Peter749

I got the Proses version which comes as a kit and it very well built from Laser Cut MDF Peter

Unfortunately the sections are not cut accurately with a lot of messing to try and make it work Three week later and still having problems with it Should have bought a professional version but not many in the UK Peter

Thank you Blue Max - I will make further enquiries with some of the shops I had previously looked on the Bachmann website and although some of the items are available there is no Helix so I wondered if they imported all the Proses range. Peter

I think the Birmingham Pullman service was introduced with the Blue Pullman Diesel sets - Western Region 8 car sets unlike the Midland Pullman 6 car sets. And the Loco Hauled version only ran when the Blue Pullman had a fault This is the only picture I have seen https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/1392/western-requiem/ A seven coach train with one, maybe two, Mk1 Coaches. No idea on the coach types Peter

I came across this on the Proses website and it looks ok. https://proses.com/prestashop/helix-systems/307-25-level-double-helix-for-Hornby-peco-r34-curve-tracks.html I wanted to contact them before ordering one with PayPal as I did not wish to order it now only to have it turn up next month. But there is no response to an email or Facebook enquiry Has anyone used their website and how long did it take for the order to come thru. Sorry if this is the wrong Forum Thanks Peter

And a link to Stadler pdf on the Class 88 https://www.stadlerrail.com/media/pdf/lukdualbrlldrs0816e.pdf Peter

Found this which shows a sequence along one side of the Class 88 https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/class88/hae76e3c3#hae76d856 Some roof detail in these pictures https://www.tosh-railways.com/Railways/Country/70-uk-railway-photography/Class-88-DRS-electric-locomotive/i-MM2dszc/A http://totnestrains.weebly.com/class-88.html I too would be interested in a Class 88 in 00 Gauge Peter

The 73/9 would be popular because it can run anywhere on Diesel Why would the Class 88 not be popular for the same reason? Peter

A class 88 is a loco I also would like to own - but the chance of me being able to do the work you did is not very high. Peter

Back in May 2020 I started building my first big multi level layout in the top room which is around 16' x 8'. Twice around the room in OO Gauge with a Fiddle yard on one side on the lower level and a higher level station. Fiddle yard was ok and the double junction on the opposite side was good But when I tried to make the gradient work to the upper level I came stuck as it was too steep. The track plan was revised to start from the Fiddle yard then via a Helix to the upper level station then across the far end of the room on the level and along the back wall in to a second Helix to bring the track down to the lower level going back the opposite way and in to the Fiddle yard - As both Helix are double track based on 2nd/3rd radius set track I will still have two circuits doing the run around the room. The Helix is a Kit from ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Model-Railway-Helix-Kit-00-scale/282382269004 The first part of the Helix is here and it will be 1.5 turns to reach the High level It is keeping me occupied Peter

I'm not up to hard wiring a Decoder but there is a chap locally who does such things and as I have another loco waiting for a decoder I might give him a call Thanks for the idea Peter

Thanks Gents, I will order some from Gibsons as the Marklin replacements look like old Lima Pizza cutting wheels Peter

I hove purchased a number of HO Gauge wagons to run on my layout but some are set up for Marklin system without any insulated axels The wheel size is 10.5 so I obtained some Alan Gibson pin point axels to replace those on the HO wagons But the axel is 24.75 and the Alan Gibson is 26.0 which is enough to give friction and wagons don't run smooth Any suggestions of some 10.5 mm wheels with a pinpoint axle length of 24.75 Thanks Peter

I'm building my first big OO scale layout in a room which is 15'x8' and a folded 8 design The trains will be DCC control but the points will be old style with a separate switch for each point. I have a double crossing on one side where you can cross over to run from the Fiddle Yard round once and back in When the top level is complete the trains will normally just pass on the outer tracks The Control Panel is this using Fleischmann 6900 switches The fiddle yard has a control panel Because it has direct wires to each point there is less behind the panel Fleischmann 6900 points are of a momentary contact type - changing the direction of the switch to it contacts at it's full movement and springs back slightly The block at the bottom is the common return for the points The advantage of old style is being able to change the points whilst running the train and not having to look at the DCC Controller And I can just look at the panel and know which was the trains are routed without any lights Peter

I ordered the Decoder tester and it arrived today - Thursday. I will get a chance to try things tomorrow Peter

I think I'm getting one of those - with the cost of Decoders in the 20 - 30 quid range I have three which don't seem to work as they should Thanks Peter

[1] The Decoder is the correct way round [2] I don't think I have clipped off too much from the wires [3] I have a test meter but I have no idea how to test the continuity between the decoder body and the equivalent socket on the loco What does not help is the pins on the blanking plug are fatter than those on the Decoder which makes the Decoder sloppy Peter

I have a Model Rail/Rapido J70 which runs ok and I want to put a DCC Decoder in. The one I purchased is a Bachmann branded 6 pin but is made by Zimo Another poster noted the pins are too long for the socket so I shortened them But I cannot seem to make the loco respond to the controller on the default #3 So it there a way I can test a decoder to see if it works as it should? Otherwise it is a lot of money to put in the bin Peter

Thanks but soldering bits is beyond my capabilities and I'm not sure on which Decoder to use. There is a chap locally who does DCC Fitting for difficult projects so I might ask him to look over it. Peter

Yes it does. I will either pre-oder from Rails or wait until the release - still got some expenditure on the layout I'm building. Thanks Peter

Has anyone fitted DCC to a Dapol Class 73? I have three different locos and I put a 21 pin Bachman Decoder in to one of them The cab lights at both ends stay on all the time and if I switch the route lights on they only light at one end irrespective of direction Anybody else had a problem Peter

This is a loco I like in real life and I might have to get one as it will fit on my Southern Region based layout The cost seems comparable with other locos so I might treat myself I'm slightly worried on how it might run. I was interested in the DJ Models Class 71 when announced and I had one on pre-order from a modelshop but the reviews changed my mind Peter

I contacted Peco and they sort of said "how sad, never mind" and told me to return it to the point of Sale, Hattons. You have to fill in a form when returning an item and as it is used will they call that wear and tear? Peter

I have two DCC Systems - The Bachmann Dynamis and a Lenz LH90 Purchased the Lenz LH90 quite a few years back and a few years back purchased the Bachmann Both have their good and bad points - The Bachmann is easier to Program and the Lenz is easier when running. I found that I had tried using the Bachmann system to test the newly programmed Blue Pullman when I had the problem Further running with the Lenz system does not cause the fault - maybe the Bachmann is too sensitive? Peter

I have used these point motors on the part of the layout that is away from the fiddle yard They are quite easy to set up - stick paper template to board and drill three holes thru it. The screws have two plastic washers placed on them and are screwed in to the pilot holes with the actuating rod coming thru the bigger hole in the baseboard. One problem is they are pre wired and on two different motors a Green return wire has come loose from inside and I can not see a way to re attach it. A lot easier to line up and attach to the baseboard I have not used the versions with Microswitches as my layout is all Insulfrog Peter