ianathompson

The website has been updated and is available at https://myafk.net/operating-session-5 There are no photos because Flickr is currently having difficulty loading. Ian T

Thanks Grovenor. I can't recall seeing traps separately number on a box diagram. Ironically I did consider renumbering them to 15 and will do so. The modelled traps have been aligned as you suggest but were incorrectly drawn on the diagram. Apologies. The whole layout can be seen in the photos on the last post of Auchintoul and Inverness Citadel in the layouts thread for anyone interested. Ian T

Passing by, so to speak, and having had a quick glance on here it is probably a bit tame but here is my contribution. 005 - Copy by Ian Thompson, on Flickr Ian T

Thanks for your reply Flying Pig. As I stated the layout is rather unprototypical and throws up a number of problems! I have not really decided on the final arrangements but a possible alternative is shown below. ops decant 017 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr This shows a little more of the layout. As presented 9 and 10 are the blades on the three way entry point which is locked by FPL No 8. This is prototypical as in one of the boxes that I worked two points were locked on one FPL. (That did create its own problems but that's another story!) In the alternative arrangement No 10 becomes a crossover which would be more realistic but lever 10 would then work 4 sets of blades and be a heavy pull. I suppose that the two trap points could be dispensed with but they have been added to the actual (model) pointwork by now. In any case I would be happier as the signalman to know that wagons were trapped in the yard rather than potentially fouling the goods reception road. The reception road also acts as the run round release for the adjacent platform and can therefore be occupied by an independent move. Lever 15 would then become spare but the finished arrangement will probably use a slightly different numbering system. Hope that this clarifies the situation. Edit Having had a reread of this post I would point out that the two traps should be closed when crossover 10 is normal thereby presenting problems for the box diagram designer! I also notice that I have left No 16 drop flap off the redrawn arrangement. The moral is clear. Copy the real thing! Ian T

My N gauge Inverness Citadel layout has thrown up an interesting problem regarding signalling. Let me state at the outset that the track layout is unashamedly designed to cram as much track as possible into a BLT, thereby creating a problem that probably did not arise on the real thing. The situation is shown below. ops decant 016 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr The goods loop is connected to the yard by a crossover (15) but due to the weird layout once shunt moves are locked into the goods loop, No 15 is reversed and remains reversed whilst shunting takes place. In BR and probably LNER days signals 21 and 22 would have been replaced by a simple yellow shunt signal (i.e. pass in the "on" position to access the yard but wait for it to come "off" before leaving the loop. This is the GNoSR, however, well before such things were thought of. At Udny and Macduff Steven's drop flaps were provided to perform a similar function. They remained "on" to give access to a headshunt. I suspect that they were the standard red drop flaps but that familiarity allowed them to be used like their later yellow counterparts. Visibility problems require that a signal arm replaces the drop flap signal. It seems to be pushing this principle by using a standard miniature arm that is conveniently ignored until a train needs to "come out". My proposed GNoSR solution, therefore is to provide No 22 to leave the loop and enter the main running line whilst providing No 21, the "shunt to facing road" signal, for access to the yard. As I envisage it No 21 would be pulled off for the duration of shunting and placed at danger when no more access was required. Drop flap No 16 would also be cleared when No 21 was cleared (sharp intake of breath, highly unlikely but....) 21 and 16 would obviously detect No 15 points reversed, and backlock them, to allow these moves. I wonder if any-one could offer advice. All donations gratefully accepted! Ian T

Cannot see that this would be a problem if you want to go down this route (no pun intended). Instead of placing the crank vertically on the post, as with a traditional semaphore, the crank is laid flat next to, or around, the post. I have made plenty of French type discs which operate in this manner. P1020373 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr Standard (Verlant code) SNCF home and distant "on". 68 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr Similar signal in French pre-Grouping format showing "off". The holes are to prevent the wind from blowing the boards into a false clear position which was a problem in exposed locations. At the risk of hi-jacking the thread, Bavarian Railways distants are much more fun as the fold up along a 45 degree axis to show clear. I could show photos if you request, or visit the AFK website where there is a section devoted to weird and wonderful continental signals. Ian T

Inverness Citadel is due for an outing shortly which has prompted a minor frenzy of work. To be honest the layout spends most of its time folded up in a spare corner but that is what you would expect from an 'occasional' layout I suppose. The track layout, which never made any claims to copy a known prototype at any time or place has been slightly modified to become more outlandish. A connection has been provided directly to the docks branch and the long, otherwise useless, siding is now a coal depot. The layout will be operated in the BR blue period because that is the only one that I currently have enough stock for. ops decant 002 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr This is an overview of the layout. showing a train from Spean Bridge connecting with a class 105 which will leave for Elgin Boroughbrae. The train is formed of a class 37, GUV, BCK and a SK. These are all Mark I vehicles familiar to me from my youth. The parcels vans wait to meet the train and the new dock connection is visible in the foreground. A couple of 21t hoppers and a 16T mineral stand beside the shovel. Some-one will doubtless inform me that 37s did not run on the Mallaig/Fort William line in the late seventies but they do in my warped reality. It is probably overkill for the flat run along the Great Glen but there we go! ops decant 007 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr A view of the platform ends shows the proposed layout. The station buildings will be timber, as will the goods shed. The platform will be covered by a canopy which will need to be removable. ops decant 009 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr The tannery stands on the left and is intended to hide as many microswitches as possible. The main stand of Citadel FC can be seen in the background. As far as I am aware Citadel never used the word Inverness in their name, as their near neighbours Clachnacuddin do not either to this day. (It would be rather like saying London Arsenal for example.) I am well aware (being a football grounds anorak) that the main stand was actually on the other side of the ground but once again Rule 1 applies. In a similar manner the background scenery will be slightly more mountainous than it should be. The station and ground would actually overlook the Merkinch, one of the low lying areas of the town. ops decant 014 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr The railway enters the layout beneath a girder bridge which will be modelled to represent a busy street. In reality this area was in the boondocks until very recent development. The vehicles are all Viking models bought years ago and disinterred from boxes full of German stock which has not turned a wheel in forty years. Auchintoul's signal cabin poses in the background. This needs completing and a twin needs to be made for this location. The various huts hide point micros. ops decant 011 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr The final picture shows the goods yard. The background buildings are a flour mill and a slaughterhouse, the football ground being noted for its malodorous location and icy north winds before its closure. The vehicles are strategically placed over the access screws which hold the dock's surface in place. Once again it hides point polarity switches and it has been off once already to 'ungum' a point in the far sidings. The artic was repainted many moons ago to look more realistic and the other vehicles will eventually follow suit. Unfortunately it caught the attention of my dad's Golden Retriever who decided that it would be very nice to eat. The bite marks remain to this day. Stupid hound! Assuming that all performs okay the next main job will be to install some signalling and complete more pre-Grouping stock. As at Auchintoul it is intended that the layout can be set in different eras. Ian T

Rails Through Lakeland, H.D.Bowtell by SLP confirms that you are correct! He also states that two other hotels were also used. I immediately remembered it because the account of Roedean's occupation (p121 et seq) includes a memorable comment about two "gels" seen eating chips in Keswick. The Headmistress, Dame E.T.Tanner, did not approve of such plebian activities and, apparently, gave an oration similar to that delivered by Cato on Catiline. It was remembered by all present for decades. For the numpties, like myself, who barely got past amo, amas, amat, this speech allegedly relates to degenerate conspiracy within the Roman Empire, whatever this means. Ian T

I have always included sugar beet traffic on my layout, which as you might know is narrow gauge and operationally orientated. I made the loads years ago by heaping pearl barley onto plastic bases. A recent operating session featured sugar beet working as one of the main themes and I took a few photos of these trains. At the risk of hi-jacking your thread I include a photo. 3-60 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr Two massive bogie wagons of beet are pulled out of the siding at Boursson. They are standard gauge wagons travelling on transporter wagons. They will be handed off to the mainline network at the junction. The loco, a hulking brute if ever there was one, was a standard gauge Bo-Bo which has been converted to a narrow gauge Co-Co. (This was based on similar conversions carried out in East Germany.) Hope that this is of interest and, in shameless plug, more photos can be found at https://myafk.net/operating-session-3 Ian T

Barry Walls. who built Wallsea Main, used grape pips as I recall. I always suspected that they were rather small for the real thing. You do not want one of them falling onto your car bonnet if you are behind a loaded lorry in the campaign! All the lorries round here are supposed to use some method of restraining the load, to the best of my knowledge (yeah right). The ready made loads look the part, having been up close and personal with the stuff. I can almost feel my fingers drying out and cracking up as I look at them. Where's the Snowfire?! Ian T

The cricket season has begun and some N gauge activity has also taken place. There are a few photos however on he updated website at https://myafk.net/operating-session-5 5-127 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.126 With its rods whirring the articulated makes its way up the Vulpafaŭkangulo alongside the quick flowing Aepto. This is the first opportunity to get this train out from under Urteno's feet. Hopefully it will be of more use at Ithilarak in helping to sort things out there. Ian T

The cricket season has begun and some N gauge activity has also taken place. There are a few photos however on he updated website at https://myafk.net/operating-session-5 5-127 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.126 With its rods whirring the articulated makes its way up the Vulpafaŭkangulo alongside the quick flowing Aepto. This is the first opportunity to get this train out from under Urteno's feet. Hopefully it will be of more use at Ithilarak in helping to sort things out there. Ian T

Signalman's worst nightmare. I always checked, checked and checked again before authorising this type of move. Also tried to place some onus on the driver by saying, "Check that the road is set." Difficult task admittedly for drivers. I've seen more brains in a bag of maggots than some had. Incidentally re waving flags, sticking them out of the window. I was always told not to wave the thing but to display it. This meant holding it at the top and the bottom so that it could CLEARLY be seen. If two locos were present steps had to be taken so that only the driver of the authorised train could see it. Waving it out of a window could be misconstrued by other drivers. Both of my GNoSR boxes will be equipped with a man with a green flag when I get around to it. This could be used to indicate to the driver that he had been accepted at the next station under the Warning Arrangement, where authorised. They are not much used on the real thing nowadays. The last time that I showed a red flag to a driver, before retirement, he had taken half a long freight train past me in emergency braking mode and was worried that I would report him for a SPAD (which technically it was). Authorisation by a radio message, which is recorded, and must be repeated back word for word is the modern railway's preferred option. Ian T

I covered some aspects of signalling on narrow gauge and light railways in a series of three articles published in Narrow Lines recently. Narrow Lines is the magazine of the 7mm NGA. An economical point lock was arranged to work from one lever as illustrated in the picture below. sig art 020 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr This drawing was based on a photo to get around potential copyright problems. The drive comes in by the rod on the left hand side and as the bolt is removed it changes the position of the point blades. The Midland Railway used economical facing point locks as its standard practice. (Mind you the Midland had an aversion to these 'works of the Devil' ( the facing points rather than the FPL) ! I believe that I once read somewhere that there was only one such device between Settle and Carlisle.) The idea was common on German railways with the 180 degree throw levers. The first third of the movement unlocked the points the middle third changed the blades and the last third relocked them. Re the signal box. As I noted in my article (not that anybody takes any notice!) many wayside stations on secondary systems did not have a nice twee signal box but used a groundframe. This could be on the platform or, in the case of the County Donegal Railway, almost in a wayside hedge, as at Lough Eske. The NER sometimes used glorified garden shed structures which covered the frame. One example of a line so equipped was the Malton-Driffield branch. Ian T

The latest photos are available at the usual site https://myafk.net/operating-session-5 5-106 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.105 The AFK control's day takes a turn for the worse, just as it seemed that everything was being straightened out. Nerv control ring through to advise that the connecting service for the mixto will arrive 25 minutes behind time! (Once again this is a result of a dice throw.) This will have severe impacts on the whole railway as this train is on a very tight timing to return and make a connection (see 4.191). Having just congratulated itself for solving Fenditavalat's surplus of power there might now be a shortage! This is the impact of connecting with a SG system with its own agenda. 5-116 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.115 The Jakarutu branch train backs into the oil siding at Gysmorabu to collect the tanker of crude oil. This is an occasional traffic offering and in real life terms it is probably over a year since a train entered this siding! Contrary to expectations everything went smoothly and no problems were encountered, except for the dust on the tanker! 5-120 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.119 The railcar leaves for the shed. This will allow the passenger loco standing on platform 3, which has dealt with the Post vans (at the right beside the train shed wall) to run down onto the ambulance. The railcar has been signalled by a ground signal alongside platform 1 and the two reds in the heads on the gantry do not apply to this move. As much as anything this picture was included to show the importance of the click clocks and to show that multiple moves can be carried out simultaneously. There are currently three independent sets of moves taking place and a freight train is approaching. These are obviously not carried out simultaneously in real life as I only have one set of eyes and arms! The rule of thumb is that these moves are carried out on one 'click' providing that they would not interfere with one another. Ian T

The latest photos are available at the usual site https://myafk.net/operating-session-5 5-106 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.105 The AFK control's day takes a turn for the worse, just as it seemed that everything was being straightened out. Nerv control ring through to advise that the connecting service for the mixto will arrive 25 minutes behind time! (Once again this is a result of a dice throw.) This will have severe impacts on the whole railway as this train is on a very tight timing to return and make a connection (see 4.191). Having just congratulated itself for solving Fenditavalat's surplus of power there might now be a shortage! This is the impact of connecting with a SG system with its own agenda. 5-116 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.115 The Jakarutu branch train backs into the oil siding at Gysmorabu to collect the tanker of crude oil. This is an occasional traffic offering and in real life terms it is probably over a year since a train entered this siding! Contrary to expectations everything went smoothly and no problems were encountered, except for the dust on the tanker! 5-120 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.119 The railcar leaves for the shed. This will allow the passenger loco standing on platform 3, which has dealt with the Post vans (at the right beside the train shed wall) to run down onto the ambulance. The railcar has been signalled by a ground signal alongside platform 1 and the two reds in the heads on the gantry do not apply to this move. As much as anything this picture was included to show the importance of the click clocks and to show that multiple moves can be carried out simultaneously. There are currently three independent sets of moves taking place and a freight train is approaching. These are obviously not carried out simultaneously in real life as I only have one set of eyes and arms! The rule of thumb is that these moves are carried out on one 'click' providing that they would not interfere with one another. Ian T

How about a webbed foot (as on a duck)?

Wikipedia obviously has a less than complete list. There are alms houses in Lynn and even here in Downham Market. I am sure that there are plenty of other examples throughout the county. Ian T

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I lat posted. Thirty odd new photos can be found at https://myafk.net/operating-session-5 5-70 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.70 The express, seen in the background behind the medieval tower, has lost its path and control decides to run the URT-RFK goods through the section rather than hold it at Boursson. The train sees the "take siding" indication as it arrives at Breĉo de Glissent, putting a further 5 minutes into the express. 5-72 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.72 Journey's end at last (see 5.57).The extended schools' train terminates at Varden today where the tobogganists have parked a couple of sledges on the 'ice'. The access tunnel is the concrete bridge in the background which is at the end of the run. The Urteno banker has run up the hill behind the train and coupled on to return the stock to the station. The train loco will remain coupled onto the train to save a path. The ice is not an ideal solution to providing a wintery atmosphere, which is best done in a permanent scene as at other locations on the layout. It will probably stay for the remainder of winter and might well attract some skaters and a hog roast. 5-92 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.92 The loco and van for the new train associated with the paper mill run down into Lacono at 10.15. The timings of this train are extremely tenuous beyond a nominal 10.30 departure. In effect this is an institutionalised unscheduled train running to an unspecified destination as required. I did make a serious attempt to base this train at Fenditavalat as it could have collected full wagons on the way down to Lacono and returned with empties from the factory. An initial look into the timings suggested that it would be difficult to find a path up the hill for this train in the late afternoon. The upshot of this is that the current extra goods is covering some of the work intended for this train. I will review what happens in this session and may look at some possible retimings so that this train can run from Fenditavalat, which is what I would prefer. The brake van was purloined from the Relforka drawer so there is obviously a need for a few more of these. 5-103 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.103 The extra has already put time into the express at Cadsuiane-Fanhuidol, where there was a four minute delay until the section cleared. The extra's loco is now running round its stock when the express arrives. The express's loco is just visible under the snowshed in the background waiting for the signal to clear. Up trains usually receive priority at this signal but not today. The express will be held at Ospicio for the late running car train in any case and the load is light compared to the power of the loco. I hope that you find something of interest. Ian T

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I lat posted. Thirty odd new photos can be found at https://myafk.net/operating-session-5 5-70 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.70 The express, seen in the background behind the medieval tower, has lost its path and control decides to run the URT-RFK goods through the section rather than hold it at Boursson. The train sees the "take siding" indication as it arrives at Breĉo de Glissent, putting a further 5 minutes into the express. 5-72 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.72 Journey's end at last (see 5.57).The extended schools' train terminates at Varden today where the tobogganists have parked a couple of sledges on the 'ice'. The access tunnel is the concrete bridge in the background which is at the end of the run. The Urteno banker has run up the hill behind the train and coupled on to return the stock to the station. The train loco will remain coupled onto the train to save a path. The ice is not an ideal solution to providing a wintery atmosphere, which is best done in a permanent scene as at other locations on the layout. It will probably stay for the remainder of winter and might well attract some skaters and a hog roast. 5-92 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.92 The loco and van for the new train associated with the paper mill run down into Lacono at 10.15. The timings of this train are extremely tenuous beyond a nominal 10.30 departure. In effect this is an institutionalised unscheduled train running to an unspecified destination as required. I did make a serious attempt to base this train at Fenditavalat as it could have collected full wagons on the way down to Lacono and returned with empties from the factory. An initial look into the timings suggested that it would be difficult to find a path up the hill for this train in the late afternoon. The upshot of this is that the current extra goods is covering some of the work intended for this train. I will review what happens in this session and may look at some possible retimings so that this train can run from Fenditavalat, which is what I would prefer. The brake van was purloined from the Relforka drawer so there is obviously a need for a few more of these. 5-103 by Ian Thompson, on Flickr 5.103 The extra has already put time into the express at Cadsuiane-Fanhuidol, where there was a four minute delay until the section cleared. The extra's loco is now running round its stock when the express arrives. The express's loco is just visible under the snowshed in the background waiting for the signal to clear. Up trains usually receive priority at this signal but not today. The express will be held at Ospicio for the late running car train in any case and the load is light compared to the power of the loco. I hope that you find something of interest. Ian T

I am impressed by your ecclesiastical knowledge! Having sung in what is now the Minster choir (it previously styled itself as a Priory) for thirty odd years I did not realise the history of the suffragen sees. Ian T

To the best of my recollection the King's Lynn Quakers meet in wait for it.... .... a decommissioned pub! Ian T

It was simply a conversion from 3 rail pick up to 2 rail rather than AC to DC. Roco had simply added a skate under the chassis to pick up from the centre rail. Fortunately the wheel sets were insulated as they would be for 2 rail otherwise the whole project would have been a basket case! Sorry for the confusion. Ian T

Thought this was worth quoting for future use. I saw loads of different versions and was confused on the differences for a moment! I will second this! I bought a Roco loco on Ebay to cut up for the AFK. It was a Roco standard issue BUT factory modified for 3 rail. This was NOT made clear by the vendor, although I had my suspicions because of the box colours. Thankfully a couple of minutes with some basic tools restored it to 2 rail running. Ian T

I always preferred to do this when I was young enough. Now i just have to watch. Not much room for arrogance either that a few well aimed studs can't sort out! Ian T