thegreenhowards

I’ve got a quiet couple of hours, so one photo from before I left. This is my attempt to back date the station building in a similar way to the signalbox. I’m trying to recreate this look (Irishswissernie to the rescue again - thanks). In terms of a ‘spot the difference’ competition, I can see that I need to remove the station name, add an advertising board and add the toilet walls. The bit I’m struggling on is the colour of the chimney stacks which are rather nondescript in all the photos I can see. Does anyone have any ideas on the chimney stacks or any other things I’ve missed? Andy

Superb Rob. Now just needs that F5 to fot on it!

The coaches, yes. The locos are Czech built and they obviously had to pay extra for styling! They sound similar to the Czech 751 ‘Grumpys’ if anyone is familiar with them. Surprisingly, they do have retention tank toilets!

That’s the one. There are very few trains during the day and none in the rush hour because of all the level crossings, so for large parts of the day the track gets buried. But there are three trains between 2115 and 2205, so that’s the time to take a seat for the spectacle. For the first video I tried I was standing next to the line with a guy shouting at me to sit down. When the train came I took a rapid step back - it’s b….y close and big! Andy

I couldn’t resist one more image from my Vietnam trip. This is of Hanoi’s northern ‘train street’. All the trains from Hanoi’s main station pass through a narrow street on their way out of town - there’s one to the south and another to the north. This has become a tourist attraction with bars lining the street and everyone jostling to get the best video of the train passing. It’s truly a bizarre scenario with parties on the track just before the train is due. We tried videoing it at ground level first but you’re just too close, so tonight we chose an upstairs beer balcony. This video shows the train coming through. I assure you this really happens, several times a day and seemingly with no accidents. The ORR will be pleased to hear that the trains all have central door locking….so that’s OK! Andy

Great video. What’s the latest on whether this is going to work this summer? Andy

Thanks Rob, A lovely vid, I don’t think I’d see that one before. It’s a shame the quality is poor, otherwise the photos of Glenfinnan would be very useful for sorting out details. I’m away in Vietnam chasing Alco diesels, so don’t expect any progress on Glenfinnan for a couple of weeks. Andy

Why not Railtec? I recently used the 7mm version of these for some Alumina wagons. They were very good. https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4886 Might be a bit expensive for 50 wagons, but he does do them in sets of 4. You have to specify the numbers/ TOPS codes etc. but as always Steve is very good at asking for what he needs. Andy

Tony, Regarding the price/ value of kits, I think you’re comparing the price of new RTR locos with second hand kits. Surely a fairer comparison would be the price of a second hand RTR loco which is typically quite a bit lower - £100-£150 for a modern tender loco. Less than £100 for an older tender loco like a Bachmann A1. I think the price obtainable for working well built second hand kits is very comparable or better than those prices. Andy

I agree. That is my favourite viewpoint on PN. Andy

Rob, I believe that the central section of the snow ploughs was removed in summer (or supposed to be!). Would that make it more practical with tension locks? Andy

I agree. I do that myself!

I do like a fish train!

Your lawyer hat is trying to justify your career! The numbskulls won’t read that c..p. It is purely to cover the car manufacturer’s ar.e in the event of a claim by a numbskull. In answer to the points up the page about how much risk would I like to expose my children to (or words to that effect). My answer is a bit more than they did get exposed to. They have been so mollycoddled that they haven’t learnt to assess risk for themselves. I think that’s more dangerous ( but the lawyers are still happy!). I accept things had to change, but now we can’t even be trusted to know not to open a door when the train is moving! Rant over! Andy

I like the snowplough idea. I’ll be interested to hear whether it works.

Looks the biz! Will she be ready for Kempton Park? Do I need to fit a decoder? Andy

I think I’m calling the signal box finished for now. Rob’s trick for spacing out the letters in word worked well. Thanks. It was difficult to find - I had to right click then go onto ‘advanced’, but got there in the end. I went for a more buff colour for the corner post. And I found a Sankey scenics sign in my ‘might come in useful box’. It’s not got the top bit, but it’s close enough and was free! Now onto the station building. I’ve mixed up two pots of the right colours so I keep them consistent. Andy

My experience of Tortoises is that you can pick up second hand ones for between £5 & £10 .

Why they should work in the fiddle yard but not on the scenic section is a complete mystery. They were obviously getting traction current to keep moving, but not receiving the DCC commands. I can only put it down to the ‘sir’ effect. It’s well known that all locos, layouts etc. misbehave when you have been invited to view them! Andy

Thanks Tony, You certainly read through it all pretty quickly - I noticed your progress with the ‘likes’ coming through. My weed skills are down to excellent tuition from our club expert, Rob - @woko on RMWeb. He took my rather uniform static grass and showed me how to mess it up by ‘scrunching’ it. He also did a club ‘masterclass’ on making weeds using astilbe and sedum from the garden. If you want a hand with weeding C&SM give me a shout. Andy

A few derailments are not a problem. They make me feel less bad about my own layout and allow me to be useful as your gofor! It always seems worse when it’s your own layout. Andy

Tony, Thanks again for your hospitality yesterday. I enjoyed seeing Churminster & Stowe Magna again. Your ‘NASA spaceship ‘ control desk is truly awe inspiring and I’d forgotten how good the trains look disappearing into the distance past your wonderful signals. Andy

I see what you mean, but I wouldn’t have called it khaki green! I wonder whether it’s an undercoat.

I’m back to painting my signal box today. I’m basing it on this picture, in which the steps are still dark green. I think I’ve also seen them in yellow green and white. But this is roughly the right era for my main focus of early ‘80s. It Here’s my attempt. I mixed a bit more hello into the yellow green mix and added a bit of white to both as suggested by @03060. I think I’m happy with the colours now, but I’d welcome comment from those less colours blind than me! I’ve also had a go at printing the signal box sign. I think the letters are slightly too big and need to be spaced wider (anyone know how to do that in word?). But the colour seems OK. Again, comments welcome. Anyone know where I can source the ‘passengers must not cross the line’ sign? Sankey scenics do the lower half with ‘Warning….£200’ but I can’t find the upper bit anywhere. Andy

Personally the only sports I bother watching on telly are F1, tennis and my beloved QPR. I find the commentary excellent in all three, but particularly for football where it now seems to be possible to have dedicated commentary for your own football team, certainly in the Championship - I can’t speak for the money pit division above us! I rather enjoy the combination of a commentator who’s also a fan paired up with a former player, in our case, Andy Sinton. The scream when a goal goes in is worth the money alone! Andy