stewartingram

Don't forget that Peco etc type 'motors' (which they are not, as they are solenoids) take a very large current when (briefly) operating. This gives excess sparking across switch contacts, so demands switches capable of carrying the current. 

Kirk coaches made kits, now available again from Wizard I believe?

As a retiree from the electronics industry I wouldn't use any of these Peco?Hornby/etc switches. Absolute rubbish for the job.

I've settled mainly on Seep motors (fairly cheap, tricky to install as supplied, and rubbish switches for the frogs). I fit them to a plasticard base, which includes a proper electronics microswitch for the frog. Installation is now much simpler, even from underneath the baseboard and the frog is reliably switched. To operate I use the stud contact (screw heads and electric pencil) method we all used 50 years ago, but has largely been forgotten nowadays. Simple, reliable, and effective.

Oh dear!

I love the touch of hanging out the numberplates (to dry lol?). Serves the ******* right for trying.

Lovely buses, an operator sorely missed, but sadly not 'proper' ECOC buses (try LKH or even LFS, and the real livery!)

4 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

An Ital?

 

Not winning it would be a lucky escape!  My father bought one new just after he retired, expecting to be able to run it for at least a decade before problems arose.  It had to have its sills welded before it even reached its first MOT...

 

When I was made redundant the 1st time, I bought from the local main dealer in Cambridge (Marshall) a - 3 month old 1,3 Ital with less than 3k on the clock. Newest car I've ever owned (and now will be  for sure). Top of the range model, I ran it for 12 years and 250k miles with little trouble. Time this crap that says BL products were bad was put to rest.

I used to do repairs for a number of model shops, I bought the re-magger from one shop when it closed. When I retired fom my main job 4-5 years ago, I continued remagging for members on here (postage costs only), but seems not much call nowadays. But I still have it...

Sounds ;like it needs a remag. PM me - I might just be able to help.

Without looking at mine I can't remember if there were any holes. But the easy way is this:

The (real) discs are 2 halves which fold about the centre horizontal line. The bottom half has a hole for the marker light to shine through. So, align the disc hole with the light, ensure the fold line is above it and horizontal, and that is it.

That is more or less what I suspected happened (though Guard at the front of that long train is a surprise). I always throught that there was a rule stipulating the number of vehicles (axles) behind the guard. Maybe I'm thinking of freight workings, where the ECML had "swingers" added behind the brake van?

On a similar note, what about overnight TPO workings? I  don't have a prototype in mind, more of a model 'might have been' (to suit my layout, maybe even a 'Rule 1' which I know you don't like, sorry).

I'm having a short TPO/passenger train, 4 coaches. Possibly split somewhere on the journey, with this portion continuing to my terminus, & a return working during the day.

Formation:- Full brake (with Guard compartment), 2x TPO vehicles, and a BCK. Return with the Guard in the BCK at the rear. But are the 2 Guards vehicles absolutely necessary? I know it is a Rule 1 scenario, not real, but I am trying to think prototype here.

A question about the Anglo-Scottish Car Carrier formation if I may?

You show it with the car transporters on the rear of the train, but where is the guard? I would have thought the guards would be close to the rear - was it 12 axles allowed behind him?

1 hour ago, 31A said:

 

A couple of decades later it could have been me on that cricket pitch!  The trains weren't quite as interesting by then, but still more interesting than cricket....

About 12-13 yrs later for me too.

Would help if "the well known auction site" was named. Was it ebay? No harm in saying that.

Years ago now, I went with my best mate (sadly now deceased) on one of our trainspotting day trips, in his car.

Now D (I won't reveal his name) was working at the then RAF Oakington, in charge of building maintenance. I think he was MoD, not a contractor. His workmate was in a similar post at RAF/USAF Alconbury, and he decided to call there on the way past for a very quick chat about something. We pulled up at the gatehouse, where a USAF guy, complete with gun, (and I was assured by D that they were loaded) checked our credentials. I showed my local constabulary id (I was in the Home Office working at Police HQ on their comms). All well so far, we were waved in.

D had been to this office many times, and parked outside for 5 mins, and then we were off. "Look at those, I'm going for a few pics" he said, as we diverted off to some parked trucks, on the edge of the runway area. Don't forget we are on an armed USAF military base, in a period when security was tight (recent IRA activity etc). Off he goes, without a care, complete with camera taking pics of these military vehicles! Luckily no one came after us.

I've read somewhere that the Up slow (removed I believe when electrification was done) is in the queue to be replaced, thus re-instating 4 tracks from PBO-HDN.

I've re-purposed a Slaters kit tank for my breakdown crane rake. Extra water capacity for the crane.

Title says it all really. Would adding some liquid flux and stirring it well do the job?

Or cars are now too big.

I can offer a few examples from personal observations.

Firstly, what is an MP booom?

B1, B12, B17,  B2,  Clauds, also a 31A E4, (later 03 shunter) was sub-shedded at Hitchin so probably did go back to 31A for servicing. and some GN locos such as Atlantics and other lesser classes. J6 from the GN and the normal GE freight locos, J17, J15 etc.

The principal train was the Cambridge Buffet Express, mainly diesel in my day with 6 Mk1s and a Gresley Buffet. Latter day steam also included Pacifics (running in turns?) from 34A. These changed to Baby Deltics as regulars, with early class 21, 26, and of course 31 (or were they 30?). Like the Pacifics, other diesels dropped on quite often; 55, 40, 46, 47, and alsothe prototypes. D0280 Falcon was a regular, but DP2, Lion, HS4000 all appeared. . Cravens dmus were the mainstay of the stoppers, up to 3x 2-cars.

Freight were of course 31s (they were everywhere in Anglia), but 20s from the GN (I suspect pw trains for Chesterton Junction, to/from the Hitchin pw yard).

Coaches; Mk1, Gresley, Thompson corridor stock. I never saw quad-arts, I believe Hitchin was the limit (except for 1 train to Huntingdon?). Other may know more. Plenty of Mk1 non-corridors though.

Passenger trains normally only went as far as Cambridge (except diversions of course). However for one summer the CBE was extended to Ely (I have photographic proof!).

I've probably missed a few, but most of the above are personal observations.

Don't forget in that period we had many diversions as well when the ECML was blocked north of Hitchin.

If that red van near the fence were to be a '39 Austin Ruby in green, and facing the tracks, that could be Grandad parked up, with me doing some trainspotting. Memories, thanks Gilbert.

Some of our E.Anglia dmus had 'rubber' plates fitted behind the drivers door to lessen bodyside damage.

Looks like a great issue, got mine from WHS in Ely on Thursday. Had a quick flick through - the pic of that green Deltic is the best I've ever seen im a model. And the A4 with the dark sky behind, astounding!

Was there a Golden Spike?

It is what it is. Andy introduced it as RMweb and we should accept it and respect that.