simon b

The freight plan works well, I could see it as a large parcels depot. Sticking with passenger operation for now though. I'm thinking of using a three way point to save space, then a medium for the kickback ssiding. It has to fit on a 52" board as that's the width of the back seat of my car.

DPD is my go to courier, never had an issue with them. I used to think evri was bad untill I had some dealings with parcel force....

That sounds an interesting variation, any pics of your layout?

Hi all. In a thread recently Victoria Park was suggested to me as a good basis for a micro layout, I decided to take another look at it and it does seem to tick all the boxes. Just wondering how many of you have used this plan, and what are your thoughts when operating it? This is the original: And a version with three platforms which is probably what i would do:

Anyone here had an order update from Rails of Sheffield? Got a blue one on pre-order but haven't heard anything more.

Thanks, now that is interesting. I had a bright red colored version of that building, but with a set of doors in the center. I've never seen the version without, and never would have guessed that's what it was used for! I still have the clock tower somewhere.

Hi all, Happy new year! I've always liked the look of the old Triang station buildings, they remind me of the 1960's brutalism style. I've still got a few of these and was wondering if they were actually based of anything on the real railway?

I'm hoping for cc2 in green with full yellow ends, late 60's style.

Great idea for a layout, any more pics?

Looking good so far, are you going for 3 platform face's or something smaller?

Just stumbled across this topic, I think you should be proud of what you've created there. You've done a fantastic job at capturing the atmosphere of an urban scene, and that's the part that matters. The pics of trains appearing from the gloom under the station are my favourite. Is that a modified "Dunster station" on the bridge? Following with interest.

I know it says 5 or 6 vehicles, but would that be long enough? It shouldn't be to hard to reform them to 6 cars before they start in service, but how many seats would be lost compared to the present mk3 formations?

I would imagine they will be reformed into 7 or 8 car sets, some with a driving trailer at both ends.

If the mk5 sets do go to chiltern the locos will move with them, there are quite a few electrical differences between these and Chiltern's existing locos. Door controls and an onboard train monitoring systems come to mind. The 175's don't have the correct form of tpws for the Chiltern line, so that would need to be addressed before they could be used. Then there is the issue of the lack of seating compared to another unit, and they won't multi up to a 165/168. I also heard a rumour that the 175's have already been signed to another company.

Beacon rail have an exhaust silencer mod that reduces the noise, it's the ETS supply requirement that makes most of the racket so there are ways around it. Given the time frame involved I can't see it being anything other than the mk5 sets.

So Chiltern have a tender out for replacement of the mk3's, the way it reads I'd say that is definitely where the mk5 sets are headed to. https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2023/W51/813170912

Thanks for the info gentlemen. I've just spent alot longer than expected on the leighton logs website, quite the rabbit hole that site is. So the 21, 26 and 28 went north early on so I'll rule those out, if I pick 1966 as the year that seems to give the most varied choice of locos to use. Class 24, 25, 27, 31, and with a bit of modelers license class 23. On the dmu side 1966 gives me 105's, but the 116 came later so those are ruled out. Perhaps a 125 at a push. Have I got that about right?

Thanks for the replies, that's quite a list of locos to choose from. The 127 dmu's is an interesting one, in theory they could have reached Moorgate but I've never seen evidence that they did. I wonder if they were found to not be powerful enough for the gradients on the line? I assume that is why the 116's were used with 3 power cars? Were the 26's used as well as the 27's? The class 101 is also a new one to me, were any of those tripcock fitted? Cheers.

I have often wondered how fast the coronation class could actually go. I'm aware of the 114mph record, but after the modifications to their blastpipes and chimneys in 1939 performance was increased. So much so that two fireman would be required to keep up with the demand for coal. Could one of these given mallard a run for it's money?

Hi all, I'm trying to do a bit of research into which diesel locos could be used on moorgate service's via the widened lines. I'm aware of the GN services using class 31's via King's Cross, but what else was there? Supposedly class 23 baby deltics worked into Moorgate briefly, but I've never seen a pic or any records to back that up. Midland services via Cricklewood were in the hands of class 24's, I've seen a few pics of those. But again what else could turn up? The disused stations site has a couple of pics that show what looks like a class 21, and possibly a 26/27. What services would they have been operating? I also read that 25's might have ventured down there? Any info appreciated. Thanks.

The new build T1 is progressing nicely, and it will be roaming the rails at some point. The question is if there is anywhere suitable to run it at that sort of speed, the track will certainly take a pounding from it.

Hi all. I've got a sizeable fleet of the old Bachmann suburban coaches, and by far the biggest issue is the lack of flush glazing. I heard that the glazing from the replica railways 63ft coach can be used in Bachmann body, has anyone tried this? If it's possible it will make a far better job than the se finecast items, they never seem to fit nicely.

Was the 56 that bad? I know their reliability figure led to the 59, but I didn't think they were any worse than other classes of loco at that time. They are still in use after all...

It is silly to ban extensions to it, the third rail system isnt going to replaced anytime soon. For somewhere like Marylebone which is self contained, a compromise could be a bottom contact system like the DLR use's.

Not sure if it's been mentioned but the new road dive-under is now in use at Calvert, and the old bridge demolished. Not sure if the tracks above are connected up yet, but it does appear the missing link has finally been completed.