SwissRailPassion

I prefer parties to libraries, but do have a little anxiety before meeting people. I find a glass of wine or a pint gets me going. I scored 35.

The last super pic also shows how much the railway needed investment in 1953. It was a living museum.

Having recently bought a 144 I'd love to have a 3 car model too. I hope this will be next. Meanwhile I'm quite keen on having another two car before they sell out.

I saw them at York and I must say the level of detail and the accurate body shape was impressive. I hope to replace my Bachmann 24s eventually and will be saving up. The sound and light features were brilliant and set new standards. There was a real sense of presence about the locomotives.

But will it really be a zoomer?

Bach Double Violin Concerto

Theres a splendid layout adaption of Tetbury which won an award. I saw it in the flesh and it's very evocative. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/37248-trenance/ Click on the thread above for all the details

I note the Flemingate diagram says 'To York' at one end.

The plans are for Drivers to control the doors on arrival. This makes a lot of sense as too often the guard is struggling to get through the train to release the doors. A lot of time is wasted on this. The new CAF units are 25 two car and 30 three car DMUs. A lot of wibble and froth in the Daily Mirror today about the CAF order taking jobs away from GB but this is not really the case. The Hitachi plant is full up with orders and Bombardier has Crossrail. The latest Hitachi order for GWR will be built at the Ansalado factory in Italy!

I think these dates are slightly optimistic. They talk of reaching Bristol but that's not Temple Meads it's Parkway. MTU will be hard at work building 200 new engines and for those with shares in Webasto it's looking good.

The new trains will look something like this (original image from CAF)

I agree about the crossover. Plenty of intesting working to be had in you latest plan. For the tunnel why not use a roof supported on pillars for the entrance? This would be a tight fit but take away the need for 'ears' on the tunnel template. I'll see if I can find a picture. Here's a pic of the kind of thing which will give more clearance placed before a concealed tunnel. If you slewed the new connection right over towards the hidden tracks and slewed the yard lead the other way you could gain more space. It protects against rockfalls so the entrance could be double tracked for a short distance before the tracks separate in a sort of grand piano shape.

I see the problem. Looking at the last photo, the girder bridges are eye catching and removing one would be a backward step. Would it be possible to push back the parapet to create more space and bring forward the parapet on the other side, basically move the bridge closer by two inches? This would give you more room between the bridge and the new tunnel mouth. Could the tunnel mouth be a shelter type concrete skew to mask the awkward angle? The innermost line could have the switch just before the bridge reverting to parallel tracks under the bridge. If you reversed your crossover your sidings would then have departure and arrival lines. Arriving stock could be kicked back to the industries. It would give you another way of running the layout if you wanted it and add more variety and interest.

The levels are a problem. Can you work up a new connection from the innermost of the outer pair earlier in the loop and run it under the scenery to emerge at the same point?

The other way round. Reverse your red line to make a facing connection clockwise from inner hidden track through to the double line. Alternatively divert the oil terminal spur at the crossover through to the hidden line. Then take the oil terminal spur off that or the other track. It means the layout can be worked both ways if required.

158s to stay and some 185s. Just the Pacers and some 150s will go. The new stock for Northern will be announced soon but the bets are on CAF of Spain.

Is it possible to make a spur from the outer hidden track on the left side at say 7 o clock leading to the inner line on the left between the bridges? This would avoid the need for reversal and give more flexibility.

Should I buy Dapol? I went for the 22 with it's fine detail and smooth motor. What I got was a very detailed lovely looker. Bits dropped off, windows fell in, lights didn't work, and after running in it began to develop problems and juddered. I sent it back. After two more replacements where similar things happened I decided to give up. £110 for something that didn't run well out of the box was too much. Should I buy a 73? Does it run smoothly? Do bits fall off? Do the lights work as expected? Is the colour right? Do I pay £ 117? Dapol are very frustrating.

The lineside was in better shape in the 60s.

The author is signing copies this Sunday 20th (today) at the Dean Forest Railway

It's metre gauge but like all their stock it will feel more spacious than most British trains.

I went to the Wakefield exhibition where driving standards were good throughout. Trains now creep into termini but years ago I remember them coming in at a lick on some occasions. By and large most layouts had scale speeds. Widnes even had trains standing at reds on the mainline as befits the modern network. It's annoying when there is a layout lovingly crafted in detail where trains run at a scale 90 or stop suddenly giving rise to scale whiplash. I saw a 2mm prize winner at Hull where the scenery was breathtaking - but so were the speeds.

From GNSE's plan there are difficulties with anti-clockwise running. Clockwise trains have to reverse back too. Am I reading this right? How about a return loop? This can be very satisfying.

Such a good layout. It would be a shame to break it up. The pair of bridges on the reverse curve is particularly good. Is too much of the running out of sight? Does there need to be an industrial focal point to balance the countryside opposite? I would pinpoint exactly what frustrates you. What are the things missing etc., what is good? Then see if by making minor adjustments you can transform what you have. There's good suggestions above. Could you post another video of trains running from a couple of static viewpoints? Edit I've just seen the other videos including the drivers eye. It takes 6 mins to get round. Excellent scenery. I would add more of a yard where the engines start and a develop a couple more of the small sidings.

Thank you. Love the compact powerful engines.