Bob83a

The positioning might relate to shorter portion on the Kingswear branch compared to the Plymouth/Cornwall portion.

But the shorter portion would have to be on the rear in both direction which does not seem likely.

Lais 860042 is not a decoder, it is a breakout board to allow a 21 pin MTC decoder to be plugged into a model. It has wires to connect to the model, the colour of the wires appear to follow the NMRA standards.

32 minutes ago, KeithMacdonald said:

 

Are the crossovers hidden from view here under the station canopy?

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.6&lat=50.52937&lon=-3.59774&layers=168&b=1

 

 

This map dates from before 1911 when the goods facilities were relocated on to the Moretonhampstead branch, adjacent to the race course. The station was rebuilt in 1927 with much longer platforms and no overall roof. I believe that the crossovers to allow the joining of trains were installed at that time.

A quick guess would be that they were to allow fitting of a stay-alive capacitor.

It would be useful to know the colour of the wires and the make and model of the decoder.

You should be ok tapeing over the end of the two wires individually with insulation tape to ensure that they do not contact anything.

The model  should already have a speaker installed connected to the Circuit board so no wires are required for that.

I believe that previous Howes decoder have all been ESU’s so your is probably the same.

Start by checking what type of lighting is installed, bulbs would most likely need to be replaced by LEDs to avoid overloading the decoder function provision. Check as well what current the motor draws, or replace  the motor as suggested. Choose a Decoder to suit the current draw of the lights and motor. I would add a decoder socket, available from the likes of Strathpeffer to make installing the decoder easier. Most importantly you will need to clean and re-oil the gears and bearings.

I would not think about installing sound until you have done all these things. Don’t bother with sound unless you have solved the noisy running, it is a waste of money to install decent sound and then drown it.

Take a look at the TrainTech signal kits (SK) which are the basis of the assembled signals (DS or SS).

You will see that there are no wires running up the post which would allow the signal head or base to be rotated.

In fact what is inside the post is a circuit board which should not be bent. The LEDs are surface mount on this circuit board.

It is obviously not the same circuit board in the kits as the assembled signals it is likely that the similar structure is used.

There would also possibly be an issue with the sensor signals if signals mounted on opposite sides so the track were connected with a link wire.

But you can cut off the under track prongs from the base and replace it with wires, see the instructions included with the SS and DS models. This would all the connection side of the base to be mounted away from the track.

47 minutes ago, G-BOAF said:

Anyone else a bit miffed at the absence of the Royal Train in the current activities? I know that during COVID the plan to bring the queen back from Scotland to London by train was moved to RAF transport, but it seems that ROAD transport will be used from London to Windsor. Why not the train from Paddington?

 

What is the point in having a royal train if it cannot be used???

Windsor Central station is too small for the Royal Train now, only suitable for 3 car Dmu. For the royal train by the time the loco was in the platform not much else would get in. Plus it would need to be top and tailed as there is no run around. Road to Paddington, rail to Slough and then road to Windsor would be a bit ridiculous.

Waterloo to Riverside would be better route.

But all by road is the best option.

A quick search of topic on here shows that the 36-567 is a Zimo MX618N18.

The basic way that decoders are rebadged is just to change the label  on the box/packaging.

Taking it a bit further would include also changing part such as the manufacturer ID (cv8).

And taking it another step would be to have changes in the firmware that would change how some of the firmware and or CVs work.

The manufacturer ID is almost certainly not hard wired into the hardware of the decoder but is just part of the firmware.

While it may be a Zimo decoder you may find that standard Zimo tools to change the firmware might not work if the manufacturer ID has been changed as part of the rebadging

I have to question the caption on the photograph. From the position of the loco and wagons it would appear to be arriving into the sidings giving access to the goods yard and the Heathfield Branch. This could be to pick up additional wagons. I do not believe that from these sidings it was possible to gain access back on to the line to the east directly. If it was possible to access the line east then the train would be being laid over or being side lined to allow faster services to overtake.

.

There is a second possibility is that the train could be reversing out of the sidings after a layover before it then headed east.

In either case it is not heading out of Newton Abbot.

AIUI the concrete rings for the Ruislip-Greenford tunnels are coming from or via Grain. So there is one train per day on that  route each way.

Spoil from the tunnelling is initially being stored on site/processed before being removed later by rail.

Rings for the Thames Sewer that came via Grain but I believe originated from Lincolnshire, is it the same for these HS2 rings. 
 

It is surprising that the Rings are not coming from the plant at the southern portal of the Chiltern Tunnels which is only a few miles away, particularly as the Chiltern Tunnels are almost complete as far as tunnelling is concerned.

2 hours ago, Butler Henderson said:

If its an early 36-553 they did not support long addresses so try 29.

According to the ESU documentation the 8 pin version of the LokPilot v1.0 only supports 2 digit addresses this appears to be the one rebadged as Bachmann 36-553. The 21 pin MTC version of the LokPilot v1.0 also supports 4 digit addresses, this I believe was rebadged by Bachmann as the 36-554.

The Hornby A4 would have an 8 pin socket unless it was originally supplied with sound.

therfore as Butler Henderson says you cannot use 6029 as the address, it would need to be between 1 and 99

A quick google show the 36-553 is a LokPilot basic 1.0 so look for the manual for that. It is shown as a 3 function decoder not 4.

I think Imperium 1, 2 and 3 are all Lais decoders but the Manufacturer code (cv8) has been set to 154 I.e Dapol.

So manufacturer will not help. Also Dapol do not appear to have much on their website for the Imperium 4 and 5

The concrete rings for the Thames sewer may have already ended but rings for HS2 will be starting soon, the schedules are shown but it has not run yet.

The TBM’s for the Ruislip to Greenford tunnels are almost complete, so these services should start later this month or next month.

It is odd that these rings are coming via Grain while the Chiltern Tunnels have their own factory only a few couple of miles from Ruislip.

If I was  retailer and my allocation was likely to be low (one seems to be common) the I would not be able to justify the cost of advertising a model. It would even be costly to put the item on our website. I would probably just take what I recieve and put it on the counter for first come first served.

Because allocations are being cut after orders have gone in than I would probably say i would not bother with pre-orders and only sell what I can actually get in stock.

Is there any significance in Hornby cutting allocations to just one, is it possible (am i just being cynical) that this is just so that they can say  the item is available from retailers in their advertising. If they are going direct only then they should just say so and do it.

Construction of the TBM’s at the West Ruislip Portal seems to have started.

But all you can see is parts being lowered into the cutting at the tunnel mouth.

Road works for the TBM’s power and upgrading services means that the is nowhere to stop and watch with a good view. Besides it is slow work.

Just received my order of these, triple pack weathered, single weathered and double barrier pack.

I have not received a shipping email.

Models all appear to be very good, especially the weathering effects.

I have however found a packaging mistake. In the triple pack I have 2 boxes printed as TEA01 and one KBA01.

The box printed as KBA01 has a label TEA WB TP(1). One of the TEA01 boxes has a label KBA01 WB TP(1) and the other has a label TEA WB TP(1).

The models appear to be correct,

For completeness the single model is printed TEA01 on the box and the label Is TEA WB. The KBA’s boxes are printed KBA01 and the labels are both KBA01 WB DP(1)

I think that WB is weathered finish, TP is triple pack and DP is double pack.

So I would suggest that everyone ordering these check they have the correct models, the packaging for me is of little significance.

I have FGW and GWR HST’s and based on the date of release I believe that the Scotrail Inter7city power cars do have NEM pockets but as Hilux5972 says they are cranked. 

check the Hornby site for the relevant Service sheets.

Ade,

I think the subject of the thread is wrong, due to the confusion between the heritage lines in the area.

The SDR (South Devon Railway) runs from Totnes to Buckfastleigh.

The DSR (Dartmouth steam railway) runs from Paignton to Kingswear (or Dartmouth if you take the ferry). It was previously the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam railway.

The DSR is owned by the Dart Valley Railway Plc.

The SDR is owned by the South Devon Railway Trust.

The Dart Valley Railway originally owned the SDR at which time it was known as the DVR (Totnes to Ashburton, later cut back to Buckfastleigh)

At least that is they way I understand it

This model 32-904DC was supplied with “Bachmann” decoders 36-553 (8 pin) or 36-554 (21 pin) I believe. But as you found they were just rebadged LokPilot Basic 1.0. But Bachmann may have made changes to the firmware, which may include the manufacturer code.

The problem that you have reading the decoder in the trailer car is because the is no motor installed. You can get around this by installing a resistor on the motor terminals, but do not leave it installed for normal use. Other ways of programming the trailer is to put both cars on the programming track an change both at the same time, hopefully doing this the changes will get written to both. You need to make changes based on the trailer car. Then you take the trailer off and make changes to just the motor car.

Another  way is to program the motor car with the trailer car settings, swap the decoder with the trailer and then program the motor car.

My preferred way of doing the programming is to take the decoder out of the trailer car and mount it in a decoder tester which has a motor on board, and then put the decoder back in the trailer.

26 minutes ago, dasatcopthorne said:

Hi Barney.

 

My way is to solder pickups and motor wires to an 8pin socket allowing you to plug an 8pin chip into it. Then, if you sell the loco or want to return it to DC  you just unplug the chip. This doesn't mess up the chip wires.

 

Here.  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362971320026?hash=item5482c6ceda:g:ON8AAOSwB65fmqcQ

 

Dave.

The board mentioned by Barney is made by/for Strathpeffer Junction, www.strathpeffer junction.com

The  solder tabs on the 8 pin board are fairly large so probably easier to use if not experienced with soldering.

The tabs are clearly labelled with function and standard wire colours that should be connected to each.

Strathpeffer junction also do a 21 pin breakout board but the solder tabs are smaller and only marked with 2 letter abbreviations of the standard wire colours, I.e the function is not indicated.

Strathpeffer Junction prices on eBay are less than those on their own web site.

disclaimer: no connection to Strathpeffer junction other than as a customer.

as indicated you just need to plug a 8 pin decoder with a harness or an 8 pin direct decoder into the board with no modifications, so the soldering iron goes nowhere near the decoder.

What decoders do you have fitted or more importantly which sound project.

if it is a matched pair (e.g. legomanbiffo set) then the decoders will be set up slightly differently, I believe that the horn for example only sounds on the leading power car and when the engine starts the rear power car is delayed a bit. Also I believe that cv29 is already set. The decoders are labelled for the front and rear power car, I.e they are not identical.

if on the other hand you have two identical decoders then you may want to give the decoders separate addresses so that you can sound the horn at one end only and also manually delay the startup of one engine. In this case you will need to set cv29 to reverse on one decoder. You may want to set it up as a consist in this situation.

not sure what the situation is with the TTS decoders pairs.

18 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

I quite agree and we now seem to be doing that with the tunneling and now bridge work progress.

 

I found this on Youtube today that relates to the West Ruislip site

 

Interesting to see how much work they needed to do just to get the power for the TBM's

Jamie

They are clearly using voice recognition on these video’s to produce the subtitles, but is anyone checking the conversion. islip and rice occur in the location and Keir becomes as clear at one point.

Surely someone should be checking what is being put out meets a level of quality. The quality of the works though looks to be much better.

R3762 is still described on the Hornby site as an 800/1, however the unit number of the model was I believed changed to 800 201 as shown in earlier posts, this means that the model is actually an 800/2.

Given that Hornby’s current tooling is only for the 5 car class 800 then the model is now correct in that respect.

For ref

800/0.  GWR 5 car

800/1.  LNER 9 car

800/2.  LNER 5 car

800/3.  GWR 9 car

AIUI as indicated above and in the other class 800 thread just adding a coach pack will not convert a 5 car set to a 9 car set due to the MC/MF issue.

14 minutes ago, SR71 said:

Visiting in-laws near Hattons and just been trying to work out when they are open over next few days but I can't find anything specific for New Year on their website. Facebook says they are open on Friday's but their website says not etc...

 

Not that I would want to miss precious family time but if I did happen to want somewhere to go does anyone know...?

On their homepage scroll down to company news on the right hand side, there is a Christmas and new year opening article