BWsTrains

Some Signals Long overdue, I dug out my two automated Dapol Starter signals; all the others on UH will be static but the station did deserve special treatment. I've had these an embarrassingly long time, untested, which for me really is tempting fate! By good fortune they both work and my main challenge has been to find a suitable control point for them. The thought of adding more complexity to the already busy main panel sent me off to find spare room on the adjacent traverser controller panel. This done I checked about positioning the signals according to earlier helpful input which I'd received (see Planning File 18 July 2022). Some instinct hinted that I should check for minimum distancing from track and sure enough - with Autocar services operating from both platforms and given their protruding hand rails - it was a tight squeeze to maintain the minimum separation of 2' 3" to the signal (ladder). In the end they are both have been moved nearer the platform end than in the original plan (which in fairness to the contributors was qualitative!) Here they are. PS I know the white bands are too thin!

With a Pantechnicon from Dart Castings waiting in the "to be built" wings for UH, this is inspirational and most timely. On your OK I'll draw heavily on these ideas for my own; which are your preferred fonts for the wagon sides etc.? Colin

I agree re the Bernina journey but hadn't realised you could get between Tirano and Como, much simpler than our travels. On our self-managed trip we traveled the Bernina both ways (a bonus I guess) and on returning to Chur took the Postbus across to Bellinzona en route to Como. While we didn't have a GRJ guide, we did sit opposite a Swiss Postal Officer and his wife and despite the language barrier we were alerted to just about every Bernina highlight. He new the route inside out! On reflection our route wasn't that bad for a beginner!

on a long fuse!

Tannery Traffic There are several reasons why modelling a Tannery on a Devon BLT layout seemed like an interesting idea. A search of RMWeb and elsewhere did not come up with any Tanneries, unlike the multitude of Breweries, Cider Producers and the like. Tanning was and remains an industry of importance in the region, there is a well known Tannery still operating at Colyton, north of Seaton, barely 15 miles SE of Upper Hembury. Devon had tanneries in many towns back in the day thanks to it's central role in Cattle rearing. One other thing which appealed to me about having rail access is the large number of interesting materials both coming and going regarding leather production. The present post covers two of these vehicles. Chemicals play a central role in the tanning process and so an ICI Fleetwood Salt wagon would not be out of place, bringing sacks of salt, Caustic Soda and Soda Ash. Other covered wagons would be expected, carrying various salts, quicklime and of course large volumes and oak chips of hides for processing. Tanning also produces much nasty chemical waste, and before the railway this was tediously hauled away up hill to the main road for removal. With a branch spur right to the door, waste removal by rail tanker was a great advance. Hence to wagon #2. The ubiquitous Dapol rectangular oil tank wagon was ideal for repurposing to manage waste. I had one set aside for WC&PR use which never came about so today has seen a rebranding to a local waste haulier logo. In time this will get a "healthy" coating of dried waste, but for now the logo must suffice. Existing paintwork was softened with Microsol and carefully rubbed off with one of those cosmetic "tools" which are used for eye makeup. (carefully set aside from Japanese hotel stays) Limited by my transfer supply, these came from the GWR Goods Wagon set with some creativity but no ampersand & available. A very fine touch -up paint brush or a carefully placed streak of stray waste perhaps to conceal the mismatch? It looks ok at normal viewing distance; these two will be a coupled pair coming into UH then shunted down to the Tannery

I'm just a glutton for punishment!

My suspicion is it doesn't matter. Do I get my 5 Quid this time? (or more shame and embarrassment heaped upon me!)

This is the "lost" photo AFAIK. It was of interest in these parts as I revisit the best location for my starters in a "between the tracks" situation on UH.

see my PM about British Finescale 3D printed turnout kits.

That is tight, the switch blade of the forward turnout (at far left) appears to reach back right to the check rail of the next turnout and similarly on the frog side. It's like they needed every mm of that siding length.

I thought that the recent SVR Spring announcement shows what a vibrant former steam culture remains available there. Be grateful for what good fortune you have, I reckon. It could have been far less. Our trips on the WSR, SVR and Mallaig lines remain some of the best memories of the last decade when back in Old Blighty.

I found an old lump of lead # which had been used to weight down a swimming pool ladder, as one did in the old days. A few kilos worth which should see me right for a while ##. I hope they watched their pool pH so not to suffer the Roman fate! # I assume, anyway. I guess it could have been depleted Uranium, I've often wondered about the faint glow in the railway room at night 😈 ## recently I've moved on to using coated iron shot of which I also have a large free supply

More Testing and Fitting All the uncoupler installs have now been thoroughly tested and the remaining four fitted into the Creamery and Tannery sidings. As I've done more work on testing all my individual stock items I've become familiar with the best way to operate them and am very happy with how it's turned out. As to individual freight wagons and vans, I've decided that the diverse PO and Big Four open wagons will mostly be "standalone" for now, i.e. I can shunt and mix any combination, minimum unit of one. That may change once I settle into running a full schedule of Ops but for now it leaves me more flexibility / challenges. For Covered Wagons and Vans I've decided to pool these into designated groups of two or three to travel / shunt together # . This simplifies the task of providing damping to axles as a weighted rake weighing in at 100-150g should not give problems with unwanted uncoupling. It also saves on the fitting of Kadees to the insides of rakes. For now I can leave them with tension locks. NPCCS of which there will be several, all will be standalone, the majority remain in their packs awaiting winter assembly, (which winter I'm not saying 😎) I've got about another week's work of completing weighting, damping and checking Kadee installs before I can move back to work on the station precinct. # ultimately these will comprise the unit modules in a card system for deciding Goods train compositions, as per Hintock Jct. Colin

I think its expansion / contraction of the layout superstructure you should focus on. The answer primarily depends on movements in relative humidity and the materials you use to build the structure. Even the hardest of commercial timbers will shrink and expand as relative humidity changes, softwoods are far worse. Some high quality laminates might provide a solution but at a cost. Where we live never gets prolonged humidity UK style but our (very) hardwood timber framed house still moves around swelling and contracting with the seasons, enough to give us the occasional crack in plaster board. Laid on a timber frame, even fractions of a mm have the potential to mess with your track. I'll send you a link (PM) to give you an example of how catastrophic it can be for layout design.

"You call that savings?" (with apologies to Crocodile Dundee). I switched two separate insurance policies recently for multiple reasons, cost being the major, arrogance a very close second, total contempt for the customer third and saved myself in XS of Two Grand (AUD); "That's Savings". Fat chance I'll see one cent of that going to Railway Modelling though, so I guess that puts you ahead in the main game! 😞

I've seen several reports from modellers who on choosing an outside building or even a loft, were later dogged by all sorts of climatic problems. There are some well known names caught out in this way. For example fluctuating humidity causing timber warping; glasshouse in summer, freezing in winter etc., Climate control can add up front and unexpected extras (e.g laying in power), ongoing running costs, best to research all aspects carefully if going this route. Colin

A friend of mine suggested using desoldering braid but I've never had that much joy myself. At least if you can melt the solder it "should" wick into the braid rather than spreading elsewhere.

You're very welcome to come and have a play with mine to break that "evil cycle" 4869 Running Session Weather rather better than in Old Blighty right now (or just about any time TBH) 😎 Colin

Posted in error Colin.

It strikes me as bizarre that someone sells off their "failures" and yet it seems you can't find the undoubted successes being offered somewhere at higher prices to great fanfare. Must be some new business model I've not heard of! 👾

Yup! I've tried various methods and the old cheapie Coles Generic Hair spray rattle can is the best. Probably its best use TBH 😈

It looks superb. Meanwhile, assuming it is really meant to be a "spot the bus" comp, I claim my 5 quid, having spotted 8 buses on bridges in pic no 2. There were other strays elsewhere dotted around in other pics but I ignored those. Colin

Except make them bend around curves in space. 😎

Great Win indeed but I've one thing that's always been a slight niggle for me on the Dapol/Rails model viz. the direct DCC socket which AFAIK rules out adding a Stay Alive without major structural re-engineering. In my experience, even with the best, cleanest and most level track, sound projects will reset on the faintest interruption to power. I always add a small Stay Alive to my projects as per the supplier's recommendations and get virtually no issues. Let us know how you go once you gain more experience with your lovely new machine. Colin

They'd need a very long cable to be able to communicate back to Earth from the facing side!