ColinK

Perhaps this video of mine may give you some help, it was filmed in 2018 and includes two sections on the Cumbrian Coast, one at the start and another after 21 minutes. Traction on the line includes DRS 37s, 68s and 88s, note the flask trains often have a mix of 68 88, 153 and 156 dmus. At the end of the video is a Network Rail test train top and tailed by Colas 37s, adding a bit of colour to the line. https://vimeo.com/328272710

From all the reports and photos, it seems to have been a great show, gutted that I missed it due to being ill.

The RAF liveried 156 was a regular performer on the line. You can always add railtours (steam & diesel), the low level nuclear waste (very short train), plus there has been the occasional freight train diverted round the coast (the Tesco train did at least once). Workington docks still has the occasional freight plus the oil trains to Dalston, but these usually go north to Carlisle. If you really want to push the boat out there are the nuclear loads that come in and out of Barrow very occasionally.

You can buy wire strippers for very fine wire. Mine came from DCC Convepts and work well. Well worth the investment.

Brilliant, one of the best jokes on RMweb. You’ve got my warped mind working overtime. While I do build serious layouts, as an antidote I also build ‘fun’ layouts, so ideas for a mattress or sleeper factory are developing Menwhile back to wagons …

Looking forward to seeing your brickworks, or pipeworks or ….

I’ve already got one on order. Not sure if I should order a second and renumber it, or wait. I did try and find out if a model of number 2 would appear in due course, but didn’t get a yes or no answer.

With all my points being live frog, I expect mine to run OK, but fitting a stay alive would help - hopefully somebody will show us how.

Kate do N gauge unitrack with a radius of 117mm. I’ve used it on my 009 micro layout (below). The Kato 4 wheel chassis run fine on it, but couplings need to be modified.

My couple arrived a few minutes ago, as always, excellent service from Arcadia Models of Shaw. The couplings are in NEM pockets, took me about 10 seconds to replace a tension lock coupling with a Kadee. Just pull the tesnsion lock out, push the kadee in, but hold the socket to avoid putting any strain on the flexible part of the mount. I did manage to bend one of the tension lock hooks and it came unclipped. But no problem as it will end up in the bin anyway. Nice bit of weight to the wagons. Undeframe detail seems reasonably robust, might survive on my layout.

Superb job. I had enough trouble repainting a Rapido Guy Arab. Even in OO the transfers are tiny, so to do them that well in N is a great achievement. PS for my 4mm Guy I was madelling a very specific bus, the one I learnt on. I discovered you can get transfers for the individual letters to make up any number plate you want - but the letters are far too small to be useable.

Amazing modelling, turning a box of very poor parts into an excellent model. Well done.

Although it is 2’ gauge, something similar could be done in 15”, and it is still operational, the Poppleton Community Nursery Railway. Indeed I could be tempted to gaveva go myself.

Another enjoyable issue.

A 104 is probably the one dmu I need for my layouts. The Heljan model looks superb, so I’m not even looking at the price. If this is the success, hopefully a 120 will follow.

Chislehurst caves are well worth a visit.

I had problems with scatter that would not stick, glue supplier said it could be due to glue being stored in a cold location and immediatly gave me a replacement which worked.

Looks great.

well you’ve got 12 months….

I work on the basis that for every negative comment there are at least 10 people who thought it was great. Although given all the electronic means of communication now, it’s probably 100 think it was great for every grumble.

The men checking clearance with the tunnel roof don’t have hard hats, so it can’t be a recent photo 😀😀😀😀

You can buy ready made painted steel coils that are quite realistic. I’ve got some, but can’t remember who made them, there some awful cheap ones available too. But those scratchbuilt ones are even better.

I know almost nothing about servos, but I have a servo tester cost £10.99. It works by plugging a battery in one end and the servo in the other. Used in manual mode, turning the knob you can control how far the servo moves and at what speed. Ok for we using it to operate a openning door. Not sure if it helps you.

The extra foot should allow you to do much more in 5’ than 4’, including a platform for a bubble car or 153.

With the cost of living impacting on the money I have available for model railways, I’m having to be very choosy over what I buy. I’ve a 44004 that I carefully renumbered and weathered, so I’ll be sticking with that for now.