BobM

Hi Peter, I love your work here.....it goes without saying it is superb modelling...... I have the greatest memories of the old Snow Hill......and am greatly proud to say that I own the original platform '7' sign that is seen in so many paintings and images of that once fine station...for anyone who wants to stand beneath it once more it now hangs above the locos in the Engine House at Higlhey on the SVR.... will your modelling extend as far south as the 7 sign...? Great stuff here matey.....will follow this with great interest.... Regards always... Bob

Hi... The next stage should see the wire in the tube placed beneath the track, the coupler soldered to the wire and to be slipped over the pip.....I am intending to pin the tube in its position temporarily with track pins which'll be holding this down prior to gluing after the wire is connected to the lever....? Regards always.... Bob

Evening guys...I hope that this latest rambling of mine finds you all in fine fettle.....? In line with my philosophy when posting on here, which is always to be open and frank with you good guys on my journey through building Cambrian Street and to air my (dirty washing) mistakes and errors so that I may learn from them and perhaps show the error of my ways to all....? Everything I am intending to post at this stage of the build is concerning the installation of the Mercontrol system to throw the points.....and predilected on the following.... 1. I am rather apprehensive putting this out to you craftsman and expert modellers 2. I have no great experience of modelling 3. Have no experience of installing this Mercontrol system other than recall seeing it being installed on a family layout some 45 years ago....so memories of its operation and installation is vague..... 4. All my track and points are pinned down and (hopefully) not coming up....! I am limiting my work on this section to an hour or so maximum so that I may take this steadily and calmly, in the hope that it will be a success.... but here goes...so be gentle with me this evening we began with this....the original set up... the next step to be completed was to fix into place the lever frame, this was accomplished by the application of four screws which 'clamped' the lever frame feet to the baseboard, insulation tape was used to cover the screw heads, no real reason other than keeping it looking neat and covering the screw heads themselves.... as this is the first venture into installing this system I thought (hopefully) correctly that it would be best to undertake the simplest 'run' initially, this being a straight line from lever '3'....although providing some 'interest' having to pass beneath a length of track....so the route of this was determined and marked out.... after being marked out.....a channel was cut through the cork with the aid of a scalpel and stanley knife, this being the route for the plastic tubing which will carry the steel wire.....the cork was also carefully removed from beneath the adjacent track which it is to pass beneath.....and also an area around the 'pip' on the point to be controlled from the lever......all the debris being removed with a brush to keep the area clean.... the tubing was then tested to see whether the clearance was sufficient...and happily this seems so.......? and this is how we are after this evenings first 'toe dipping' venture into Mercontrol..... This is the easy bit...so will tread carefully from now on...! Cheers guys..... Regards always.... Bob

Hi... Will post further representations of the trackwork involved with initial mercontrol pointwork...along with images as we progress.... Regards always.... Bob

As my site signature says...... You know what was said to Station Master Porter when they said he was to be in charge of 'Buggleskelly' and its remoteness .....? Superintendent ; ' It's a country station, rather off the beaten track' William Porter ' Oh I don't mind as long as it's near the railway' Regards always.... Bob

Evening All..... Hope that the above postings have proved to be interesting.....various options have been bouncing around in my head and juggling these on the diagrams provided.....all the time and with each option attempting to provide the best and optimum path for the tube in wire for attachment to the respective 'pip'......each one having its positive and negative aspects for the first four lever frame.....I have come to the conclusion that first thoughts are usually correct....so I am tending to believe that the first option considered may be the best and run with that one with a slight adaption.....the single slip which I have been attempting to include on the final diagram better controlled from future frames....so here is perhaps the better tweaked option.... Regards always Bob

Something akin to this perhaps...? Regards always... Bob

Hi... Just musing whether depending upon the practicalities of the positioning of the cranks and tubing, it may be more sensible and adventageous to control these points if able.....? Regards always... Bob

Hi... The initial thoughts on the orientation of the cranks.....it is late...so may have the 'push and pivots' incorrect.... Regards always... Bob

Hi.... Just having a think....I know that it is only one crank...but by moving the lever frame to the right slightly so that one of the point tie bars lines directly in the line of throw....I could save one said piece....it may well be the case that when I come to lay the tubing, the curves may be sufficiently open to loose another 6 (marked x) and approach the final cranks beside the lever frames...? Regards as always... Bob

Hi All.... I am beginning the updates on how I intend to utilise Mercontrol....so see how get on, mess up or succeed on Cambrian Street blog....any constructive or guidance tips please guys...? Regards as always Bob

Evening guys...Hope all are well...? They do say do they not, that 'good things come in small packages' (and seeing that I am only about 5'5'' I have to concur with that)....well, that was certainly the case today when a little, perfectly packaged (again akin to me) box arrived containing tubing, angle cranks, couplers, wire and a four lever frame......! Here is the initial thoughts of how I'll be using the frame to control the first four points......this is the maximum use of cranks I believe is necessary in a straight line, should the wire in tube not be able 'weave' its way to the frame and still approach the lever in the line of throw.....also I intend to adapt the methodology using a coupler, soldered to the wire, this then slipped and glued over the point pip.....my points are down and wired up....so attaching the wire to the tie bar is a non-starter, drilling a 0.5mm hole either in the tie bar beside the pip, or reducing the pip head and drilling into it is also not an option I look forward to with glee....! I do recall that in the dim and distant past we used Mercontrol in this manner, however the memories are that 'we' used very small wire terminal connectors, crimped and soldered into position onto the end of the wire, this then slipped over the pip and glued into place....so much the same as the couples do today...? Will let you know how I get on...stage by stage.....'wish me luck as you wave me goodbye' is ringing in my head..... All the best guys....kindest regards as always... Bob

All the best matey......goes without saying that everyone has enjoyed and marvelled at Carrog and your unrivalled talented modelling....even more so that it does not require anything further other than to wish all the very best during the personal circumstances that has brought you to this decision and the thoughts of a great many people will be with you..... Regards as always.... Bob

Speedy recovery matey...take it easy though.... Best wishes... Bob

Evening All....Hope all are okay...? Just to say that I am currently awaiting the arrival of a package containing various parts of the Mercontrol Point Control from Lytchett Manor Models......I recall the use of this on the original layout back when I was 'a little bubber', although I have no personal experience of this I do remember this being a successful and trusted method of throwing points.......I am reading and rereading the informative text on the Lytchett Manor Models web site......I'll let you know how I get on... If anyone has any tips or installation techniques, I'd appreciate input......my track is already down so certain methodology may have to be adapted....? Regards as always... Bob

Evening All....Hope all are okay...? Just to say that I am currently awaiting the arrival of a package containing various parts of the Mercontrol Point Control from Lytchett Manor Models......I recall the use of this on the original layout back when I was 'a little bubber', although I have no personal experience of this I do remember this being a successful and trusted method of throwing points.......I am reading and rereading the informative text on the Lytchett Manor Models web site......I'll let you know how I get on... If anyone has any tips or installation techniques, I'd appreciate input......my track is already down so certain methodology may have to be adapted....? Regards as always... Bob

Hi Just as a matter of interest and to someone whom memories of the 'old Snow Hill' still brings moisture to the eyes everytime I think about it ...... ,,,,,,see it's happening again......take a look at these two images taken in almost the same spot the first the same as previous posting in 1962.... then last summer ! Oh dear.... Bob

Hi Guys.... Would this (Bachmann model) represent the set (shewn in the delightfully atmospheric image below) that I recall travelling back down to Birmingham Snow Hill ex Paddington on 27th May 1965 (my 5th birthday by coincidence) when we returned to the UK from Australia....? Copied from Warwickshirerailways.com with whom the copyright remains British Railways' flagship Blue Pullman is seen arriving at Platform 5 with the 4 50pm Paddington to Wolverhampton service on 9th April 1962. To the right in Bay Platform 4 is British Railways Western D1002 'Western Explorer' on display at Western Rail Week a combined PR exercise and staff recruitment event. Initially, the Blue Pullmans were used on the London Midland Region and Western Region of British Rail, from London St. Pancras and London Paddington, respectively. The trains were withdrawn from the London Midland Region in 1967 following electrification of the Euston to Manchester line, and the Blue Pullmans were transferred to augment those in the Western Region. The Blue Pullman was an advanced and luxurious design, befitting a Pullman train, although they did suffer some criticism, particularly over a persistent ride quality problem. They were in effect a precursor to the HST 125 sets that were to appear in 1976 and are still running on some parts of the railway network in the 21st century. After some production delays, the first Blue Pullman set appeared for trials in October 1959 which discovered that the ride quality was a problem, and modifications were made. These mitigated the problem, but the rough riding was never entirely removed. The reduction in wheel size from the trouble-free European design was later thought to be a possible cause. It was also noticed that the problem was worse on the 'rougher riding' London Midland Region lines, compared to the Western Region lines. Bob

Hi Engine sheds/ coal bin Regards Bob

Hi Guys....Hope all are well...? Here is the rough sketch of the engine shed area....(sorry it is rubbish....but wanted to get this out to you).... Regards as always.... Bob

Happy New Year Guys.... Amazing this thread I began nearly three years ago is still running, love the way that it has developed and prompted the 'discussion' that it has, after my initial request for info.... I now can see how silly a Pullman would look on my Cambrian Street layout the way that it has developed from its initial concept....! Pleased the thread is still running though... Cheers and best regards to all... Bob

Evening.... Will move next to the plans for the Engine Shed and turntable area..... Hope the preceding posts have been useful...? Regards to all as always... Bob

Hi Here's the developing 'link' plan....Not to scale..... The two bidirectional lines within the station throat pass beneath the left hand road bridge.... I hope that I may explain my thinking behind the operation of this 'marked for closure time period early 1960's Western Region Station'..... Passenger traffic leaves/ enters the cassette yard and travels along the bi-directional main down / up from or into platforms 1/ 2/ 3/ 4 local traffic travels ether the same or only into 4 / 5 using the bi-directional goods / relief Goods restricted to bi-directional goods / relief.... Light engine movements into engine shed via designated access road.....may use head shunt to enter or leave cassette.... Regards Bob