SHMD

I'm definitely having one of these.

In the village where I grew up in, we had a "fireless" loco, and I was always fascinated as to how it could possible work for more than a minute!

I also recommend visiting Mol_PMB's thread, linked to above, as it has ALL the info you could possibly want (well nearly) on Fireless locos - including how they work and for how long.

Well done Rapido.

Kev.

10 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Normal people would just look through the windows; or do you think they've included fare-dodgers in the lav?

Now THAT would be attention to detail!

Kev.

At Manchester today, whilst on the (delayed) KL1076 MAN-AMS, I took this (phone) photo of this colourfully-creative-colossus (A380) with the much smaller easyJet trying to photobomb it.

(Note the position of the rudder!)

The A380s always use that gate, I don't think the rest of the apron can take the weight.

Incidentally, our flight to AMS, although an hour late, was due to do the trip in 45 minutes due to tail winds, (Normally this is a steady 1 hour and 5minute leg), but at AMS we circled for 20 minutes (seemed like it) and then had an aborted landing (Captains words) for my fifth "go-around" in 2.5 years, and landed for a total leg time of about 1 hour 20 minutes.

In my previous 25 years flying - averaging 50 legs/annum - I never had any aborted landings. 2 aborted take-offs, but their another story.

Are "go-arounds" becoming more common now?

And, if so, why?

Kev.

18 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said:

That Sutton geezer has done it again, sent me a biscuit tin with NO biscuits in it. It did contain a toy train which is quite nice, well better than just nice. It also runs very well.

 

Off to buy some biscuits to fill the tin up.

That'll be a lot of biscuits then!

Kev.

I am but I can't remember what I ordered - and I am too frightened to ring up because I'm skint and need to wait for pay day!

Kev.

6 hours ago, newbryford said:

Screenshot from the BBC weather webpage.

 

No sh*t Sherlock.......................................

 

That really does sound "AI" written to me.

Kev.

I think the simple answer is that you have bought a "latching" relay as the replacement to replace a "bog standard", (but bigger), original relay.

The smaller replacement relay is not compatible with the circuit on the PCB.

Kev.

Could you give a link of the 2A version?

If not, perhaps a photo?

Adding a resister in parallel will, at worst, reduce the current available for the relay coil to operate, and at best, do nothing! (..depending on supply..)

Think of it as replacing the resister with another 144 Ohm coil, adding the second coil would not get the first coil working would it?

Kev.

That loco looks heat damaged!

..and I mean that in an absolutely brilliant way.

The loco looks like it is, not only live steam, but almost too hot to pick up!

Kev.

44 minutes ago, The Johnster said:

 

The current situation is that the accused will be put in the dock on a charge of assault and battery, and could well end up in a cell for a short time before being send ohm. 

...but according to "Home Law", the Injury will be directly proportional to Violence / Resistance.

I= V/R

Kev.

The A380 is probably the best (passenger) experience I have had.

Kev.

(A bit fugly though!)

...don't rise to the bait.

It's not just not worth it, it's impossible to reason 'em around!

Kev.

Is that a Hornby train set?

Kev.

I must admit to initially thinking "I would skip this" when I saw it on the VNC feed, as I thought it would not be very good or incomplete.

...but then I saw the OP's name and clicked straight away as I knew I would not be disappointed.

WOW, how affective is that. Well done sir.

As always, I am very impressed with your "mechatronic" solutions to getting really useful real results.

I wouldn't worry about the "Legionaries" as there just isn't the "biomass" necessary.

This does look a much better solution than Vapes (condensing glucose everywhere) or smoke (condensing oil?), but I do wonder about the moisture falling locally onto the track/scenery for a long time.

Well done, well done indeed.

Kev.

"Ogri" - a blast from the past!

10 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

Thanks.

Kev.

(If I remembered the name correctly!!)

1 hour ago, 57xx said:

 

Out of curiosity (I don't do DCC) what is in circuit to stop the capacitor charging at lower voltages? Is there some funky switching circuit across it with voltage detection? A capacitor will normally  charge to what ever voltage is present across it's terminals.

The "Stay Alive" Capacitor will always be at a lower voltage than the "track" voltage.

Here is a "simple" circuit for a "Stay Alive" circuit for a decoder...

As can be seen, the "Stay Alive" Capacitor, C1, has two diodes involved in its' charging, through R1. (Either D1/D4 or D2/D3 depending upon the DCC polarity that instant.)

Then, there is a further diode, D5, involved in the discharging/supplying of jolts if the (DCC) track supply is interrupted.

Each diode will "drop" between 0.6 and 1 volt - depending upon diode selection/specification.

So, if your track DCC voltage is 12.4v, then the very best the "Stay Alive" capacitor can "replace" is...

12.4 - 0.6 - 0.6 - 0.6 = 10.6 volts!

(Of course, in this scenario, the decoder is only getting 12.4 - 0.6 - 0.6 = 11.2 volts with perfect track/wheels!)

Of course, other "Stay Alive" charging/discharging circuits can be used (MOSFETS?) with much lower resistances but they quickly become very complicated/expensive and (can) suffer other "unforeseen" problems/behaviour(s).

Conclusion - Pump up the volume/I mean voltage!

Kev.

12 minutes ago, The Meerkat said:

DCC is only 2 wires :)

Yes, bl00dy great thick ones!

Another "in-rush" current not to be ignored are the ever increasing, and number and size, of "Stay-alive" modules necessary for smooth interruption free loco running.

If you add a step voltage to a capacitor via a resister, (or even no resister - all the wires, tracks, and joints will add some for you), then it will initially look like a "short". All capacitors in parallel add together - so them more "Stay alive's", the longer they will look like a dead short.

Kev.

Russia is pretty "innovative" when it comes to finding ways to abuse level crossings.

Kev.

20 minutes ago, Asterix2012 said:

Does anyone know why the cylinders are at the cab end on fireless engines?

 

Are there any exceptions?

The last post on page 2, of this thread, has a NRM video explaining "A LOT" of what/why a Fireless Loco is/exists - including your question.

Well worth a "view".

Kev.

It's railways - there are always exceptions! ;)

My own personal definition of a "real steam" railway is: -

1/ There must be steam traction involved.

Bit obvious that!

2/ The "traffic" must be indifferent to the traction being used.

The commuters, logs, coal, whatever, don't give two hoots (excuse pun) as to what is pulling the train BUT it just happens to be (regularly) steam hauled.

Kev.

Those computerised automated Japanese loos always give me a mental picture similar to those above!

Kev.

(The heated seat is very nice though.)

4 hours ago, DaveF said:

Another mixed bag with three photos around Hindlow and two others.

 

Not many trains this morning though.

 

 

Hindlow Dowlow lime works June 69 J1729  Some wagons are visible.

 

 

David

Is that one of those rare 0-14-0 Barclay Saddle Tank engines shunting on the horizon?

Kev. 🙃 🤪

Just now, F-UnitMad said:

As Class 90s are Electric locos, I should hope not!!! 🤔🙄😁😁

Class 84s!

Kev.

WOW!

Chapter V

(electronic page 64)

Division II

"Block Signalling."

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The reasons for the naming of (electrical) signals, "Minories", the first application of electrical railway signalling...

So much!

I wonder if that line is the basis/origin of all those BLT Minories end-to-end layouts?

A BIG thanks, to @Nearholmer, for bringing this to RMweb.

Kev.

Now I remember BICC!

Kev.