Gary H

That's a TPWS inductor loop, Don. aka- train protection and warning system. Its a whole big can of worms to explain but it basically over rides the driver if he passes a signal at danger or he approaches a danger signal at to higher speed by giving an automatic brake application. Loads of info on the net about it. There were some very high profile fatal collisions years past that brought it about. Ladbroke Grove derailment just outside Paddington being one of them.

Talking of couplers, has anyone used Sergent's or those 'magnalock' brake lines??

I thought it was a tourist railroad! Taxi!

Well yeah, if your going to start on 80 foot passenger cars then the choice is obvious but on a predominantly freight RR with 40 and 50 foot freight cars then a #6 is quite acceptable! Anyway, moving on.

In the name of aesthetics, you are right but #6's don't look to offensive in my eye's. Certainly not as nasty as a "small radius" Peco settrack effort.

In those last few pictures, are those switches number 8's? Its just an idol thought I had but would you save any space and get a little more siding length by using number 6's? It may make no real difference but as I say, it was just a thought. I reckon using number 6's on each end of that loop would get you another 40 foot car.

There's another just starting!- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/00-Gauge-Bachman-class-66-Diesel-66200-DCC-Ready-/201118927243?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item2ed39f498b

Its one of these- https://www.flickr.com/photos/36034969@N08/8796828353/ Used to deliver long welded rails.

That's the biggest gripe about the things. Those horrible pressed out hinged switch blades!

Funnily enough, that's what I done with the few bits of it I had. It got used for staging track. Shame really as it does look very nice.

Talking of which, are they better on fuel than everything else before them Jim? I gather that was one of GE's selling points.

Yeah, that's one of em Jack and would suffice perfectly, Ive bought some "aggregate" from them myself in the past! Im sure there's another one though but knowing me I could also be confusing ARMC with "the other one". Im getting to that age and im on nights this week which doesn't help!

Crikey, that is an old pic from the early days. That track is totally unchanged though. It was air brushed with Phoenix Precision paints (enamel) sleeper grime and the rail sides airbrushed with a rust shade, nothing out of the ordinary there. also used that rail sides painter wheel thing with acrylic paint for some of it which was also quite successful. I then just ballasted it using a 50/50 mix of Woodand Scenics fine "grey" and "light grey" ballast. I then used a pipete to soak it with 50/50 IPA and water before going over it again with the time honoured diluted PVA. To be honest if I were to do it all again, I don't think I'd use WS ballast. Due to its ground down husk material, its to light in weight compared with a proper ground down stone ballast and it takes some patience when it comes to gluing the stuff. There's a U.S firm whose name escapes me now that sells proper stone ballast of differing shades depending on the geographical area you are modelling- that's if you want to go that far! My sidings were treated differently though in that I used stone ballast / dirt for the most part.

Speak as I find, they've been 100% reliable in operation, mine are all Electrofrog with the over centre springs removed and powered by Tortoise motors. I think in regard to ready to run, they're the best of a bad bunch. I do wish I'd hand built though like I did with my long departed UK based layout. As regard to retro fitting now, I don't think I could face it!

A very enjoyable thread Dr! Can I ask what is the size of the layout please? Looks like about 8 x 12 feet ish. What would be your choice of plain line and points if time permitted? I once tried some Micro Engineering flex track but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get a nice curve with the stuff and it ended up looking like a dogs hind leg! Im not really sure what the secret is with that stuff to be honest! I also use Peco C83 points, less than ideal but probably the best if you need speed I think. They don't look to bad once they are painted ballasted. I suspect the Fast Tracks jigs would be my choice if I were to start over. Reference the foam underlay, I used neoprene on a previous layout, the stuff wetsuits are made of. Was fairly difficult to get hold of though. On my American layout, I used the Woodland scenic stuff which I think is 'OK'.

All our bosses went to that to. Said it was a good event!

Without seeing it myself, its difficult to say. I was there today aswel!! Its probably the way in which its been ground in the past, possibly by the switch grinding team, they'll often grind back away from the switches as far as that. This can result in a differing wheel contact area to the rest of the rail.

That's a "twist rail" Don. The S&C (switch & crossing) is of vertical plane, that is the rail is vertical through the point work there. To make the transition from vertical back to the 'inclined' in the plane line, we use a twist rail. This is fabricated in the factory. That twist rail and possibly together with some other metal work is being renewed. The letter "W" on the timbers mean 'weld'.The "5 mm" marking means there is 5 mm wear on the existing rail to right to which the new twist rail will be welded. Its very important obviously to ensure that the twist is the correct way around! Ive known them more than once be fitted the wrong way around as the twist is extremely difficult to see if its not marked on the new rail. When you factor in about the 15 grand it costs just to fit one rail like that one on a Saturday night, you only wana be doing it once! The wear measurement is to help the welders select the correct mould for the Thermite weld on the night.

Holy smokes, would you look at that! Any idea what one was on the left, looks like 16 or 18?? Edited to say, its ofcourse 416, I didn't know it would enlarge that much!

That's a Plasser & Theurer 09-3X-D-RT tamper, not a Compaq as I first thought. That's basically a 'biggun'. A very clever and fine machine!

08752 used to be a Canton loco and is remote control fitted- http://www.martinbray-ukloco.com/asw.htm

Probably a good job that isn't part of my job description then! Sir, may I offer you an idea-

I was inside the compound at Dawlish Warren on some NR business on Monday and Tuesday and noticed large partys of school kids walking along towards the café and out of site around the corner towards Dawlish. The café was certainly not open though.

Toilet door humour!

Another fascinating set of photo's Kevin! So much has changed and gone from that area now as I'm sure you'll agree! Any idea when the old Midland route bridge was demolished? Couldn't have been long after these were taken I'm guessing. Also whilst on the subject of the bridge, would that have been the same line that is now the Westerleigh branch?