Stevelewis

I am unusre if this has been previously mentioned .............I have made purchases from an eBay seller Prestondavid01 who lists a range of Laser cut kits for 0 & 00 gauge railway structures The Prices are reasonable The Kits include Station Buildings, Signal Boxes, Goods shed, Platform canopies etc, lineside huts

I noticed that when I ran some, however when Digitized slow speed control is excellent, theres time to make a cup of tea whilst a loco travels a couple of yards or less!

Sorry about that...……….mine is just dithering on the brink at the moment!!

A number of Bachmann 009 price reductions noted today from Rails of Sheffield Flash Sale

From my experience with the Baldwins I can add there is no problem with small radii as Nile mentions, there are a few of them running in my area which I have observed, I have seen no lurching or rocking occurring at all even on some quite complex formations, Haulage power is reasonably good, typically we have found on the level 30 to 36 axles is achievable ( mixed stock Bachmann & Peco 009) gradients do reduce this quite a lot, due to the light weight of the loco, but the addition of additional 'ballast' such as heavy metal crew members and cast toolboxes helps.

For info I was ordering from Tim at Arcadia Models Shaw today, he advised me that he was down to his last 'Peggy' ( the red one) and just a 2 or 3 of the 590 and Weathered 'Hummy'......when these are gone it looks like the next batch will be 12 months away. Any one interested, the price is right and telephone ordering advised 01706882900

I would certainly advise a digital system upgrade! I use a Gaugemaster Prodigy 2 on the 00 layout from which I can access all 28 Suttons class 24 sound features although I have to admit I don't use the Detonators (fog signals etc) one very often!!

Peggy appears to be selling fast?

I have a Kato C50 special edition loco and have to agree, with Tom, it is delicate, but the actual performance is absolutely superb, Interesting DVD supplied with the loco also, showing some of Kato's progress through the decades, in Japanese with subtitles. The Loco is available in the UK from Train Trax and the price has recently been REDUCED

Having owned quite a few Hornby Black Fives over the past few years and always being disappointed with their haulage capacity, I can confirm what has already been posted here that they are simply too light! We have always overcome the problem to a certain degree by adding as much weight as possible.

very disappointing indeed! I would have purchased a couple for our UK N gauge layout but will now give it some thought! It surprises me that Bachmann have not upgraded the chassis, I am involved with a couple of non UK outline N Gauge layouts using EMUs & DMUs from such as Kato Fleischmann, Piko etc all of whom supply models with low level mechanisms and very easy digitization methods Reading later post to mine I am pleased to see that the chassis has been modified to provide decoder space, in which case I will more than likely buy a couple. Hard wiring is no problem to me, I started in Digital in '97 hard wiring was the norm then 'DCC Ready' did not make an appearance for several years, I actually feel that a lot of experience was gained ( due to speaking to decoder suppliers & manufacturers) in those early years, That possibly would not be gained currently

YES No Problem on the Baldwin re the MW Check the pony back to backs and remove the pony power pickups, which tend to inhibit the free movement of the ponies,, the driven wheel base is sufficiently adequate for power collection.

Arcadia Models Shaw , Tim has some of the 3 recent Baldwin releases still available at a brilliant price his delivery is fast and the price Brilliant Best to telephone 01706 882900 He expects Saturday the 7th to be Quiet in the afternoon! but busy in the morning. PS Closed all day TUESDAYs

I hope your Garden Line did not suffer too much damage?

ArcadiaRail Shaw 01706882900 I believe still has a few not yet presold ( well at least 2 because I have cancelled mine as other things are taking precedence) Can I suggest that you telephone Tim (rather than email as he does not always get a chance to respond being a 1 man business) and I am sure you will get an excellent price as he always matches the box shifters. And in many cases he gets stock days before them! Tim is closed ALL DAY Tuesday.

I don't think I can make it just a little bit too far unfortunately! You have a very impressive list of layouts and other activities there I bet it takes the full 2 days to take it all in!! But just a quick query .... Does the Toowoomba Rocket Range still exist? When I was young and still at school (50/60s) the Range was very often mentioned in the media ( or what was available as media in those long gone days!)

thanks for the info Steve

Does anyone have any info on UK suppliers of Plux decoders I am aware that Gaugemaster list some I am specifically seeking Plux12 decoders. Thanks

Just wonderin' whose is the lost opportunity?

For information I have been testing the haulage capacity of my 2 Baldwins today, this was done on a continuous run layout in a shed approx. 8 x 6' the minimum radius is around 14" and it is level with no gradients. Both locos performed almost exactly the same, hauling easily 5 Bachmann bogie wagons* ( 2 vans & 3 opens) plus 4 Peco 4 wheel opens with resin 'coal' loads and 3 Peco 4 whl vans which have additional weighting added. that is a total of 34 axles . When I added a Peco L& B coach wheel slip occurred on the curves with one loco whilst the other loco stalled on curves! I will try them on the layout with gradients at a later date *The Bachmann open bogie wagons are loaded with resin ballast loads

Prefer Tipping Point myself

I have to agree the finish is a little 'bland' perhaps for 'weathered' a little bit too uniform, so I think a little more weathering will be applied to mine eventually. Another little 'discovery' I made when fitting the decoder to one of mine I found the steam dome was loose ( the other loco was fine) it was no problem as it just clips into place on the boiler, I did notice that there was what appeared to be a small metal weight in the steam dome, no doubt Bachmann have made the effort to make the loco as heavy as poss,. The addition of a couple of white metal loco crew will increase the weight by around 6 grams , and I shall be on the lookout for some white metal detail parts ( Buckets toolboxes etc) to help further.

Yes the valve gear seems superb on my 2, after suffering the great disappointment and frustration with failed gear on 3 x MWs I am very pleased. I also note that the slow running is also slow and superb, these 2 have decoders fitted and slow does really mean slow! Imperceptable movement probably much slower than would ever be required in normal use It is good to note also that Bachmann have taken the extra step in providing 4 axle power collection, thus increasing the length of the power collecting wheelbase. (The 'fixed. front bogie wheelset being the one collecting power, and it does really work, I tested this on the track by standing all 6 driving wheels on a piece of paper to insulate them from the rails)

HATTONS email just now the other 3 Baldwins which were due April/l May now 'expected' June!

My 778 arrived from Arcadia today excellent price same as the big boys, stunning model smooth runner I fitted a decoder it takes about 10 mins probably less when you have done the first one! Arcadia advised me that 778 is no longer available to order from Bachmann all sold out, so I bought another one, which I will alter the number of. Arcadia have just a couple left for sale now