away, the two birds fight over a fish. You will have to imagine their screeches and the nip in the air! ‘Summer is y comen in’ but it is short lived in these rarefied alpine pastures and the brutal winter will soon return.

 

 

153. Previously the mixto had to arrive in platform 2 but it could not pull forward to the end of the platform as the crossings are used by the incoming railcar. The complicated shunting has allowed the mixto to occupy the full length of the main platform, as befits one of the three main up trains of the day, whilst leaving the crossings clear.

 

 

165. The impending problems at Urteno are resolved once the railcar departs. There is no path for the additional banker and its train so it reverses into the coal sidings to wait for one whilst the goods train is shunted into the ‘goods loop’. The original timing for the extra banker “crossed” the path for the goods train. The goods train usually terminates at Lacono but runs forward if there is sufficient traffic to justify it (60 tons minimum). These “air crossings” were common in German timetables into the seventies and eighties and relied upon staff reading their daily notices thoroughly to ascertain which trains were, and which trains were not, running on a particular day. Eventually the inevitable happened and there was a “cornfield meet” where the two trains crashed into one another.

 

Ian T

 

Edited August 26, 2021 by ianathompson
typo

[ianathompson]

It has been a little while since I posted as I had to go into hospital for an unpleasant biopsy.

A period of disillusionmentt then followed and enthusiasm waned.

Following this short interlude activity has continued so here are the latest photos.

 

 

193. Time is passing and the evening railcars have pulled into the Basabazaro at Fenditavalat. The loco from the cattle special can now find a path to Rivabordo before the mixto arrives. The AFK railcar will push the CFS trailer up the slope to allow the CFS railcar to get to the front of its train. The AFK railcar provides the schools’ service over the Altingablecaŭtoj for the two Lyceoj.

 

 

195. The schools’ railcar is one of only two timetabled crossings at Caladonno. Originally there were none. The loop was a late addition to the layout plans, designed to accommodate wagons shed from trains too long to enter the short loop at Fenditavalat. The train is, of course in Narnia here, but the Thalnian authorities have struck an agreement to provide education for any Narnian children resident within the enclave on the strict understanding that Talking Mice, Centaurs, Unicorns and other outlandish creatures are not included within this remit. This is supposed to be an enclave for normal people and the stationmaster is encouraged not to come onto the platform too often for fear of upsetting nervous travellers (photo 137).

 

 

196. The Kasatritikakamparoj goods crosses the fields in the valley bottom as the afternoon wears on. Relforka have added a load of bricks onto the tail of the train, which are bound for Lacono. This is a common practice as train loading limits on the lower part of the line struggle to accommodate the traffic on offer, but it is not too popular with the train crews. The “creature” (from the Black Lagoon) is quite elderly now and the crew are worried that it may struggle on the restart from Sojonno stop. In actuality the train had to be reversed to take a run at “wet leaves” curve although it is well below the load limit set for the loco. I did consider “sanding” the track (i.e. adding a big piece of lead onto the loco, rather crude but effective) but this loco’ mechanism already screams under load and seems inclined to disengage the gears under duress. I suppose that it owes me nothing. It is around forty years old now and was crudely hacked about for another project all those years ago. The remnants of that disaster were assembled into this loco, creating an idiosyncratic character. The creature was given its head, charged the curve and had to be reined in on the straight as it galloped away towards Boursson.

 

 

202. Control has called a relief train, running as 9802, to take some extra refrigerator vans down to the coast. This train is now timetabled to cross the early running branch goods at Breĉo de Glissent. The train is also carrying a load of fuel for the fleet’s bunkers. The layout’s supply of standard gauge wagons could easily equip a moderate sized SG layout, although they would need attention to their couplings and, in some cases, running gear. It is one of the advantages of having followed the same theme for a number of years. Most were acquired piecemeal from second hand stalls or E-Bay, although there are one or two expensive examples in and amongst. The entry of Brawa and Lenz into the O gauge market has broadened the scope but they are relatively heavy and expensive models and form a minority of the available stock. A couple of scratchbuilds round out the choice.

 

That's all for now folks!

 

Ian T

[Ian Morgan]

5 hours ago, ianathompson said:

 

 

I suppose that it owes me nothing. It is around forty years old now and was crudely hacked about for another project all those years ago. The remnants of that disaster were assembled into this loco, creating an idiosyncratic character.

 

Is there not a growing interest in railways in the people of Altonia that could be channelled into forming a group that could dedicate themselves to preserving this precious artifact of their nation's industrial hertitage? It is obviously far too early to contemplate preserving a closed line (are there any closed lines in Altonia yet?) but I am sure an arrangement could be made with the AFK to run special trips once this fine locomotive has been restored to its former glory.

 

[ianathompson]

The Creature is likely to be in service for some time yet, even if it gets relegated to shunting or snow plough duties.

 

The BoBo, acting as spare engine today, seems to have thrown one of its traction tyres so that will need attention.

This loco is more likely to be retired because it is too small when compared with the other locos.

It has already had a semi-retirement but was called back into service as demand increased.

 

Ian T

[ianathompson]

The latest batch of photos is now available to view on the website.

The Imgur hosting platform has for some reason known only to itself decided to hide all my images.

It also has blocked the "Post to Community" button.

 

I am fed up to the back teeth with the Technogeek cretins that run these hosting platforms.

Thankfully the images on the website are beyond their reach.

 

 

212. The “creature” is shunting the afternoon goods at Boursson. This is a complex job, as per usual, and gives an insight into the problems faced by train crews at wayside stations on an everyday basis. This train, which arrived with 5 vehicles, has to make two drop offs and one pick up. It is also requested by the station mistress, on Control’s orders, to place two empties at the bottom of the goods shed siding, so that they can be collected by the down goods and to transfer the SG van to the canning factory. The two running lines are now blocked and, just to add to the complications, the evening schools’ railcar is now approaching.

 

 

220. The cuckoo in the nest! Here is where the fun starts. The SG van was supposed to be moved from the goods loop to the factory. The railcar and the down train’s arrival have all prevented this and the van is now buried deep within the train. In a similar situation to that outlined in photo 207 this might not be a problem on a station to fiddleyard layout where the station is the sole centre of attention. On a system like the AFK Boursson is “just another place” and problems there do not dominate operating decisions. Of more concern to control is purloining the motive power from this train to power the possible von Ryan referred to in photo 207 and the need for the down train to keep out of the way of the mixto which will be hot on its heels when it departs. The van in the wrong place at the wrong time is a minor concern. The anguished phone calls from the station mistress are met with the casual response of, “Bring it into Lacono, We’ll drop it off later this evening!” A nice 24 kilometres trip to move it a couple of hundred metres! Welcome to the bizarre Little World of the AFK.

 

 

238. The driver of the mixto climbs down from the cab to consult with the trajnaĉefo at Urteno. Lacono control has rung through to advise that the Talking Mouse in the Royal Narnian Railways Beruna Control Office has indeed come up trumps, letting them off the hook. The connection across the Dorsadelavestejamontoj (Back of the Wardrobe Mountains) is running over 30 minutes late tonight so the 12 minute delay generated by the AFK  pales into insignificance. One or two liberties might be taken as the train now has twenty minutes plus  in hand.

 

I was going to post more photos than this but you will have to go to the website if you want to see them.

This posting is including picture sizes at random and there seems to be no way of controlling what is being posted.

 

 

I have now wasted around one hout of my time trying to sort these technical problems out.

My experience of attemtpting to contact the technocretins is that it is a waste of time.

They are not interested in your problems.

 

This brings us to an interesting question.

How many of you are attracted to the post by the pictures?

Would readers just go straight to the website if I posted that it had been updated.

I am beginning to be sorely tempted by the simplicity of "some more photos are available" type post.

 

All views gratefully received.

 

Ian T

[hexagon789]

3 hours ago, ianathompson said:

How many of you are attracted to the post by the pictures?

Would readers just go straight to the website if I posted that it had been updated.

I am beginning to be sorely tempted by the simplicity of "some more photos are available" type post.

I would say I am more "attracted" simply by your post with a link to the relevant page on your website when you post an update to an operating session.

 

However, I am of course familiar with your layout, so I need no photo incentive to click through.

 

For those less familiar or who have only just come across the AFK the inclusion of a photo or several illustrating what to expect may well attract them, I don't know.

 

If it is any use I personally would not mind one jot if you switched simply to a pure text update with link, that would be more than sufficient for myself.

 

Regards, Ben

[Northroader]