muchfiddling

work has prgressed on Upton Downs

Oringally the room was accessed via removal bridge. But this was found to be a bit impractical. I have small local shed which is on my lst of areas to develop. The main station with three running lines is located below the bridge shown in the foreground of the previous photo. A lot of deveopment is needed here. Inclluding the station building which was hung from the bridge. This should end up resemblng Parson's Street a local station south of Bristol Temple Meads. A second station Upton Downs a figment of my imagination is on the opposite side of the room. This is currently quite well developed.

Malgo Road has been developed around a simple oval of track. Nothing was planned, unlike my 4mm layouts which were all planned and drawn in every last detail. This is a perminent layout built in a 12 x 18 front room in the house. This has simply been allowed to grow as stock has been added. It consists of two stations which are used as stagging for the layout.From each corner there are a series of sidings which provide intrest, and shunting opportunities. Because of the tight radii I have adopted Spratt & Winkle couplings, having given up on 3 links and Dinghams, although the latter did do the job, they were a little on the flimsey side. Control is DCC as I already had an extensive amount of Digitrax equipment I stuck to that for now, although this may change. Turnouts are a mixture of Peco and Marcway, I much prefer Marways turnouts and wish I'd started with SMP track to match, rather than the Peco code 124 I accumilated in vast quanties at the outset. All turnouts are operated by DCC concepts IP digital turnout motors and Colbalt S levers which are highly satisfying to operate, and proven to be reliable in operation. Because I simply could'nt get the IP digital to operate reliably with then connected to the primary bus, I now operate them off a DC bus running at 12volts.

you should be able to practice a few "overs" then Ian !

nice to see The Fiddle yard coming together Rod.

Thanks Ron I really enjoyed looking at Ramchester, it's a splendid layout. kind regards Rich :sungum:

I had an identical setup to yourself. DC!00 and four DT400 handsets. I did'nt want the fag of pulling out and setting up my laptop just to set the sound on a decoder using JMRI. I've now retired my DCS100 and I'm usng a Zephur plus which has all the functions and more than sufficent amps to run all (8 loco's) my loco stock which is all sound. All my loco stock have Zimo decoders which I like a lot. Should I need further amps in the future I have the DCS100 and a DB150 to use as boosters. regards

was that Bristol Blue or just normal glass ?. I think the photo shows the approx postn of Lycett's drum works ( in later years ) There was also a Gas works in the area. Photo 2 shows the Midland side of the approach to Temple Meads. The water goes under the bridge and eventally reaches the Feeder canal. This carries the over flow away from the floating harbour.

although it's not my scale I might just go to that. no guarentee these are Midland barges intresting river side scene this has to be the feeder which runs on the north side of St Phillips Marsh

Atmosheric ! and needs modelling !

You might not be aware the Midland operated a station in Bristol called St Phillip's. This was closed shortly after the 2nd world war. Traffic being diverted into Temple Meads. I've only ever seen a few pictures of it. It was for local traffic and consisted of a single platform with an engine release. Details and supporting photo's can be found in Bath Green Park to Bristol by Vic Michell and ken Smith.