The Night Mail

[iL Dottore]

13 hours ago, The White Rabbit said:

 

Errr - I'm guessing you haven't seen https://www.protocab.com/welcome ?

 

Usual disclaimer. I ran into them at a Scalefour North show we were both trading at and was struck by their system because their ideas were very close to what I had thought of myself - the difference being they had the technical ability and determination to turn a concept into a working product. I'm keeping a very close eye on them and could be swopping over as soon as I get chance to actually run some trains... 

No, I hadn’t. 😕
 

They have a very interesting system; unfortunately at the time of my website visit (i.e. yesterday) they seem to be out of a number of items, nor was it possible – from their website – to get an estimate of how much a complete set up would be per locomotive. nor could I find any complete locomotive conversion packages (i.e. every thing you need to convert one locomotive to the system in one box). Although that probably reflects the inability of the iPad to do anything much more complicated than just viewing a site. 

 

From my perspective, a considerable problem is the complication of sending batteries to customers. It does seem that most Postal and courier systems get rather twitchy about handling batteries. Ditto airlines. So neither the option of receiving the batteries via post/courier or picking them up at an exhibition and sticking them in my luggage before flying home seems feasible. I’m sure that there are specialised courier companies that will deliver batteries and the like, but I’m sure you will also pay accordingly.

 

The only drawback with the system that I can see is the necessity to put in a charging plug. Change the plug and charge system to an inductive charging system and you’d be onto a major winner.

[polybear]

56 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

No, I hadn’t. 😕
 

They have a very interesting system; unfortunately at the time of my website visit (i.e. yesterday) they seem to be out of a number of items, nor was it possible – from their website – to get an estimate of how much a complete set up would be per locomotive. nor could I find any complete locomotive conversion packages (i.e. every thing you need to convert one locomotive to the system in one box). Although that probably reflects the inability of the iPad to do anything much more complicated than just viewing a site. 

 

From my perspective, a considerable problem is the complication of sending batteries to customers. It does seem that most Postal and courier systems get rather twitchy about handling batteries. Ditto airlines. So neither the option of receiving the batteries via post/courier or picking them up at an exhibition and sticking them in my luggage before flying home seems feasible. I’m sure that there are specialised courier companies that will deliver batteries and the like, but I’m sure you will also pay accordingly.

 

The only drawback with the system that I can see is the necessity to put in a charging plug. Change the plug and charge system to an inductive charging system and you’d be onto a major winner.

 

Try this site:

http://www.micronradiocontrol.co.uk/

They can't help with the shipping though ☹️ - UK shipping is ok, but overseas is a problem.  Of course you could always travel by train..... 😄

Surely there are equivalents of RS Components/Farnell etc. in Switzerland?

[AndyID]

2 hours ago, BR60103 said:

About 35 years ago we moved to a new (to us) office.  I was in when the telephone man was doing some wiring and he saw me collecting the previous company's wires. He asked if I was a model railroader. Then asked if I knew this new system that only needed two wires to the track.

 

 I cooked up a way to do it when I was working at Glasgow Uni. Computing Science (NB it's computing, not computer) and that was 50 years ago 😀. Unfortunately I didn't have the means to achieve the necessary miniaturization and everyone I talked to about it thought I was nuts, and they may well have been right!

 

Prof. Gilles was the head of the department at GU.

 

I'm sure other people were working on similar systems at that time.

[Nick Holliday]

3 hours ago, BR60103 said:

About 35 years ago we moved to a new (to us) office.  I was in when the telephone man was doing some wiring and he saw me collecting the previous company's wires. He asked if I was a model railroader. Then asked if I knew this new system that only needed two wires to the track.

This was a fellow who was hooking up hundreds of wires in the walls.

 

I realise that this was half of the Queen's reign ago.

 

 

Hornby introduced their Zero One system in 1979, that’s 43 years ago.

Edited June 6, 2022 by Nick Holliday

[AndyID]

29 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Try this site:

http://www.micronradiocontrol.co.uk/

They can't help with the shipping though ☹️ - UK shipping is ok, but overseas is a problem.  Of course you could always travel by train..... 😄

Surely there are equivalents of RS Components/Farnell etc. in Switzerland?

 

Might be worth taking a look at this

 

http://www.deltang.co.uk/news.htm

[AndyID]

BTW, I did buy a Deltang Tx kit and Rx kit some time ago and I'm sure I'll get around to assembling them any day now 😀.  I'd have to do some digging but I think the Rx uses the part that's made from unobtanium.

[pH]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

The only drawback with the system that I can see is the necessity to put in a charging plug. Change the plug and charge system to an inductive charging system and you’d be onto a major winner.

From their website:

 

“Initially, the charging unit will require a plug to be inserted. However, Acc+Ess is developing two other methods of recharging:

- Wireless charging, where the locomotive automatically picks up charging current when positioned near to a charging point

- Contact charging, where the charging current can be collected through the wheels from charging current supplied through the rails or from a separate charging ramp and contact on the locomotive.”

 

So they’re working on it.

[Tony_S]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

complication of sending batteries to customers.

The batteries look rather like the ones used in various slot car wireless handsets. They are allegedly some sort of standard type. Probably available worldwide. Amazon send such batteries out with a big sticker on the packaging. 

[Happy Hippo]

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

That would be around 12v DC

 

The only drawback with the system that I can see is the necessity to put in a charging plug. Change the plug and charge system to an inductive charging system and you’d be onto a major winner.

That could be as much as 12v DC!

[Happy Hippo]

I have made a PPR application to land at Hunt Towers on Wednesday morning, which has been accepted.

 

The Notam I received informed me that landing permission is only granted on the provision that a significant uptake of fuel is expected to be undertaken before departure back to the Hippodrome.

 

PB will be glad to note that the fuel on offer is LDC

[Compound2632]

4 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

I have made a PPR application to land at Hunt Towers on Wednesday morning, which has been accepted.

 

Best wishes to him!

[SM42]

I've been looking into drifting experiences ,( should help with the ring road  in Brum,) following a remark from a family member, that may make a good present for an upcoming landmark birthday

 

Interestingly on one site there is an ad for funeral directors 😲

 

Doesn't instil confidence does it?

 

Andy

Edited June 6, 2022 by SM42

[Happy Hippo]

I spoke to DCCConcepts today regarding my non functioning Alpha Box.

 

It should be a simple plug and play, so having walked through what was plugged in where and the responses shown in the LCD display on the Powercab, I was instructed to return it directly to them rather than via the retailer I bought it from as it will save considerable time.  I have since contacted the retailer and let them know, as it keeps them in the loop especially if they need to confirm purchase details.  

 

Now I just have to wait to find out about the new but non functioning  Powercab intermediate controller.  I await another phone call.

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

2 minutes ago, SM42 said:

I've been looking into drifting experiences ,( should help with the ring road  in Brum) following a remark from a family member that may make a good present for an upcoming landmark birthday

 

Interestingly on one site there is an ad for funeral directors 😲

 

Doesn't instil confidence does it?

 

Andy

If you get yourself a nice barrel, I'll tow it out into the middle of the Bristol Channel and let you get into it before I cast it loose.

 

I'm sure you'll drift quite nicely and for a lot longer than an hour in a racing car.

 

Probably cheaper too.

[Tony_S]

2 hours ago, SM42 said:

I've been looking into drifting experiences ,( should help with the ring road  in Brum,) following a remark from a family member, that may make a good present for an upcoming landmark birthday

 

Interestingly on one site there is an ad for funeral directors 😲

 

Doesn't instil confidence does it?

 

Andy

 My brother lives in your approximate area of the world and I am sure he went on one once, or if he didn’t it was one of the relatives he acquired through his marriage. His step daughters husband’s family are into fast cars and bikes. One also works for a funeral director. Perhaps it is a SW Midlands thing?
Anyway I have sent my brother a message about drifting!

[simontaylor484]

Ah I see what type of drifting you are on about. I thought you were meaning like a hobo travelling about

[bbishop]

I saw the vet today two months after my knee surgery.  Apparently he had to sew up both meniscuses and clean out some arthritis.  But there is little likelihood of bone-on-bone so a knee replacement is unlikely, and this is the "bad" knee.  Bill

[AndyID]

5 hours ago, SM42 said:

I've been looking into drifting experiences ,( should help with the ring road  in Brum,) following a remark from a family member, that may make a good present for an upcoming landmark birthday

 

Interestingly on one site there is an ad for funeral directors 😲

 

Doesn't instil confidence does it?

 

Andy

 

So far I have not been able to get IDSPDY anywhere near the point where it starts to drift. It hugs the road so well I'd have to be going at some completely insane speed.

 

Many Moons ago I was in charge of my brother's Clan Crusader while he was in Persia (that will give you some idea of how long ago this was 🙂) and I tried it on a motorway clover-leaf but it was the same as the 124. I chickened-out long before it did.

[SM42]

The cobble surfaced S bend outside the SVR's Kidderminster station in the wet combined with a  Ford Sierra and a heavy boot on the throttle caused some very satisfying oversteer.

 

The taxi driver at the front of the rank always looked a little worried as you came at him sideways. 

 

Mrs SM42's car on one particular roundabout in the wet would massively understeer even at 10mph. 

Lifting off would get the back end round so you could aim it at your required exit. 

 

You always had to make sure you were on your own going in when it was raining so you had some room just in case.

 

They've resurfaced the road now and her car sticks like glue at twice the speed. 

 

Andy

[AndyID]

3 hours ago, SM42 said:

The cobble surfaced S bend outside

 

 

I'm going to be a bit pedantic now but are you sure they were really cobbles? I suspect they were more likely granite "setts". 😀

[J. S. Bach]

In Baltimore, MD most "cobblestone" streets were actually Belgian blocks; cut stone (usually granite) that came over as ballast in sailing ships.

[pH]

47 minutes ago, J. S. Bach said:

In Baltimore, MD most "cobblestone" streets were actually Belgian blocks; cut stone (usually granite) that came over as ballast in sailing ships.

There are streets paved with ballast stones closer to you than Baltimore - in Charleston. 

 

Here's a picture of one of them:
 

Edited June 7, 2022 by pH
To add picture

[polybear]

Does Puppers recall the guy at the old (and best) Fun Factory that planted a Sierra Hire Car into a tree?  Why is this notable?  Well it's cos' the tree was inside the factory gates - he never even managed to get off-site 🤣

That was a tricky - and fun - corner in the wet though; a certain Bear used to enjoy getting the back out when driving the Trials Transit round that corner - only one day I did it once too often and was seen by the guy that controlled the vans driving towards me.  I was expecting a rocket over that one - I thought he'd grass me up to Coco the Clown but he never did.  He waited a little while and then discretely said "...and don't think I didn't see the way you came round that corner - cos' I did....."

[Tony_S]

My first car was a Ford Cortina (1980 version). I thought the back end behaviour was normal. Since then all my cars have been front wheel or all wheel drive. Aditi had the horrible Volvo with the engine in front and gearbox at the rear. 
Tony

[SM42]

4 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

I'm going to be a bit pedantic now but are you sure they were really cobbles? I suspect they were more likely granite "setts". 😀

 

They were  black and had been polished by numerous decades of hooves and wheels. 

 

What you call them is a matter of technical term vs common nomenclature. 

 

What is the difference between a sett and a cobble? 

 

All I know they were fun in the wet. 😁

 

One other thing that happened when some work took place that required them to be relaid is that the gaps between them got bigger and they fell over. 

The solution was mortar to hold them in place. 

 

No-one seemed to ask why the gaps had got bigger?

 

 

Andy