richard.h

Well, after a long wait Accurascale's version of the Deltic finally arrived, but it is a superb model so even the photographers turned out to capture it on it's trial run.

And, after easing through the village it heads north with The Flying Scotsman.

A Duchess in Difficulty.

Not much work done recently due to holidays and the extreme heat over here this summer but I did manage to get a video completed.

Very sorry to hear of your misfortune, you must circulate the list of stolen items as widely as possible, their can't be many suitable homes for EM gauge stock of that period.

The only redeeming feature is that the layout was not vandalised and some of your unique buildings and structures destroyed which in itself points to it being a targeted break-in whose only intention was to take the Locos for resale or re-use.

Regards

Richard

On 20/04/2022 at 21:07, john dew said:

 

Thank you for the feedback. Using a couple of Panniers sounds like a possibility for me. Happily,  setting them up double headed with RR&Co is very easy.

 

Best wishes

I have to agree with Great Bear, to work efficiently the CMX needs to be pushed at a slow speed if possible across all tracks and as yet I haven't found a steam outline loco that will do this consistently whereas a diesel will do it with ease, I normally use something like a Class 37.

I realise that diesels don't fit with your time frame but for reliable cleaning you may find that buying a cheap second-hand diesel locally is you best option.

Richard

23 hours ago, melmerby said:

Does the job.

Personally I would've mounted the servo the other way round, so that the crank is facing the baseboard rather than at 90 degrees to it

e.g. Use a flat piece of brass as a mount and space the servo away from it on long bolts so that the crank is the same height from the baseboard as the gate crank.

That way you have a servo and gate working in the same plane with a straight operating wire.

Hi

 Yes thanks for that, I think you are right, with the kit as supplied it is impossible to get an even range of movement through the entire 90degrees because wherever you mount the servo it hasn't got a straight pull all the way. See Fig 1.

If I can make a new bracket for it so that it operates in parallel on the same plane as in Fig 2 then that should cure the problem.

Thanks

Richard

Here is a short video showing how the crossing was built followed by a shunting session using the crossing

Generally I don't like too many distractions on the railway but have always liked the idea of a working level crossing having previously just used the standard Peco stationary kit.

However when I saw the new Heathcote kit it seemed promising so I thought that it would be worth trying.

The basic kit is complete with nothing to add to get it up and running.

The most difficult part I found was getting the servo action correct, the control board is very good for precise alignment  but the problem is you are moving a horizontal gate crank through 90degrees driven by a vertical servo crank arm which is always trying to pull the gate out of vertical at each end of its range.

Eventually an exceptable range of movement was achieved and the unit was fitted plus a pair of pedestrian gates left over from a Peco kit.

Hi John

Just read your article in the latest BRM issue, very well done with lots of information and all your own photos too.

Congratulations

Richard H

On 18/03/2022 at 07:55, jwealleans said:

Idle question, but was it 'wreck' as you've spelt it, or 'rec' from 'recreation'?

 

I don't think I've ever seen the word in this context written down before.

Hi

Yes you are correct that was the original spelling as in the most famous although fictional one The Red Rec in Coronation Street but nowadays 'Rec' is more associated with music and electronics.

I'm afraid it was just me being mischievous and juggling with words to make the post more eyecatching.

I have done it on previous  postings and also on some of my videos, a while back I made a video about weathering  71000 The Duke of Gloucester, which I called Touching Up The Duke, at the time a certain royal was starting to appear in the news about his antics in America.

Silly, but it keeps me happy.

Richard

On 18/03/2022 at 07:55, jwealleans said:

Idle question, but was it 'wreck' as you've spelt it, or 'rec' from 'recreation'?

 

I don't think I've ever seen the word in this context written down before.

Hi

Yes you are correct that was the original spelling as in the most famous although fictional one The Red Rec in Coronation Street but nowadays 'Rec' is more associated with music and electronics.

I'm afraid it was just me being mischievous and juggling with words to make the post more eyecatching.

I have done it on previous  postings and also on some of my videos, a while back I made a video about weathering  71000 The Duke of Gloucester, which I called Touching Up The Duke, at the time a certain royal was starting to appear in the news about his antics in America.

Silly, but it keeps me happy.

Richard

When I wore short trousers, many years ago, any waste ground were we could play and build our own dens was usually called the wreck.

And so it is opposite Old Bank Place.

All available waste items have been commandeered by the local children to make their own adventure playground.

A grubby 60700 eases into the Engine Shed Yard.

Where it will be turned and coaled ready for its next allocation.

As 60700 continues it's journey it crosses the viaduct.

Even in model form the difference in cab size is clear, it is much bigger than normal and must have been very hard work for a fireman.

Finally 60700 pulls into Byford and the end of its journey.

As a young-un trainspotting many years ago we didn't know about Hush-Hush Locos and other details but we all liked Streaks so when this next loco appeared the cry would go up it's The Unnamed Streak.

So this is the latest addition to the fleet whose entry has been delayed for awhile until it went through the weathering works to get mucky.

Thank you I'm glad that you enjoyed it, it can be difficult synchronizing the speed and sound but once you get it matched it looks really effective.

Richard

Just to finish off the section on Heavy Freight Locos here is a short video showing some of them at work.

And here is the ultimate Heavy Goods Loco, a Garratt making it's way towards the Station.

And as it passes through we get another shot of it.

It is not hauling it's usual load of coal trucks this time but is acting as relief engine on a long goods train.

Before starting the climb the WD needs banking assistance with such a long train of coal wagons.

And now a BR Standard Class 4 arrive to help.

The next Loco through is a WD with a long train of loaded coal wagons.

And, here it's held at the signal awaiting the arrival of a Banking Engine.

• The wagons shown in the previous photos are a rake of the recently released  21ton mineral wagons.

• With over twenty wagons to weather I needed to use simple ways to do this that wouldn't take too much time.

  The following video shows the methods used.

As the 9F clears the Station we next see it crossing Felldale Viaduct.

It was only after taking the photos I realised that the lamps hadn't been fitted, they are now, honest.

Concentrating on the freight side of Railway Operations we first take a look a 9F as it makes its way through Oxenholme.

It's hauling a train of  (new to me) 21ton mineral wagons.

Damn

 We were in Liverpool last summer but won't be there again for a while.

 Hope you find a good home for them, they are too good to go to waste. and best of luck with your new home too.

Richard

3 hours ago, LNERGE said:

Have a look at 8, 7a and 7b.. All to cope with backing moves.

 

 

Thanks so judging from the replies Backing or Set-Back signals were used by the GWR on the main line and other regions used ground disc signals which would be correct in my case (midland region).

I just wanted to make sure as I have a couple of signalling books which show positioning for Backing Signals but don't make clear which region used them.

On one section of my layout I have a small Station with a bay platform.

When a Train approaches on the Up Main and needs to reverse into the bay do I need a backing or set back signal further along the main line to indicate that it is clear to do so.

If I do what would one look like as I haven't found a clear photo of such a signal, I model British Rail Midland Region in the late 50s

Attached is a basic track plan if anyone can help.

Richard