5BarVT

5BarVT (bits of) . . . . and I'm half hiding behind Castle in the last photo of post #44. Paul.

Lovely pictures. Was my patch for about a year just before privatisation so the plungers at Crianlarich and the old stone signal mechanisms brought back memories. Your first experience of RETB? Prior to RETB the stations were Tyndrum Upper and Tyndrum Lower, but Upper Tyndrum was renamed to avoid misinterpretation on a distorted radio channel. 25 years since I have cab ridden the West Highland in a 37, but it takes a lot of beating. Thanks for the memories. Paul.

Really like your detail, especially impressed with the extended timbers for the point machines (don't forget to paint them the same colour as those they extend from!), and the connecting rods. For the AHB you need some modellers licence because the risk of grounding is probably too high, and for many years now the maximum number of lines has been two. There was one at Floriston (north of Carlisle) which had three until 'recently'. I'm getting old, recently is probably 15-20 years ago now! Very very impressive, and looks the part too. Paul.

I'm not DCC yet but I have been reading a lot about it. Two separate tracks - definitely yes: OO and N - not sure, because I think I have reasomewhere that N usually has a lower track voltage. You would be able to use the same kit but not at the same time. Perhaps someone with greater knowledge could comment. Paul.

Area Engineer is far too high up to chuck people off a depot. You employ others to do that for you! Paul.

1Q90 cancelled after 37057 misbehaved (imitating a kettle)?

Thank you for the geography lesson, I knew of most of the lines in the area but couldn't place the branch from Swan Village. I also thought that I knew where Horsely Fields Junction was - on the BCN just down from the Stour lines leaving Wolvehampton. My RCH maps showed the relevant branch and Google supplied the location of the other Horsely Fields Jn. I have just over 10' by just under 8' in my 'cupboard' so flipping, rotating etc trying to find something that would work is a process I know well. One of the things that I had given up on was an S&T siding . . . but . . . I look forward to seeing how yours develops. Have you got as far as a variety of signalling equipment/practice yet? Paul.

I use Farnell - excellent service and free delivery starts at only £5. No connection etc. Paul.

Many thanks, shame it's only red brick. Perhaps one as a template for a scratch build is in order. Scalescenes do blue brick sheets with typical arches so I'll have to experiment. Paul.

Just caught up with your thread. I'm planning a retaining wall backed layout (West Midlands blue brick) and I like the design of your wall with the recesses. Is it bought/kit/card/plastic? Thanks, Paul.

Thank you. Thought it was time to blow my cover (in case you hadn't guessed). Congratulations in advance, and hope it all comes through as expected. Paul. BSc, CEng, MIEE, FIRSE. Or alternatively: SORAT, FPL & Bar.

Only class 373 are cleared for Asford, so they need to be kept until something is done to allow the new trains to operate (no TPWS). The threat of withdrawing Ashfird stops is causing Kent CC to blow fuses. Paul.

Who? PM if necessary!

Like it, as Phil said above. It may be called Pig Lane but the layout is recognisably Ranelagh Bridge - an arrangement that I would dearly like in my next layout but which had to be the loser in the 'lack of space' compromise. Paul.

You're some man! I thought I was being very picky when I mentioned the rodding. Those are absolutely brilliant. Looking at the photos of Banavie got me thinking about the bridge bolt: with the clamp lock driven version it's easy to do the far side as the cabling just goes under the canal. What I don't know is what was done in mechanical days to drive the bolt on the far side of the bridge. Any takers for that question? Paul.

Sorry to hear of your magnet tribulations. I am moving into Kadees on my new layout (boards nearly finished, track laying soon, no thread yet) and I am trying to decide whether to go under track magnets or neodymium so if you could say what you used and what went wrong it might help me. (The buzzword phrase in my industry is "Share with pain"!) Thanks, Paul.

Signal is superb: well done. Have you given any thought as to how the signal wires might have got from the box to the signal given the swing bridge? Clachnaharrry used to have a contraption that was (I think) point rodding to the far side of the bridge with a mechanical engagement on each side of the bridge. That was only for one signal: how it would work with four or more 'wires' across the bridge I don't know. Sorry I can't post a photo. Note that this is just me being difficult; your modelling is superb and far above my standard. Paul.

Illumination (LEDs) for night time point maintenance. Paul.

I've always felt that Whitehaven, especially the tunnel entrance at the south end, was designed as an example for a short of space modeller. Thanks for the detail in the photos. Paul.

Like the look of your cassettes, but as always, many questions. Is the angle just glued to the base? How long are the cassettes (feels about 48")? How are the end stops fixed in place? Are they single ended or double ended and turned? Many thanks, Paul.

I know of three examples: Crewe over the Manchester lines just at North Junction, Derby over the Tamworth Lines south of London Rd Junction and Edinburgh Waverley on the face of Mound tunnel (if you know where to look). Hollow bearers for cables are very recent (10 years max?), but orange pipe did not come in much til the late 80s. An early 80s layout probably wouldn't have any (I think it was also a regional preference so some areas went for it more than others). Paul.

Southbound 05:45; northbound 21:10. I assume for route knowledge retention.

Didn't see you but probably heard you. I was in John Ellis house all day (the bit of the original station building on Platform 1). If I had taken a photo of the 20s I could have played SNAP! Paul.

Don't worry, you just do a 'nearest branch' search and it will tell you there is one in Ilfracombe and another in Bangor (NI)! Paul.

I like this. Like you were, I'm just getting round to starting a layout after 15 years without. If I can achieve your look I will be well pleased: previous layouts have never got beyond wired track on baseboard with a few plonked buildings and platforms. I'm interested in the (white) case shown in the top photo in post #8 just by the front of the pacer and what looks like another slightly different just off the left of the photo. Do you know who makes them and whether they are still available? Thanks, Paul.