Richard Mawer

Guys

Thanks for the messages. All is fine here. Busy but fine. Buckingham West is much the same, but under used. Covid got me out of the habit of operator evenings and I need to get that sorted. To be honest most of my time has been taken up with business which has been very busy I’m happy to say, and our exhibition layout, The Stonethwaite and Bainrigg Railway. This features on RM WEB too.

DIAMONDS ARE A (GIRL’S BEST FRIEND/BLOKE’S PAIN THE….) DELETE AS APPROPRIATE.

We have a diamond crossing at Stonethwaite. We wanted elecrofrog of course, but Peco do not make an electro code 100 Short. So I fitted a code 75 with packing below. MISTAKE. It was always a sticking point for deep flanges and wider treads/tyres. I have finally plucked courage to rectify it; brought on by snapping a frog and two check rails while trying to ease it in situ.

Yesterday I attacked the board and removed it and 2 short lengths of track. Hours were then spent modifying a code 100 insul frog into a live version using check rails off the code 75 to replace the plastic ones and using rail and solder to replace the insul sections. Its a bit messy on the outside of the rails but that it all hidden when in place.

The original code 75.

Post surgery.

The replacement code 100. Note the amount of plastic check rails and insul breaks. The boosters are another story.

The finished conversion.

EVERY DAY IS A DAY AT SCHOOL

In the case of Oxrail, it physically was: a Primary school.

Anyway, our biggest discoveries were both things we discovered in Kettering, thought we had sorted, but found we hadn’t. In fact they were connected - or not as the case maybe. Kaydees and Fiddleyard.

Its well known that Kaydees do not like changes of gradient. This is made worse with short wheelbase stock. At Kettering we discovered we had small changes of gradient in and out of the fiddle yard that we hadn’t perceived as issues. But trains became uncoupled as they left. 
 

We also knew that we needed to realign the traverser tracks to match the boards towards Bainrigg. So we relaid the traverser before Oxrail. 
 

Even though we thought we had ironed out the worst issues, it was still an issue at times. Michael’s winter project is a full rebuild.

OXRAIL - KIDLINGTON, OXON - OCTOBER 22

Well we made it!

We deliberately made the layout lower than some layouts so the youngsters have a better chance to see. Our moving features and the sounds go down well.

Given the size of the full layout this was only the second day it was fully operated so we had some discoveries and issues to sort. But generally we, the club and the public were happy.

A TRIP UP THE DALE

It’s been a while!!! 

Phase one was Stonethwaite, the town at the bottom of the Dale with the canal wharf and warehouses etc. We first exhibited that at Kettering.

Then we accepted an invitation to Oxrail and in a silly moment said we would have completed phase 2 by then. This phase is Bainrigg, the village at the top of the Dale. The quarry is to be found just outside the village, but that’s another phase! So Dave built another 3 baseboards including a corner. Our layout is modular so the joining methods and track alignment match from board to board. The exceptions are where boards are pairs. We can currently exhibit as phase 1 or phases 1 & 2, with or without the corner and the corner can even be reversed so the L shape can be either way round.

Anyway, the clock was ticking over the summer to get it done. Its a brief trip through some green stuff, the outskirts of the village into the terminus. The quarry line passes through but is currently gated. These photos are without finishing touches. Its still a ghost town!
 

Just a little Yank

Like many narrow gauge lines, after WWI, the S&B acquired a Baldwin repatriated from the trenches. Ours is a Class 10 prairie. Seen as a stopgap workhorse rather than a loved member of the loco stud, she was always just known as The Yank.

Grace gets pumped.

A visit to the paint shop is needed.

Some final adjustments on the Stonethwaite Wharf board before we start on Phase Two of the project : Bainrigg station.

Grace with a brake van. An impressive rake of rusty stone skips and a couple of tank wagons in the siding.

Phase one (as shown at Kettering) plus phase two will be shown in Oxford in October.

We even made the Guild News

Gauge O Guild - Kettering. March 2022.

More exhibition invitations please.

Rich

NOTICE

The Stonethwaite and Bainrigg Railway will be displayed for the first time on 5th March at Kettering with the Gauge O Guild. Come along and see us.

Cheers

Rich

Some of you will know that I am involved in another layout - an O-16.5 Narrow Gauge called The Stonethwaite and Bainrigg Railway. It is on RM Web as well. The layout is going to its first exhibition on 5th March this year at the Gauge O Guild's exhibition in Kettering. Please either check us out on this site or if possible come along and see us in Kettering.

Cheers

Rich

Sorry for the silence. We’ve just been working through stuff. Plus this blessed virus stopping us.

Anyway we are finally due to take it to our first exhibition 5th March at Kettering with the O Gauge Guild. 
 

Its starting to come together quite well now.

GOING UNDERGROUND

There have been two problems preventing the disappearance of Banbury. One was the need to build a hill. The second was to verify route selection.

If you are wondering what I am talking about, yes its loops. Banbury (and beyond) is represented by 10 storage loops and a dumbbell to reverse the trains. To cause the illusion when operating the layout, the Charlton Junction operator will exchange block bells with an automatic operator called Banbury and will send trains to Banbury by directing them into a tunnel. After that I didn’t want any conscious actions - out of sight, out of mind. So the loops and dumbbell are under scenery. All the operator does is to turn a dial to the letter mentioned in the timetable and drive the train into the tunnel.

The scenery is formed from shaped high density insulation foam sheets (offcuts from a mate) covered with Readigrass vinyl backed grass mat. This is moulded to shape with a hair drier.

The continuous run, known as Charlton Junction, is in the cutting.

The line between Buckingham and Evenley is at the higher level at the back.

But before I could enclose the loops, I had to have confidence that the point ladder at the entrance to the loops had selected the correct route each time. These points are changed by Peco surface mount solenoids from a diode matrix and capacitor discharge unit. I’ve arranged it so no more than 4 points need to change, no matter what, but just every now and then, 1 fails to throw. When they are out of sight I have no way of knowing and then a train drives full speed up the back of another, or just gets in the wrong loop. I needed some way of knowing what route was actually set.

Mark Riddoch came up with answer. As the frog polarity of each point is changed by a micro switch, what if we could use the polarities to check the actual point positions? He suggested an Arduino could do it. Mark has built all the other Arduino boards in use, but I wanted to learn. So back in lockdown 1, I started. And in lockdown 2, I’ve finally done it! It “reads” the frog polarities and when they represent a successful route, the display shows it.

The led F confirms that the dialled F has actually worked.

As long as the diplay is the same as the dial, all is good. By the way, the red leds around the dial indicate whether that loop is occupied. There is still room for human error, but there is now enough info to reduce accidents. 

The right hand side dial is for trains leaving Banbury for Charlton Junction and the rest of the layout.

The 3 leds in the middle light in turn as an Up train makes its way round the dumbbell towards the tunnel mouth.

37 minutes ago, Neal Ball said:

That sounds good @Richard Mawer, I particularly like the idea of a fast clock, I need one for Henley.

I’ll happy send you the code. You just need an Arduino Uno or Nano, some stripboard, the right lcd screen and some buttons. Plus a 5v dc supply.

THE TICKING CLOCK

Its been a long time coming, but there is progress. At the start of lockdown I was doing a lot on The Stonethwaite and Bainrigg Railway (our 7mm narrow gauge - also on RMWeb). Since lockdown eased I have been incredibly busy at work. The busiest I can remember. I am not moaning because I am lucky. Many people aren’t. We got no Govt help and feared we would have no business left, but we’ve been incredibly lucky.

I have managed some BW time though. Mostly I have been learning to program Arduinos. If you don’t know, they are small computers. At this juncture I want to publicly thank Mark Riddoch for his incredible patience with me and for his immense help.

Apart from his massive help in programming, he has previously built the level crossing system and the block bell indicators with arduinos. I wanted to learn how to do it.

My first aim was to build something to check that the points on the entry to Banbury loops were set correctly. So far I have designed it and got the program to work, but not built it. But it will be first.

I then made a fastclock to display on each panel rather than use the one clock on the shelf. This fastclock also shows the day and the freight day being used. The master clock also allows the speed to be varied. It also remembers its last settings when it powers down.

My final project has been to make an automatic Banbury operator. This interacts with the Charlton Junction operator including block bells and block instruments. This has proved to be a massive project! Its taken me weeks! And will be another entry.

Keep safe!

BRACKLEY ROAD

The 17.41 Branch Passenger from Buckingham West has arrived behind a 45xx with vintage stock. Note the Cordon gas tanks wagon at the end of the carriage siding behind the platform.

The tunnel mouth is where the lines from Buckingham West dive under. Below that are the actual junctions of Charlton Junction.

The amount of scenery still to is obvious.

EVENLEY

Monday, early evening. The 18.25 Auto train for Brackley Road simmers in the bay; the milk van behind for later collection.

A pannier waits at the head of the up “Fly” (Pick Up Goods) in the goods loop. It leaves to Buckingham West at 18.30. Even though its a long train today the yard is looking pretty full.

The continuous run (known as Charlton Junction) is in the cutting below.

Static grass, bushes, trees, fences and telegraph poles still to be installed.

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE

Michael has built a rather nice little coaling stage.

I think the silver surfer needs a spot of paint or two.

SATURDAY EVENING ACTION

The 19.18 down Buckingham to Birmingham parcels, headed by a Castle, running in the cutting below Evenley station.

The 19.53 TWSO down Buckingham West to Banbury Horses and Carriages, hauled by ex-GCR “Pom Pom” J11 of Woodford Halse (doing the local shed a favour) emerging from the tunnel between Buckingham and Evenley

The 19.40 Up Birmingham to Buckingham express.

And finally the Horses and Carriages train dropping down the bank from Evenley towards Charlton Junction and the Birmingham Express on the continuous run (which is between Banbury and Evenley and runs over Charlton Junctions a few times).

17 hours ago, t-b-g said:

I never used to bother with bells until I learned when I got to operate a big layout with 12 stations that had them. Even then, I wasn't hooked. Too many bells all going off together and constant "Was that you" called from one station to another. It was, however, where I learned the basics of working hem.

 

Then I got to operate Buckingham. As I knew the basics, I could just drop onto a station and run it, as if I had known it for years.

 

The timetable and the operating system, including the bells, were and are just so absolutely natural and an integral part of the joy of the layout. Now, even when I operate a layout that doesn't have bells, it just feels as if something is missing. I find myself muttering "ding, ding" under my breath! It is a bit of a standing joke amongst my friends. Many see the bells as a joke and make comedy "Ding " noises or Quasimodo references every time they are mentioned. 

 

I would never suggest or dare to say that those who don't like block bells and block instruments should be forced to use them, or should even try them if they have no interest in that type of operating. But I wouldn't want to go back to asking the next operator "Can you take the express now?" when the real railway had a perfectly good way of doing it that I can replicate in model form.

 

But at the risk of upsetting folk, dare I suggest that "I don't like/want/enjoy block bells" or "Should model railways use block bells?" is not really what the thread is about.

 

   

I thought you must have missed it! Glad to help.

I have to echo Tony’s comments: for me the operation is what it is all about and the bells (like a timetable and fast clock) add the missing dimensions to the normal 3D model. For me a layout is not complete without them.

I was enthralled by the Gainsborough Model railway and Buckingham as a lad. Thanks to Tony, operating Buckingham became a dream come true.

DCC has put operators in the role of the driver, but I like layouts where you are in the role of the signalman. 

My layout is a massive tip of the hat to Buckingham (very obviously!) and we use block bells. The positioning of the bell and the pitch and tone are key to recognising which ones are ringing and frequent operators tend to recognise them. Using a timetable and fast clock also helps because you should be expecting a bell or not. However visitors (and the rest of us) do get confused from time to time, so we have lights as well. These are operated by Arduinos and are triggered by the bell. Because of the layout design, all but one operating panel has just one bell so a simple LED suffices. When a bell is rung, the light illuminates for a few seconds and then flashes quickly for a couple of seconds, then slowly before going out. A simple glance solves the problem of “was that you?”.

This comes into its own at Evenley where there are 3 bells and of course for visitors.

At present I do not have Block Instruments, but I have designed the wiring and bought the components. They will be wired with the signals into the cab control we use. I have designed a pair of semi-virtual single-line token instruments for the branch too. I am in two minds whether to make all of them. Its an added layer of operation that I would love, but many visitors have a bit of trouble with the Block system as it is.

I do not have room for proper Instruments so haven’t even attempted. My bells are under the layout and simple not latching solenoids strike them. The tappers are Morse Keys bought from eBay. 

The instruments (if I make them) will be small plastic boxes with chicken-head knobs, pictures of the GWR block instrument quadrants with coloured LEDs in each corresponding segment. No moving needles I’m afraid.

I’m sorry but the photos are quiet early on in my thread and I can’t drag them here.

9 hours ago, checkrail said:

Great!  I do enjoy seeing these action videos.  

Thank you. I’ll add some more in due course.

There is a long way to go on the scenery, but its never going to be a patch on Stoke Courtenay. Likewise I can’t get close to Kevin’s Little Muddle and various others. I am in awe.

The replacement chip has arrived from Sunningwell Controls, already reblown to the required sound files. Thank you Ted. Out with the soldering iron.

CHARLTON JUNCTION

Two short clips of trains passing through Charlton Junction late afternoon on a Saturday. The first is the 17.33 Buckingham West to Leicester headed by ex GCR Director, Marne. Note the mixed rake. It travels to Banbury where it joins with the main train from Reading. The combined train then runs to Woodford Halse and on to Leicester. The motive power alternates between GWR and LNER on consecutive days.

The second clip is from the same location but shows the 17.30 local from Banbury to Buckingham West. It is headed by a Dukedog.

You will have noticed that basic green stuff is appearing. Bushes, static grass, fences and trees are still required, but its a start. The problem with making a layout primarily for operational interest is that its so much fun to operate I get little work done on it.

You will also note the control panel for Brackley Road which is up on the top level here. Some wagons can be seen in the front siding. You can also see the aide memoire for Block Bells on the control panel. That is a help for some of the guest operators not versed in this type of operation.

You will also note the girder bridge visible above the signal box. This bridge carries the approaches to Buckingham West. The yard shunter is paused on the headshunt on the bridge.

We are starting to get the low relief buildings in place.