MarshLane

Paul, Thanks for that - that last diagram seems to confirm that there is not a standard 'between track width' when diamond or slips are used. Point crossovers seem to run at 59mm between the tracks, but when you put a slip or diamond in to the layout it has to increase, which leads to uneven spacing. Maybe I am just too used to Peco in the past where everything work together! Having been playing about in Templot last night, tho I think I may have the beginning of a layout and using hand-built pointwork with those ScaleFour OO gauge concrete sleepers, it gives another challenge. I'll keep playing around with things!

or is it the N Gauge Society that have seen the light Jerry?? Sorry if that was too provocative :) RIch

I'll bow to your knowledge on that one! They could defiantly steel and adapt the Mr Kipling slogan ... they do make exceedingly good sandwiches! Mind you most Germany delicatessen's do in my experience :)

Ok, so while the Tillig track work looks very nice, I cannot seem to solve the query of how to make a double track cross-over, the degree's of the diamonds and slips seem to be different. There is also the issue of cost. I am therefore looking at building my own track work, which I have done before in other scales. This small modular layout is only going to be simple and nothing elaborate, although the small station may need a couple of double slips in true German style! So a couple of further questions that somebody may know. I am drafting the track work up on Templot. Is German sleep spacing the same as UK? From looking at pictures it doesn't seem to be too different. A lot of station paintwork still looks to be wooden sleepered track work, but the plain line is concrete slippered, therefore, I am wondering - the Scalefour Society do some OO gauge concrete sleepers for Flat Bottomed Rail - would these work for a German layout? I dont see any reason why not, the only potential issue might be that the only FB rail the S4 Society do is Code 55 ... given the likes of Tillig use Code 83, I just wonder if Code 55 might be introducing issues with wheel flanges on EU HO Gauge models? In which case, maybe the idea will be to find some Code 83 rail and design some concrete sleepers for 3D printing. The layout will be very loosely based on the area I know and love, the Rhein Valley, but resembling a double-track main line station on the edge of a city to allow other aspects to be included, including a small depot (the first module to be built) and maybe even a very small section representing the City's tramway on a future module. But in terms of era it will be current 2015-2021 era. Through freights, through IC passenger and local stopping passengers, some loco-hauled some units. I am coming to this with very little stock, so basically a clean sheet!

Interesting have dug about further tonight, the points seem to be 22.5 degree radius, but all of the diamond crossings appear to be 15 degrees, but there must be a way of making a double track cross over....

Oh good question ... erm ... it was defiantly, in the underpass directly in line with the doors from the square next to the Cathedral. Not sure what the shop name was .. think it may have been the one that is positioned between the stairs to Platforms 4/5 and 6/7, as I seem to recall it was on two sides. Not wishing to make anyone hungry ... but the sandwich in question was bl**dy good! 🤣

Hi Paul, Thanks for the recommendation, and the thought about the point tie bar is noted. The English website pages suggest it is Radius, giving R380/22,5 which to me suggests 380mm radius at 22.5 degrees. Unfortunately none of the stated UK retailers either seem to have stock or anything on their website describing what is what. However, I have just looked on Modellbahnshop-lippe.com and their page clearly shows Radius 380mm, so I think that answers the question.

Ok, I am yet again playing with another idea. I really do need to stop thinking, but spurred on by @PaulRhB idea for a small return loop and small modular boards on his Nm9 layout (see the Swiss section I think) it has set me thinking about a little diorama board that would sit in the corner of my office. Looking around and Tillig track work looks better than Peco, and Code 83 for HO as well is a bit more finer scale. Has anyone any experience of Tillig? Given their range, I suspect it must be popular across the EU, and there appears to be a couple of well known UK stockists. If I did a small return loop, and used preformed curved sections for it, which isnt the best idea in my view, but would give a constant radii, does anyone know how their track work system actually works in terms of radius? Looking on the website under the Elite-trackwork it says fixed curve radii of 366, 425, 484 and 543, but various website seem to show those figures as the length. Does anyone know if 366, 425 etc.. are the actual radius? Ie a set of 366 track pieces in a 180 degree curve is 732mm diameter? Rich

Hi Simon, Glad you enjoyed them, totally agree. A lovely station in a lovely setting. I would like one day to spend a couple of days around Koln photographing, as the tram network is worth exploring too! Also the station has one of the best sandwich shops I have ever found :) Rich

Just to finish off another selection from Koln. Most of which are self explanatory. I do like to put trains in a setting and show there surroundings if possible - this was a challenge to get the Cathedral in at Koln, but I did achieve it!! And to conclude ... this Austrian OBB Class 1116 was on a Night Sleeper service. Given this was lunchtime, I am assuming it was empty stock. There are plenty more, but most replicate the trains, the views or the workings!

Coming back from Rudesheim, we travelled on the Paddle Ship Loreley. If anyone heads down the Rhein anytime, I totally recommend this run back up in the evening. Early boarding and good weather is necessary to get a seat on the outside deck, but the photo otpportunties are wonderful! I took so many of the trains and the castles, but I'll just pop these two in here. A pair of MRCE Traxx locos heading south light engine: It is a challenge with the swaying motion of the boat and the river, the get the trains between the OLE stantions, let alone the trees! Next day, we started off in Boppard once again, with an IC service heading south First stop was the lovely town of Bacharach. Where an SBB Cargo-liveried Bombardier TRAXX heads past the local tower with a southbound intermodal. I then walked about half a mile north and spent a pleasant 40 odd minutes beside the road, dodging those on cycles, while photographing the trains ... thats me photographing, not those on cycles. Here, a DB Class 101 speeds north on an IC working, which interestingly was topped and tailed with a '101' on both ends. Not rare, but not all that common. This was followed about 10 minutes later by an unidentified open access freight operator Class 185 with a rake of PKP Cargo coal hoppers The rover style ticket for the Rheinland-Platz region also allows travel on local buses, so a journey to St Goar was had once more, for the ferry across the river to St Goarhausen (also in the ticket) and then the bus to the Lorely Visitors Centre. The views from the top of the railway are amazing in both directions. Sods law I timed it when the freight died for two hours!! After this I dropped in to Kaub once more, with a DB Class 185 heading north on intermodal This was followed by an MRCE operated Vectron on Chemical tanks. Apologies, I have just realised I havent corrected the converging verticals on this shot! A nice 'win' for me was this gold liveried Class 185 working for TxLogistik which was working swapbodies north. A wonderful place on a summers afternoon, a slight breeze up the river, warm sunshine ... bless ... better than the cold damp weather I am looking out on in January 2024!! Finally, I then moved back to St Goarhausen to get the ferry back across the river, and with a few minutes to waste I held on to see if anything was following my EMU. Pleased I did, as this Class 187 Bombardier TRAXX with the interchangeable (but unused in this case) bodyside branding system appeared on a wagonload freight.

Back on the Rhein Valley, the same afternoon, after a visit to St Goar, two of the Suwex EMU (Class 429) sets that traverse the Rhein Valley passed. Followed by a DB Class 101 propelling an IC service. The next day brought an early start (before breakfast!!) and a wander over the Filsen, opposite Boppard on the West Bank on the Rhein courtesy of the car ferry. Services from Koblenz, through here to Rudesheim and beyond, are in the hands of these Stadler EMUs, although the name of the operating company I have temporarily forgotten! After some breakfast back at the hotel at Boppard on the East Bank, we headed north to Koblenz, changed trains then south to Rudesheim on the West Bank. Some views from Rudesheim have been shown previously, but not these. A pair of Class 185s head a coal working south. A Class 152 works north with Cargowagons in tow Along the riverside, another Class 185 makes its way south with intermodal containers. One of the Bombardier Class 187s , threads between the town of Rudesheim and the River Rhein with a wagonload service

While digging out the images to replace those lost, see above, I also came across a number of others that had not been uploaded previously, again from the May 2019 trip. I took over 1,000 on this trip! Some some additions that people may enjoy ... A Bombardier TRAXX in SBB Cargo livery heads long the West Bank of the Rhein under the cable cars at Koblenz The weather on this day was constant drizzle, but having ridden the cable cars to the top, this was taken from the ramparts of Stolzenfels Fort, next to the cable cars, looking over the River Moselle, shortly before trains pass through a triangular junction. Straight on is Koblenz station and the run down the Rhein, turning south the trains head down the Moselle. I do love the European liveries! This TRAXX is in TxLogistik colours again taken from Stolzenfels Fort.

Afternoon all, Just a quick note to say I have been through and reinstated the images lost in the server crash. If anyone else who has posted tho this thread still has theirs available and could do the same, it would be appreciated. I have some from the 2012 trip to the Rhine Valley to add back in again, which I'll do over the next few days. @devious diesel @Andrew P @Alcanman @eastwestdivide Rich

Now that is an interesting thought that I had not considered! Well done that man, I'll see if I can find out.

Thanks guys, this is for 2mm ... if it works!

Hi Paul, Love the ideas that you have with these layouts and the modular approach. Really does give food for thought, that compact return cover from Nm9 really does open some possibilities for a small layout. Following along, also registered on the RhB forum you mentioned, some great RhB modelling on there too. Definitely needs to see more images of your layouts! Especially since the image crash with rmWeb. Rich

Russ, Those are brilliant and really clear - thank you. I can have a look at designing them to fit around an etched brass inner holding the axles now. Much appreciated. Rich

@SRman Thank you very much for your detailed reply. My Southern unit knowledge is average for a non-southern man I’d say! (i.e. very little!) The detail that you and @KeithHC have provided gives me something to search with now, Southern EMU bogies was not bringing much up. Reading the SREMG page made me wonder if there is anyone on here connected with the Bluebell’s VEP who could take any photos? I’ll have to see if there is a website a drop them a line.

A rather strange request, but does anyone have any close up pictures or technical drawings of the bogies on a 4VEP? From pictures, they all look the same, but I am assuming there are differences between motor bogies and trailer ones, aside from the outer unit motor bogies having third rail shoes? Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Rich

This may be a long shot, but during the 1980s the Railway Enthusiasts Society Limited (which had separate subsidiaries for Wales, Midlands, North West, Termini, Tyne & Wear and Yorkshire, produced a magazine around eight times a year called 'Terminus'. If anyone has any of these that they no longer require, or would be willing to scan for me, please do get in touch. The same goes for any RCTS Journals that you may wish to dispose of - please PM me. Rich

Your welcome mate, it's looking very good! Sure @Laurie2mil would agree, even if its too modern for his tastes!! Look forward to seeing the images of freights and loco-hauled passenger winding through the Cumbrian hills! Rich

Very nice Michael. Superb stuff - love the very discreet sound change over on the chip too. Rich

@MichaelE Oh very nice, I had not realised the models were actually out in the wild yet. Are these DC or DCC - your Erfurter BahnService liveried example looks superb, what are the running qualities like? Its a company I havent actually come across before, so I am not sure if they are new to the market or just new to me. Rich

Ingenuious .. must not get into something else .. must not get into something else .. must not ..... rich