Crewlisle

Dave, On 'Crewlisle' my track bus has to cross four baseboard joints. I use 6 amp cable & at baseboard joints I use two single pole 4mm banana plugs & sockets. The male pins are slightly tapered & sprung & when fitted in the adjoining socket it provides a tight, positive joint - no chance of loose connections as sometimes happens with double or multipin plugs. Over the last ten years the layout has been dismantled/reassembled more times than I care to remember with no electrical problems whatsoever! Peter

Anyone got any photos of a Hurst Models' Brecknell Willis pantograph? Peter

Ben, My 00 gauge DCC layout 'Crewlisle' is 8ft 6ins x 8ft. In this forum, the question What can be done with 00 gauge in a 11' by 11' room? was asked in August this year. Comment 9 dated 8th August shows my layout but was suggested as a solution to this problem by someone else. Click on the link & after reading, carry on scrolling down to Comment 11 about the gradients & reversing loop. With reference to the track plan, the short bottom baseboard is hinged for access to the airing cupboard & the gap at the right hand side of the plan is not a mistake converting from imperial to metric. It is so the bedroom door can open! Since then my stock has been considerably enlarged. I now run a total of 52 locos (steam, diesels, AC electrics, Blue Pullman, HST, APT & ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’), 65 coaches/parcel coaches & 120 wagons with no fiddle yard! I have fourteen 4ft 6ins long cassettes which form part of the reversing loop on the inside of the central operating well. Two six coach expresses can be stored on the reversing loop if required. I have two longer cassettes for storing my Blue Pullman, HST or 6 coach expresses. These can only be accessed from one end with the other end resting on top of the tracks under the right hand baseboard. The shorter cassettes are replenished from the stock boxes as required. Crewlisle is not super detailed or prototypical but over the years has been continually improved. I run a minimum of two & sometimes as many as four trains simultaneously. It was built to entertain & for that reason a regular comment at exhibitions is "It is nice to see something moving!". There are photos & videos on Google & You Tube. With reference to using Anyrail or SCARM for 'designing' your layout, I believe they only plan using manufacturers sectional track. Forget these modern planning tools; I did it the old fashioned way using Peco point paper templates & aligning the curves by eye. I placed the templates where I wanted them then carefully aligned the curves for using Peco Code 100 flexible track & adjusted the templates as required. As they say in the ship repair/building industry, ‘If a curve looks right it is right!’ Before I started 40 years ago I decided what I wanted from my train spotting days in the fifties. That was a terminus for six coach expresses, steam shed, diesel shed, turntable, goods yard, WCML with OLE, semaphores on high level, 4 aspect colour light signals on the WCML & a reversing loop. I think I have achieved my ambition & I could never break it up & build a different one. If you want to fit a cassette system in part of your track, see my Comment 13 in 'Anyone making Laser Cut Cassettes?' asked in the 'Modelling Questions, Help & Tips' forum in April this year. It includes details of making the cassettes complete with drawings. Peter

All this talk of whether the Air Blast Circuit Breaker is in the correct position is insignificant & 'rivet counting' to the extreme compared with this excellent model not having a metal sprung pantograph to raise & be in contact with the OLE as in real life. Those without OLE could keep it clipped down. Also, it is pathetic & laughable when reading comments that the 'pantograph' can easily be knocked off! Sorry Hornby but 10 out of 10 for the actual model but 0 out of 10 for the pantograph. Peter

Andy, My 8ft 6ins x 7ft 6ins DCC layout Crewlisle is on three inter connected levels with the mid level continuous run representing the WCML with OLE. To get all my design in such a relatively small area, all my track is curved where it passes over the baseboard joints so it would have been unwise to use the standard method of soldering track to copper clad Paxolin at the baseboard edges due to the track having to be cut at very shallow angles ‑ especially running trains at realistic speeds on the WCML! The slightest misalignment would be disastrous. The track & foam underlay (2mm polystyrene wall insulation) were laid over the joint, but the foam was not stuck 80mm either side of the baseboard joint. The track was cut 80mm each side of the baseboard joint with a razor saw and the short section lifted out and reinforced with thin card on the underside & ballasted. The rail ends of this section were carefully filed, rail connectors soldered to one end and sleeper chairs cut at the other end to allow the fitting of sliding fish plates. This allowed accurate and reliable track alignment & electrical continuity every time by having the track continuously joined with normal rail connectors. I have been exhibiting for over 30 years & have had no trouble with this method of connection. I even have three points on the high level & a pair of crossover points (not cut) on the mid level WCML fitted across baseboard joints in the same way. The baseboards themselves are aligned with cast brass hinges with their hinge pins replaced by 50mm x 1.5mm steel pins bent at one end to make them easy to remove. 'Crewlisle' is 00 gauge, so N gauge may be too small for this method but it would certainly be worth a bit of trial & error. Peter

Andy, I would like to clarify my wording in Comment 1209. Where I stated, '...... but it does not have a useable pantograph', I did not mean the model to collect power from the OLE. I have never even considered that option! My OLE is only for show with the actual pantograph touching the OLE for appearances & movement when it approaches tunnels. The masts & OLE wires are all portable. Peter

Forget a hidden fiddle yard as they will give you nothing but trouble. Slightly redesign your layout & use individual cassettes. On my 00 gauge layout 'Crewlisle' I have 14 cassettes holding complete trains which form part of my reversing loop & are stored on a rack underneath the baseboard. With cassettes you can have as many locos & stock as you want without overcrowding the viewing area. See my Comment 55 in this forum under 'New layout limited space (update)' on 11/8/18 where I give details on the construction of my cassettes. Peter

Never mind the lights, the most important omission is a proper usable BW high speed metal sprung pantograph. Where do you think it gets its power from? Why concern yourself with nitty gritty details when its description is a '25 Kv Class 87 loco' but it cannot draw any power from the OLE? Lovely model & I would buy one but it does not have a useable pantograph. I would love to buy one with Executive Livery but I will now have to wait for the Bachmann Class 90. Peter

Great news. Any idea if it has a plastic pantograph or a decent metal one so it can be a real Class 87? Peter

I sympathise about your loft; I have just sorted mine out but am fortunate to have had the use of my spare bedroom for the last 45 years! One thing I would say is that someone has recommended using Code 75 rail. Yes it does look more realistic than the popular Code 100 but it is quite fragile. Code 100 rail & points can be made more realistic if the sides of the rails are painted. Peter

I have just browsed through this forum & perhaps I could answer TonyMay's comments: 1. If you look carefully, it was not me who 'touted' my layout plan in the forum in Comment 32 but someone who thought it worth considering. Yes it does have flaws but as with most layouts, you have to compromise. 2. RMweb is a website where members can ask questions on any railway subject & there will always be someone out there who knows the answer or can offer advice. It is entirely up to whoever asked the original question whether they act on the advice given,whether it is 'What can I fit in this space?' or 'How do I do this?'. 3. I have never pretended it is like Crewe or Carlisle. I should be so lucky to have the space to represent either of them! Like most layouts it is a fictitious name made up from probably the two largest & most important rail centres on the WCML in the 1950s - Crewe & Carlisle. 4. It would be great to have a layout to run a Duchess with 16 or 18 coaches, but I am quite happy to have a Duchess or Princess pulling 6. It was always great to see them come through Rugby at speed. Is it any different from a layout with 25Kv electrics with no OLE just because the owner likes Class 86/87s? 5. In all my posts when describing Crewlisle (& at exhibitions) I always say that, I am the first to admit It is not the most detailed or prototypical layout but was built for entertainment & for me to run my trains as I remember them from my trainspotting days. I have always admired someone who builds a layout of an actual prototype down to the last blade of grass, but most of us do not have the patience or skills to build such layouts, so we all have to compromise. 6. At the Bristol Exhibition many years ago, the late Cyril Freezer of RM & track plan books fame, stopped at my layout where we had a long discussion about the layout. He finished by saying, "You have a lot of track in a small space but it does not look out of place". Coming from him it was praise indeed & that statement made my day! 7. All the scenery is just basic scatter materials; no electrostatic grass or scratch built buildings (apart from the coaling shed/water tank); a mixture of Superquick, Wills & Peco kits using Superquick brick/stone paper; turntable is scratch built from a lathe turned 12mm ply base & hand operated using Meccano gears. Because it is hand operated , at exhibitions I let children operate it & have a go at driving either on the main line or on the shed/turntable (with fingers hovering over the emergency stop button!). This is good PR to encourage youngsters into the hobby when you notice a distinct lack of youngsters at exhibitions. 8. With regard to his last comment about '....but you could model a believable secondary line or branch line using the basic geometry', I agree but I have had many visitors at exhibitions say, 'I was going to build a fiddle yard to branch line or secondary line in this size space, but you have completely changed my way of thinking!' 9. Finally at exhibitions, I like my operators to give the visitors 'value for money' by always running at least two trains/locos & sometimes as many as four simultaneously. I have lost count of the number of comments, "It is good to see something moving". I have seen some exhibition layouts with a four track mainline with visitors four deep just waiting for something to appear. So 'Yes' I plead guilty to running a 'roundy-roundy' layout which annoys some modellers & 'touting' it around, but there are many average modellers (like myself) out there who enjoy these type of layouts. Peter

See my suggestion in comment number 55 in 'New layout limited space (update)' on this forum. Peter

I have used these since I designed & built my 00 gauge exhibition layout 'Crewlisle' over 40 years ago. To up date the attachment, I now have 53 locos, 65 parcel/passenger coaches & a Blue Pullman. The attachment gives a length of 1371mm (4ft 6ins in proper measurements!) for the cassettes which form part of the reverse loop inside the operating well. Since then I have made two additional ones from PVC 'U' shaped pipe covers, each approximately 1550mm long to hold either a six coach express, Blue Pullman or HST. This allows me to remove longer expresses from the viewing area to prevent the layout looking overcrowded. These do not form part of the reverse loop but can only be entered from one end & carefully lifted on & off as they are a bit unwieldy to handle! As I say in the attachment fiddle yards are wasted space, especially in compact main line layouts like 'Crewlisle'. Peter CASSETTE 9-11-02.doc

My 8ft 6ins x 7ft 6ins DCC layout Crewlisle is on three inter connected levels with the mid level continuous run representing the WCML with OLE. To get all my design in such a relatively small area, all my track is curved where it passes over the baseboard joints so it would have been unwise to use the standard method of soldering track to copper clad Paxolin at the baseboard edges due to the track having to be cut at very shallow angles ‑ especially running trains at realistic speeds on the WCML! The slightest misalignment would be disastrous. The track & foam underlay (2mm polystyrene wall insulation) were laid over the joint, but the foam was not stuck 80mm either side of the baseboard joint. The track was cut 80mm each side of the baseboard joint with a razor saw and the short section lifted out and reinforced with thin card on the underside & ballasted. The rail ends of this section were carefully filed, rail connectors soldered to one end and sleeper chairs cut at the other end to allow the fitting of sliding fish plates. This allowed accurate and reliable track alignment & electrical continuity every time by having the track continuously joined with normal rail connectors. I have been exhibiting for over 30 years & have had no trouble with this method of connection. I even have three points on the high level & a pair of crossover points (not cut) on the mid level WCML fitted across baseboard joints in the same way. The baseboards themselves are aligned with cast brass hinges with their hinge pins replaced by 50mm x 1.5mm steel pins bent at one end to make them easy to remove. Peter

I may be asking a naive question but as regards the Pay Pal problems, shouldn't the people who used Pay Pal to make their initial payments have read paragraph 3d of Pay Pal's terms & conditions? You cannot blame Pay Pal or Dave for the problems caused with refund delays, etc.. I paid by using a standard credit card & if anything goes wrong I will probably be covered by Section 75. Peter

You appear to have two completely separate 8ft square circuits. What a waste of space! With reference to the track plan above, ‘Crewlisle’ is a DCC exhibition layout where I have managed to include three interconnected levels with hidden crossovers under the high level so that trains can exit the reversing loop/cassettes from any direction. On the high level there is a 4 platform terminus for 6 coach expresses, steam shed, turntable, diesel shed, shunting/marshalling yard; on the mid level there is a double track mainline with OLE representing the WCML between 1955 & 1985 with suitable locos & stock; the lower level being the reversing loop. And all in 8ft 6ins x 7ft 6ins or in other words ‘a quart in a pint pot!’. My minimum radii are second radius (mainly in the tunnels) & the maximum is 7ft radius on the through station. I run a total of 52 locos (steam, diesels, AC electrics, Blue Pullman, HST, APT & ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’), 65 coaches/parcel coaches & 120 wagons with no fiddle yard! I have fourteen 4ft 6ins long cassettes which form part of the reversing loop on the inside of the central operating well which goes under the right hand baseboard & rises up under the bottom baseboard to join the mainline under the steam shed coaling shed. I have two longer ones for storing my Blue Pullman, HST or 6 coach expresses. These can only be accessed from one end with the other end resting on top of the tracks under the right hand baseboard. The shorter cassettes are replenished from the stock boxes as required. It is not super detailed or prototypical but over the years has been continually improved. I run a minimum of two & sometimes as many as four trains simultaneously. It was built to entertain & for that reason has been exhibited at the NEC five times (last one in 2015) & Alexandra Palace for the second time in 2017. A regular comment is "It is nice to see something moving!". There are photos & videos on Google & You Tube. It will be returning to the NEC in 2020. Forget the modern planning tools; I did it the old fashioned way using Peco point templates & aligning the curves by eye. I placed the templates where I wanted them then carefully aligned the curves & adjusted the templates as required. As they say in the ship repair/building industry, ‘If a curve looks right it is right!’ Before I started 40 years ago I decided what I wanted from my train spotting days in the fifties. That was a terminus, steam shed, diesel shed, turntable, goods yard, WCML with OLE, semaphores on high level, colour light signals on the WCML & a reversing loop. I think I have achieved my ambition & I could never break it up & build a different one. PS: The short bottom baseboard is hinged for access to the airing cupboard & the gap at the bottom RHS of the plan is not a mistake in converting from imperial to metric. It is so the bedroom door can open! Peter Note: Layout featured in Hornby Magazine HM84, June 2014. Catenary featured in Model Rail magazine HM192, February 2014. Details of catenary in tunnels featured separately via post on RMWeb.

What is the latest release date of the second batch of Sir William Stanier? I was originally having one for my birthday at the end of May. Probably change it to a Christmas present! Peter

Once more I will stick my neck out & say that if you are using Peco Code 100 Electrofrogs there is no need for polarity switching if you keep the point blades clean as they can be used straight out of the box. I have been DCC for 10 years using the Lenz LZV 100 Command Station & LH90 hand held controllers. My layout 'Crewlisle' was started 45 years ago with Code 100 Insulfrogs modified to live frogs about 30 years ago & progressively installing the reliable but basic Peco solenoid motors as funds permitted,. As they have grown old & weary like we all do, they have been replaced with Code 100 Electrofrogs, still using the reliable Peco solenoid motors. Over the years, the number of both polarity or motor failures I have had at exhibitions or at home I can count on one hand. Then they were only in sidings. 'Crewlisle' has 30 Code 100 Peco Electrofrog points & the only polarity switches on my layout are for the live diamond. Peter

Thanks. Peter

Can the thin multi coloured wires inside a TV SCART lead be used for hard-wiring decoders in locos, DC or solenoid point wiring? Peter

Totally agree. I started 'Crewlisle' 45 years ago with minor modifications to the layout to the present date. I used Peco Code 100 track & eventually installed a total of 30 Code 100 Insulfrog points as that was all that was available. Over the intervening years I modified them to live frogs. It is only in the last 5 years I started to replace all my points as they had worn out. Many modellers on this forum think I should be burnt at the stake because I state that Peco Code 100 Electrofrog points can be used straight out of the box without the need for polarity switching & I have been DCC for 10 years! The only polarity switches on my layout are for my live diamond, converted from Insulfrog to live frogs. I have exhibited at the NEC (5 times), Ally Pally twice, Hornby's Great Electric Train Show & local shows. I can count on one hand the number of point failures I have had over the years (both at home & at exhibitions) & these have only been in sidings. My track is laid on 1.5mm white polystyrene wall insulation, ballasted, spray painted with a dark grey ballast colour with a quick light pass down the centre of the track with Humbrol 'Track Colour'. I have lost count of the number of times visitors to exhibitions who have asked if it is Code 75. This is probably because the sides of the rails are painted thus disguising the height of the rail. As many have stated in previous comments, it is robust & reliable - especially the points. You have to trade off realism/scale for reliability. I wrote the above Comment 67 inreply to Comment 59 in the Peco Forum under the heading "Is Code 100 still used on 'serious' layouts?" I think my answer points out the good things about Code 100. Peter '

Totally agree. I started 'Crewlisle' 45 years ago with minor modifications to the layout to the present date. I used Peco Code 100 track & eventually installed a total of 30 Code 100 Insulfrog points as that was all that was available. Over the intervening years I modified them to live frogs. It is only in the last 5 years I started to replace all my points as they had worn out. Many modellers on this forum think I should be burnt at the stake because I state that Peco Code 100 Electrofrog points can be used straight out of the box without the need for polarity switching & I have been DCC for 10 years! The only polarity switches on my layout are for my live diamond, converted from Insulfrog to live frogs. I have exhibited at the NEC (5 times), Ally Pally twice, Hornby's Great Electric Train Show & local shows. I can count on one hand the number of point failures I have had over the years (both at home & at exhibitions) & these have only been in sidings. My track is laid on 1.5mm white polystyrene wall insulation, ballasted, spray painted with a dark grey ballast colour with a quick light pass down the centre of the track with Humbrol 'Track Colour'. I have lost count of the number of times visitors to exhibitions who have asked if it is Code 75. This is probably because the sides of the rails are painted thus disguising the height of the rail. As many have stated in previous comments, it is robust & reliable - especially the points. You have to trade off realism/scale for reliability. Peter

Yesterday I was looking through the N Gauge Forum for the APT-P. Because it is short on numbers to start the project there were a number of suggestions to cut costs such as no tilt or selling it in different 'packs' so the purchaser can 'mix & match'. One thing I think could be omitted on the 00 gauge model is the lifting front ends to save on the costs of the details underneath (Removable and poseable nose with NEM coupling pocket on cab front bulkhead' quote in comment 364). Who would want to advertise the fact that this iconic model, the future of BR passenger trains fails on test & has to be dragged to the nearest APT depot for repair? Surely we are buying this model to display it in all its glory snaking through the Lake District fells or the Stafford curves or on your own bit of the WCML? Yes, we all know it happened but do not wish to be reminded of its failures. I think omitting these lifting front ends would save on costs & simplify the front/rear end lighting. Peter

As I have stated on many forums on the subject of wiring up Peco Code 100 points, THERE IS NO NEED TO DO ANYTHING. By many on these forums who advocate polarity changing point motors or switches I am considered to be a heretic & should be burnt at the stake! Peco Code 100 elctrofrogs can be used straight out of the box even using DCC. 1. The point springs are strong enough for positive electrical contact providing the inner faces of the movable blades are kept clean. The number of polarity failures I have had over the last 30 years can be counted on one hand. The only polarity switch on my layout is for the live diamond. 2. To prove it I have a total of 30 Code 100 points ranging from small radius Y points up to large radius curved points on my 'Crewlisle' DCC exhibition layout. I only started having to renew them about 5 years ago as they had ‘worn out! Peter

Looks great but where is the OLE so we can see what the pantograph looks like when raised? What happened to the original plastic pantograph? Peter