RateTheFreight

Evening all, Following on from my earlier post about blanking plugs I’m hoping someone can answer my query below. Please bear with me as I’m a complete novice to DCC. I have a large selection of Kato N gauge Unitrack and points however have just purchased a Graham Farish DCC set (the highlander) complete with EZ controller. I’d like to ideally mix the two but without complex wiring so am hoping folks can answer some questions below; 1) there’s a Kato part (20-045) that looks like it allows you to join Peco or non kato track to kato track. If I clipped the DCC wires to a Peco piece of track and then connected this to the rest of the Kato track would it work as expected? 2) re the Kato points, I believe I could operate them manually or power them by DC connecting them to the DC controller (the point switches clip to the side of the controller hence its presence); is this accurate? To limit complexity I’d be happy with either option instead of trying to install dcc decoders to them. 3) supposing 1 & 2 worked, in a scenario where say I had an oval of track and then some sidings connected it, could I using DCC operete one loco running on the oval and one loco shunting the sidings? I’m unsure how Kato points/dcc would work in this sense and whether the sidings in this scenario would be ‘live’? Essentially what I’m trying to get at is whether I’d be wasting my time pursuing DCC using what I already have or whether I’d be better just sticking to DC. The layouts not big (roughly 4.5ft x 2.5ft) but I’d ideally like two ovals with sidings off each and the ability to shunt within the complex of signings located off the inner loop. Thanks in advance. Greg

Thanks all for the helpful advice. I’ve mulled the subject over and the more I think about it the more I’m tempted to see where DCC takes me. Much of my rolling stock is modern N gauge so I believe is DCC ready and chips seem to be circa £20 for a basic one which is all I think I’d need. Although I’d only need to control circa 2 or 3 locos at once if going down the DCC route I think it would be cool to get a start in DCC and see where it goes. I’d always thought DCC and a small scale layout wouldn’t mix but from what I’ve read this afternoon it absolutely can. Greg

Afternoon all, I recently purchased the Graham Farish ‘highlander set’ which comes with a DCC fitted 37, coaches, track and dcc controller. I purchased the set more for the loco and carriages (and it’s attractive price) as all my other N gauge stock is DC and I’ve historicaly used Kato track for which I now have a large stock. My N gauge layout is a simple two track ‘roundy roundy’ with some sidings and loops/fiddle yard to store stock. My question is, if I want to run this 37 on said Kato track as DC do I need to buy a blanking pug to install? Or, can I just run it without any detrimental impacts to it? I haven’t ruled out going DCC in the future albeit the cost of upgrading all my stock and purchasing new track and points (I know there’s tutorials online to convert Kato to DCC but looks complex for my skill set) Thanks in advance. Greg

Alas the website says no longer available (sad face). Greg

Thanks John, hadn’t realised they’d released a version as part of the main range. It’s frustrating they are so hard to come by given its a popular livery of a popular class that covers their time in Scotland and present day too (with mods). I’d forgotten about the Vulcan set; there’s a chap at work who works on one (albeit a OO modeller) who may be interested. Re the highlander loco, does it come DCC sound fitted? If not I’d agree that the prices asked for on eBay seem a little steep. Greg

Afternoon all, Am I right in thinking the only Large Logo Blue Scottish 37 in the Farish range is currently in ‘The Highlander’ set? I’m after a Scottish 37 in this livery but have no need for the rest of the set. Appreciating I could buy the set and sell the rest or hope someone else sold separately I was wondering if Farish had previously or planned to release such a loco as a standalone item. Thanks Greg

Afternoon all, Is anyone aware of what’s behind the various names applied to DRS’ Class 68’s? Some seem very specific, ie ‘Oxford Flyer’ on hire to Chiltern but others seem to be named after warships. I’d be interested to know if anyone knows the history or reasoning behind them. G

‘Lew’ was my first thought too however the Awdrys liked to use real stories (which would cover Lew going to South America) but not that he’d been found so I wondered if there had been another loco uncovered in the rainforest. Taking on a more general note there must be lots of examples of NG locos (& standard) being found after being forgotten for years and then rescued/restored? G

Evening all, For those familiar with the Awdry’s Thomas books, in particular ‘Duke the lost enfine’, can anyone tell me which loco is referenced in the forward as being found in the South American/Brazilian rainforest? The forward goes; ‘an engine lost in the South American jungle was found after 30 years. A tree had grown through its chimney and hornets nested in its firebox.’ I’ve guessed it’s a narrow gauge loco, hence posting here, as I can’t seem to find anything specific about it online. Thanks in advance. Greg

Thanks for the info and encouragement all; sounds like there’s some options out there. What started as a vague plan to do something in the garden is rapidly gaining traction (excuse the pun). Greg

Evening all, As per a separate topic on the forum, I’ve recently taken ownership of a lovely LGB OBB ‘2091’ Class diesel. Does anyone have any advice on the feasibility of converting it from electric to R/C? If it is possible, is it an easy task or do one of the specialist garden railway shops offer a conversion service? It’s not essential however I’ve always liked the R/C aspect of my dads garden railway, not least the portability benefits and the aabilitt to run on track that might not be the cleanest... Thanks in advance. Greg

Thanks for the info gents, very much appreciated and really good to know! I’ll keep my eye out for some second hand bargains. Greg

Evening all, Having tried to get my head around the various scales associated with garden railways I have hopefully a basic question. Any garden layout I plan to build will use standard LGB track (45mm) as the stock for it will predominantly come from my fathers layout which has a real mix of standard and narrow gauge stock but all run on 45mm. I really like the look of accucfafts Welshpool and Lynton & Barnstable stock but presume they are sold to run on SM32 track and not 45mm? If so, how difficult would it be to re-gauge them? Thanks Greg

Thanks all, sounds like an interesting prototype. In terms of scale, how does it compare to other ‘narrow gauge’ G scale offerings? As an example, would it look odd/out of scale hauling Accucaft L&B wagons or coaches (ignore the prototypical unlikelyness of it). My dad, who’s had a garden Railway since I was little has always run a mixture of ‘standard and narrow gauge G scale perfectly happy to enjoy playing trains in the garden vice represent any real or particular prototype. I’m of a mind to do similar albeit I’d like to keep the stock looking relatively in proportion and prefer UK style wagons to continental with some exceptions. I’d like to create a fictional Narrow Gauge railway company that, due to financial restrictions has to find its stock from wherever it can hence mixing different stock from around Europe/the world. Greg

Evening all, Hopefully this is the right part of the forum to post. I’ve recently purchased an LGB ‘G’ Scale OBB narrow gauge ‘2091’ Class diesel loco. I can’t seem to find much on the prototype on the net so wondered if anyone had some basic info about them an the network they worked. I liked the fact they vaguely looked like a ‘Clayton’/early British diesel (albeit in narrow gauge). I’m also intrigued as to what ‘narrow gauge’ gauge they actually are.... Thanks in advance. Greg

Morning all, Regarding Pecos forthcoming Bogie Brake Van release, does anyone have any further info on the prototypes use? Looking at LT Catchpoles book most the pics of the L&B involving freight seemed to show it mixed with passenger stock and so presumably not necessitating a brake van. Am I right in thinking the brake van would have acted in the same way as on the ‘big railway’? Were brake vans common on other narrow gauge railways? Greg

Evening all, Apologies if it's been mentioned before but there's a really useful historic tram map resource online at www.railmaponline.com If you click on the UK map it allows you to filter historic team maps. I'm not sure if the websites into source but when looking at maps of my native Birmingham they seemed to check out and provided an interesting walk to see former sites. Greg

Evening all, This is a fascinating thread having only got into tramway history in recent years (especially my native Birminghams network). Does anyone have any pictures of the inside of the still standing Kyotts Lake Road depot in Sparkhill, Brum? I keep meaning to go for a walk round it albeit from what I can tell in Google maps most of it is in use as a grage. Greg

Evening all, Out of interest, in terms of scale or size, how big are these locos going to be? For example, I have a Bachmann TTTE Rheneas and Skarloey so should i expect something of a similar size? Would they look out of place with Peco 009 stock of the non slate wagon variety (disregarding prototypical history for a moment as I don't model a specific prototype). G

Nearholmer is right. It’s not s re-branding as such as the diamond logo has always existed within the Colas group and has been ever present when talking about the wider Colas group as long as I’ve worked for them. It’s more about having a consistent brand image across all colas and colas rail groups. In terms of the locos, as with freigtliner whilst you might see the odd one in a slightly revised livery I suspect the reality will be diamond decals to cover the helmet logo. The cost of re-branding locos is significant not least the time they have to spend out of traffic being unproductive hence why you won’t see a wholesale re-branding.

Evening all, Hopefully a quick one to answer; Does anyone know the extremes (i.e in terms of earliest and latest) dates you would have seen a Terrier in Southern Plain Black with ‘sunshine’ ‘Southern’ lettering? I’m after a historical timeframe for which I could conceivably place one. Thanks in advance. Greg

It’s really interesting you say that! I’ve often wondered whether the makers of the TV series (as far as I can tell they didn’t appear in the books) saw that livery and reproduced it. I once owned the whole articulated set from ACE however sold it owing to lack of space very reluctantly albeit somewhat remedied by having this one off. To me it’s a really lovely livery and will definitely be making an appearance on Old Albion Greg

Big fan of those! Slightly OT but I’ve always loved the old fashioned painted backdrop scenes in films from the 40’s/50’s too before digital wizardry started to take over. These backscenes and others of a similar era remind me of those. Greg

Morning all, What’s the collective ‘deliberately old fashioned’ view of scenic backscenes? Were they typically a feature on layouts of yesteryear? I quite like some of the original painted peco ones of the countryside. On a side note I’m hoping to pick up some Merkur points Fromm ‘Rugby Vintage’ this weekend to enable completion of the track formation of my own homage to Nearholmer and others brilliant layouts. Mine will be called ‘Old Albion’, in part because of Albion being my football team (West Brom) and in part because, to me at least, it conjures up sentiments of a by gone age. Greg

Indeed the Pecketts are lovely. This one was my first coarse scale purchase a few years back. It’s a dependable little engine and looks the part too. Inspired by having somewhere I’ve been taking some measurements this evening which was cause enough to bring some of my other stock out of hibernation. From the pics below you can see a lovely ACE Schools which I’m debating whether to sell to fund a smaller loco such as the Adams Radial, Terrier, etc. The coach behind it is one of ACE’s LNER articulated excursion coaches that’s been made into a regular coach. The additional wagons in the background are BL. Overall it looks like I can fit my inglenook in so allowing the shunting game and enough space to give some operational interest. Greg