Right Away

“Come on ‘ome, Unc. You know it makes sense!”

Down Vans A Down fitted vans clatters past behind the usually scruffy, but ever-willing 9F. Recovering back home from hospital, I haven’t managed any running as yet - when it cools down a bit ....! (You might be pleased to know this pic is the last I took a couple weeks back of the same 9F hauled van train.)

Makes you wonder how those responsible for the awful daubing on bridge girders do not succumb to falls or risk being chopped up by a passing train.

Back in “semaphore days”, as a youngster living near to what would later be known as the West Coastway line from Brighton to Portsmouth, I can remember seeing at certain locations, (Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea and Angmering come to mind) westbound trains running in and stopping at the platform starter at what appeared to be a mere 10-20ft from a closed (to the train) gated signalman-operated level crossing. Thinking in terms of “overlap” and its clearance distance, I was surprised to learn that in this respect a level crossing was not considered to be an obstruction when the gates were across the track. Would this practice have been the norm or would it surely have required initiation of a “Warning Arrangement” to permit such a movement.

Thanks for your thoughts, John. Looks like I’ll be out today, and yes -Train Strike! Looking forward to catching up with the ‘Web.

Thanks for your comments on the 9F photos, especially the supportive/ friendly ones; just about managed to edit them in time. Major surgery now over today; recovering here in hospital, connected up with pipes and tubes, looking like a motor fitted M7! Seriously, people, the staff here in Guy’s have been fantastic and it’s comforting to be able to keep in touch with everyone’s efforts in RMWeb. Meanwhile, I’ve attached a photo which I think went astray with the earlier firmware upgrade. “Stand Clear” End of another duty for Standard tank No. 80015 as she is “put and prepped.”

Passing the Sheds All downhill from here for this “9” as she gets an admiring glance from the local lengthman opposite the depot. (Apologies, as it’s the same train as in my previous posting, but from a different viewpoint. I’m off for a major op next week, therefore I might be a little while away from the railway.)

Nine Time! Rolling past the Up Intermediate, a rather heavy “fitted” is eased before dropping down the 1 in 200 towards the yards.

Superglue, gel type, applied with cocktail stick.

Reality or Rule 1? Having not come off at Salisbury as it ought, this engine will be impounded by the Southern on arrival. (Re-created from an actual event which occurred in 1963 - but in this case, an excuse for me to run a very handsome locomotive)

I’ve used Railroom Electronics, loads of stuff and very good service - see link: https://www.railroomelectronics.co.uk/Copper-Clad-Pcb-Board/Copper-Clad-Strips/Page1.aspx

Clear plastic (I save those that some products from Wills, Ratio etc come packaged in). please see attached pic. (I managed to “lose” the originals whilst detailing the “5” - shorter drawbar, injectors, cylinder covers/drain pipes etc.

It is interesting to recall how the late Bert Hooker (of Nine Elms MPD), would, after attaching his engine to the stock at Waterloo descend from his footplate and check the blocks on the first couple of coaches to ensure the train’s brakes had released, lest the engine which had brought in the empties was running with a vacuum above 21”; overly cautious or not, this being a precaution against brakes “dragging”. It is not mentioned whether the other loco was an ex GWR Pannier or not, nevertheless he was concerned that any loco whose small ejector could maintain a vacuum in excess of what his could match would cause problems on the journey.

Just to recap, as it could prove helpful to others .... One of the Lenz fitted locomotives which has given the most discernible “sudden” initial start is a Hornby “Castle”. Still giving this some thought, I checked my list of locomotives fitted with Zimo decoders to see if one which might be suitable for donating its chip to the “Castle”, yet perform adequately when refitted with the Lenz from the latter. I decided upon pinching the Zimo out of an original “Merchant Navy” as this engine has a superb drive with flywheels, the starting of which might be more “tolerant” of a Lenz’s characteristic. Having just swapped the two decoders over between the engines, I can report that the MN now, fitted with the Lenz, starts away nice and slowly, (clearly not as fine as with its previous Zimo) but perfectly acceptable to fussy me, and that’s what’s important. And the “Castle” now Zimo fitted; this engine has been completely transformed. What a splendid model with running performance to match. Regarding this previously errant “Castle”. I can only conclude, in this instance, that its mechanism, coupled with its big drivers are not entirely suited to the attributes of the Lenz decoder. I might add that not all of my Lenz fitted engines are problematic in the respect of smooth, gentle starting.

Thanks. However the engines’ initial start is the same if CV2 is 0 or 1. Acceleration, deceleration is fine, it’s just the initial movement from rest when the train moves off from standstill to a scale 2-3mph! Of course, other factors will come into play here, wheel diameter, gearing etc. I’ve tried adjustments with CV50 and others to no avail. I’m becoming convinced that having been “spoilt” by the Zimo’s beautiful movement from rest, the Lenz cannot match it in this respect. This has probably made me a little too fussy and ultimately unless I am prepared to “cough up” for a decoder change en masse, I’ll have to live with it.

.... and an “Eastern” in Western territory. Class F1 No 1043 at the ‘Loo for Reading, 1937.

Out of interest, here’s a “Greyhound” running into the Vic in July 1939 with a Kent Coast relief.

Just to follow up, here’s two adjusted examples of the same image showing just a Hornby “School” hauling Bachmann “Birdcage” coaches supposedly somewhere South East of London in the ‘50s. One is trying to depict a clear evening, the other, in a “pea -souper”. (Note: the top photo has previously been posted a while ago). Regarding the re-railing of this “Greyhound”, I hope the addition of smoke does give a stationary subject, a degree of animation.

The question as to whether digital manipulation of photographs for this thread might be interpreted by some as a form of “cheating” is really just a matter of an individual’s personal interpretation of the viewed result. I must admit to being one of those “guilty” of the practice. My reasons are thus; I simply enjoy trying to enhance a picture with the addition of leaking steam, exhaust etc and the addition of a different background where necessary. Having said that, I wouldn’t bother trying to make a “purse out of a sow’s ear“. All the photos which I have posted on here have been taken with an iPhone and processed with an iPad. The smartphone is so convenient. During an operating session you think “hey, that looks good” and another photo’s in the bag. I’m sure the “Classic” B&W photographers of yesteryear, after standing in a gale at Scout Green, Greskine or Blea Moor would have relished the opportunity to indulge in some digital fiddling when they got home. As it was, their dodging and burning in the darkroom has resulted in some of the most spectacular railway portraiture we are ever likely to see.

Thanks Guys. Yes, I have to say, some of my Lenz fitted engines are better than others in this respect of the initial starting. It is those “others” which would benefit from a decoder change. From tiny 0-4-0 tanks to hunking great Pacifics, the Zimo wins out every time. However, the hassle of opening up the engines involved, risking damage to intricate parts, not to mention the 300 odd quid outlay to re-equip them, is questionably viable at present.

I run a Lenz LH100 system with Bachmann and Hornby steam locomotives fitted with a mixture of Lenz Standard and Zimo “budget” decoders. Both decoder types have given exemplary reliability, however, straight “out of the box” and with just CV’s 3, 4, 5 and 6 adjusted to suit the individual engine, NO speed table set and with 28/128 control steps, it is the Zimo which always gives an extremely slow start, often with little trace of movement until “Step 2” is selected on the controller - very realistic! I would like to achieve the same result with the Lenz decoder fitted engines but even on Step 1, they move off immediately (I won’t say abruptly) but certainly not with the same minute degree as those fitted with a Zimo decoder. Tweaking of the above CV’s makes no difference at all to the Lenz fitted locos initial movement from rest. Any suggestions re the configuration of the Lenz decoders to achieve the desired “slow start” would be most welcome. Thank you for any help.

Lovely picture. I agree, a single chimney Castle, County and King (to me) is aesthetically more pleasing, but thankfully the double chimney does not look so wrong as those finally decided upon on the Counties. A pity the latter were not able to be afforded a modicum of elegance by the draughting team. Whilst on a personal note, I feel the Hawksworth tender unfortunately detracted from the elegance of both Castles and Halls.

Certainly not of PO status, but speaking of Findon, did Ryan Price ever send his race horses to distant meetings by rail?

Here’s 6839 in unlined grime approaching Slough on 10 June 1947.

Apologies for drifting slightly.... The clatter of level crossing gates as they struck the securing latches across the roadway, heralding the approach of a train; another much lamented sound, practically consigned to history. Late 50’s, early 60’s summer school holidays alongside the ‘box, watching the bobby wrestling with the wheel, then letting go as inertia did the rest. That sound has spurred many an expectant passenger into almost Olympian feats, racing to reach the station lest they miss their train. Technological advances have given us innumerable benefits. Many will disagree but nostalgia aside, it’s almost awful to consider that had the domestic technical revolution predated itself by half a century or so, I could have missed out on all this as I sat bug eyed in front of some screen. Now that would have been a waste. I wonder how many of today’s youngsters, in fifty years time will be able to look back with the same kind of fondness.