BMacdermott

Hello PLP

I think you asked for photos of Bath (Green Park) Goods Shed. One below (late 60s) but please respect copyright as I can't recall how it came to me. I am pretty certain I took one in the early 80s, but it's evading me at the moment!

Brian

Many congratulations to Ben and Revolution on this announcement!

Within the Results of The 00 Wishlist Poll, the class had been Middle Polling for some time but went up to High Polling in 2019 and stayed there for 2022 (the last Poll to run before we run again near Christmas this year, and we didn't run in 2020 or 2021).

We wish the company every success with this project!👍

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

Congratulations to Rapido on this bold move!

Within The 00 Wishlist Poll, we sadly don't have room to list individual vehicles of all the railway companies.

However, for 2022 (the last Poll to run), we created a new category for 'specifically Scottish' items. We listed CR Rolling Stock - and it came in High Polling.🙂

The next Poll will run near Christmas. Within that, we have split up the listings into two for you and CR fans will find:

CR Freight Stock

CR Passenger & Non-passenger-carrying Stock.

We wish Rapido every success with the project.

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

2 hours ago, Harlequin said:

 

I hope this isn't going to add to the workload of our Moderators! They need every hour to keep on top of the forum and the pesky "ad-techs" who seem intent on annoying us for no good reason.

 

Hello Phil

I have already prepared the review, construction, checking and running schedule for The 00 Wishlist Poll 2024 and Andy has seen it.

I noted that - although (at the time of writing) there was no NEC event - I had actually built in plenty of 'recovery margin' for him in case anything stepped in to fill the breach.🙂

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

1 hour ago, woodenhead said:

@BMacdermott And it was an incomplete model so really should always have been up for revisiting right from the get go.

Hello Woodenhead

The 00 Poll Team uses a 'cut-off date' (latterly end of 2005 for the 2022 Poll) so that we don't make 'quality judgements' about what does or doesn't go in. 

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

Hello Rob and everyone

Apologies...I need to make a correction.

I said in an earlier post: Even though the DJM 14xx was made 'within our cut-off date', we added the class to The 00 Wishlist Poll 2022  as the company was 'defunct'.

We didn't realise that the project 'belonged' to Hattons. However, as Hattons is (sadly) closing, we will retain it in The Poll unless any company 'takes it over' or announces a new tooling.

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

Hello again Ron

I originally noted 'due weather?' as I had only just tuned in and wasn't certain if there had been an earlier incident that might be causing the delay.

Brian

Hello Ron

Indeed, a 'typical bad weather day' - but I haven't seen one like it for a while, so I thought it was worth a mention. (Not that I am able to watch every day for all day!)

QNH was 991.

Brian

Hello everyone

Even though the DJM 14xx was made 'within our cut-off date', we added the class to The 00 Wishlist Poll 2022  as the company was 'defunct'.

 It was in The Top 50 at overall position sixth.

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

Hello everyone

Looks like long delays inbound at LHR (due weather?). I heard at least two planes say that they were approaching minimum fuel in the holds and might have to divert to LGW.

Inbounds Delta 3 (JFK) and United 924 (IAD) just completed a circuit over Bristol. And Speedbird 24R (ORD) is just doing the same.

Brian

Hello Peter

Within the Results of The 00 Wishlist Poll, the class had - for a number of years - bumped along between Low and Middle Polling.

However, in 2022 (the last Poll to run before we run again later this year) the class had reached High Polling and was not far off The Top 50.

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

6 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

As I've said before (this topic seems to come round about once a year), I enjoy making things but, as for all of us, time is limited - so if something is available ready to use at a sensible price, I'll buy it and "bank" the time saved to make something that isn't.

You're not paying attention - it's much more frequent than once a year!🙂

Brian

59 minutes ago, MR Chuffer said:

I've had the Vector Zero Three Crawler http://morleycontrollers.com/shopexd.asp?id=46 for over a year now, no start/stopping issues whatsoever with up to date Bachmann and v.old Hornby and Tri-ang locos - unlike with my previous Gaugemaster Combi which I binned. Very smooth and controllable at all speeds.

Many thanks Mr Chuffer - clearly an improvement on what they had (and pretty much confirmed by a YouTube video I have just seen).

I had forgotten to say that I had another 'difficulty' with the controller. I very much prefer a direction switch so that I know I have a 'definite no power' position. The Morley units are back and forward. I also found that the handheld units didn't 'sit' so nicely in my hand.

I did once have the Gaugemaster handhelds but found the slider switch gave me a form of RSI (very mildly and no intended criticism of Gaugemaster).  The All Components controllers have a rocker switch to which I fit a plastic sleeve for even greater 'comfort'.

All a matter of personal opinion.🙂

Brian

Hello Pierre

The 'difficulty' I found with the Morley controller was that locos were either 'stopped' or 'going'. There wasn't much finesse with the starting to roll. I'd be interested to hear your experience.

Brian

Hello everyone

Many congratulations to Rapido on the announcement of the N19 Loco Coal Wagon. 

Within The 00 Wishlist Poll, it has been Middle Polling for a number of years but only narrowly missed being in High Polling in 2022 (the last Poll to run before we run again at the end of this year).

We wish Rapido every success with the project!

We had deleted the Open Wagon from The Poll lists as we took it be 'within the same family' of the others announced. It would be impractical for us to list every diagram ever made.🙂

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

Hello RapidoCorbs

Many congratulations on the announcement of this vehicle.

Within The 00 Wishlist Poll, it has been Middle Polling for a number of years but only narrowly missed being in High Polling in 2022 (the last Poll to run before we run again at the end of this year).

We wish you every success with the project!

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

Hello Rob and everyone

Within The 00 Wishlist Poll, we deleted the Open Wagons a while ago but - I'm pleased to say - the Loco Coal Wagon is another winner!

The type has been Middle Polling for a number of years, but came in not far short of High Polling in 2022 (the last Poll to run).

Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team)

17 hours ago, JIJ said:

Just for reference, what does count as a "good" controller? 

And can anyone suggest a good single track controller for an "advanced beginner"?

Hello Jol

Below is what I posted to this thread on Page 1. Hope it helps.

Brian

____________________

I experimented some years ago with controllers and settled on the handheld ones sold by All Components (which are based on what used to be made by Kent Panel Controls). I run DC with Common Return.

I have had the feedback switched to minimum by a chap they use for repairs. Probably not much difference on performance of most locos but - as I have noted on another thread recently - my DJM 14xx was 'jumpy' when one came back with feedback inadvertently 'full on'. Changed back to a minimum - problem gone!

I recently bought a Trax handheld controller. Good control, but - for me - doesn't 'sit' as nicely in my hand as the All Components.

Brian

Hello again Tony and everyone

Just to add a tad more detail for you...

Take a look at the 'Parcels Blocks' noted in Photo 4. What might not be immediately apparent is that they are all approximately the same length.

Also not apparent there will be that when the Main Parcels (long distance) drops a segment from the rear in the Down platform, it then picks up a segment on the front in the reverse loop hidden sidings. That segment would have been dropped by the preceding Local Parcels train.

The same process happens in the Up direction. This keeps the parcels trains 'looking different' each time they pass.

Brian

5 minutes ago, Pint of Adnams said:

Even V2s have been known to fail Brian, and Hitchin was well-practised at providing substitutes 🫢

Indeed!

In fact, it is part of 'the benefit' of having a system because I can see quickly how to get the loco back into it's roster.

Brian

Hello again

Just to be 'honest' about my post above - I have inadvertently rostered a K3 for the Up freight - it should have been a V2!

Brian

3 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

There is much enjoyment to be had by running everything using 'just' RTR, but that holds little interest to me; unless each item has a personal story to tell - how it was altered/renumbered/re-named/detailed/weathered. A personal story told by the person who did it. A 'modeller', in fact. Many such items have run on Little Bytham.............

Regards,

Tony.

Hello Tony and everyone

I don't consider myself to be a 'modeller' per se - rather, someone who uses models to recreate (with a wide margin of tolerance!) my memories of being a trainspotter in the late 1950s.

I won't go into detail here as it is not important, but my layout - particularly the hidden sidings - is not (and was not) designed for actual timetable running. Instead, it permits a series of random but related trains to 'come at me' and I have to work out what to do with them. That includes shunting, rostering locos to trains, forming 'correct' (or reasonable) carriage formations and so on.

For all this to happen in a meaningful way - and on the four 'places' that my layout can purport to be - I have spent many hours perfecting a working system. And I enjoy that 'thinking creatively' far more than I ever could by 'creating models'.

I have attached six photos below of how my layout works when in 'Hitchin 1959' mode. The seventh photo shows what is 'coming at me' this afternoon. I will explain just the top two lines...

To the left is 'Up' to London; to the right is 'Down'. The first Up train is Freight No.T6-3 (which you will find in the previous photo). That is booked to terminate - but before that happens, a K3 has been on the shed pits and will now take out Freight T6-4. 

On the Down side, Parcels P1 (a long distance train) will arrive at the platform and have a 'segment' (usually about three vehicles) detached from the rear by the station pilot. When the parcels departs, the pilot shunts the stock to the carriage sidings.

Took as much time to work all of the above out as it would have taken many of you to build a loco!🙂

Brian (happily running RTR!)

Hello whart57

Your post above is pretty much how I would see the situation.

It did throw up a (totally hypothetical and somewhat strange!) anomaly for me though...

If I wanted to go back to Exeter Central and observe a full 1960 summer service from start to finish, I'd need observations at the west and east platform ends as well as at Exmouth Junction shed and the sidings!

It's the stuff of Hollywood sci-fi movies, but what if - instead of actual time travel - we were able to view all places at all times in history through our computers? Select a map reference and date/time - hit 'go'! A bit like Google Earth but with historical perspective and movement!

A full 1960 summer service would entail about 90 days viewing - and that equates to over 2000 hours to observe at each of the four locations! A fascinating research project...as long as you have a 'fast forward button' to skip the dead times!

The mind boggles!🤓

Brian

Hello everyone

Indeed, time travel would enable us to return to such interesting places as Oxford, Exeter Central, Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot - to name just four of possibly hundreds!

Much of our 'history' is garnered from photos and many of those emanate from BR days from (as noted) Ivo Peters etc. Most of those photos will have been taken 'during the main part of daytime' and often on Summer Saturdays.

Time travel would allow the historian to see what those places were really like, spread over a whole day and/or over a whole week or number of weeks! There would be so much to see and learn!🙂

If time travel were possible, I'd be first in the queue with my notebook and camera at the ready!

Brian

Hello everyone

Circumstances preclude me going to as many shows as I used to but the three local ones here in Milton Keynes - GETS, Silver Fox and MKMRS - had plenty of the younger age groups attending.

Brian