jonathan3005

Hi again folks, Here is a new video for you all. Some more highlights from MI0G Live. Hope you all enjoy and hopefully more videos before too long.

Hi folks, For those interested, there is a new video on the BBMR YouTube channel, some highlights from MI0G's live event last weekend. Enjoy

Sorry for my absence of this topic. Been working on a different layout although ill keep my mouth closed on that one Thankyou for the info David although i may have to postpone the Scottish trip for the time being with everything as it is. The track above is non scenic but also simply to show how the fiddle yard would link in at the ends. The number of tracks should be discounted on the upper portion. Atm im faffing with working ground signals to try and gain a foothold, unfortunately it didn't go well with the base pinging off into the other room never to be seen again and the other falling pray to my first effort with white metal and ending up with a big (comparatively) melt mark. Not the forum spot possibly but any tips on this will be most welcome. Jon

Thankyou Keith, Ill add both to the plan. Although its only a trains length from the signalbox by virtue of the layout plan ill add one as i dont fancy trying to automate the latter

Hi folks, its been a few days and some developments. I bought myself a signal kit, not a very big one i might add. A pair of LMS/BR ground signals from MSE with the intention of automating them. More as a, if i do a job on it i haven't wasted much in the way of funds. Ive begun these however white metal doesn't like my all or nothing soldering iron. So Ive also bought a new soldering iron as a result, although the good folks at Amazon have decided prime means next Tuesday despite it being ordered Tuesday with one day delivery The main reason for my post today is that I have a question regarding the plan above. My question is if i were to enter bk5 with the intention of entering bk4 remembering this line is unidirectional. Do i need a shunt signal in the reverse direction to facilitate this?

Hi Mike, Ive attached my plan as it stands (The only bit WIP is the fiddleyard). I appoligise for the crude graphics but hope it shows my intended plan. The only change is the siding and its shunt block (only for controlling this movement) and obviously the shunt signal. As you can see after the wisdom of Jeremy last night ive amended it to feature a single slip. Your explanation of the locking is most helpful and your diagram has definitely rid me of most of my confusion. Thankyou for your help and it is definitely much clearer.

Ive finally understood why a single slip would be perfect, why my brain had decided it wasn't viable, your guess is as good as mine. Thankyou for bearing with me. Ill amend my plan to feature a single slip. Do i assume my signalling is now correct?

I picked a double slip as a single wouldn't allow the straight movement from bk1 to bk4 or the route from bk2 to bk3. Forgive my naivety here but there is only a single signal dedicated for movements across the slip. The branch signal at bk2 allowing movements across to bk3. The other routes are straight or are a main route. Hang on so this could be my lack of knowledge but selectors are only used when signals are required to operate together and not as a safety?

Thankyou Keith and thankyou also to Mick, Also the more you know Jeremy Halfway though writing a reply and another arrives answering my follow on question. My last question regarding this would be to ask how a double slip goes about handling 3 routes with 3 signals as the selectors only allow 2 signals. My example (Defiantly not lifted from my track plan ) calls for a route from blocks 2 - 5, 2 - 3, 1 - 4 and 3 - 4. Cheers again Jon

Hi there, thankyou for the photos and the name change. I have a feeling they may have changed there official name since 1932 in this case. I knew it was a switch diamond but my question was in my initial post, if the setup from a rodding and locking perspective was similar? As i cant find any photos showing the rodding in any great detail and none of the facing locking on a double slip.

Forgive the poor watermarked image linked here but the apparatus in the foreground of the image is the selector (I didn't know this until i read the book mentioned) and its directly connected to the lock of the point. From my research this and the detectors im referring to on the points were both additional fail-safes to coexist with interlocking. The detector mentioned preventing the facing point lock being released by the addition of a bar that would depress with the weight of a piece of rolling stock stopping the signalman releasing the lock.

Hi there, Im currently looking to build a layout, and aiming to make it as realistic as possible based on the former GWR during the mid-1950s. Because im obviously a bit of a mental nutcase, I intend to run point rodding, signal runs and even install facing point locks. After finally finding the book "Railway Signal engineering (Mechanical)" as part of googles book archival project and reading many parts to further my knowledge, I have begun to understand there is more than i had ever thought happening. However with many things reading this has left me with certain questions, non of which have been helped by reading many articles online. My first relates to facing point locks and more specifically selectors. In regards to point selectors, I understand that this is to lock a signal near the point from being pulled while the point is against it. My question. Is this for every point that the main signal encounters in the block? For example, if the block has a siding coming off it does this also need to be linked to the signal by its selector? The only pictures I can find showing these selectors unfortunately are after they are redundant and simply there by association with the point lock or controlling a ground signal and the second selector laying dormant. Further to my previous question, if a point is at a junction with multiple signals, are addition selectors added to a point to lock additional signals? My second question is about double slips and there facing point locks. The book mentioned prior shows a diagram of a movable crossing which I am assuming would remain very similar to the setup needed for a double slip adding an additional pair of detectors and splitting the control rod to pull both blades separately instead of in unison? As well as adding additional selector/s. For a little context ive added the diagram below. Hoping you can help. Thanks in advance. Jonathan

It's safe guys you can come out now its over the thread can resume in peace and harmony, as there is no official date other than between December and January and it is looking less likely of December does anyone expect them in January or are we looking February before we get our hands on them. Cannot wait for mine the first loco i will own of "The Great Way Around". Oh did i say that out loud, I meant to say the GWR.

Leaving the station "67" 17/11/2014 Today I embarked to create point levers although there is no layout built at this time it is A money saving and B time well spent that will not be needed to be done later on.I have also been racking my brains over what type of lighting to add to the layout after much fiddling i am going with a telegraph pole type light allowing the power to be transferred via the telegraph cables this it my next project.I understand that both of these items are on sale and at affordable prices this said the cost so far was £0 and when adding the cost for the light will be less than £2 thanks to maplins. Fiddle yard The fiddle yard is now sorted the system will be similar to a system recently fitted to another layout i had the pleasure of using the other week it work by track feeds being ready to accept a plank of board containing track with a train this is then run onto the layout. Board developments The board is going to be 3x2 frame supported by pasting tables the board itself will be made of 9mm ply with the backscence and dummy front that when the layout is split will allow it to be bolted together for safe transport. I am sorry for less content than usual however i hope the small amount of modelling helps soften the blow. kind regards Jonathan

Leaving the station "67" 13/11/2014 After reviewing the plans for the layout many thing have changed and due to friends they have changed for the better. CHANGES Track The first change relates to the track work I was told by a friend that the catch point was well thought out however due to safety for BR paying costumers the crossover leading onto the double slip is being replaced by a single slip meaning wrong line running is prevented and correct operation is paramount this method is called loopholes as a single and double slip would normally be reserved for 4 track main lines and less frequently used on lesser station across the network but due to my artistic license it is remaining a permanent feature. the plan is also being offset from the leading edge of the board leading to more interesting running and less of a 2D atmosphere.The final point is that i have changed the viewing side to fit the space more suitably. Construction As this is the foundations of a good layout i made this paramount and after much thought i have concocted the use of pasting tables with 9 mm thick ply plank layout rested on top this allows for cheap ready from shop solution that is simple to implement.Another advantage over the other original method is it is lightweight and can be easily transported and requires less space in the car.The last point on this subject is the backboard im also using 9 mm ply as the back board with a board across both ends the back and for transporting a front board these will be bolted together with the other board making a 4.5 foot layout when compacted in this manner and the two pasting tables both fold unlike the first idea.The coffin also means it is stronger in transit to the show and is quickly set up. //As a side note my budget is capped at £450 due to a bet that I could create it without skimping on costs and creating to a high standard fit to attending shows summer 2015, This however excludes locos and rolling stock// Conclusion I have attached comparison images of the track plan and hope this explains the changes made in the revision, I would like to thank you for reading and hope this is interesting in terms of reading. Any suggestions for improvements to these short columns they will be most welcome kind regards Jonathan

Leaving the station "67" 12/11/2014 With that time of the year approaching and the festive season on its way it is hard to ignore the fact that new year is drawing near and if you are like me still no plans so when this time arrives a layout emerges having 240x60cm to play with and a laptop at my side i was quickly engaged and the brakes soon let go of the rails and my mind was off,the reason for it being called leaving the station is due to my love of the bath green park terminus and my many hours of simulators,messing about in the fiddle yard and the exit towards templecombe has always kept me interested and in the goods and the management of trains and less towards passenger services.Due to this i have been dragged into the interesting aspect of late br steam and the tired under maintained engines pulling trains not suited to the classes employed this mixed bag of locos leads to an interesting array of locos scenarios and arrangement of locos that otherwise would be thought as odd in any other period. The layout comprises of a two track main line with double slip allowing access to a branch line and a goods yard/scrap yard,I am focusing on the scenic aspect and also will be adding drop in sections to cycle the locos at shows other features included will be a simple light weight construction comprising of 3x2 support beams holding a thin mdf board the legs will also be made of 3x2 frames that will act as a coffin if the layout attends shows.The layout will be a dc powered layout as i do not enjoy the dcc experience ,I am in ict and so do not enjoy its presents in my hobby constantly.Also i believe dc holds grater challenge and more teamwork between you and your assistant which in this case is not glamorous.The track i aim to use use is peco streamlined code 100 as it is rather readily available and it is also less expensive than its Hornby equivalent and looks stunning in comparison,Power will be supplied by a rather old power supply "if it works" and a dummy 12 volt power supply running the points signals and lights. My aim for the project is to be completed by next November before warley so i can go shopping for locos rolling stock and a better power supply.I would like to thank you for reading this item and hope you continue to read unfortunately i believe there will be limited content for a while while finances are sorted out and when this is achieved this concept will turn into a physical form thanks /jon/