cambriancoaster

That saves me a lot of search time and is greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing your conclusions when you have tested your turntable set-up with the opto sensor. Best wishes CC

Thanks again Ray. Your response is most encouraging. If you do try out an opto device I would be very interested in learning whether it works (and, of course, details of the device you use). In the meantime I'll search the web and see if I can find a suitable sensor. Best wishes CC

Ray This topic gets more and more interesting. Inspired by it I have spent several happy hours viewing the Arduino/Adafruit websites and associated U tube tutorials and am quite amazed at the possibilities their hardware and software offer for DCC model railway control applications. I cannot wait to buy the items and have a play with them (initially to try and motorise my turntable). One question though - do you think it would be possible for the Hall Effect Sensor to be replaced by an infra red one (since this might be easier to fit in my application)? Many, many thanks for introducing me to the world of Arduino and Adafruit. CC

Light at the end of the tunnel? - very likely! I am absolutely delighted to see this thread since I have been puzzling for ages as to how I might motorise and control my Mercian models turntable deck under DCC for my Pwllheli layout (see my thread Pwllheli next stop and photo below). This could very well be the answer to my prayers so I look forward to seeing Part 4 with keen anticipation. Best wishes CC

Anthony I’m pleased you like the Bangor photo and very much look forward to seeing your 2mm implementation! I don’t know whether you have already come across the 6G Llandudno Junction Shed web site at http://www.6g.nwrail.org.uk/ which I can thoroughly recommend. The site is an absolute mine of information on Llandudno junction shed and surrounding areas in the days of steam (and later) and includes dozens – if not hundreds – of photographs of the area taken by various individuals. I am afraid that I cannot help much on details of freight carried on the line although obviously I saw many freight trains when I lived in Llanfairfechan. However I do know an engine driver who worked out of 6G in the late 50s early 60s and will ask him if he has any memories of driving them. Currently I am on holiday (in West Wales) but I will ask when I next see him. One possibility for you to consider is to try and obtain a copy of the working timetable for the line for the appropriate period from one of the specialist railway booksellers. This will give details of the times of freight as well as passenger trains. A few additional photos for you (all taken at Llanfairfechan). There used to be an early morning Holyhead to Euston train passing Llanfairfechan at about 8.30 AM. The photo below shows this train hauled by Holyhead based Scot 46149. In the late 1950s it was invariably hauled by a Scot and the staff at Holyhead shed took a pride in turning out an immaculate loco. Britannias also took turns on the working. From late 1960 onwards English Electric 1Co-Co1 diesels started to appear on the working Until late 1960/early1961 I cannot recollect seeing a Stanier Pacific on the line. However the powers in charge at Crewe must have decided to start running in ex-works pacifics about that time on the 9.20am Crewe – Holyhead train (if my memory serves me correctly). They remained at Holyhead until late afternoon and then travelled back hauling a local train – usually departing Bangor at about 5.15 PM. In view of the earlier correspondence on train formations you might like to see the attached photo of 46227 Duchess of Devonshire hauling a three coach train towards Conway. My final picture shows 46245 City of London and was taken from my bedroom window…..oh for a time machine! Best wishes CC

Hello Anthony I have been following progress on your North Wales Coast Railway with great interest and I must say that it really is an impressive design. What you have achieved so far is inspirational. I have a particular affinity for this area of the UK as I was at Bangor uni. between 1958 and 1961 and travelled daily to college from Llanfairfechan station to Bangor behind steam (and so saw the line at first hand when steam was at its zenith). A second reason for my interest is that I am modelling part of the other North Wales Coast Railway (i.e. the Cambrian Coast railway) in my layout “ Pwllheli next stop”. Indeed at one time I did consider modelling Bangor station because, as you say in an earlier post, it is approached by tunnels at both ends of the station…. which makes for interesting operations. However in the end I opted for Pwllheli because it was somewhat simpler to implement as well as being a very attractive station to model and operate in its own right. Of course trains ran between Bangor and Pwllheli via Afon Wen (where the locomotive reversed round its train to convey it on the last lap to Pwllheli). Below is photo of Bangor station which I took in Spring 1964 showing the station, engine shed and the extensive goods yard. I hope you will find it useful as you come to model the Bangor section of your layout. No doubt you already have Bill Rear’s book on Bangor which includes many more photos of the station. Regrettably I didn’t take any photos of Penmaenmawr or Conway but I have several of Llanfairfechan taken 1958 – 1961 (which I can send if you would like them). Like you I have opted for DCC operation and am using the Hornby Railmaster/Elite combination to run trains from my laptop. This greatly simplifies operations and I am very happy with the results. I also intend to employ Hornby’s E-link/Railmaster combination in conjunction with an Android tablet when I need a walk-around throttle (as the layout expands). You might like to view my thread on http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/60560-pwllheli-next-stop/ as it describes how I am wiring up the baseboards for DCC and also includes photos of the wiring of the baseboards. I hope this helps. Best wishes CC