Roger Sunderland

Phil thank you so much for sharing the contents of your dads log. Info like this is vital if we are to get it right. The loco numbers are also of immense value as, other than one of our group, none of us were around in the 60s. Can I ask if there is any more info like this. If so, would you be willing to share it with us?

Wow, this is great stuff! The Hall in the frame grabs could well be Lady Margaret Hall who was a regular on the York service, being attached at Oxford. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if the 7F is reversing though.

Thanks to dpgibbons and sanddman54, this is just the type of info we are after. I have also seen pictures of the Bournemouth Belle being propelled out of the platform and back through the carriage washer but the Belle was a fast turnaround arriving around midday and departing around 2pm, maybe this was the reason?

Hi John Have put one of these in a SEF M7, just on the front coupler and using a Zimo decoder. I burnt out the first attempt by not programming in the correct CVs. The actuator, when pulling on the knuckle head is in stall mode and you need to limit the "on" to between 5 and 10 seconds max. The Zimo chip can be set up to do this for you and the instruction booklet that comes with the units is very well written and comprehensive, I'm just not that good at sorting out Cvs and re mapping, however Paulie Banger helped me out on this and I now have a comprehensive list of CVs that need programming. ESU decoders can also be used but the Cvs are different. In fact you can use any decoder with 3 functions as long as you can limit how long the actuator is "on" . Only the ESU andZimo decoders provide a facility to shuffle back (reduces tension on coupling) uncouple and shuffle forward to complete disengagement. The test will be to see if they are robust enough to last the rigours of running through a full sequence at an exhibition. I'm currently setting up a second trial on a Hornby class700 which will have operating uncouplers both front and back. This will be used to shunt the yard on BW.

Thank you Bike to Steam, the engine workings book may be useful. I would love to get a copy of the Express publishing book, I've tried everywhere but as you say, out of print and probably remaining so. 1957 just about creeps into our timescale.

A very good picture indeed Ceptic, but no one has any idea what the white post is behind the box. As can be seen from Barneys photo the canopy on platforms 3,4,5 and 6 is in its "raw" state, but looking good. The roofing, other than in the concourse area and along the front of the station building was all corrugated asbestos sheeting. A shipping order of the Wills product has been put in. We are experimenting with a new (to me) automatic coupler for use by the station pilots. Marketed by Precimodels from Switzerland it consists of a micro actuator attached to the knuckle of any Kadee coupling. Using the special function on a Zimo decoder, by pressing just one function key a locomotive will : Back its train up slightly - open the coupling knuckle - reverse back slightly. This means totally remote uncoupling anywhere on the layout - without any magnets and, if robust enough for exhibition use, will mean we can dispense with uncoupling magnets from all the platform throats. I'll try and give a further update on this in future plus maybe a video if possible.

Sticking with the Merseyside theme, and assuming the 502 was not available, what other junction locations might produce an interesting layout. Ideally I'm looking to model a double track junction but with some added interest eg. A loco shed or freight yard along the front of the layout. Mainly freight trains but with some passenger services.

Please let me know if you do a 502, I would probably be interested.

Thank you Christina but due to eyesight plus years of accumulated 4mm stock I'll have to give N gauge a miss. The refs might be useful though.

Using the same method as SR man and a TCS Z2 decoder. Wired the grey and orange to the motor. All OK tested on decoder tester, reads 3, as it should. Wired the red and black to the pickup plate. Tested reads 255 on my Digitrax system which indicates a dead short. I've checked all the wires with a multimeter and all are ok. Any ideas? I think it may be that the core less motor is not registering as the decoder takes a new address ok. All working well now but won't read the address back

Many thanks for this Arctica, must confess I've not come accross all the titles you mention so I'll have a look out for them. If the tapes surface that would be a real bonus. From what we can establish, the local services, such as the S&D and Salisbury stuff were shunted from platform to platform by the station pilot, an M7 or, in later years an Ivatt 2-6-2T. The longer distance services are the ones we would like further info on. There is photographic evidence of the Belle backing it's train through the carriage washer to the carriage sidings but similar info on the Pines, Bradford, York and other services is not available. We also know that the pilot brought stock down the bank into the platforms and was then used to bank the train on departure. In practice, because of the extremely congested nature of this terminus I think a combination of all methods was used, depending on wether the service was due out again quickly or the stock needed to be split/sorted for a future service. I think what we need is a log of a typical days activity - but I very much doubt one will exist now!

Parkstone Bank was ruled out Ian as we couldnt get a Hornby M7 to pull anything up it!!!!!!

Thank you very much for your comments Arctica and I wish you luck with your own layout of Bournemouth West. It's is true to say we have spent many hours on researching this model, but despite requests, even in the press, it is rare to hear from anyone who actually remembers it. We are still looking for information on the operation side such as, how many trains were worked back to the carriage sidings by the actual train loco and how many used a station pilot - if you can help here it would be very helpful. To answer your questions. The starter signals were scratch built using MSE parts. They are remove able, for transport, and operate with small servos. The shunt signals on the lower platform don't operate though. The water cranes are from Skytrex models and the platform lamps, still to be fitted, are by Ratio. Hope this helps.

Thanks for posting the pics Frank and a big thanks for all the great work you did on drawing up the buildings from the original plans. Just in case anyone wondered, the wood (copse) is now in place in front of the left hand side of the road bridge, as shown in the previous photos by Barney. Frank is right we have had to use "modellers licence" at the right hand end of the layout to take it off scene, hence the bridge. On the real thing just after the carriage washer is the start of the carriage sheds (now a South West Trains train care depot) which, in model form would be as long as the entire present layout - 40'! Dave has made good progress on the station canopies, hopefully have some pics soon.

You'd be more than welcome Paul and thank you for the kind comments. We're usually up there on Tuesday's and Thursday's PM. But Steve is there most days.

Thanks Graham. The elaborate window arches have caused us a few sleepless nights but were eventually solved by Frank (Ceptic) by drawing them up on "Sketchup" then printing them onto paper as overlays. The unusual chimney baffles were 3D printed for us by James train parts, as were the exposed roof rafters. There is also a rather nice W H Smiths bookstall which is a much modified Metcalfe item, grafted onto/into the building, will try and get a photo of that as well. Altogether this very large structure has taken well over 100 hours to build and still requires canopies! The pub is fictitious and still requires its roof and the wood and over bridge at this end of the layout are also fictitious forming the scenic break which takes the tracks into the fiddle yard. The next major job are the station canopies. Much "debate" has already taken place on this. Watch this space. In the meantime a sort of operating sequence has been devised, which if we can get everyone to understand it, will be worked on over the coming moths. Finally, in this update, the 16 road traverser has been worked on by Dave. This now has a lever system to lock onto a chosen track, meaning the fiddle yard operator only needs to be at one end of the traverser to operate it. In addition it is not possible for a train that has run round the loop to enter the traverser without a track being locked on.

Totally disagree. On coaching stock they look terrific as the droppers look like vac pipes and if you are close coupled you cannot see the coupling at all. I accept they do not look as good on wagons, however, nothing could look worse than a tension lock coupling, of whatever type. Plus, if correctly mounted, they work perfectly,and allow remote uncoupling, without the hand from the sky.

Shock and awe Paul. I think I'm going to have to shelve the Bootle Jcn idea, without a few 502s it's never going to get off the ground. Re looking at your thread I'm taken by Pighue, what do you think in 17x12? Also do you have any working timetables for the area? May be interested stock wise. If you pm me when you've made a decision.

We've fitted Wills rodding to the Bournemouth West layout. Yes it is a bit over scale but when weathered well really looks good. All the runs were built up on separate pieces of 20thou plasticard, offsite, then a path cleared next to the track, of ballast etc and glued down. We use C&L track and where the Roding passes under a trench was cut in the cork underlay and the webs on the track removed. Runs were joined with micro strip as mentioned above. Final re ballasting and touching up were completed. Result is not 100% accurate but much better than nothing.

I guess you're right Michael. I would have thought there might be more demand for the 502s than 503s though. Lot of model able locations for the 502s. Bank Hall, Bootle, Liverpool Exchange, Southport Chapel St and the old Preston line.

That's a real shame, although I can see why there wouldn't be a huge demand.

Like this very much Paul. Would be a terrific showcase for your track building and weathering skills.

Thank you so much, once again, have to get that book. Amazing stuff, particularly the fact that in 1986 British Railways are still referring to the LNW lines!. Please let me know if you come accross anything else and if you get anything on the 502 kit. You can PM me if it's easier. Thanks

Thank you 37038, much appreciate the info. Do you think you (the 502 group) will make these available again, any time soon, I'd be very interested. Have seen the Michael Delamar 502 build - superb, it's the green machines I would do. I've tried the link Michael gives but no success.

Many thanks for these, exactly what I was looking for. Space available is around 17x12 at home but I'm currently building an exhibition layout of Bournemouth West, some 35' long (see The Bournemouth West model railway group thread on here) so this project is a little way off. Yes i will definitely be building the track, not sure I can match yours though. Any other info you can think of please let me know. Eg any books with good photos/ plans? By the way, do you know if the 502 units are still available?