ColinW Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 Having asked the other owners of the layout, it has been decided we will try and use the new sequence next week, which means we should have more trains running. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) Avon Junction loaded up and ready to go in the morning. The van is larger than what we normally use, can fit it all in a minivan normally. Apparently the train spotters around Avon Junction could be in for a good day tomorrow with the varied locos we have available to run. Hope to see some RM Webbers at Chelmsford. Colin Edited October 19, 2012 by ColinW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium GWRPhil Posted October 19, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 19, 2012 Looking forward to the new running timetable Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) Looking forward to the new running timetable Phil No pressure on us now then is there Hope you do like it Phil, I know that we liked the way it worked when we have tried it on a private running/working/testing day. Look forward to meeting you tomorrow Colin Edited October 19, 2012 by ColinW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted October 20, 2012 Author Share Posted October 20, 2012 Well we had a good day at Chelmsford, and the layout has now been put away. it was good to meet Hawkingetippyd and Maggie from the Warren lane crew (bit different as she was in front of the layout without a controller in her hand and I was behind it). We had a lot of favourable comments from the public and several interesting chats as well. only a couple of snags occurred during the day, the point blade on the Y point in the tunnel leading to the original 3 road fiddleyard (this is the fiddleyard next to the hidden one) came adrift and needed to be soldered up again, and those who watched will know that the autocoach decided on going cross country virtually everytime it moved, this is now awaiting a very big hammer to it . The new timetableappeared to work well and we were able to do various shunt moves, but will be looking to fine tune it soon. The layout's next outing will be in 2 weeks time in Lancing, West Sussex, at the West Sussex N gauge association show. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 Here are a couple of photo's from Saturday at Chelmsford. The layout ready for display on Saturday. The people of Chelmsford watching on. We were informed by the Chelmsford members towards the end of the show that the layout had narrowly been beaten to the best layout at the show, which would have been a nice surprise for us. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted November 1, 2012 Author Share Posted November 1, 2012 Well 12 days after being at Chelmsford, we will be taking Avon Junction to the West Sussex area group N Gauge society's show in Lancing on Saturday. This is slightly unusual for us, doing 2 shows so close together, but we agreed to do this as they were both one day shows. If anyone is going please come and say hello. Will hope to get some pictures. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Well we had a good day on Saturday, a couple of gremlins snuck onto the layout as ever, but nothing that 2 minutes with a soldering iron didn't fix. The rolling stock was behaving itself (we had different autocoach from the one used at Chelmsford), the operators are slowly getting used to the new sequence and lots of favourable comments from the public. And to top the day off, the layout won the Ian Phelps Memorial shield for the best layout which totally surprised us considering we were opposite Harlyn Road and had Brixcombe behind us. The layout is now put away for the year, but we will be looking to carry out work or having playing days in the new year. The Ian Phelps Memorial Shield on display on Avon Junction on Saturday. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamB Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Well done. See you Thursday hopefully. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Well done. See you Thursday hopefully. Thanks Graham, good to see the 'slight breeze' in America didn't cause you any problems. Not at club this week, have a bigger scale train set to play with. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 (edited) As promised a few photo's from Saturday. The nice thing about the layout is that it is quick and easy to erect and disassemble for shows. At 08.05 on Saturday we hadn't even unloaded the van, 40 minutes later it is up and waiting for electricity. Pannier shunting in the yard A light pannier arrives, whilst another pannier waits in the platform with a B set. The local milkman makes his way up the road form the station. The driver on the pannier is trying to catch someone's attention, whilst he waits for the signal. The pannier rests in the goods yard after doing some shunting. 28xx on passenger duties waits for the signal. Colin Edited November 9, 2012 by ColinW 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 A little update: We are hoping to carry out the work in replacing point motors on the double slips in the New Year, probably after the Tonbridge exhibition. Merry Christmas Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted March 2, 2013 Author Share Posted March 2, 2013 Now that we have gotten the Tonbridge exhibition out of the way, we are considering having a day playing (still learning the new timetable!)/ planning work for the layout later in the year. This will probably be after Easter as there appear to be too many good exhibitions to go to at the moment as well as juggling the usual family/work commitments. There is some new stock that could make an appearance as well! Colin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 As we said earlier, the layout won the Ian Phelps Memorial Shield for the best layout at the West Sussex N Gauge show in Lancing in November last year, and we thought that it was only fitting that we photogrphed the trophy with the gentleman who built the layout. Denis is a club member and is keen to follow what we do with the layout and still allows us to borrow some of his stock for exhibitions (he owns the 8F shown running on the layout) and sometimes will attend an exhibition with us if local and other commitments allow him. Thanks Denis Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 As I mentioned earlier, we had our planned 'playday' with the layout last Sunday (although the gremlins decided to join us as well for some small faults!! but quickly rectified) and we had some practice with the new running sequence and using some new rolling stock to see how that ran. We were happy with it but still some things need to be checked. I had a couple of jobs to sort out during the week, mainly with the uncouplers that were fitted, but they have all been sorted out. Will hope to have some photos next week. We have now ordered the Fulgarex point motors for the 2 double slips and the crossover points in the station area, and when these are fitted (and the control panel updated as well) it should hopefully stop a lot of problems like the point blades coming away from the copperclad sleeper. Will advise when we are going to do this!!! Colin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted April 16, 2013 Author Share Posted April 16, 2013 As promised, a couple of photo's from our last running day. A busy scene with B set waiting to depart, Railcar in the bay platform, and the goods yard looking very busy. a new loco to our fleet, this manor has been repainted and named from a Bachmann BR version. We also have a couple of Bachmann 1st/3rd composite coaches to go with it as well. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 Well, a couple of months after ordering (& receiving) the Fulgurex point motors, work has started on them to prepare them to be fitted to the boards, will be looking to get some pictures of this when we do the work. The only other bit of news that we can let people know is that the layout has now been confirmed to attend the Broadstairs show on 23-24 November. Hopefully we will see some RM Webbers there. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Work has now started on fitting the Fulgurex point motors. The double slip in the goods yard is the first one to have them fitted and wired into the control panel. We have been fortunate that we don't have to make a new control panel cover, but we have had to pack it out to increase the depth inside, so that the rotary switches can sit inside it. We have also fitted green LED's that will act like route setting for the operators. Will look to get some photo's of the work taking place put on here soon. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 (edited) As I mentioned yesterday, here are some pictures of the work being undertaken. The horizontal motor seen in this picture will (hopefully ) control one end of the double slip that leads into the goods yard from the main line and also the point on the down line, so that it will act as a crossover. The other motor will control the other end of the double slip. These motors are controlling the double slip in the goods yard area. Apologies for the standard of this pic This shows the first rotary switch and LED's fitted onto the control panel. The way it works is that despite where the LED's are situated, they are actually indicating where the motor at the other end of the double slip is. This is showing the LED's proving route setting. Colin Edited August 16, 2013 by ColinW Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 We have now managed to get the third motor sorted out now, and also the rotary switches and LED route indication. We will be looking to do the fourth and last motor in a couple of weeks time. This is the motor that will be operating two sets of blades as a crossover. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 We have now fitted all of the motors that we had intended to, and the rotary switches have been fitted to the panel facia, after I had 'milled' out the holes so that I could use the nut (will put up photos later, when I have a couple of spare minutes.), & I have ground down the old studs used by the point probe. I have still to take out the Seep motors and wiring in the control panel and underneath the boards, but that should not take too long to do. We are intending to have testing/working (repairs!)/playing day next Sunday, so will look to get some more pictures then. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 All of the Seep motors have now been removed (and put in store!) and the unwanted wiring removed. Minor repair work and testing to be carried out on Sunday. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 As I said I would, here are some photos of the work that we have recently done on the layout. This is the point motor that I mentioned earlier, that would operate a point and one end of a double slip in tandem (see photo below), making it into a crossover. You can see a yellow cable on each side of the motor, these cables are what is used on remote controlled aircraft to operate the flaps, we have had them adapted so that we can use them on the points. This photo shows the last of the rotary switches being fitted to the control panel. Having drilled out the initial hole, I then had to 'mill out' the hole, to half the plywood depth, so that the locking nut could be used to secure the rotary switch. This photo shows all the rotary switches in place, and showing how the route setting can be used with the layout. All the operator needs to do is follow what LED's are lit up. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 This weekend Avon Junction will be attending the exhibition in Broadstairs. Hopefully all the work that has been carried out on the layout recently will work as well as we hope it will. Any RM Webbers going please come and say hello Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share Posted November 25, 2013 The weekend at Broadstairs proved to be very mixed, with Gremlins striking everywhere on the layout causing lots of problems and headaches for us, especially on the Saturday. Sunday was better, but it has got us thinking for the future, and we will let you know what we want to do once we have had a chance to think about it. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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