Metropolitan Bo-Bo EP sample

[Horsetan]

....The Met locos were originally fitted with ETH jumpers of the LT type, hence the shed jumper boxes in the corners. they were also fitted with vacuum brakes from new. So I suspect Sarah has been re-fitted with vacuum brake equipment! .....

I've just found a photo on Flickr which refers to "Sarah Siddons" having vacuum brake equipment refitted in 2013, so it looks like that is what she currently has.

[Dan Griffin]

Good evening. A question if i may. I have just ran my metro bobo out for the first time. My layout is code 100, and has peco code 60 3rd rail without the small washer under the third rail pot. My metro 3rd rail shoes catch the third rail to the point of derailment. My track is level and the third rail is quite low. Has anyone else expirienced this? Thanks

[SRman]

Hi Dan.

 

I had similar problems with my previous layout (although not with the Heljan model as it didn't exist at that time!). Lessons learnt from that layout mean I lay all of my third and fourth rail flush with the tops of the running rails. To do that, I countersink the 'pots' into the sleepers, as well as omitting the washers. 

Having the rails level may not be prototypical, but it certainly eases track maintenance and also obviates problems with low clearances under some locos or units. Even so, my Kernow Beattie Well Tank's brake rodding still catches on a couple of slight high spots on the third rails (meaning my track laying is less than perfect!). I also had to file the centres of the gear/axle covers on a Realtrack class 143 to clear the fourth rail.

 

Edit: I should add that my Bo-Bo No. 8, Sherlock Holmes, doesn't have any problems with the way I have laid the track. Clearances are close, though.

Edited March 14, 2016 by SRman

[bertiedog]

Just ordered on of the remaining No 20's, missed out on the early deliveries as I was so ill. No layout to run on, but a shelf will be converted to a four rail track.

 

Does anyone know if Peco still make the code 65 conductor rail sections, or what is made as a substitute these days.??

 

The track would be code 75 FB, or bullhead if Peco deliver it! I used to use the code 65 for US scale track in HO, but long run out of any stock.

 

Stephen.

[bertiedog]

May have answered my own question as the C&L site show a Peco NS section code 60 conductor rail section, this must be the modern alternative.

Stephen.

[bertiedog]

And now found it available with the supports on Hattons website, so ordered a couple of packs to start with making a short test track and display shelf. It will have to go with the current code 75 rail in flatbottom. I am assuming the Metropolitan used chaired track?

 

Stephen

[bertiedog]

Metropolitan Bo-B0 No20, later named Sir Christopher Wren, has arrived in the post today from Hattons, 

 

Runs very well indeed, straight from the box, the fine details all in place, it is very quiet, and a nice slow pace for a bit of running in. I notice the instructions claim the minimum radius can be as tight as 15 inches, I have no fixed set track to test this claim out, but the bogies do not look as though they rotate enough for such tight curves.

 

I am not too bothered with such tight track curves as it is destined for a simple automatic shuttle shelf layout, with some LT Tube Underground stock as well. The Metro coaches will have to be Ratio LMS Suburban coach kits re-painted to Met livery, a simple three carriage train, close coupled. The track can be some Peco code 75 with the code 60 third and fourth rail on the Peco insulators. I have a couple of packs of Peco code 60 NS rail to experiment with.

 

Has anybody tried to make the pickup beams work??, obviously in model terms the outer rail would be live, with return to the track rather than to the centre rail.

 

The name or the shelf layout simply has to be Metroland, I will dig out the copy of the famous BBC film by Sir John Betjeman, and look at what scenery background is appropriate. Maybe some Metroland Posters to decorate the layout frontage..

 

Very impressive model from Heljan, it is nice to see more obscure subjects chosen for production.

 

Stephen

[Jeff Smith]

Stephen - the Ratio MR non-corridor coaches would look more appropriate than the LMS corridor.  Although a lot more expensive, the Radley Dreadnought kits are easy to make and are entirely appropriate but should be finished in teak for Metropolitan operation.

 

edit - I think these were the ones you were referring to on re-reading your post......

Edited April 22, 2016 by Jeff Smith

[bertiedog]

Enormous difference in the coach prices, not knocking Radley for a specialist item, but modified Ratio panelled stock would be OK in a nice "wooden" Teak finish. Ebay regularly sells the kits at £11 or less, The ventilators can be altered, and the roof brought into line with the Metro coaches details,

Stephen.

[Dublodad]

I have run both of my Met locos on Hornby Dublo 2 rail standard radius curves with no issues. These are 15 inch radius.!!!

 

Terry

[bertiedog]

Tested now on 15 inch radius, although any layout is unlikely to be that tight, unless a dog bone type to provide returns.

 

The running is now remarkably good bar one slight nuisance. the motor moves off at lower voltage than the lights start operating at.

 

It moves off at 1.8 volts on flat track, and the lights start at 2.8, so I assume LED lamps. It is OK with a load of four coaches, the lights and motor are about equal starting at 3 volts.

 

A really fine model from Heljan.

[bertiedog]

After running No 20 in a darkened room, to check the lights, a slightly strange issue has surfaced, in that when the loco is stopped and then reversed the rear lights flash on for a moment. This does not happen if the controller is reduced to zero, and the reversed and the speed slowly built up.

 

But it does happen at a slow pace using an automatic stop and reverse circuit. The loco is running on about 2.8 volts pure DC which illuminate the front lights OK at a slow pace, but as it starts it's auto return trip there is a flash of light from the rear bulbs.

 

Now I saw a shot of the interior and there seems to be a tray of plugs and circuitry under the roof over the motor. Has Heljan done some extra and added chips even to a non DCC loco? Maybe added capacitors?

 

Plain LEDS simply do not flash on when reversed, so there must be something added in there to do this. I did not want to take apart as it works fine for everything else, just very curious as to what the circuits are in there.

 

Stephen

Edited April 28, 2016 by bertiedog

[Dublodad]

Stephen, I have not noticed this on the Met BoBo, but have on the LTM/Bachmann "S" stock. I believe that is caused if the motor looses power for a fraction of time. the motor generates a reverse polarity causing the flash of the wrong direction lights.

 

Terry

[60006]

Been browsing through ehattons website today and it seems as though the next batch of Met BoBo's are available to order.

 

http://www.ehattons.com/stocklist/SiteResults.aspx?searchfield=Heljan%20electric

 

Glad to see Sarah Siddons on there. Something to go with my S Stock 

Edited May 30, 2016 by 60006

[No Decorum]

Been browsing through ehattons website today and it seems as though the next batch of Met BoBo's are available to order.

 

http://www.ehattons.com/stocklist/SiteResults.aspx?searchfield=Heljan%20electric

 

Glad to see Sarah Siddons on there. Something to go with my S Stock 

Thank you – that is indeed interesting. I recall that Heljan said that Sarah didn’t come with the first batch because the tooling had to be altered to take account of differences from the earlier versions to Sarah in its preserved condition. I hope Heljan lives up to that!

[PaulRhB]

Can anyone enlighten as to the livery differences between 12 "Sarah Siddons" in Metropolitan livery please?

 

9008 (as preserved)

&

9009 (1990s preserved condition)

[Horsetan]

Can anyone enlighten as to the livery differences between 12 "Sarah Siddons" in Metropolitan livery please?

 

9008 (as preserved)

&

9009 (1990s preserved condition)

 

9008 may be the current Metropolitan livery, with flowery-ended nameplates, whereas 9009 (the 1990s version) sounds more LT-flavoured with sans-serif nameplates on black backgrounds.

[PaulRhB]

9008 may be the current Metropolitan livery, with flowery-ended nameplates, whereas 9009 (the 1990s version) sounds more LT-flavoured with sans-serif nameplates on black backgrounds.

Thanks Ivan

So the 9009 is probably Metropolitan style but with LT on the side looking at photos.

9008 for me then

Edited May 31, 2016 by PaulRhB

[bertiedog]

It will be worth getting Sarah Siddon, if the tooling has been altered a bit to suit, very glad to see they are continuing with new issues. The 4 rail track layout is progressing, a simple dog bone layout, but through a wall to get to the next room! Long run with one station for the middle. It runs on a lower level to the main 4mm layout.

[Jeff Smith]

If you look back at my posts #126 and #132 there are photos of the recreated Metropolitan livery and the in-service (possibly after withdrawal) LT livery.

[Paul.Uni]

Livery artwork is now showing on the Hattons website.

[PaulRhB]

I wonder why the artwork is so much lighter for the current Sarah Siddons 9008 than the Metropolitan ones 9005/6, almost looks like they've muddled up the colours and done the LT one 9009 in Metro red and the latest one 9008 in Metro lettering but LT red?

I thought they'd just mixed up the pics but it definitely is the later lettering and plate.

Edited June 1, 2016 by PaulRhB

[Jeff Smith]

Version 9009 in the 1990s livery can only be used in that era as the lining is pre-war ex-Metropolitan but the aluminium nameplate is the post-war version. Evidence suggests that LT continued using the Metropolitan red up to the the wartime grey. Then the post-war repaints were in a different more brown-like darker colour.

[Jeff Smith]

I would hope and suspect that Heljan did as much research on livery as it did on the locos themselves.....

[Bluebell Model Railway]

I saw some concern on the colour of the Metropolitan bo-bo the new ones... I quizzed Heljan on Facebook using some photos I took a few years ago, they are saying the images are light but they will be right when the model arrives. They confirmed they 9008 will be the same as it is currently, and the same as my photos.