Joseph_Pestell

I'd be interested in the Class 180 Adelantes in the 2001 FGW colours, if it were ever made into a model. However, rather than two powered driving cars, my preference would be for a powered centre vehicle, with running dynamics to match Bachmann's 221 SuperVoyager as a benchmark to meet, good luck - it would be great to see something like this see the light of day!

 

Cheers,

James

I don't see why not. There should not be too much difficulty in producing a chassis which has enough weight and big enough motor to power the other four.

The issue is doing it in a way that does not impact too much on the appearance of the interior of the coach or impact on the quality of the detailing below floor level. I need to take a more detailed look at both units to see how it would all fit together.

Personally, I think it important to install wiring through the unit so that pick-up is from the leading car in whichever direction.

It’s only my point of view but I would have no use for unpowered dummies.

It would be interesting to hear from a retailer who has experience with Dapol's non-motorised models.

I think that some people would want to run a 2 x 2-car train but not want the extra cost of two motors, two chips, etc. There is of course very little cost to offering this extra option.

Is it better just to do powered units? Or would unpowered dummies be useful? Obviously that has some impact on the choice of motorisation on the powered unit but should not make it significantly more expensive.

I came unstuck in my voing by not voting “No”. No does not necessarily mean no, in that if the version I have voted for does not appear, I would choose another. A lot depends on who would do the job!

I understand that people like to know who the manufacturer would be before they commit.

But it's a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation. I don't want a manufacturer spending time on a feasibility study if it is a complete non-starter. So, at this stage, I will only say that it will be a manufacturer with a track record for high-quality models in H0 and/or 00.

If it's looking good, I would hope to get the first CADCAM work done on the 175 before asking for any commitments and announcing the manufacturing partner.

Would buy several in N gauge, but 4mm scale is just too big - sorry!

That would probably be my own preference. But commercially, there are many more 4mm modellers out there.

Who knows, if we do get this project off the ground for 00, an N gauge one might be possible off the back of it.

About time there were some UK prototype HO models to run on Peco/Hornby/Bachmann HO track.

Is there a crossover missing? Or do goods trains for the Midland have to reverse back into the platform roads before departure?

I am considering leading on the production of a series of Class 175 & 180 units. From my past involvement as a retailer and importer, I have some contacts in the manufacturing sector who could run this project and I have three possible producers in mind, all well-known for high-quality models here and in mainland Europe.

The idea would be to introduce these incrementally to spread the development cost. So we would start with the 2-car 175, move onto the 3-car 175 and then finally the 180, aiming  for a total programme time of 3 years.

Only a small amount of design work/research has been done at present, but I would expect that the 175s would be produced with one motored vehicle plus dummy trailers and the 180 produced with a motor vehicle at each end.

As we all know, costs have risen greatly. I would expect that the 2-car 175 would come in at around £180, the 3-car 175 at around £230 and the 5-car 180 at about £350.

I don't rule out that the centre car for the 175 could be available separately to enable folk to upgrade from 2-car to 3-car.

It could be a crowdfunding job (not my preference) or a deposit with order.

I had missed these more recent comments. How interesting to see new BH rail being laid.

Back to theme, I am sure that you have all realised that I have shunted my own project to one side a bit while waiting to see how the Peco and DCC Concepts products come out. No point in over duplication. I am disappointed at the lack of progress from those suppliers and radio-silence on some of the important details.

It's still very much in mind though as I see some considerable disadvantages to the approach that Peco have taken on this.

Basically to enable it to accommodate two trains at a time (which might be going in opposite directions or/and also reversing).   Two reasons - the first of these was the closure of the former Midland Railway Eastgate station which was on a loop off that company's Derby - Birmingham - Bristol route and had the disadvantage that it couldn't accommodate trains between the Cheltenham or Swindon directions and South Wales while the former GWR Central station could accommodate trains on the NE-SW route but they would have to reverse and in any case they could quite easily call at Cheltenham.

 

So as part of the Gloucester area modernisation and rationalisation the Eastgate loop was closed (and the land sold in order to finance modernisation work) and an additional platform - but as an extension of an existing one - was built at Central.  In practice the frequency of NE-SW route train calls at Gloucester declined considerably although reversal became much simpler when the HSTs arrived (but still has a significant time cost).

 

The real problem at Gloucester is that the only place a station serving all routes could sensibly be sited is slapbang on top of a major level crossing and the Eastgate Loop would still be required - for a fairly small number of trains which has in fact declined even more since the railway lost the mail traffic and its own parcels traffic was shed.  Thus far all of the several Gloucester Parkway proposals (including one which would also shut Cheltenham's' remaining station) have failed to be at a suitable site to serve all three principal passenger traffic routes through the city and that particular circle could now never be squared whatever is done.

A joint Cheltenham/Gloucester Parkway station, closing Cheltenham Lansdown, does seem like a silly idea. Convenient for the train operators to have just one stop but a huge inconvenience for many passengers.

A station at Barnwood, just north of the junction of Cardiff and Bristol routes, would be convenient for many as right by the main north ring road. I don't see why Worcester justifies a new Parkway station on the XC route and Gloucester does not.

No prizes for guessing where I am currently sat..

 

I was wondering what the reason is / was for the incredibly long Platform 1/2?

 

David

Cost saving, I think.

The new Gloucester Central station was built at a time when BR was sure that the railways were in terminal decline. Think Serpell report etc. So the rebuild was designed to be as cheap as possible both to build and to operate. Bromsgrove was another example, as was Swindon.

Of course, operationally it can be complete mayhem creating many conflicting moves which soon causes timetable meltdown as soon as there is the least disruption. At Swindon, putting back a Down platform has cost far more than it would have to do in the first place.

At Gloucester, it has resulted in a much reduced service with XC trains not stopping at what should be a major traffic destination, hence frequent proposals for a Parkway on the outskirts.

As the track for Brent nears completion, attention is finally turning to starting to build the scenic.

 

To this end one of the first jobs that is required will be the fitting of a back scene. I am looking for an off the shelf option, however the problem is that every photo back scene I have found for sale so far is limited to a maximum length of 20ft, whereas Brent will need a back scene which is closer to 30ft in length and about 15-18 inches in height.

 

My first thought was to try for a view of the Dartmoor hills which tower over the west end of Brent, however I am not so sure how I would manage certain areas (especially integrating the connection between roads and the river and the back scene.) I had thought about producing my own from photos, but again I suspect I would struggle to get the right positions (especially as I couldn’t take all the photos from one location given the length required / buildings etc getting in the way).

 

 

This has lead me to think about going for just a plain sky, but again the problem is that I cant find one which is more than 20ft in length.

 

So the questions,

 

Would a photo back scene taken at the real Brent be feasible to produce something circa 30ft In length whilst blending the two roads / river into it.

 

Or does anyone sell a 30ft sky back scene?

I'm a plain sky man myself. But take a look at the Far North thread on here. He has some superb bespoke backscenes.

I actually stayed in the Hotel de la Gare for the 2009 Ajecta festival. They were having a bash at refurbishing the rooms (but in old style still with loo down the corridor - it was a delightful throw back. There was also a meal available but it was a 'fixed' menu (and lovely it was too!) By the time of the 2011 Ajecta event it had closed down again and we had to stay at Nangis 

 

 

euuurgh - hate the new car park.

 

Preferred the old scene...

 

 

That car park is a bit el cheapo grot. But I would be happy to have the same at our local stations, Gillingham & Tisbury. Good to see that Longueville has good enough passenger traffic to justify such a car park.

Please what length and width of inch by 00 gauge

Thank you

To get 4mm scale dimensions for an O gauge layout, divide by 7 and multiply by four.

Am I right in thinking Oldham king street parcels in 7mm was only 12 foot long ?

What was its width please

 

Brian

I think King St Parcels was more like 24' in length.

Quote below from the Malta buses Yahoo Group.

It appears that the Arriva bendi-buses can catch fire even when parked up unused for several years - see https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170621/local/fire-breaks-out-at-san-gwann-scrapyard.651295

Phil G.
 

Here's my contribution, again a Lima body on a Bachmann (split frame) pannier chassis, still one of my favorite personal models:

 

 

At least there's no difficulty in counting the rivets.

My wife always asks me what I would like for my birthday.

But I would not dare tell her!

Going abroad, when the main line from Paris - Reims was redesignated as being via Epernay (to reduce electrification costs) instead of via Ferte-Milon, dynamic loops were put in between Epernay and Reims. With bi-directional signalling, it enabled a fairly frequent service where fast mainline trains (Paris - Charleville - Luxembourg) could overtake stopping locals and freight trains.

 There is a recognised syndrome of successful older men finally achieving yoof dreams by buying fast machines - 2-wheel or 4

Some refer to it as the menoporsche.

Interesting piece on BBC right now (0755), a serious discussion of the merits, or otherwise, of BBC news coverage, with particular emphasis on accuracy, responsibility and impartiality.

 

Can't imagine Sky or CNN broadcasting anything similar...

Nothing that the BBC likes better than talking about itself.

I have friends with a Stepway and they are very pleased with it after 2 years. Regular 400+ mile trips to Paris.

The finish/comfort on Dacias is not the best but certainly good enough for short trips on the Isle of Man. Superb Renault motors both petrol and diesel.

Like others, I do suggest that you look at Suzukis as the other good low-cost option.

Kias are excellent - SWMBO has had a Soul 2 for seven years that has been faultless - but prices have gone up so no longer a cheap option.

Must be 20+ years since I last went in there (when visiting friends who lived just down the road). The owner was not young then so if there has not been a change of ownership he must be a considerable age now and not really of the IT generation.

Itt's quite hot again to day and I've had to do some gardening.  So drink of choice is Lidl's Gnarly Fox lager, straight out of the fridge. Now unless I'm abroad in a hot country I don't normally go for lagers, but Gnarly Fox actually tastes quite good and is well worth a punt at £1.19 for 500ml.

 

Otherwise, yesterday I took some visitors to the Fettercairn Distillery where we enjoyed the guided tour (£5 a head).  At the end of the tour drams were of course produced, and I was quite surprised by their 42% Fior single malt, indeed so favourably surprised that I bought a bottle, helped by the knowledge that it was cheaper there (£38.50) than in the shops.  Its not aged, but is made up of a blend of 15, 14 and 5 year old Fettercairn malts.

 

That's not the only single malt I've bought recently.  Lidl has a very good reputation in the world of whisky, and several of its own brand products have won awards - indeed, at the World Whisky Awards last years its £39 Ben Bracken 22-year-old islay single malt was adjudged the best Islay single malt and its £30 Glenalba 22-year old was adjudged the best special release blended malt.  Even their budget range Glen Margot has won awards.  Now they've introduced a rather cheaper (£17.49!) Ben Bracken Islay single malt and at that price I really couldn't resist it.  It's actually very good, "a belter for the price" as one reviewer said.  It's very Islay, but also quite sweet which I like.  At the same time and for the same price Lidl released Ben Bracken Highland and Speyside single malts and I've no reason to think that they won't be absolute bargains as well - see https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/new-whiskies/14955/batch-101/#14950 for one of the few reviews currently available.

 

DT

Lidl just about to open a store locally. Hurrah!

Me neither, although I accidentally went to the pub last night and had a couple, but it has been a little cooler the last couple of days. 

 

Apparently the have trouble brewing it in the summer.

Fermenting either wine or beer is very temperature dependent, especially in products with high residual sugars.

Theakston's may well be still a rather traditional brewery using old equipment. Most  of the better beers these days are made using modern fermenters where the temperature can be much better controlled.

Not quite current, but very soon to be a Gordon's premixed G&T currently on offer in ASDA at £10 for 10.

 

Yeah, I know it'd be cheaper to buy the makings but I just couldn't be @rsed

I bet they don't use the same ratio of gin to tonic that I do.