Dave John

Surely the first thing to ask is what the actual track voltage and waveform is ?

So mikeg is that 13.6 volts measured as a maximum voltage from a DC  controller? 

Is it a measured voltage from a dcc type supply ? 

Is it 13.6 volts as an AC supply as used by some O gauge stock? 

We are assuming that the light source in the coaches is LED. Is it ? Could it be an incandescent lamp ? 

Just asking . 

" Signalling the Caledonian" by Jim Summers describes and has some good pictures of signals for shipping at Grangemouth and Wemyss bay, which was still there in 1968. These were effectively big semaphore signals on high lattice posts controlled from the signal box. 

That might well explain the elevated signal shown in that photo. 

These are CR rather than GWR but the arrangement of cleats at the top of the solebar is similar. I used ezline elastic for the ropes. 

 This blog shows how I made the cleats. 

Heh ," there is a deception going on right in front of yours eyes "  ....aircraft run on air ..... 

Never mind the silly technical stuff, the obvious error is financial. Airlines pay for fuel, so the supply of fuel is very carefully measured, by both supplier and user. 

The bean counters and for that matter the counters of bean counters and the taxers of the bean counter counters at both ends of that equation might notice if somehow the money wasn't flowing. 

Hmm, looking at those sheep has anyone got a recipe for pre-Raphaelite mint sauce ?

Well,  pronunciation aside Milngavie might make a decent BLT. Of course you could incorporate a section of the Bennie Railplane on the approaches too. 

https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/1341

Or you could cause consternation by modelling Kirkcudbright. 

I have in the past ordered direct from redutex in spain using paypal. The stuff arrived within a week.

However as you say Grahame things are in a state of flux atm. 

Heh ,but to answer the op,  sooner or later you will have to vacuum the layout to remove dust and fluff. 

If the ballast isn't stuck down then it would get sucked up. 

Well, if we are playing with odd O4s here is a very rough version of the type that the Caledonian hired in. Only rtr I have, bashed into shape from one of the versions that were being sold for £50 a while back. If I ever get time and funds I'll put a proper EM chassis under it. Bit out of period for me, so a bit of rule 1 as well. 

I have a couple of sidings with Inset track and a cobbled surface. EM gauge.

I used code 75 bh on copperclad sleepers set about 50 mm apart but for the inner rails ( well cobble supports I suppose they are ) I stripped the rail off some old peco N gauge flexi. 

This has a finer head than code 75 and gives a better impression of U channel rails. 

One day I will find a clever way of cleaning the running rail without taking the rust off the inner rail. Maybe. 

@Donw, I had the same problem with C+L 4 bolt chairs. I never came up with a clever answer, just hours of fiddly work with a scalpel. 

Took me over a year to make and lay the track for Kelvinbank. 

Heh monkeysarefun, that looks like some of the very nebulous etched brass kits I have had to cope with in the past ...... 

I hate to be pedantic, but I have only installed dp switched socket outlets for a very long time. I accept that I tend to do commercial rather than domestic work.  

Either way, experience suggests that it would be the comp psu rather than a fault in the installation. 

My suspicion would be the computer power supply. 

Simply put, switched mode power supplies, such as those commonly found in computers and similar, leak a little bit of electricity to earth all the time as part of the way they filter electrical noise. There tends to be some electricity stored in the smps when in use.

Even with the computer shut down the smps is still running. If you switch off at the socket it may be that the live and the neutral are not disconnected at the same time, perhaps only milliseconds of a difference, but modern RCDs are very fast. The result is that stored energy is discharged through the slowest bit of the switch, the RCD sees an imbalance between the live and neutral currents, decides that there is a fault and trips. 

Note that although the RCD is rated for 30 mA / 30 mS it is not uncommon fro them to be a lot more sensitive than that.

In electrical terms there is always a tradeoff between protection of the installation of a whole and what we call nuisance tripping, particularly under transient conditions. 

The RCD seems to be working properly, which in safety terms is the main thing. Longer term, a new computer or power supply, but for now don't worry too much it is just a nuisance. 

Depends when it was wired and by whom capt K. 

Generally up to about 1990 it would be a switched incomer , followed by mcb for fixed load with an rcd covering socket outlets and possibly a shower .  

Before that if there was an earth fault device it might well be of the voltage detecting type, rather that one in the current domain. 

Towards 2005 we are beginning to see split boards with 2 rcds and mcbs covering individual circuits.

I would now tend towards individual mcbos for all circuits . The plastic box shown by clagsniifer would now be inadequate as a new installation. 

Last year I upgraded a dental practice. All circuits rcbo with integral arc fault protection, surge protected incomer and full voltage stabilisation for the chair system. Price of a small car. 

That said, I have seen far too many inadequately protected installations over the years. 

Take a few photos. I will try and advise. 

Heh, I keep looking. If anything would push me to scale up is is this thread. I am by nature a maker of models, whether I am good at it doesn't matter , it is the pleasure of starting with materials and ending up with something solid that matters. 

Really airnimal it is top class work, and we tend to all be our own worst critics. Close photos are very harsh, but the detail you manage to create is stunning. 

Oh, a British Thornton one. I had one at University. 

Hi 57xx, those things were used  for putting silicone tubing type insulation on electrical wires. The idea is that you put an inch or so of tubing over the prongs , squeeze to open it up then push the wire through.  Make the soldered joint on the end of the wire then slide the tubing over it to insulate and support the wire. 

They were known in the trade as "honeymoon pliers". 

51 L do wagon springs as a separate item. 

Something like this ;

https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/shop/wagons/brc042/

You would have to dummy up the hangers from bits but it would be a start.

Hmm, just a vague thought. If all this had happened 120 years back then it might have looked a bit quiet like this. 

Getting their "kits" out surely ? 

It is only March.... 

Heh, if I had any money I'd be investing in a keyboard manufacturer. Folk must be wearing them out by the ton load

But stuff it, heres a pic of a couple of bits of resin I have been playing with over the last two weeks. Almost done now, but at least its back to pre grouping railways.

Heh, the map has cheered me up a lot Mikkel. 

Well, it's a good idea. I have no idea how to set up such a thing, particularly if it involved streaming live feeds.

With regard to live footage it would need some preparation. I think that good video streaming needs proper cameras and lighting with someone to do that side of things while others actually operate the layout, not something I know a lot about but I'm sure some folk on here could advise on specifics. 

Which I suppose was a little harsh. 

Anyway, work tomorrow. Test and certify 130 emergency lights, or at least some of them. Might seem a silly idea, but if this whole thing gets seriously out of hand the electricity might be in as short a supply as the bog roll............