Phatbob

Schrödinger’s coupling?

For what it's worth as "heresay evidence", a friend of mine who is a member of Manchester MRS has told me that this year's show has been cancelled. I will no doubt have mentioned that to Mr Wales.

Has anybody been brave enough to change the headcode or destination blinds yet?

I can't help you with the bubble car, but the three-car set in green is Paddington and Newbury. I bought one from Grimy Times this afternoon. :-) HTH, Bob

As an exhibitor I would define it thus; Postponed = you are now invited to next years show instead of this year. Cancelled = game over, so to speak.

The Hornby 2BILs and 2HALs are perfectly happy running in multiple. We run up to 4 together on Star Lane. This video starts with three running together.

Looks like somebody's phishing to me.

My local model shop in Warrington, Grimy Times Model Railways, is reopening on Tuesday 16th June. http://www.grimytimes.co.uk/shop/4590165578 HTH, Bob.

They will be powered. I've no idea if the driving equipment is to be removed. It just won't be used. I gather that the "new" cab that was added to these units is cramped and unpopular with drivers. So they're no longer planing to use it. HTH.

Nobody will be driving them as I understand it. The proposal is to put them in the middle of the class 156 units to make a three car set. Basically, thery're lengthening these units and bringing back the guards van!

As others have said, there is a finite amout of £o££€¥ available to the WAG for rail schemes. It needs to spent where it will have the most benefit to the communities who are ultimately funding it through their taxes. Spending millions to enable a rail journey between north and south wales on an alignment wholely within Wales makes no sense as an aim. It would also be possible to unicycle between north and south Wales, buth nobody is going to do that either! Takes far too long. Given the geography of Wales, staying on the level and going via England is always goig to be quicker. Some schemes, such as a new link between Bangor and Caernarfon are a no-brainer. Carmarthern to Aberystwyth by the old alignment was always a basket case, and still is! Lots of other schemes on which the money would be better spent. As for Amlwch, there is a lot of housing in Llangefny and very little work. Amlwch is just too small to warrent a rail service, but to me a new TfL service to Llangefny for commuters connecting to a heritage railway to Amlwch along the rest of the branch would give the greatest benefit to the locals for the money spent.

My local model shop performs services. http://www.grimytimes.co.uk/ HTH, Bob.

Just to add to that. We gave up on bar couplings on the 4CEP a long time ago. The rather lack-lustre internal lighting not working paled into insignificance compared with the shear impracticality of the conductive bar couplings. No marks for that design choice for a 4-car unit Bachmann. The Kernow / Bachmann 4TC sets on the other hand have a well designed conductive coupling and are supplied with a tool for coupling and uncoupling them. Full marks to whichever of Kernow or Bachmann came up with that one. I do hope that Bachmann will do more SR EMUs in future and will use the "Kernow" internal coupling design for four car units. With two arms and two hands you can handle a 2-car unit with an intermediate bar coupling. Trying to handle an assembled 4-car unit is like trying to nail jelly to a plaster ceiling!

For what it's worth, I've also fitted Hunt couplings to my 4-car EMUs that I run on Star Lane. So like Roundhouse I'm itching to get to try them out. They show promise as the solution to the problems we have setting-up close coupled EMUs on a curved fiddleyard. :-) I'm lucky enough to have a stock box that alows me to keep my 2-car units perminently coupled, so I can retain the bar type coupling on those and haven't had to fit the Hunt couplings to them. Roundhouse seems to have forgotten that Star Lane has invitations to Macclesfield and Warley in 2021! ;-)

Wales is screwed then!

Try giving Chris at todmorden model supplies a ring. (usual caveat, only a customer, no connection). https://www.todmordenmodelsupplies.co.uk/catalogue.html

I've just discovered this thread. I thought you might like to know that Southern Pride models (http://www.southernpridemodels.co.uk/) sell detailing parts for thumpers, including a dummy engine & generator set for detailing the interior (part number P342). HTH Bob.

No Hymeks or Westerns in 1960. Problem solved! Warship it is then. Hymeks and Westerns built from 1961 onwards IIRC?

Kadee #19s for the cab ends of the 4TC and Kadee #18s for the Heljan Crompton IIRC.

A kettle and a line-side bush.

We do run it with diesels half the time. :-)

There is an article on Appledore in the May Edition of the Railway Modeller, which is due out today. Stay safe! Bob.

Croydon Model Railway Society have decided to cancel their 2020 exhibition, scheduled for 11th and 12th October. Even if germageddon is well and truly over by then, apparently the school may well need to use the halls for late exams. Keep safe all. We'll be back in 2021.

Here you go Solo; http://www.keen-systems.com/Couplings.html About half way down the page. These have the advantage of having the NEM box in the correct position, rather than the original Bachmann ones that don't. I use these myself and can recommend them. (No connection other than as a satisfied customer) HTH.

Well, I for one would have at least a couple of Slim Jims in green with the original exhaust if Heljan were to produce one. Just saying BTW, please don't start whishlisting!