dunnyrail

On 21/01/2023 at 17:48, D9020 Nimbus said:

It's been done (by Roco) in HO, for a price in excess of €400. While it's relevant to a lot of countries, it's restricted to a fairly short time span. I note that Piko are doing some USATC stuff—they've done the Whitcomb diesel in HO and are planning it in N.

S160’s almost made this century in Poland, certainly 40 years after the war in a few other European countries. The odd one survived quite late in China as well. 

Anyone reading this may be going blub blub blub now.

One of my TT acquisitions did not have the NEM bit or a coupling. Not understanding this I did buy a pack of TT120 couplings, some were in 2 parts some complete with hook where it should have been. I wonder if that happened in the post? Anyhow taking a complete coupling to fit I found the NEM bit was missing (only noticed on closer inspection of another vehicle), this clicks into a small permanent part on the vehicle in question. I looked in vain on Hornby website for an NEM Socket then in desperation rang the tech guys who confirmed not available as a spare but did offer to send me one that duly arrived and was clicked in place with the coupling fitted so all is good now.
 

I would like to go to Kaydee, but have doubts about the type and difficulties trying to fit them, though they would look much better particularly on coaches where they would nicely resemble Buckeye couplings.

I wonder if any of these may be suitable chassis donors for UK locomotives? Thinking 93 for 8f or WD and 62 for a V2?

I have tried to marry up Hornby track to Peco TT120 track, thus far fishplates nit happy. I think a bit of easing may be the trick. How did you manage it @Peachy?

If you already have some constructed ones on say a wagon, coach loco look at how they should be. They are a bit fiddly, I am 75 so not as dextrous as I was but managed it with care and patience. There is a right way up for the main part so that look as mentioned above should guide you.

1 hour ago, Pacific231G said:

No doubt at all in my mind. I've been going through a lot of MRNs and MRCs from the late 1940s to 1960 recently and found a good number of articles by L E Carroll  Apart from the four or five articles in MRN about his Link Section Control system and the out and return from Victoria layout, already listed by Dunnyrail yesterday, there are articles in MRC about his first layout which used HD 3 rail locos converted for stud-contact along with others in both magazines covering a range of topics including, among others,  fine scale point construction, transition curves, avoiding buffer-locking and scratchbuilt coach construction. 

His first layout "as a complete beginner" was quite interesting in concept. It was described in the first of three articles "Horny Dublo and Stud Contact" in March 1952. and, from his articles, would have been built in 1948. There were  two termini and a continuous run which was mostly double track but with the two termini fed from a single line section to make for simplet pointwork (it was based on simple turnouts) making operation of trains in both directions "challenging" 

 

Unfortunately, there are no photos of the layout   I assume that the operating plan was for trains to leave each terminus and then run round the continuous section for several circuits before arriving at the other terminus. The trick of sharing the turntable, which Carroll describes as "heinously unrailwaylike" but highly convenient with the locoshed making a good camouflage,   is one I've seen on a few American plans and quite useful given how much space they need. 

I can't make out any sign of stud contact on his later (but not that much later) Victoria out and back layout first revealed in MRN in May 1955 (Train Exchange) so think he must have gone to two rail fairly quickly after describing how to adopt stud-cotact. 

Why L E Carroll was not named in the 1979 MRC annual article "South for Moonshine" isn't at all clear. Possibly he felt, wrongly, that having written up the layout for MRN he couldn't then offer an article about it to MRC but Stevens Stratton also described the layout very much in the past tense. I haven't as yet found anything written by Carroll after his New Victoria Line article about the enlarged Victoria Station in MRN in January 1969 and the photo that illustrates South for Moonshine also appears in that article.   

That Glasgow - Euston layout is very interesting and I imagine much operating was carried out in a prototype way though probably only with the main expresses, it is a somewhat  limited layout by scope but then likely what was affordable and available at the time.

I built a layout for a friend some years back now, as he was into Hydraulic Diesels it was based on Paddington to Penzance in a modest sized Terraced Housevloft. Paddington was a 5 platform sort of Minories, we then went out via a Junction that came in from Plymouth to give a continuous run. By the Junction Acton ML were sidings that represented both Old Oak and a very modest Yard St.Blazy the other side for freight interest. Bristol was next that was a 3 platform station where the loop was used to terminate NESW services from that route, but in effect was just a Peak hauled train from Paddington that made a short run. It could also have run to Plymouth but I never thought about that when creating the Timetable. Plymouth was next where we had a 2 island 4 platform station, expresses lost or gained a coach and a Dining Car. Then the junction was passed where the continuous run could be taken or turn left to Penzance another Minories with some sidings for carriages and vans. Though I call the 2 stations Minories in concept the crossovers were after a 1/4 curve to fit things in. 
 

Cab Control was used with all Panels able to run to all parts of the line but of course the sections needed to be set at the other 2 of the 3 panels. One did Paddington and Plymouth, the Main Line one was at the Junction and the third one did Bristol and Penzance. Thus 3 people could have a very effective operating session. When running on his own the owner used the Main Line panel with points all hand operated changed as required.

Sadly the line had to be relocated on a move and there was no space in the new house so it was stored in a slightly damp shed, I imagine it is still there and the boards completely trashed by now.
 

Below is the concept drawing that was modified a bit but not a lot. Old Oak was never fully developed. In concept it was much along the type of lines built in the 50’s where complete routes were created.

On 07/02/2024 at 08:56, D-A-T said:

Looking at the full track plan the terminus is called Victoria, there are hidden sidings and other stations so I think this is the layout you mention. Especially as the builder is reluctant(?) to be named. 

LE Carroll’s layout was described very effectively in a set of articles in the Model Railway News describing his “Link Section Control (LSC)” operating system. He used signal and the levers operated switches that powered up the track for trains to run. No signal no train run. My only gripe about his LSC system was that it operated in front, IE you had to have all the route set from Victoria to Reigate for Victoria to drive the train all the way leaving signals off after the train Passed. I re-engineered the system for my own use so that the train was offered forward from box to box and the box in advance drove the train. Thus when a train had passed the signals could be returned to danger. However this would mean if Reigate was to drive from Victoria to himself the route would need to be setup by Victoria offering to Clapham the Clapham offering to East Croydon then East Croydon offering to Reigate. Probably still not perfect either. This would also negate the option to one man drive a service from Victoria to the Fiddle Return Loop (under or behind Reigate) back to Victoria.

Articles on LSC can be found:-

September/October/December 1953  January 1954 General Principles of LSC 4 articles

May 1955 Train Exchange Return Loop

June 1956 SIGNAL box Sub Sectioning

June 1958 LSC In action 

August 1961 Four Minutes to Brighton

January 1969. New Victoria Line

As you can see a comprehensive treatise to the layout and how it was electrified and run.
 

These days one would think that DCC would negate it all, but with signals making a dead section in front of it so that a spad would stop a train, his principles can work for an properly Operating Model Railway to this day.  I wish I could have visited his line back in the day, he would have had big problems getting me to go home such is my interest in proper prototype Model Railway operation back then and still today.

On 01/01/2024 at 13:40, Steamport Southport said:

 

You need to sign up to the club first. It's free.

 

Then sign in on this page and everything is accessible.

 

https://uk.Hornby.com/community/hornbytt120-club

 

 

Jason

Thanks for the link Jason, yes I am a member. But I had to buy the new membership for free, what a palaver. I expect at some stage in the future there will be a cost to the mag.

I managed to split mine using a set of very fine pointed pliers. Joining back was obvious as the wires dictate which way things will go.

I am so glad I found this, I recently bought 3 Pullmans from the Flying Scotsman set off Ebay and one was missing a Hornby Coupling. My thoughts were to go for some Hunt Couplings to use inside sets of stock, the outside being still Hornby for uncoupling and joining sets of stock. My plan is to do Wakefield Westgate in Steam Days and I will be having 2-3 coach Bradford portions joining/splitting to the Leeds portion at Westgate. Current stock is working pretty well for this.

The great reveal of your thread was to use long and shorter couplings to get a similar coupling length. I am using R2 as a minimum and was wondering which length of Hunt Couplings to go for, but it looks like the 15 pairs pack for varying lengths should be suitable to experiment with.

On 23/12/2023 at 08:08, steve1023 said:

Could I ask if anyone else who has looked at the new edition if the images are pixelated at all. I have downloaded twice now with the same results. 
 

Thanks

Ok I give up, spent nigh on 100 clicks on the Hornby Website even searching for it, can anyone please tell me how to find the December 2023 TT120 Magazine please?

On 27/11/2023 at 11:25, MartinRS said:

 (I do remember seeing short mixed freight train being operated out of Tinsley yard behind a single Class 20. I knew the regular driver of what he called 'the tripper', a fellow model railway enthusiast).

 

I worked at Healey Mills (HM) TOPS Office from 1978-83 and the odd single 20 appeared now and again not on HM trips. When introduced many worked the West Coast line a few being allocated to Devons Road Bow. They were always seen single headed occasionally working peak passenger trains out to Tring and Bletchley. Mostly I guess this would have been in the out of ‘train heating season ‘  as they were not fitted for Steam Heating. ETH (Electric Train Heating) had barely been thought about much except for pure electric trains in the 60’s.

There were also a couple of early Duchess locs as well as the LMS coaches. All look superb and I suspect we may be getting pre-ordered LMS coaches early next year if not before. I have some ordered in BR livery, though a Duchess is unlikely for my Wakefield Westgate layout as to the best of my knowledge the closest one ever got (in BR steam days) was on the HCRS special from Kings x to Doncaster Works. I was on that special and it did 112 coming down (on the up line) Stoke Bank though this is reputed by some. Certainly going like the proverbial rocket. 

On 06/11/2023 at 19:18, Gatesheadgeek said:

Given that phase 3 models are being developed now, that may explain why they’re not showing up even as pre-orders. Compare that to phase 2 models that were available 12 months ago and sone won’t be delivered for another 9 months.
 

That may also be due to the legacy club discount though, now that all members going forward will just get the standard 10% in rewards 

I had been considering letting my TT120 membership lapse, but does this mean that 10% discount plus club point discount will still apply going forwards for membership?

My wonder with the range is why 21t minerals, they were certainly a less seen wagon than the BR 16t mineral?

Test run showing my Corgi Rail Legends A1 in the process of being made fit to run as a Copley Hill one, not Tornado. Aha that did it.

On 10/10/2023 at 10:19, RAF96 said:

It has been shown that some improvement can be made to the chuff synch by fiddling with the complex speed curve values. Sample charts have previously been posted around the forums as guided. Later sound profile updates will have reworked speed curves as standard to better match chuff to cylinder numbers.

With regard to an idiot’s guide, these have already been written for use where the simplistic and very intuitive app is too difficult for some folk, thus a whole series of step by step how-tos are available on the Hornby site. https://uk.Hornby.com/hm7000/hm-dcc-guides

Ok thanks for that, any clue on where CV lists can be found? I like my locomotives to have no momentum. I think I may have stumbled on them in the HM7000 but it would be useful to have a printed list or at least a .PDF handy on my iPad. Also query re speed curve fiddling, any idea where these have been recorded please?

On 03/11/2023 at 13:29, Jeff Smith said:

Has anybody commented on the Hornby uncoupling ramp?  Any good; comparisons to continental versions?

I have a couple and find them quite good. Easy to fit to straights and work well, being entirely out of the way when not needed.

On 29/10/2023 at 11:27, AY Mod said:

 

Are you left-handed?

No but have button to the left with camera take thingy to the right.

On 24/10/2023 at 09:32, andrewshimmin said:

Anyone used the magnetic Hunt type coupling from West Hill Wagon works?

I think the couplings on the Hornby stuff are nice and discreet, and I like the close coupling, but they aren't great at coupling up unless they're presented to one another dead straight. And uncoupling is rather cumbersome.

Would the magnetic type be better?

In my last purchase of bits n bobs of track I included a couple of the Hornby TT120 uncouplers, they fit into the slot on TT8002 and possibly TT8012 1/2 straights as well. I have found them to work very well indeed. My problem may come when I get round to building my Station that will need a couple for the splitting and joining of portions in that I will be using Peco track in the station. Pretty sure I can adapt them to fit the Peco track, but I am not at that stage yet and have no Peco track.

Below you can see my return loop setup all using TT120 track. Sorry it is upside down, some weird iPad thing, turned them both and tried again but still upside down. Spect it will be ok in Oz or Nz. 

Nothing wrong with the noise happening. Spoke to Hornby yesterday who confirmed that there is no way to get 6 beats to the revolution of the wheels ie no chuff syncronisation or electronic way of achieving it. I find this a bit difficult to understand, many other sound chips even including the relatively crude analogue My loco Sound can do it so low marks to the HM7000 chips and system. As for getting locs to work, one needs to download the correct sound per new loco bought. Hornby suggested that a generic sound is pre loaded but I have not managed to get it to work. The process is long winded, unintuitive and can take 30 minutes per loco. But when done short of the chuff rate the sounds for such a small loco are very good. So I now have my 3 pacifics making noises.
 

Thanks again for your thoughts, I must try to do an idiots guide to starting to get my HM7000 sound locomotives up and running.

Thanks for the replies, but that does not tell me why I cannot get sound out of a new loco no matter how old.

Sorry if this has been raised before, but only thread is a lot of posts on the introduction of the range. Today I recieved 2 more sound locomotives, Silver King and Trigo. I have 2 questions.

Q1 - I have the Easterner Set with William Whitelaw Sound Fitted. In my fuddling to get it running I could not get it to run with sound so downloaded the A4 TT Sound Project. It runs fine now with sound BUT only 2 beats to each wheel revolution, can the chip be updated to 6 as per the prototype?

Q2 - Do I need to update the sound chip for every loco I buy suffering a rather long update process, the instructions appear to say sound is pre loaded so I am missing something somewhere?

Not sure why my pictures on this thread have disappeared from view, perhaps because I have not posted for so long?

I have recently been enthused some by the Rapido Hunslet 16in 0-6-0ST S119 Beatrice. I purchased DCC Sound one of these via Ebay and it is a superb looking locomotive. Sounds are good but the running is awful. Much like my Hornby old Austerity was when I got it, to sort that I had to permanently couple a Brake Van to act as additional pickups, likely I will need to do the same with the 16in beastie. A shame as I thought it would be a good runner being a newer production, before I play with the Brake Van option I will try some additional weight. Sure I may be able to get some somewhere.
 

Anyone else had issues with this locomotive?

To my mind it needed a heavy metal chassis like some other manufacturers industrial's have. Certainly I will not be buying any more Rapido locomotives.

Anyone who remembers my earlier pictures will see that there has been little work, I have Servo’s to replace the clicking ones that have given me so much heartache, cost and loss of enthusiasm for 00.

So ok, he has to pack the parts Time/Materials, he has to take to Post Time/Shoe Leather/Fuel/Bus Fare so looking at the time, effort, material, Ebay fees and post costs £5 does not appear that excessive.