ColinK

Hi, I have used Kaydee's on my latest 7mm narrow gauge layout with reasonable success. I'm now building a OO layount and thinking about what couplings to use, so this topic has been very helpful. I especially want 'hands free' uncoupling. I have several Heljan diesels e.g.Hymek, where the tension lock coupling sags, as does the NEM pocket the couling is in. Indeed, some already come to a halt when the drooping coupling catches on a point. Any suggestions on how I could easily and succcessfully fit these with Kaydees at the correct height?

Hi, I'm a member of the Romiley Methodist Railway Modellers and our O gauge exhibition layout, which is a shunting layout, uses Winterley couplings. These work pretty well given the amount of handling and knocks they get. A bid advantage is that you can uncouple anywhere without any magnets etc.

I'm very impressed with your layout. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

Hi Alan, I'm delighted to hear that the layout is still going strong. I look forward to seeing it at a show with all the improvements you've made. Colin

Hi David, Many thanks for your kind words. I've put a few pictures of its predecessor 'Greengate' on the RMweb. ColinK

Hi, Some kind words about my current 7mm narrow gauge layout, 'Quality Street' have encouraged me to post a few pictures of its predecessor, 'Greengate' which I sold about 3 years ago. It was my first 0-16.5 layout and used one of Carl Arendt's track plans (p45 in Creating Micro Layouts) for inspiration. It was just 4' x 2'. Motive power included a narrow gauge HST using two modified Triang dock shunters rebuilt by a friend. One of the industries served was a broken biscuit repair factory! The close up photos do show up my limited modelling skills.

Hi, Someone suggested that I put some info on one of my layouts on the Forum, so here it is! As you will see, it is not a serious model, but it is interesting to operate and has entertained people at two shows. 'Quality Street' is a less than serious modern image 7mm scale layout using 'OO' track, i.e. 0-16.5. It is essentially a slightly modified 'Inglenook' design with an extra siding and a fiddle yard. Motive power includes a DRS shunter and EWS class 68 - made long before DRS ordered some real class 68's. There is also my version of a 'Thomas the Tank' engine! In addition, there is also a short length on 18" gauge track with a buffet car! It is just about complete, all I need is a cheap 7mm cow (for the milk supply) and to add another unusual scenic feature when I find the time to make it. It has been exhibited twice so far, at Chapel-en-le-Frith in February and a The Churnet Valley Railway a couple of weeks ago where the photos were taken. It's next appearance will be at The Romiley Model Railway Exhibhition on 7th September 2013 (nb this has free admission and has layouts for visitors to drive). The operating sequence is, Just 3 empty wagons in the yard. Workers arrive by passenger train. Ingredients for the chocolate arrive by freight train. Empty stock from the passenger train departs. Empty goods train arrives, comprising 5 wagons. A pack of 8 cards, one for each type of chocolate made by the factory is shuffled. Five of these are chosen at random; these are the chocolates to be produced in this shift. The operator now has to load the 5 chocolates in the appropriate waggons by shunting them into the loading bay where the loads are added by hand. The five loaded waggons have to be shunted into the order in which the cards were drawn. Once the train has been assembled, it departs. ECS for the workers train arrives. Empty ingredients train departs. Workers train departs. It is so challenging that on one occasion we got stuck and could not make up the goods train! The visible section is 4 feet long and 14 inches wide, plus a three road fiddle yard three feet long. ColinK

I've recently finished wiring my small urban terminus layout and only just found this thread. I'm a beginner in this area, but if it helps and hopefully I've got it right. I'm using an NCE Power Pro with three handheld cabs. Following advice from Digitrains (thanks guys) I've divided the layout into five power zones, main line, branch line, goods yard etc. it is quite possible to have someone driving a train in each zone all at the same time. I've put a NCE EB1 circuit breaker in each power zone, so if there is a short in one power zone, the rest of the layout should keep running. This is important to me as I will be running sound equipped locos at exhibitions and don't want everything to stop and the locos go quiet if something/someone goes wrong. All the points are hand operated (piano wire in a grove) with the frog polarity changed by juicers. It has blown my budget, but if works reliably I'll be happy. Test running has been encouraging with everything working as advertised so far. I painted the rail sides 'rust' today. Once its dried i'll try running locos through the points the wrong way and se what happens.