Midland Road

[SGJ]

A few more picks of my new 108

 

 

 

To compare with the Hornby Refurbished livery Calder Valley class 110 unit

 

 

[class"66"]

Nice modeling  

[SGJ]

The New Head shunt for the Depot area has been put in place...

 

Sizing up the old Curved point before putting into position, the only problem is that its electrofrog so I have used insulating fish plates / rail Joiners

 

 

After the point was dropped into place...

 

 

 

 

 

I may be able to add more track to the Depot are, but I don't want it to look over done so will have a operating session when the new DCC controller comes ( still undecided on which to buy though arghhhh   )

 

SGJ

 

[SGJ]

This is the crane and Weigh bridge and goods shed area at the moment, The crane ( Wills ) is mounted on a old Dapol level crossing wooden deck.

I am concerned about the position of it being near the end of the line, would it be ok there or would it be at the other side of the goods shed ?

 

 

 

 

 

SGJ

[SGJ]

The updated track plan plus a few extra pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

SGJ

[SGJ]

The station extension and run round is now in place ( suggested by Steve O ).

 

 

 

Checking for size,,,

 

 

All seems to fit...

 

 

The Class 70 can fit too - Just 

 

 

I have also extended the goods area

 

 

 

I have also put the Jib on the Crane

 

 

The other thing I have done today was to move the Depot across so its nearer to the Edge of the Board to see how it looks

 

 

The job for tomorrow is to tidy up the railway room !!!

 

SGJ

[SGJ]

I am thinking about adding fuel facility's on the depot, So for unloading ( images bellow ) this would be done around the new head shunt for the depot, I think the fuelling point would be able to go on the long stabling line,

 

 

[SGJ]

The latest locomotive to be added to Armley Moor is a Class 08 ( 08661 ) it will be renumbered to either 08525 or 08499,and painted in the appropriate livery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have also added a Weigh Scale for the coal men 

 

 

 

 

Also the coal Staithes / Coal Bunkers have been Extended

 

 

SGJ

[RSLR]

The new Gronk looks good SGJ and the coal yard is coming along nicely.

[SGJ]

I have just added a Digger to the Coal yard, Also a Pico shed, and a base to the track area...

( I think its probabley a bit too recent so will eventualy replace it with a Dapol JCB ).

 

 

 

 

 

I have also re positioned the Weigh scales

 

 

I also have bought a wills signal box, knightwing fueling point and  a Knightwing Fuel Unloading kit to do later

SGJ

 

[Steve O.]

Hi, looks like a lot more progress. Some nice models there, like the 08!

Cheers, Steve.

[SGJ]

The updated plan bellow

 

[SGJ]

The Fuel unloading point is now in place and built

 

 

 

 

 

I am still working on the layout so maybe a bit more to come later on

SGJ

[SGJ]

I am planning a bit more for the top end of the goods yard with having a platform and a end loading ramp, 

comments are welcome as I don't know really how this should look

 

 

 

SGJ

[SGJ]

I have put some cobbles down in the coal yard to see if it looks ok, I'm not too sure witch to have concrete or cobbles, I do like the cobble look

 

 

 

 

 

I have also put a knightwing diesel hydraulic shunting loco on the layout, although it is not powered.

 

 

A few general images now before Bed

 

 

 

 

 

[SGJ]

Class 08

 

class 45 departing with wagons

 

Class 45106 departs from platform 3

 

 

The class 108 Departng from platform 1

 

 

The class 04 moving wagons around

 

 

The class 25 on a vacuum fitted freight

 

 

 

45106 Blooper left its coaches

 

 

 

SGJ

( Comments welcome )

[SGJ]

A few more videos

 

Class 47 with a mixed rake of stock on the Saturday holiday maker...

 

 

2 DMU sets entering platform 2

 

 

 

SGJ

 

[RSLR]

Hi,

Some interesting videos SGJ, good to see the model working well.
I see trains move very fast in your part of the country  

Cheers, Reece

[SGJ]

Hi,

 

Some interesting videos SGJ, good to see the model working well.

I see trains move very fast in your part of the country  

 

Cheers, Reece

 

Hi Reece,

We Get the job done in WEST YORKSHIRE !

I had just bought a Gaugemaster Combi yesterday from Model Zone ( think its there last day today in Leeds ), so am pretty much getting used to using DC again, after my elite broke, I am going to get a new digital controller, I am thinking about what controller I want at the moment thats why I got the combi, the G.M. Prodigy looks like a option for me, http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=DCC02&r=1 although the ESU ECoS looks tempting ( but the price is questionable ) http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24_112&products_id=1762

 

Decision is never easy when it involves money for a Yorkshire Man

 

SGJ

[RSLR]

Hi SGJ,

The system I use is the Gaugemaster Prodigy Advanced 2. there are many opinions, advantages and such on the subject regarding all the many different systems. Personally I was on a slight budget when getting my system however it meets my requirements, if I had more cash to spend I would have had something a little more fancy like the current ZTC system or indeed the ESU ECoS.

Although I spent a long time looking at all the different systems and in the end decided to get the Gaugemaster Prodigy, and an added advantage was that the shop I bought it from did a deal and I got it cheaper than anywhere else after comparing all these other online shops, the internet is a very good tool when shopping, I believe it's around £190 online.

I do prefer the wired system compared with the wireless, on that note I did try out the Bachmann Dynamis although found it was really pants at getting signal to the basestation and wasn't really worth faffing around with plus it's stupidly expensive needing all the extra equipment to get it to do anything useful (which when your a DCC sound nut you need it to do almost everything!), with the Gaugemaster Prodigy you can just have a really long ethernet lead, I've got a nice 10 meter on mine In my honest opinion screw wireless with it's cutting out and the need for 100 rechargeable batteries just to keep the thing going.
I did try the Hornby system although found it very confusing to operate at times, taken ages just to figure out how to make anything work! (and I'm a modern computer generation wiz)

I tried the ZTC system at a show and it was to say in one word AWESOME with it's hands on control! At the same time I bought a hand full of chips from them, very friendly service. I quite like their small plug style decoders as they fit inside the Bachmann 08 and other smaller locos with no need to modify anything, simply just plug and play for £20 each or available in bulk packs.

The ESU ECoS is one of the most advanced and one of the most expensive systems available, it is also the best I've encountered so far although I have seen only see on demonstrations with no hands on experience, however I will be buying one in the future. It can pretty much do absolutely everything you can think of DCC related (apart from make coffee) and even gives full play over sounds i.e. you can hold the tone of the horn for a full on two tone horn. You can also uplink to computers, iphones, tablets and other electronic devices with an App available to use it as a 'cab' controller. The ECoS even has a handy DCC sniffer which uplinks the controller to any existing system so you can use your existing DCC system with it.

Those are some of my personal opinions on the subject. Some have different, but I think try before you buy is key and see which one you like allot & can afford or suit your budget.
But to answer your question I can recommend the Gaugemaster Prodigy, it meets my needs and it's easy to use. I believe mine came from Team Track Trading of Redruth who did it for a deal price (who also attends my local shows)

Some of my experiences 
 Cheers, Reece

[MattWallace]

Don't forget the MERG kits + JMRI for compute control "on the cheap".  You need to solder them up yourself, however you can then convert any iPhone/pad/pod or Android device to work as a wireless controller with complete control over your locomotives, accessories and even the ability to set routes.

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57099-blockwall-junction/page-4&do=findComment&comment=897632 shows the system working on my Blockwall Junction layout and http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/69236-appleford-junction-was-redcot/page-3&do=findComment&comment=1064857 shows it operating my LokSound v4 chipped 66.

 

It's cost me about £160 so far for the following:

 

* USB->CBUS interface

* CBUS DCC Command Station

* 4 x CBUS Solenoid Point controllers (each of which controls 4 solenoid point motors giving my 16 points in total)

* Raspberry Pi Computer to link it all together

 

MERG membership costs £18/year but is well worth it for the quarterly journal and access to the kits available (including a current-based DCC-compatible Train-On-Track-Indicator for less than £2!)

 

Like I say, if you're not confident with a soldering iron then this is either a bad choice or a great way to practice depending on your outlook on things - but it works really well for me and will be powering and controlling the whole of Appleford Junction (or what ever it ends up being called... )

[SGJ]

Thanks Mat and Reece, that has given me a lot to think about.

SGJ

[SGJ]

I have made a start on the knightwing Fuelling point and put it on the layout where I think I will have it.

I think its close to the up line so it will need a wall or fence between it and the line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tanks are Piko that I have had hanging around for years and years, The kit has had better days, so will be replaced possibly with Knightwing tanks or even another Piko kit ( same one ).

 

 

SGJ

[SGJ]

I have just been in the back room of the cellar, haven't been in there for years, I was thinking about clearing out the old junk that is in there, I noticed a box in the corner bellow my 18 year old daughters baby toys I didn't recognise the box so moved Louise's old toys to one side, the box had a half inch or more of dust and dirt on it, I slowly opened it preparing myself for spiders and what ever else would jump at me, to my surprise no spiders, and even better it was a box of memories featuring a Model Scene pack of pallets that I bought from Beatties, two old class 47 projects, 2 class 45 body's, a couple of red stripe vans ( VDA and VIX ) two lima trans-pennine coaches

 

Beatties fond memories of being a 13 year old in wonderland

 

47413 this was one of two projects when I was about 15 fitting Kadees and also repainting / spraying

 

 

This was also a Kadee fitted engine, It would have ended up as 47406, but then I found out Lima did 47487 in intercity so that was duly bought and re-done as 47406 Rail Riders at the time.

Happy days on the Leeds - Huddersfield leg on the mk2 Trans-pennine hauled stock, day rover in hand, Dirty face full of flys, Sony walkman ear phones etc toilet roll streamers ( and to think I tell my kids to behave all the time - erm Sorry Mum and Dad )

 

 

My now bigger set of speedlink wagons the Air-brake set

 

 

A lot of memories swishing about in my head from my younger days at the moment

SGJ 

 

I had hair in those days too 

[SGJ]

I have made a few alterations, the station will have four platforms and the coal yard will be opposite the depot.

 

 

 

 

 

I will take some more images tomorrow.

 

SGJ