MarshLane

Just make sure you know whose paying your bill Rich

Ah, that I didn't realise - I though the common TRAs remained through to the privatisation point. Rich

Hi Banger Blue, That is immensely useful - thank you for that. Interesting to see that there are TOPS locations for companies now - is this something that has come in since privatisation to get a power report for a specific company's vehicles, or is it just that those are the predominant locations for locos? 42159 was Crewe if I remember right - 52900 I cannot place in my mind, but I'm thinking possibly London or a HQ address? Rich

To those who have already responded, and the four emails I've had, many thanks. I can see this forming into a very useful document going forward! Also, thanks to the chap who PM'd with details of how the wagon flow for industrial coal to Rugby worked. All useful data. I've updated the document with all the latest info. A lot is bulk traffic, so if anyone has any info on the smaller flows that went with Speedlink, that would be very useful too. Thanks again - keep the info flowing Rich

Evening all, Following on from the work that a couple of us having been doing around the TOPS system, we thought we would try and identify as many different types of traffic flows and customers as possible. Acknowledging that a wagonload (subsequently Speedlink) service from Bescot Yard to York Dringhouses could have 40-50 wagons, each potentially being for a different customer to a different destination, there appears to be few places where such information is logged for historical reference. We've made a start and will keep adding to this, through the attached PDF document (v2), and as new information comes to light (either contributed via rmWeb or discovered ourselves) we will add it, and I'll ensure that the document on this first post is always the latest we have. For each wagonload or bulk train flow we are looking to identify - Origin - Destination - Product being transported - Customer(s) - Wagonload or Trainload - Types of wagons - Any related information or notes on the flow The related information could be timings, operational information, more detailed wagon type, how the vehicles were circulated, which yards involved in the movement, rough or accurate dates that flows started/ended - basically ANY information that is related to flows. You might not know it all, every little helps (to quote a well known superstore!) so even if you maybe worked at a yard and can only remember odd bits, please post it, and we'll collate it all together. We have primarily started in Yorkshire / North East, but that just because its our area of interest - information from anywhere across the country would help, and should be documented, so that it truly becomes a nationwide project. For reference, this isn't our project. We're treating this as public domain historical information, the PDF is there to be used. A credit or reference to this thread if it is used or posted anywhere would be nice, as that may generate additional information. If you know people who might be interested in helping who are not on rmWeb, please print this post and the PDF, tell them about it, and ask them to email any info recollections, notes, copies of document anything, to marsh.lane@outlook.com. Today's railway is vastly different from 20-30 years ago, the idea of a wagonload network will be unimaginable to some younger enthusiasts, so lets document it now, while people remember and have archive material/photos to fall back on. Even if you cannot help now, please follow the topic, and check back regularly - as bits of information come up on different workings you may be able to assist us in the future. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. Rich File Updates from the original posting: v2 - Original Upload v2.1 - Updated 1st February. v2.2 - Updated 1st February. v2.3 - Updated 2nd February. Total Downloads to v2.2: 21 - Mentioned because the download figure resets every time I update the file. Traffic Flows v2-3.pdf

Hi Simon, Not come across an IL or AM enquiry - care to elaborate Rich

Yay! Well done Steve - already looks good, so the additional track can only make it better Rich

Amazed how calm that guard looks considering his loco is on the move with no driver Or has Beale Street found a method of remote control for steam locos! Lovely purchase Andy, I do prefer the Minerva lined green livery for both of their locos just looks spot on to me. Rich

One other to throw out to everyone/anyone reading or taking an interest in this thread! I also seem to recall there was an enquiry, like an F4 for train, but for a location or specific wagon pool that didn't just give an overview of the number of vehicles there, it specified the actual details of what was at the location, loaded/empty, the customer, origin destination etc.. Any can anyone jog my memory with the details? Thanks to all for your help so far - all much appreciated. Rich

Thanks Kevin, Thats really helpful - can you recall what an LP 2A enquiry was ... In the back of my mind I've got that it was a power report on a particular traction pool for locos? Rich

Hi Ken, Just drop Steve at Railtec an email with which number you want and he'll sort it out for you. Tell him it's for a Dapol model. Rich

Hi Rod, Two thoughts occur to me - if you wanted to keep it the same as it is now, assuming that the theory behind it works when the tortoise arms go fully across - you could invest a little bit of cash (ok I'm being extravagant at £1.48 post free!) in micro switches with longer arms (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5Pcs-Micro-Limit-Switch-Long-Lever-Arm-Miniature-SPDT-V-153-1C25-Action-Home-/381549751664) so that the tortoise movement is guaranteed to activate it. Alternatively, you could run a couple of relays off the switches to achieve the same outcome. When 22 is thrown reverse, the relay activates the power to 26. There's also the potential to automatically set 26 up, when 22 is put normal, but the wiring would be somewhat more complicated for that scenario. I think, if it were me, I'd go with the longer armed micro-switches to start with, unless anyone comes up with some other brainwaves Nice idea tho, I like the reality - the modern modelling equivalent to interlocking in the box Nice Rich

Hi Hugh, Yes I've had that email from Dapol too. Id suggest thats probably not far off. The guy on the Dapol stand was a little reluctant to put a date to it, but I said so what are we talking middle of the year/early Summer kind of period, and his replace was ..ermm yea somewhere around there. So no disrespect to the chap at all, but I'm guessing Dapol either weren't publicly saying a date, or possibly didn't have a good enough confirmation from the factory to give one. I think we're probably safe to say somewhere in the second half of the year! Not wishing to hijack the thread at all, but Hugh, through your FTG operation - have you thought of scaling up the CAD drawings from 4mm to 7mm for the SPA wagon? Id certainly be interested in committing to several! Rich

Hiya, Yes he does - he's on here as Pauliebanger - but does sound for 20s (I think), 25, 37, 47, 56 etc.. Paul's sounds were also used on the Minerva Peckett and Kerr Stuart - available direct from the man himself in his ProtoDrive version, which are superb! No connection other than as a customer... Rich

Phew! Rich

Well done Andy ... you won't regret that purchase! Rich

Thanks for that Kevin, Thats just made the Tag system a bit clearer to me - always wondered what the logic was behind it! I guess with my layout being set Yorkshire area, then anything for Toton, Bescot, Tinsley, Doncaster, York, Healey Mills, Scunthorpe, Immingham, March kind of areas would be useful to know. I've put a couple of queries out to other people for traffic types, customers and tags with in that area and see what comes back. Im quite interest to see any info on the East Midlands/Yorkshire MGR circuits, either from an operational or TOPS point of view. Its all fascinating, and something I have a personal interest in. From what I remember the TRAs were based around key yards/locations, and things likes Flood's power report would have been TRA based I think. Sure I've got a list of the TRAs here somewhere - I do have a complete TOPS location list from the early 1990s that somehow found its way in my direction, which is useful as customers are marked on that as well. Cheers Rich

Thanks Flood, That greats - that looks like a TOPS Region power report to me? Rich

Thanks Kevin Rich

Where is the OMG! Wow button when you want it Really nice track work there Martyn. Complicated to build I bet, but it will look fantastic when in place. Looks great now! Rich

Hi Jinty, Looking good - I was hoping a last minute change might have let me get over to Pontefract and say hi to you and Chris, but alas not to be. Sounds like you had a good time - nice move on the 31, and pleased its going into a decent livery Shall be following along Rich

Hi Jon, You've obviously not got enough signalling commitments if you've spare time like this ... what was that .. you thought the hobby was about enjoyment? <Capt Mainwaring voice>Stupid Boy!</end voice> Hehe! Looking good mate, anyone who can do anything in brass has my admiration. That chassis looks superb. Glad you also got your 10001 sorted out after its little 'hiccup'. Rich

Hi Andy, The Peckett is a lovely model. I had one of the Kerr Stuart's on order, but cancelled it because of other requirements on the diesel fleet at the time, but still looking to get one. But the Peckett I've got here is superb, and I have to say Paul's sound on it, is one of the most realistic steam DCC sounds I've ever heard. I really took some convincing that it would be decent, as I'm not a fan of DCC Sound on steam, the 'chuff' (excuse the expression) never seems right. But on the Peckett it is exemplary and I'm certainly a proud owner! Rich

Really good mate - was scrolling down thinking, how does this driver see where he's going then ... then the first one where the side window was clean, I though - ah! typical Liverpool loco .. window's been put through! hehe .. then I realised you'd cleaned it! Bloody good as ever mate. Well done. Rich

Hi Rod, The new signal box looks superb. Paul really does do a good job with those. I've had an initial chat with him about letting him do the boxes for my new layout - leave me to concentrate on the stuff I can do reasonably well! Are you using the microswitches for detection there, or just polarity switching? Rich