Tony Teague

....Kadees....

I would say that they want to see trains moving - not necessarily fast, but certainly moving. The problem layouts for an exhibition visitor are those where nothing moves, and then when it does, it derails and the 'hand of God' descends, or those where the operators are more interested in chatting to each other, exchanging bell codes etc, than running the "show". Tony

I spent last weekend at Missenden Abbey on a most enjoyable weathering course under the excellent tutelage of Mick Bonwick; I had decided to enrol because of the sheer scale of what I need to do in this area, and also because of my previous total failure to master an air-brush! I have returned much the wiser and in due course I shall start to post some of the results; I can recommend both the Missenden Abbey Weekend and Mick Bonwick's weathering course without hesitation (no connection etc). Following that, Giles Walburn of Elite baseboards paid a visit and helped by installing 10 more Heathcote automatic uncouplers - so I can now shunt Stowe Magna yard fairly effectively; I shall post some pictures and perhaps a video in due course. I have also managed to make significant progress on signalling, which I mentioned two posts back - so here is an update: I took delivery of my order for colour light signals from Absolute Aspects about a year ago, and although some of them had been mounted in position, none was wired up. I intend for the colour lights to cover the 'electrified / third rail' Up and Down Main lines through Stowe Magna plus the approaches to and from the main fiddle yards in either direction; semaphore signals will then be used to control the two double track lines that diverge at Stowe Magna, and through Churminster respectively. All 9 colour light signals are now lit, and all six of those that control the main through routes are now fully operational, including feathers and a theatre indicator which are inter-connected with the signal levers that control the related points - I have to say that I am really pleased with the results: SR Q1 class no. C8 heads north out of Stowe Magna with the Up Kent coal train Once it has cleared, the route is set for an Up EMU to pass it further up the line It is quite difficult to portray signals working in still shots and so I will work on some video sequences, but turning the camera through 180 degrees at the same viewpoint, just outside the Stowe Magna gasworks, one can see the Down line signal is set for a pull-push train to terminate in platform 1 The following express will then passes on the through Down Main This will then be followed by a terminating EMU to platform 2 Because the signals are operated in conjunction with the point mechanisms, and these in turn isolate certain areas of track ahead or behind them, there is a degree of electronic interlocking, but there is more to be done in this area. There are also three starter signals - two from the terminating platforms and one from the converging double track line that joins at Stowe Magna junction, that are lit on red but not yet operational, plus two position lights and some ground signals that are yet to be wired, so still plenty to be done! Tony [Edited to correct 2 spelling errors]

Adrian This is just wonderful - and all made from such basic materials! Your skills seem endless. Tony

Just to give an update on the original topic of this thread, I can confirm that I now have 11 of the Heathcote Uncouplers installed and operational. All went in easily and working fine which is reassuring given the effort that I have put in to standardising my couplings. Happy to recommend - no connection etc. Tony

Tony You haven't mentioned the layouts on display at Peterborough, but perhaps you didn't have time to take a look; I was impressed with Wellbridge an OO, BR(S) layout which I had not seen before and on which something was always going happening, also the well oiled team operation of Hinton Parva. At the other end of the scale was a nameless layout where after much button pressing, the operator proudly got his (diesel) loco to sound it's air horns - he looked up with a grin! - but it was still some minutes before things moved; even then, what I noted was that the sound it produced of a train coasting gently "click-clack" across the track joints was completely out of sync with the (very impressive) slow crawl at which the train was moving. Obviously I am not one who is persuaded by the "benefits" of DCC sound! Tony

Steve I'd find it very useful if John were to post some progress pics on this activity - I have a few to do myself! Tony

Andy Thanks - it was a pleasure to host your visit here, although as usual the 'operator error' gremlin played its part! Also as usual, the following day I ran through an entire sequence without fault, but c'est a vie! Powerbase has been suggested to me, but so far, the prospect of fitting so many locos with magnets has put me off; I think you may be right, that re-visiting this could be a worthwhile solution in achieving better usage of my top fiddle yard. The top yard is also least mature of what I have and so there are a number of other teething troubles to be eliminated, but I shall get there. Please feel free to pay a return visit in due course, and I shall make a point of coming down your way. Best wishes Tony

Hi Jack Nice to hear from you and thanks for asking. The lack of updates does not mean that nothing has been happening - indeed far from it - it probably just means that I have been lazy about updates! Since I last posted, the embankments south of Churminster have been plastered and undercoated, and then most recently the running lines have been ballasted back to join up with the existing ballast through Churminster Station. As you can see, there is a little more ballasting to be done in sidings around the Churminster South box and into the quarry area, whilst I have about another 8 feet of landform to develop beyond the overbridge, along the side of the running lines, down to the tunnel mouth. Track in this area will then also need ballasting. There is also a further small area to the right of the picture - across the tracks from the signal box - which will probably be the last to be developed as it is currently used as a handy work area! Over on the four track section to the north of Stowe Magna, one side of the cutting (to the left of the picture) on the approach to the twin tunnels had never been finished and the two tracks immediately in front of the cutting wall were also unballasted; both jobs are now completed and my good fiend Mike is now able to progress his scenic work up to, and to connect with, the top of the cutting. In my update before last, I reported that work around Churminster shed & yard had been completed (excepting the shed chimneys); here is a further shot from a different angle - the chimneys remain outstanding! Most recently I have been working on the colour light signals to the main, 3rd-rail electrified lines around Stowe Magna, and so far I have got 4 of these connected, of which two are fully operational. Note that I intend to continue the 3rd rail through the platforms in the foreground of the picture. The signals are by Absolute Aspects and I am delighted with them; they are operated via Heathcote Electronics infra-red detectors, MAS sequencers and IRDASC boards. Where the signals protect a junction or indicate a direction via a "feather" of in one case, a theatre indicator, the related circuits are relatively complex as they have to interlock with point motors and switches as well as track feeds, however, I am not going for fully automatic control as I feel this would take away 'playability' - so SPADS will still be possible if drivers are not paying attention! Finally, a further / better picture of Mike Gascoigne's work on the hillside to the left of the cutting and tunnel mouths shown above: Will try not to leave it so long, as there are also updates on rolling stock and locos. Tony

I used some Choc-bloc connectors in the past, but as soon as you need more than 2 wires to be connected together you are into forcing multiple wires into the same holes - with possibly very mixed outcomes; I now always solder joints and where screw terminals are provided, I often run short wires directly to a soldered tag strip to facilitate multiple connections. As an example, I am just installing some colour light signals with IRDOT infra-red detectors and there is a need for multiple connections both between one signal and another, and to allow for some elementary electrical 'locking'. Without a soldering iron I would be lost! Tony

Have you tried thick porridge?

Stunning work Adrian, and so simple! Tony

Tony Seen on another RMWeb thread today: " "Buying" is the new "modelling"........................" May explain your view that things may be in decline! Tony

Dave I like what you have done in using the IRDOTs in perhaps a different way to the obvious. You are effectively detecting the back of a train, whereas I am detecting the front, and so it is perhaps easier for me to mark the undersides of locos or units that are less easy to detect, because they are always going to be in the same place - at the front. In practice, however, I have only had to mark up two or three locos / units in this way, since most are readily detected by the IRDOTs. The other key difference between our two approaches is that I don't have the luxury of a "fiddle yard operator" since my layout is designed for one man operation - so I have had no choice but to mount a detector in each fiddle yard section, which certainly costs more but does provide me with semi-automatic control. Always interesting to see how others have used what is available to solve their operational issues! Tony

I have a large number of fiddle yard roads that sit underneath scenic boards or under another fiddle yard. I use Heathcote Electronics (no relationship etc) IRDOT detectors and these work just fine in the dark to give me an indication on the panel as to which roads are occupied or not. Because my layout is DC, they also stop the trains, and in some roads, when the front train is released by me, the second one automatically moves up. I have recently converted one road to "light engines only" and it holds 9 locos in a row, each of which moves up when the one in front clears. To ensure that I do not get a false detection from the IRDOT detectors, I have painted the underside of the boards above with a dark brown emulsion, but I have no idea whether that was absolutely necessary. You can see a lot more about this on my thread. Good luck with what you do! Tony

Sorry to hear this as I for one found inspiration in Grime Street - even to the point of installing Magnorail and building my range of barns to hide it! Nevertheless, time moves on and you must do what you must do! I shall be watching Sheffield Grimeside with the same level of interest. Tony

I too am lucky enough to remember the sound of steam as it was in the day, but surely you don't have to be an old git like me to be able to visit one of our many wonderful preserved railways, where if you stand at the right location, you can hear steam locomotives working hard up inclines, pulling away from stations or shunting. If you do, then you will know that "model sound" is not yet right. Right or not, I too am not a fan of sound in model form since I find it irritates me, but I'd also suggest that even if it sounded right, it requires a lot of effort on the part of the 'driver' to extract the right sounds at the right times, which may be difficult if one is also acting as signalman, controller, and moving multiple trains at once! Tony

My apologies; I mis-understood your diagram. Tony

The diagram posted by Miss Prism above deals with frog polarity, whilst that mentioned by smokebox covers signals and / or control panel indication; in addition the solenoids or slow action motors will also need wiring and the diagram provided with the Peco 3-way asymetric point covers this. All three of those options use 2 x 2-way switches and selection of the "illegal route" remains possible which is why I would suggest that getting down to three selection buttons plus a combination of relays and diodes is easiest from an operational perspective. Tony

I agree with the methods given so far, but I am fortunate in having an old fashioned coal merchant nearby, so I just go down and ask him if I can fill a large tub with coal dust - yes he thinks I am crazy, but its free and a tub full of small bits lasts forever. I am more lazy than Northroader - I have an up coal empties train and a down loaded coal train, so my coal loads are permanently stuck into the wagons. Tony

I have a number of Peco asymmetric 3 way points, each operated by two Peco solenoids but with only 3 buttons to push and three bi-colour LED lights showing for each; this gives simplicity of operation - there are always two red and one green light showing, but the circuit is complex, involving relays to switch frog polarity and diodes to change the LED's. I had previously used two switches - one per motor, but it remains possible with that solution, to select the "illegal" route. You can see what these look like on my Control Panel on my thread at: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/115550-churminster-stowe-magna-southern-railway/?p=2454727 Although I helped develop the solution, the circuit diagram that I have is copyright and is not mine as I didn't draw it, but I could probably provide a copy if you PM me. Hope this helps Tony

Andy Yes, I should have said that if you ARE using DCC then my response would be different because of the ability to address the points through that route. Good luck! Best wishes Tony

Andy Unless you use DCC generally, my personal advice would be to avoid the DCC Concepts ADS-Fx devices; I bought and installed 6 of the twin boards to work 3-way points, and recently sold them all on E-Bay at a loss. I found their on-board CDU's to be weak and ineffective and I have now switched those points to my main, much higher powered, CDU. Yes, I use the Gaugemaster GM500 relays, but I have found that, as mentioned above, I needed to remove the two small resistors that sit at one end of the board and replace them with simple wire shunts. This is pretty easy to do. You can see my track plan on my own thread and whilst I agree that automation takes time and costs money, I could not operate the layout without it! Hope this helps! Tony

Andy Where possible I use the point blades to feed power but they can get dirty as has been said, and equally there are times where this cannot work. Like Tony (LB) I use surface mounted microswitches within fiddleyards, and elsewhere I use relays which are wired in parallel with the point motors - so they are switched by the same CDU pulse that changes the points. For my fiddle yards, I have a single button that controls access into a road and another for the exit, these are connected to the various points requiring changing through diode matrices; once these are built, installed and tested they are extremely reliable in operation - errors are almost entirely those of the operator! Whilst I have used a lot of wire, no circuit is any more complex than Tony describes, each being set out, connected and tested before moving on to the next; because the layout is large and complex the wiring is documented so that if fault finding is necessary, or future changes are required, it is not too difficult. Tony

I don't have any IRDOT-P units installed but I do have around 80 other IRDOT units installed and working, plus my first Heathcote uncoupler unit and I can happily recommend their products (no connection etc). I have a semi-automated fiddle yard in which the rear trains move up when the front ones are released; about 20 of these roads are just 2 trains long, but I have recently converted 2 roads to "light engine" roads and one holds 6 locos whilst the other holds 9. Once the first loco is released the others each move up in turn after a short delay (these are based on IRDOT-2D units); it all works very well. I have solved the problem that Matt mentions, in that I have two fiddle yards that are underneath other structures and in these cases I have painted the underside of the boards above with dark brown matt emulsion paint which does not reflect, and so the IRDOT units work perfectly. I can't see any reason why an IRDOT-P would not work as well as their other units do. Tony