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The Newcastle Central 1959 opening notice doesn’t seem to have a link on their site, which to me implies it is hard copy only at their archive. In my folder of ‘useful stuff’ acquired from retiring engineers libraries I have a copy of the Westinghouse ‘glossy’. Unfortunately the only plan I have is a photocopy so the numbers are a little hard to make out. If you can advise which signal numbers you need (preferably with a diagram to make clear which one) I will be happy to try and make out the number from my copy. Paul.

Ditto, though if the crowds round it at a smaller exhibition were anything to go by, I won’t be seeing much of it! Paul.

Lots of little ones actually, but thanks anyway. It’s easier than it looks as it’s not done in a drawing programme but a (well known? Shhh!) train control programme which actually does most of the hard work for me. Paul.

Those of us of a certain age (or more) can no longer do that even if we wanted to! Paul.

Does this help? Green is Combi that you’re removing. Black is the existing wiring to the Combi. Red is the new wiring and walkabout. Just like the Gaugemaster diagram, the plug is shown from the rear so wire as shown, sockets are from the front so need to be reversed when looking from the rear to wire up. Paul.

NO! “Out” on the PCB is from the power supply for both DC and AC. (You have an extra supply 12V DC uncontrolled that doesn’t exist on the Combi. Just to check: You are using a GMC-WM1 to power your existing Combi? You’re track wiring is connected to the Combi DC terminals? I’ll do you a diagram. Paul.

Hello, Been for a look on the GM website and I think I understand your confusion. No diagrams (sorry) but if you’re still stuck after reading I could do one tomorrow. Let’s start with your Combi. I assume it has a circular (computer power supply style) socket with four terminals next to it labelled from the left: 0-12V DC TRACK / 16/18V AC ACCESSORIES / INPUT. I assume that you have the 0-12V DC connected to your track and the 16V AC connected to whatever drives your points. The GMC-W is the Combi less those terminals above. In with the GMC-WM1 is a small circuit board which is (almost) those terminals above 12V DC / 16V AC / INPUT. The WM-1 plugs into the circuit board, your point driver is connected to the 16V AC terminals together with the blue and yellow wires from the GMC-W and the red and black wires go to the track. And that gives you your Combi features. To get the walkabout, you connect the four wires from the GMC-W into a DIN plug and wire from the DIN socket to track and 16C AC terminals. Any other walkabout connections are just wired locally to the track and in parallel for the 16V AC input. Mechanically, you plug the WM1 into your wall socket (or wherever your power comes from), I suggest stick the PCB to the board with black tac or Sellotape stickies etc. If you still need a diagram just say in a reply and I’ll see what I can do tomorrow. Paul. P.S. There’s a diagram of the WM1 PCB outputs in the ‘manual’ linked from the page on the GM website. At least it shows what the terminals are.

Sorry, I’m a bit late to the party. Thats some nice paining on those sleepers. Like it. Paul.

Ah but . . . he’s in the minority! Paul.

Didn’t last long. Only 4 out of 6 tonight! Paul.

As mentioned over on Lower Thames Yard, I’ve been helping Paul work out what he needs as an absolute minimum (with operational hassle), an easier life option, and future provision in case (when?) ;-) the bug bites. This is a representation of the full layout - there might be different numbers of some sidings but the principles remain sound. That’s quite a lot of blocks even without feedback sensors over the points! So, if I may, I would like to test the water about minimising the hardware required for iTrain to operate without it getting confused. The iTrain manual mentions inputting the length of points. Is this only necessary if braking for one block starts before entry into that block (either in the previous block, or in no man’s land in between)? Does that mean that iTrain needs train detection over each point as well as in the blocks or not? Can iTrain “track” trains between blocks if they are moved manually (i.e. with the only inputs being it knows the engine is moving because it can see the speed commands from the hand held controller and can associate the block occupancy changes with point setting to know where the train has gone)? Can it create dummy block detection inputs using one feedback coupled with point lie settings? See the red hand drawn squares above - Store 9-13 are accessed over one ”Real” feedback that occupies and clears as the loco (or train) passes over it, then combined internally within iTrain to give 5 dummy feedbacks each one relating to only one of the five blocks. It is then logically possible to work out which one of the five the train has entered or left (combining with train direction information). It also needs iTrain to be happy to remember block occupancy when the layout is saved even though the feedback is off at that point. (It’s effectively using a train detection section as a spot detector). My reason for asking is that I can then achieve the same functionality with 16 or more fewer feedbacks. Stopping point accuracy is not critical if Paul is moving the trains under manual control, although the temptation to move to automatic operation exists if the accuracy is good enough! Paul.

Even when they’re in the majority (LH players) in that group? Paul.

Did you operate it in pre electrification mode or with EM2s and “can’t you see the wires? I can.” mantra? Paul.

As of yesterday, indeed (just Chester/ELP lines). When they have enough working units of course. Most morning it takes a while to get a serviceable unit on all diagrams, this morning was particularly problematic up to 0930. Link valid for 7 days. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:HOO/2023-11-14/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt Paul.

Similar comments apply to the “reserve collection” shed at the main NRM. Others have said that it’s really boring, however, when I went round with a friend/colleague/former boss, we had a great time because between us we knew what a lot of the stuff was and could remember it from our yoof. Paul.

Not too much model railway action this week - been gadding about too much. Dinner in Glasgow on Thursday, back late Fri, out Sat and the Remembrance Sunday today. Paul.

How about these. They don’t show much in the way of arches and buttresses but they are all GWR I think. Dr Day’s Jn Bristol An arch Landsdown Jn Cheltenham (just) on the GWR line. Further along towards Landsdown Jn. Some arches Swansea High St (just off scene to the right). Looking the other way. Coming out of Newport tunnel Ditto. Some LNW? Platform 1 Crewe - again, no arches. I thought I had some of retaining walls on the Birkenhead Joint - also GWR/LNWR but can’t find any! However, they can be obtained easily if you want. There are also more of most of the above, I just selected typical ones. Paul.

Offsets a little of the air fare. Paul.

There’s a Glasgow / West of Scotland that phrase that goes “Aye Right”. I believe it may be appropriate here. :-) Paul.

Was talking to a real worker today who is also on a Use it or Lose it leave system and he finishes for the year about a week into December! Paul.

Typically 4 of the 7 Chester diagrams are 777 at the moment. And 2 of the 3 Ellesmere Port. But not necessarily the same diagrams each day, so I can’t be sure what I’m going to get on any given day. Paul.

Ditto Swansea and Ilfracombe, Bargoed and Aberbargoed etc etc! Paul.

Good job I didn’t stay over an extra day to call in on the way back home! Paul.

Ah, yes. Been past the RPSI site at Whitehead a few times. Until they rerouted the Stranraer ferry to Belfast. Paul.

LTNS, good to see you back. Paul.