steve W

Yep, why didn't I think of that

Measuring DCC voltages accurately that will show you volt drop around the layout isn't a very exact science using everyday multimeters as has been noted. In this instance the query is about new wiring, not operational measurement that's being checked and there is no need to use the DCC system at all. I always avoid doing so in this type of situation just to make sure any error doesn't cause equipment problems. if your meter is of good quality, don't energise the circuit at all. Simply use the resistance measurement lowest range with probes at (1) power source for rail 'A' and (2) rail 'A' where you want to measure. Repeat for othe rail 'B' (and across the rails to make sure there are no shorts). Before use hold the probes together, they will show a small resistance and use this as a reference start value. As you get further from the source point, the meter lead will need extending, again measure the overall lead resistance first, then measure and subtract as noted above. The overall result will be higher the further from the source, but realistically should all be very very close to zero Ohms if all joints are tight.

If you have a local picture framer, try them as I have munched my way through several supermarket bag fulls from one that was delighted to get rid of offcuts from the picture mounts Cheers

As a layout exhibitor at the show my grateful thanks to all the CMRA organising team and army of volounteer helpers who made this weekend one of the best and friendliest shows you could hope to attend. It is disappointing to read the negativity expressed on this page. Reference back to St. Albans is a re-hash on grumbles expressed previously and largely irrelevant to to the actual CMRA 2020 exhibiton. I have exhibited at St. Albans once and Stevenage twice, but as nice as the town of St. Albans is, I would not have exhibited at that venue a second time. Of this years layout list, 'Johnstown Road' would be enough to get me running ten miles along the A1M to see it again. Likewise 'Burntisland' - superb, at the other end of the size scale 'Freshwater' and 'Heybridge Wharf ' are beautiful examples of skilled and attractive railway modelling. T o be honest, every layout in the show had very worthy and individual reasons to justify it's inclusion. The trade support for this show was also very good and although I might not have been able to buy e.g. an etched '0' scale Highland Railway haggis van, had I wanted one, the spread of trade and association support was comprehensive and our thanks to them for the advice and help that they so freely give. Steve W.

Here's a taster of OR&P. It's 45ft overall. The station building has 2500 individual wooden shingles on the roof . Mad? very probably. We are a small team on this one, the van is packed to roof as everything over 65mm ( the buildings, trees larger accessories etc.) have to be removed for transport and storage. Buildings have their own boxes, the General Store has a box 700mm square and 600mm high. If you like this sort of thing or would simply like to know more about the layout, you will be very welcome Stevenage - a great show, the layout list looks great this year. Steve W

Extremely unlikely? I will be taking several three pin versions of the flex connectors to a show this weekend, not for a lawn mower, but to join individual lighting modules (fluourescents at mains voltage) on a layout. Steve W.

Now I am jealous! This little layout has really come together brlliantly. Steve W

IT's been said but repeated again: do not use anything that could be plugged into the mains. Neutrik SpeakOn plugs have been mentioned - an excellent choice or you may prefer the near identical ones here https://tinyurl.com/ydqxnxlq From China and an obvoius copy, but at a fraction of the price. These are 4pole and there are matching sockets to go with them. Cables go into screw terminals on the plug (all the pins are safely shrouded). The sockets are panel mount and solderable or 4.8mm push on connections. OPeration: push in and twist 1/8th turn. These are designed for festival type sound systems and robust. steve W

It certainly is a great show and the location cannot be faulted, just be careful where you park - see post #1 above. The large scale (1:20.3 / 45mm gauge) narrow gauge layout 'Orange River and Portland' RR will be there, which means we have a work day on Jan2nd. It was all I could do to persuade the team not to have it on Jan 1st... Here's a taster:-

Here's a quick one I got during a visit to Falmouth docks about 1973. Hudswell Clarke Works No 1632 FD&EC #5 with a load of hoses , possibly for ballast water loading of a ship prior to leaving the a dry dock. Seems #5 survived and is at an indoor museum in Torquay looking much smarter then in this shot.

On a small club shunting puzzle that was surface wired I fitted small microswitches against the end of the tie bar. A sliver of paper or plasticard over the top and small wiring to complete after a digging a temporary trench for it in the surrounding scenery. Works fine. You are between a rock and a hardplace - either a bit of work and disturbance or unreliable operation. I used these or very similar.: https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/switches/microswitches/sub-miniature-microswitches-spdt Fixed to the baseboard they are 13 x 6 x 7mm (plus connection tabs) and all but invisible.

This took me back to the late 70's when I was shipping containers from Corio Quay near Gelong. We used to nip ashore to a bar not far from the quay for a 'refesh' usually to be met by the sight of 20 'girls' from the adjacent meat packing plant, still in their bloody aprons and swilling the stuff back straight from the jug - no pots glasses to be seen. We didn't need cautioning to keep our distance. At a different bar, one of our team got the idea that beer had to be served below 4degC? or thereabouts so next day he took a small stem thermometer with him in his shirt breast pocket and made a point of officiously checking the jug of beer with it. We got thrown out...

My view is that when an embarrassed designer has realised all the shortcomings of his creation, too late in the day to rectify them, 'Smart', 'Fast', 'Rapid', 'Giant' 'Easy' etc. are added to a name to make you think it is 'Smart', 'Fast' etc. Or alternatively, a sales ploy to deliberately put the idea into your head that you are buying a bargain. 'Cheap Rail Tickets' being one of my favourites from one on-line seller. Another example: 'Rapid' self service ticket machine - multiple button pressing, time of day considerations, choose a railcard, a card reader that is not illuminated then 50 seconds to print the tickets and the receipt. 'Rapid' - I think not! I notice that these particular machines have now been replaced. The new ones are similar, but no longer branded 'Rapid' – perhaps the regulator had a word.

Considering that Inert Gas systems had been around for several decades, the uptake by the tanker industry was poor, but a spate of explosions around the time of the Mactra changed that with big programmes of retrofitting systems taking place in the mid late 70's The Mactra had a major part of the hull replaced at MHI in Yokohama and a section of the original vessel was retained by the yard and turned into a heavy work barge. When not in use it was moored alongside the quay just below the superintendents offices. IIt always caused a moment of reflection each time I saw it and was still there in 2007 and seen lower left in the picture. The LNG ship is the 'Belanak' departing the yard after refit. Steve W

Yes, certainly was a good place for ships, not so much these days and Truro Harbour masters are no longer reaping the fees they used too. Tolverne cafe (Newmans Cottage) is no longer operating. As a teenager I visited several of the BP ships (Grandad was a watchman) and later, for my sins found myself on the 'Methane Princess' at King Harry Ferry during the first Gulf war with a film crew hurriedly making a safety film on poison gas attacks. On that exercise I asked the lighting tech what power he needed from the ship and the answer was along the lines of 'enough for n 'Thickies' and n 'Thinnies' - being the two sizes of cables used depending on the size of lights connected. He had no idea of the actual load or the cable size, but knew which cable to use for each light. We calculated the power and temporary supply cable fromthe emergency generator based on the quantity and approximate current ratings for each!

A few days ago I was given a small photograph of my grandfather in his boat on the river Fal. The background line of ships intrigued me and a bit of research dates the picture as probably 1924. At the time there were a considerable number of ships in lay up in the Fal and this group appear to be the Truro side of Tolverne (based on the pattern of the fields on the left) and possibly at the rowing boat passenger ferry landing that operated there. Thanks to Google, the small white vessel second from right of the group has been identified as probably the Blue Funnel 'Hecuba', built in Germany in 1901. After WW1 it was taken into the Holt Line fleet, then Blue funnel in 1923, being scrapped in 1924 (http://www.red-duster.co.uk/) There are other pictures of the Hecuba in the Fal with different partner vessels in the same year ,so it must have been quite a dynamic place in those days pre-dating the better recorded lay ups in the late 1950's, especially of the BP tankers. Unfortunately none of the other vessels in the picture have been identified. Cheers Steve w.

Lovely - can almost smell the creosote

Yes, but it wasn't the owners suddenly having concern for the crew. Air conditioned control rooms are to keep the new fangled electronics happy! Not so sure about lifts. In my opinion most were the creation of the devil and seldom worked as one would expect, if at all. Dangerous and nasty creatures, although I always gave in to temptation and used them on the big ball LNG's when going the full distance.

Variations of spelling aside, I suspect it refers to a tanker loading port right at the top of the Gulf. A location metaphorically '20miles up' the alluded to physiological area (if the world had piles, this is where they'd be) and hotter and more unpleasant than the passage of a vindaloo down said area when affected with piles. A region I used to visit regularly in the late 70's, Interesting times.

Could be one of Kitwood Hill Models. http://www.kitwoodhillmodels.com/ They have similar ones. Steve W

Sorry Rick. Professional pedant mode switched in: The door hinges outwards and potentially blocks access to the defib. This not good. Steve W

Not such a problem in Cornwall, where similar activites have been commercialised. Our children (God bless them....) got Mrs. W and myself vouchers for our 70th birthdays. Great fun Steve W (no connection with above, just a grateful survivor)

My current layout is American narrow gauge. Foreign and narrow gauge, but I have had fantastic feedback and appreciation from the public at all of the shows I have attended. Certainly I would agree that many modellers do get a bit to attached to their own particular flavour of modelling. I think it goes beyond that and I am amazed that many railway modellers I have met would not consider looking beyond model railways for inspiration, techniques and materials. The boat, wargamers and vehicle modellers etc. have a lot to offer and I love attending multi hobby shows that are such a feature in Europe for that reason. On the subject of public comments, some years ago I was with a 14mm gauge British narrow gauge layout at Guildex in Telford where a lady was heard to say 'Oh, I do like that' only for her husband to grab her arm and drag her away muttering 'come along dear, it's only narrow gauge'. Steve W

A quick look at another forum shows this has been a big problem reported since at least 2014. Digitrax seem to be most affected but we also had failures there in 2017 and also at Peterborough using Lenz via their older interfaces. Since then we have stuck to wired throttles.

Stuart, the following pic gives some basic dimensions of the cars (2004) pictured at the depot open day. I also have pics of a lot of the fleet in service, some internals and depot shots if any use. and just for inspiration: Cheers Steve W.