SovietSalad

So in terms of running quality, the way the real thing works is you drop the gear lever into slow, medium or fast after selecting direction. This is then sped up/slowed down with the throttle lever, like with a car throttle. At least on the one I've worked with, these levers are fairly stiff and awkward to manhandle, and would generally always "jerk" into gear. Brakes are simply a mechanical handbrake in the cab. For shunting the "slow" speed is less than walking pace, in terms of top speed I would say that about 10mph is a generous prototypical pace (less with wagons; 12 ton box vans don't exactly help with visibility). Don't forget this is a rugged bit of industrial machinery, if you're careful you can give it a smooth start but 9/10 it's going to be springing into movement. Just something worth considering over the next 5 months....

I've towed a class 416 2-EPB down a slight incline with a 48DS before, and up a slight incline with 7 standard BR wagons, they're surprisingly strong. Running light they take off rather quickly!

hello all, so I've been doing some reading on the class 419, and found a website that said one was used on van trains from Bricklayers Arms to Epsom, and I was wondering if anyone had any information on this. Namely, what the formation of the train would have been (or would likely have been)? I'm assuming it was 12 ton vans, but would the train have run with a brake van? If so, would it have been a standard BR 20 ton brake van or something else? The website I am referencing is this one here, some interesting stuff on there. http://www.bloodandcustard.com/mlv001.html TIA

I see, so I misinterpreted the purpose of the crane. I will likely be building the kit as part of a P-way train now then, as M.I.B is doing. Just ordered the crane and a GWR sleeper wagon, probably going to go with the crane, 3 sleeper wagons, a shark which I have already built and put in primer, and a short rake of ballast wagons.

Hi all, looking to model a breakdown train, and the only crane I can find for reasonable money is the Cambrian kit of the GWR crane. just a quick question for you all, with a crane this small, what would the train formation be when in transit? From lurking on here I've learnt that the larger cranes generally had 3 converted bogie carriages, however that seems a bit excessive for the 6-ton smaller crane. My plan is to use a pair of Parkside PC37 "python" wagons and a pre-grouping brake carriage or one of the new Oxford 6-wheel toads. I know the Pythons didn't survive far into BR days (I model rather loosely end of steam to BR blue), but the idea is it will be a "what-if" some survived into departmental use as tool vans. If anyone has any ideas as to how these cranes were moved or how far off the mark I am with the accompanying wagons I would appreciate it. When I do start the build in a couple of weeks I'll be posting it here.

2 2-EPB units and a coach from a SUB unit, all de-icers, are preserved at Finmere station, although the SUB coach is in a dire state.

Hi all, quick question on the Hornby Austerity 0-6-0ST. Looking to renumber/name the loco into a war department loco, "King Faisal of Iraq" stationed a bicester military railway. Question is, is the livery on the loco straight out the box the right shade for a WD loco? as far as I can tell lord phil was only used by the WD then BR for a short spell then straight to preservation. There are no photos of the loco I am modelling, aside from how it is now which looks like a healthy mix of primer/undercoat and rust. Any advice would be appreciated, looking to get etched nameplates from fox unless someone suggests a better company for getting nameplates. -ben

I'm sure it would handle curves fine due to being an 0-4-0, what I meant was that it looks off on a diesel locomotive unless I give it tram skirts.

Kato looks like a safe bet, but the gab between wheels looks a bit far apart. Good for a tram, not so much for a narrow gauge loco on tight radius curves.

Hello all, Relatively new to narrow gauge modelling but I've been building kits for a while and I've built a 00 gauge layout. Anyway, I recently bought a 009 diesel kit from A1 models, and it says to use the Bachmann N gauge Plymouth shunter as a donor chassis. Only trouble is, this loco would (in my opinion) look far better on an 0-4-0 chassis. Does anyone know of an 0-4-0 alternative to the Plymouth chassis? I was looking at the Kato ones, and I could scratchbuild a couple of tram skirts, but are there any other options? For reference, it's the freelance number 2 diesel. Thanks in advance, on mobile so please excuse any formatting or spelling errors.

Hello all, I'm looking to scratchbuild myself a Geismar EGO-4 railway trolley in 4mm scale, as it is something that would be seen everywhere in the days of railtrack but railway trolleys are a market yet to be tapped into by the big-name companies. (although the Wickham trolley is a step in the right direction). I will likely use an N gauge motor and gear system for slow running (would be about 20mph max). Anyway, this will be my first attempt at scratchbuilding, so if anyone has any useful advice, tips or where I could find certain parts (wheels and seats namely) any help would be much appreciated. I've included some pictures of my prototype. Worth noting that the seats are not original but I would like to model the new ones.

Anyone know what the homes are? Can't see who would be after an APT power car...

Hi all, considering building a T-gauge micro layout inside an ex-british rail detonator box. It wouldn't be anything fancy, just a circle of track with a railcar going round it or something similar. Dimensions are 23x24cm, anyone know if it would fit inside this space? Couldn't find anything on radius of settrack or a realistic-ish radius of flexible track. Many thanks in advance.

Hello all, I'm after a BR green 2-EPB unit, Bachmann or a good quality kit-built model. The motor isn't essential. Not willing to pay the extortionate price for the latest tooling, I very much regret not buying it when it was going for £60...

I've extended the platform so it has 65cm on the straight side, probably a bit longer on the curved platform side. Fiddle yard has been extended, and points have been reworked to give the longer platform without taking from the operating potential. The sidings on the scenic side are going to be carriage sidings, probably with a workshop on the end (which will probably be either a portacabin or container with a door put in). Also, what is the consensus on inspection pits? might put one in the headshunt or in front of the workshop under cover. The sidings will be covered by a hay bale storage type thing, not sure of what to call it. Got the idea from the Titfield Thunderbolt. (see picture below). Track plans is as follows:

Johnster, this is perfect, precisely the kind of feedback I wanted. Having only ever visited a narrow gauge railway once when I was 7, I'm not exactly privvy to appropriate track placing etc. The track plan was just quickly thrown together, in reality it will be more spaced out. Someone else has suggested a minor modification to point position to increase the length of the platform, which I will likely do. As for what type of preserved line, I will likely go for more sweeping curves, weathered rails etc. Main running locos will be near-pristine, but the shunter(s) will have a fair amount of weathering, as often is the case on preserved lines.Thanks for the help, of course I don't mind the criticism.

Thanks Nick, I will likely get rid of the 2nd set of points coming off the running line and extend the platform with the remaining space. How would I go about summoning a mod to merge the threads?

Hi all, Looking to get started in narrow gauge modelling, and I've settled on 009 due to a lack of space for a huge baseboard. I am looking to do something like a modern-day tourist passenger type line; a simple terminus with a running line going into a tunnel to a fiddle yard. Out of interest, how many carriages would you guys say would fit in a 36cm platform bay with a large-ish steam tank engine? Still not decided on rolling stock, but likely 1 or 2 resident shunters and 2 larger locomotives for hauling trains. I'm looking at one of the parkside-dundas locomotive which fit on the Bachmann bogied switching loco chassis as a possibility as the first loco to build. Any suggestions or improvements, please let me know, the track plan is subject to change. I've got up to 200cm x 65cm to play with. Shunting potential is more important than running long trains, and there is no continuous run (although it is a possibility.) I'll post updates if and when I start.

Where are you based, and what topics do the books cover? I'm interested.

Here are some screenshots of it with a fiddle yard, not decided on whether I want that or just a hidden reverse loop to bring trains straight back into the station.

Hi all, Firstly let me apologize for bad formatting, not really used to posting on forums. So what started as a 00 gauge shunting layout plan has now become a 009 narrow gauge terminus plan. I will likely use shorter wheelbase carriages with steam and diesel locos, in the style of a preserved railway type gig. The point of this is to have shunting potential, so forming and shunting various passenger trains. I have found some wood left over from some project at some point, and it is larger than needed, so maybe a fiddle yard would be good for running trains out (into a tunnel?) A quick question for 009 modellers, how many narrow gauge carriages could you fit comfortably into a 37cm platform? I'm not familiar with rolling stock sizes. I'll post updates once construction starts, rolling stock will likely be kit-built on 2nd hand RTR chassis. The plan is for a resident shunter and 2 larger locomotives for hauling trains, maybe a railcar at some point. A quick track plan has been thrown together, this is subject to change (adding fiddle yard and spacing out the sidings as they are a bit bunched up in this trackplan). Screenshots are attached, any feedback is much appreciated. Also, if this is in the wrong section please feel free to move it.