lofty.ian

Lots of good advice in the posts so far. I think you can classify problems into three groups - ones that should have been sorted before the show (testing), ones that happen during the show but which one can anticipate (spare locos) and ones which one didn’t think about. I took my layout to a Leeds exhibition, as against helping a friends layout. I tested before going, i had check lists, spares and tool kits. part way through the first morning all the points started playing up. We thought it was the CDU, but I had a spare. A quick change, which the wiring allowed for, and things seemed ok. An hour or so later and the problem recurred. I bought another CDU from a trade stand and I decided it was going to be a very expensive show. We ended running a simple sequence to keep things running with minimal point operation. back at home, everything worked perfectly including the CDUs I had replaced. It turned out that the push buttons operating the points were sometimes sticking and draining the CDU. They didn’t like the warm exhibition hall. should I have anticipated that? Should I have diagnosed the problem quicker? Running a simple sequence without points made it a ‘pointless’ layout but we had more time to chat with visitors

Have a safe journey and a good weekend

Hi Mike, Back home and looking through my folder of notes about Hest Bank, a lot of the stuff is post the new signal box. I do have a handful of photos of the station buildings post closure that show the non platform side. I can scan those if they will help. I also found references to two books with earlier photos in. You have probably already seen them but they are: A North Lancashire Album, photos of Ian and Alan Pearsall, edited Leslie R Gilpin Published by Cumbrian Railway Association West Coast Steam Antony MS Darnbrough Published by Ian Allan

I’m back home at the weekend so will dig out what I’ve got

Hi Mike, how are you for photos of Hest Bank. I gathered a few, it was my initial (unfinished) EM layout. I was gathering 1960s info. I have copies of some official BR photos taken of the ‘new’ signal box which I got thru the OPC venture and various others that I acquired. The track and signalled changed quite a few times in a short space of time.

Hi Jamie, just picked up this thread, it will make a nice escape from the rigours of your big standard gauge Lancaster Green Ayre. A change can be refreshing. I am having a minor sidetrack from my EM Lancaster Morecambe Heysham layout - a 7mm narrow gauge plank layout using RTR oo gauge chassis Ian

Hi John, I’m a bit late commenting on your year end report. Like others, I think you are being very hard on yourself. In a different hobby we have moaned about doing as much fell walking as we would like but consoled ourselves by thinkIng we had done a lot more than some of our friends. Similarly, you might not have progressed as far as you wanted but compared to us model bodgers you have achieved so much. Don’t forget it is only your hobby and you are the boss. If progress doesn’t match the project plan, change the plan to feel better. Enjoy 2023

Great step forward Andy. it will be good to see all starting to come together

One way to avoid the overhead problem is to install the portals and supports, including registration arms etc but leave off the catenary and contact wiring. when you look at prototype photos equivalent to normal model viewing distance, the wires are hard to see. In 2mm it looks fine, in 7mm it needs modelling. In 4mm I think it is marginal. My 4mm EM layout has no wiring but does have all the portals and I am happy with the effect. It makes track cleaning easier and reduces damage to structures, and hands. My steam locos don’t emit steam and my diesels don’t belch out black fumes.

Without wanting to appear a Luddite, I understood the bit about coupling toads but the tokenless gestures went right over my head too, perhaps because I wasn’t an engineer. darkened room calls and maybe a beer Lofty

Just before lock-down, I took my layout to an exhibition, first time as a layout owner rather than part of a team. I followed all the good advice about a packing list and spares etc. What you can't allow for is the unexpected where you just have to do ones best, chill out and try to enjoy the experience. Part way through the first day all the points failed and I thought it was the CDU. Being prepared and having a spare, I changed it but after a couple of hours they failed again. I bought another one but decided there was something else wrong. I decided to run a very simple backwards and forwards sequence rather than anything complicated in the hope of keeping something running. This also gave us more time to chat to everyone. When I got home and investigated, all the CDUs worked perfectly, it was some of the push buttons sticking and draining the CDUs. In the heat of the moment it is very easy to come to the wrong conclusion. Needless to say I have since got rid of the push buttons. Best advice is to keep cool and enjoy it whatever happens, it is only a hobby.

Ordered some castings yesterday using the online systems. They arrived today by post. Pretty good service, thank you

Hi Jeff, I follow your thread avidly, although it is a long time since I contributed. On the sublect of 'likes' I agree with you, but even if I didn't 'Rule 1' applies - it is your thread. I really appreciate a positive or constructive comment from a fellowing modeller, usually a visitor to my layout or some closed whatsapp groups I am in. Back to the topic, for various reasons it is a while since I have been walking the hills around that part of the S&C but your layout captures the atmosphere and reminds me what I am missing. It is easy to model accurately in great detail and end up with a model that is too clinical and lacks the character and atmosphere. You are capturing the atmosphere along with detail. Please keep up the good work. Lofty (sometimes called Ian)

Sorry, but i have the same problem of having to log in twice after getting the 'Euston' error message the first attempt. I am sure sure which 'link' you mean. I have deleted my bookmark and created a new one so I go the the correct site. I have cleared my history, cookies and cache, but still get the problem. I must be missing something but not sure what. Many thanks for all your efforts

Hi Jamie, Just received my MRJ and read your article on overhead equipment. It was an enjoyable read. Having extended my layout that is based in the area, I must get going and build some more portals using the drawings you sent me before. Currently the overhead stops where the running lines go onto the new baseboards. The design of the portals, especially the wooden pole ones, certainly fixes the location of the model. Ian

Fascinating travel log. Congratulations on the GRJ role. I've been on several GRJ trips in Europe and other continents and always appreciated the Tour Managers.

Scale Hall, between Lancaster Green Ayre and Morecambe Promenade, opened 1957 as part of the BR re-electrification to overhead ac. Closed January 1966 when the through route from Skipton was closed from Wennington Junction, through Lancaster Green Ayre, to Morecambe. Services were rerouted via Carnforth. It had a full set of modern style buildings.

I had a Bayko building set when I was young. The plastic brick blocks went many decades ago but the metal vertical rods which you inserted into the plastic base unit still exist. They are a useful stock of various lengths of rod which I resort to from time to time. In fact I retrieved 4 to use only last week.

I will have to stop reading this thread, it is making me feel too old. It was fun running Sundown and Sprawling when it was in the garden. The heavy trains appeared into the garage housing the terminii and you had to make sure you braked in time. I saw it in its straight version at an earlier exhibition in the Corn Exchange but didn't operate it - I must have been involved somewhere else. It had that feeling of operating with a purpose from A to B. Your railway empire has that feeling too. Keep at it. Lofty

Hi Andy, Please keep posting. Showing problems (and solutions) is a help to everyone. I have been know to write articles showing problems encountered in a build. We all learn by our mistakes and those of others. It is encouraging when 'proper engineers' hit snags - maybe there is hope for us mere mortal non-engineers who keep bodging along. Lofty

If you've been building baseboards, does that mean plywood is now available over your side of the hills?

Hi Jeff, You posed an interesting survey question. I thought I would reply to show that I actually read your request. I am a (slow) active modeller in EM with a working layout (most of the time) covering the Morecambe to Heysham branch in BR days. The almost finished first phase went to Leeds MRS exhibition in 2019, and I am working on the extended layout. Unfortunately my other hobby is time-consuming - walking in the Dales. Your inspiring modelling, and prototype photos, encourage me both to model and walk the hills. Some might say walking the fells is a waste of good modelling time but it good for the body and soul. Keep up the good work Ian

Town green when it still had sidings!

Brings back memories of early computer systems (1970s). I was involved with D of Transport (or was it MoT?) programs for Highway Design (BIPS) which calculated horizontal and vertical alignments. They had the 'occasional' hiccup. One plotted out the results and looked at them by eye before passing them on. St Enodoc - you are safer sticking to pencil and paper.

Thanks Pete, that just proves that I hadn't read the article properly!