Magna Junction

Hello, thought I’d update on what’s be going on with the layout. 3 sides of the layout have been rebuilt, the sections over the bed and radiator side are now permanent with a fold up section across the door. This has enabled the 2 loops to be extended, these can now hold a 23 wagon mgr train or 15 wagon iron ore train. Ive also added 3 sidings at the ends of the loops for more loco swaps and siding space. The 2 sidings at one end also double up as a way of removing and adding stock from the new slide out storage yard underneath. New additions to the layout are Accurascale’s brilliant Deltic 55002 KOYLI, 21 of Cavalex’s fantastic mgr wagons, and a Hornby KFA wagon which will be converted into a coil carrier.

So after much deliberation I decided on Cavalex's HAA over Accurascale mainly due to the better shape around the top of the hopper and strengthening bars. Received them together and absolutely delighted with them, finally consigned my Hornby HAA's to history (or ebay). One negative is the couplings, constant derailing even on straights, the nem pockets are very stiff with some couplings not square, I don't know if they were designed to have lateral movement but some aren't centred when on straight track and some of the coupling hooks won't stay level. Has anyone had any success fitting magnetic couplings to these?

60049 ordered 😁. Liking how the sample has captured the bulk of the bogies and suspension springs, something that always let down the Hornby Class 60 and Heljan Class 58.

Hi Fran, Class 58's always looked good in Mainline blue, hint, hint! 😁

New layout Andi? I was keenly following the construction of your last one, especially the brilliant ohle. Cheers Scott.

Was hoping for a release of MK3a's in executive livery, and MK1 FO's in Intercity Charter livery, but like spamcam61 im not holing my breath either.

One of my favourite exhibition layouts Coppell, kit or HST conversion? 16.04.

Does the Bachmann body fit ok on the Heljan chassis? My Bachmann Peak has screws and the Heljan Peak has clips? securing the body to the chassis. Wouldn't mind upgrading my Bachmann Peak with a Heljan chassis.

Any idea what year the Hull-Carlisle service had double head Class 31 haulage? I have vague memories of catching this train from Leeds to Carlisle in the early eighties when I was a wee lad but lost my spotting books.

Don't think Heljan would have scanned a real class 45 for the 00 gauge version as it's a scaled down CAD/tooling of there 0 gauge peak which has the same errors, don't think it would have looked good to have corrected the errors on the 00 version and have the 0 gauge version incorrect, Heljan have been known to re-visit locos a few years down the line and give them a re-tool so you never know.

Hi Clive, Having ordered Accurascale's Class 89 ive turned my attention to planning for some scratchbuilt OHLE. Ive looked through your brilliant diagrams of different OHLE but can't seem to find any MK3 Headspan diagrams. Think I can remember looking at them before. Any chance you could repost? Regards Scott.

Can you use any Deltic sound chip or is the loco only compatible with the ESU sound decoder?

Hello again, A well overdue update on Port Carlisle. RELIABLITY: Having operated the layout for a couple of years certain gremlins started to creep in. 1: There was a short section of curved track between 2 points at the station throat due to a timber frame member being there and preventing the points being joined together. Ok until I started running a 6 coach HST which didn't like been propelled across this section and the coaches would de-rail. 2: Seep point motors not always giving a positive change on some points. 3: De-railing of trains on the 2 lift out sections. So a number of changes have taken place. 1: Ive completly re-laid the station throat having removed the timber frame member and short curved section. This has enabled the points to be joined together and the tracks and platforms to be re-aligned giving a much better layout and longer platforms. All platforms can know accomodate a 6 coach hst or a 7 coach mk1/mk2 train with 2 locos. 2: Seep point motors have been removed and replaced with DCC Concepts IP Digital point motors. Signals at junctions are now operated via the switch terminal on the point motor thus eliminating the need to control these via toggle switches. 3: The lift out sections have been rebuilt with thicker pine wood framing and the track baseboard joins have been re-aligned. Scenery: Not much to report apart from ive made a start on the station entrance and retaining wall next to platform 4. When these are complete I will be ballasting the station throat and completing the new re-aligned platforms. Stock: New additions to the layout are a Bachmann Class 45, 45022 Lytham St Annes, this will be converted into 45141 with Tinsley unnoficial name 'Zephyr'. I did have a Heljan Class 45 on order but finally decided to cancel due to the roof and window issues with this new model, a shame as the chassis on the Heljan model looks better and will no doubt perform better, I wonder if the Heljan chassis will fit the Bachmann body? Other new arrivals are 8 of the excellent Cavalex BBA steel wagons, weathering and steel coils are another on the to do list. Finally a Hornby MK1 BFK in Intercity charter livery, will we ever see the FO's from Hornby to complete these charter rakes?! Thats all for now happy modelling folks.

The first picture looks like a different train/formation, pictures are taken from the same location but 49005 is the other way round and has gained an observation point.

56019 ordered, could not resist these look fantastic, never been completely happy with my Hornby grid, how about a Bone next please!

Very nice, is this the final paint application? The Railfreight Red doesn't look quite right to me.

2 X Hst Power Cars in swallow livery with full yellow ends, I always thought it was just the buffer fitted dvt ones that were painted like that, you learn something new every day!

Hello again, A little more progress on the layout. Signalling is now completed, wasn't happy with the Eckon ground signals so have now fitted some DCC Concepts ones, these are switched through the points via Gaugemaster relay switches, took a lot of head scratching to wire them up with them being 3 wire. I have also scratchbuilt a theatre indicator out of plasticard for the main distant signal at the throat to the station, just got to add some signal identification numbers to all the signals. The area in the corner next to the signal box was originally going to be a cement terminal/works but wasn't really big enough so is now a British Rail S&T yard. On the rolling stock front ive fitted Hunt Couplings and corridor connections to all coaching stock, really improves the look of them with the close coupling and gaps filled. The Bachmann POT in my TPO rake has had new Fox decals applied as Bachmann messed up with too dull printing on these coaches and now matches the POS better. Also my bank account is taking a hammering as I have ordered the SLW D7672 Tamworth Castle and 9 Cavalex BBA wagons. Cheers for now.

Give me a Peak anyday over there replacement super sprinters.

No Sheffield, spent the 1980's trainspotting at Sheffield Midland hence my liking of a Peak.

A Sutton Loco Works Peak perhaps?!

Hmmm, body shape error not corrected then, roof curvature starts way too high up, looks even worse on this sample of 45106.