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9 minutes ago, rob D2 said:

If you've got a TPE set you'll be able to realistically park it up in a siding and switch it off soon ..

That's precisely where 'the set' has been for the last 4 months!!

I'll have them circulating for now.

Just think what those carriages will look like on the Severn Valley or NYM Railways !!

The Mk.5's'll have to go somewhere!

Al.

'Splendid return' - indeed it has.

As advised by Rails, it now performs perfectly.

A quick 'desk test' with a 9V battery does indeed confirm operation in both directions.

THANK YOU to both Rails of Sheffield, and to Dapol / DCC Spares.

Al.

Well here we are, nearly 4 weeks on ....

Rails called yesterday to say 'the manufacturer' has fully repaired the locomotive, and they've just tested her - both directions - and all seems fine.

I should receive her tomorrow or Friday - great news and THANK YOU RAILS once again.

Al.

14 minutes ago, Andy Mac said:

Where are the Hymeks?  I can’t see any in the Accurascale display…. I can see some in the display cabinet before it’s been cleared out…

Top photo, LHS.

Are we viewing some top secret development models here?

Hymeks, 33's, .... and more !!

Interesting!

Al.

🤔🙃😄

1 minute ago, Hal Nail said:

Just found this photo which is quite interesting. Are the uniform round nuggets, (particularly in the furthest GWR loco) some sort of manufactured coal or just randomly come out like that?

 

https://www.rail-online.co.uk/p404170585/ebdbc3b3

 

This is an excellent, if unfortunate (for the fireman) photo!!

Thanks for sharing.

Was this common practice?

Would the prime express trains on the East and West coasts have a similar mix, or is this for the 'lower priority' still obviously important services?

Al.

A 'Bo-Co' class 28 may be an interesting addition ....

Al.

1 hour ago, Roy Langridge said:

My Heljan 58 will happily pull a full rake of 36 Cavalex HAAs, and they drag quite a lot. 
 

Roy

My Heljan 58 is nearly as powerful as my Hornby 56, probably more powerful than my (previous issue) Bachmann 47's - definitely not a poor hauler.

Al.

Agreed.

40 a must.

42 would be nice.

81 again would be nice - for me, I had the Tri-ang one in 1974 (and dual power options .... a thought?)

Al.

A County would be an interesting alternative, yes.

Jubilee is still my firm favourite 'to do' locomotive.

Al.

I would love an A/S 47 - can't keep a good man down as they say.

There's just such a large choice, variety of styles and 'quality of application' already available, as already stated.

Class 81 would definitely be one to consider.

Al.

17 hours ago, BigDee said:

My arrived today, well worth the wait 👌

You only need one of these in each room to save at least 30 minutes' lighting bills each evening I reckon !!

Al.

Funny coincidence, but I was just thinking this the other day.

Each time the new Hornby catalogue came out, there may be perhaps 2 or 3 new additions.

We're now anticipating anything up to 10 new additions from all proprietary manufacturers combined every year!

Al.

Looking good.

Can't wait for mine to arrive.

Al.

His was a tad, erm, warped!

No mention was made of this that I noticed.

Al.

1 hour ago, cctransuk said:

 

Do people really run their model trains, round and round ad infinitum, for 10 -15 minutes?

 

(It must be round and round; nobody has an end-to-end layout that long)!

 

Why???????

 

CJI.

I suppose we don't all have access to a Cathedral in a North Western city to set up a huge layout - 2 or 3 loops are the equivalent of perhaps 20 of mine, or 10-20 minutes' running time - by coincidence.

Personally, I have always loved the movement of trains circulating - and I'm not talking about speeds straight out of an animated cartoon, but between 40-65% power setting - locomotive, train, type permitting - whilst I'm either tinkering at the bench, painting, or working out on the gym equipment - that's how I operate, and have since I was 11, 52 years ago!

It does show how diverse operators, and applications of this hobby are.

Al.

1 hour ago, Islesy said:

It simply isn't - it's a myth based on old standards and perpetuated by various YouTubers who know no better. 21 carriages hauled with ease, in a garden railway setting, would suggest otherwise https://fb.watch/mRxdWCsgri/

Thank you for your post, and what a superb layout!!

I perhaps didn't phrase that appropriately.

I totally do agree that a good quality 3-pole can certainly perform well, as can be seen by some of the later Bachmann steam locomotives.

My experience of 3- and 5-pole motors on steam locomotive models is mainly with Hornby and Bachmann. 

I do recognise that most of the Hornby motors generally stay cool and can run for extended periods without getting warm / hot at perhaps 50-55% power settings whereas the (smaller as well) 3-pole Bachmann motors heat up after no more than 10-15 minutes' running.

This can be a combination of several factors, I understand.  The A/S model is as Hornby, with bushings, which many / most Bachmann steam locomotives do not have (most newer ones have started to I admit as well).

I think I'm back to my longevity / reliability / servicing access considerations - simple as.

If the motor selection has been tested and considered 'fit for purpose' then there's nothing more to discuss - the model looks superb, and certainly appears to perform more-than adequately, as has been seen by all other A/Scale models.

Al.

It was a little too damning, and running light to / off shed it is true, they're never the slowest!

However, with load, leaving stations, etc., a moment at relative crawl (not super crawl) is mainly observed, before they start picking up speed.

In my teenage years, trainspotting at the end of platforms in Lime Street, Liverpool, I always remember the opposite with the 87's (electric) with the longest trains always took off like the proverbial scalded cat!

Al.

One thing Hornby do well, Bachmann less so is to ensure a generally good quality, and 5-pole, large, powerful motor is in their larger steam locomotives.

After all of the work to ensure the rest of the locomotive is of the 'normal superb quality' that is Accurascale, going for a small, just-adequate and small dimension, and power 3-pole will be a false economy.

I've requested in other posts that easy access and maintenance is assured for those of us who regularly run their models and for extended periods, not just for 'a quick 5 minutes' time'.

Al.

I've done a similar thing, for different reasons with different marques.

Dapol motors do not support sustained high loads and burn out - had that twice with my 68's.

Hornby motors sustain a high load, or some do (Merch / Duch / Royal / Scot / A4 motor) and recover almost without incident.

I would give the 'smelly 86' a good strip down, clean and relube - keep away from the brushes / commutator - and see if you can coax her back.  You might be lucky.

Al.

What are owners' thoughts on everyone's favourite YT contributor's comments and criticisms wrt the 2 Manors available?

As an independent observer - I own neither - I actually found it very informative.

Comments on the motor were interesting as well.

Al. 

There was mention earlier of no retooling of the Bachmann Standard Class 5, but more recent models seem to run considerably better.

I've had that with a Jubilee - fortunately one I spent a lot of time renumbering and remodelling into Bahamas - superb runner, and doesn't heat up quickly at more than half power like others do.

I think they spent some time reviewing their motors.

This happened with the Peppercorn A1's didn't it?

Al.

I often wonder how much effort people put into sizing the coal load pieces before placement.  I try to imagine the poor fireman lifting some of the probably-20kg chunks some have in their tenders!

Al.

Standard 5 would be nice - sort of replaced the Black 5's.  Nice locomotive.

Hornby's 8F looks great but can't pull a skin off a pudding ....  my Black 5's haul more with ease.

Al.

Well that's certainly got us all guessing!!

6 Steamies on the go - WOW!

Class 40's had steam heating didn't they, being early diesels? ....

Al.