tetleys

You are welcome to your opinion Coachman and long may it be so but go on admit it, 'Thomas The Diesel' and his off spring gave us one of the true iconic sound bites of our era along with The Rolls Royce Merlin Spitfire /Hurricane aero engine, The Ducati motor bike engine and the rolling thunder that was a TVR exhaust and have you ever followed a Lamborghini V 12 through an alpine tunnel? But then again what excitement amongst us train spotting nippers when we heard the chime whistle of an A4 before the next down train from Kings Cross came into view, only to discover it was 'Mucky Duck' (Aka Wild Swan) Again! Having experienced Gilbert's sound equipped Gresley and Peppercorn Pacifics what a shame his Deltic is mute.

Another issue for less fortunate modellers is that 'she who must be obeyed' often wants the space for a sewing room or similar waste of space, fortunately the domestic help at Tetleys Towers just wants another compost bin, perhaps younger and single members should consider pre-nuptual agreements before getting hitched, let her have the money and cat oh alright, AND the dog but leave the railway room alone. Politically INcorrect of Ancaster.

Thanks for that, music to an old Yorkshire man's heart, (and wallet). I amy well give it a serious looking at, surely it can't be too demanding Great Northern uses and understands it and he's a solicitor! I will be using mostly Peco but since Gordon graced my railway room with a sample of his own home made track I've been tempted to dig out my old track making tools. Dave

Sorry, double posted in error. Dave Shakespeare (Ex Railway Modeller)

I have just logged into this post and spent the last several hours being totally demoralised. Friends said I was mad to build another house just because I wanted a new layout, they were right. I think I need to forget railway modelling, get a couple of tattoos, buy an 'I Phone' and a 'Wii game' be sensible for once. Lime Street and my own efforts are like admitting I enjoy cycling like Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. We all use round wheels but there the similarity ends. A credit to all of the Lime Street team. (You've just made a grown man cry) Dave Shakespeare (Ex Railway modeller)

Gordon, Oh to own and understand Templot! I'm on the verge of embarking on basebord construction and you are so right regards point motors and board design, unfortunately it's plan 'A' for me. Disc cutter, lump hammer and bolster if a point motor won't fit unless it's the storage yard when surface mounted Peco solonoids and wiring, at least any fractured point blades caused by the 'thump' of the solonoids can be easily replaced.

Gilbert. We both know where the hills behind Peterborough North came from. Those nice people at Paston Ridings, I assume the hills in question may have a metal content. There really are some clever people out there in RMWeb World, I recall somebody doing similar sorcery with an image of Tetleys Mills and I now use it as a screen saver, I for one am happy for you to keep snapping and posting without spending time on photoshop or we might be on short rations for pictures of your layout. I'll be in touch for a visit as soon as I know what's happening at this end. Dave

Gordon, I've bought myself a lap top to help compile my Self Build House VAT claim in the comfort of my fire side armchair rather than the study and a bonus is that I can just drop in on RMWeb during the evening. I'm pleased to see Eastwood is progressing and I like your gently curving platforms. As for the levitating canopy columns I noticed the problem in their original home, I think the canopy has warped but you'd already know that, may I suggest a possible cure which I used on my own layout. I drilled into the column base and inserted a piece of wire or was it a fine nail? Anyway,once the base has a 'spike' I drilled corresponding holes into the platform and inserted the spikes, if you are considering super glueing I suggest the spikes might increase surface area and give some lateral location. We still have room for a visitor and you can use one of those flash vehicles from your car club, do they have a JCB? Dave

Gilbert, Just been on-line banking, now the jury have delivered their verdict on 'Good Old Harry' I feel confident I can now safely access my off shore account (Barclays High Street, Cowes I.O.W. named Fluffy if memory serves me correct) anyway, I've just un-earthed my model railway slush fund so the timber order can proceed. As for the scale quarter mile viaduct, as always you are correct the coal trains will just have to increase in length but since the new layout will not have any deviation in gradient on the main line the share price of Hattons will no doubt soon be included on the footsy 100. As you know I need to keep working so resuming my plaster casting work in between baseboard construction will serve to keep me from getting bored while I await the return of bricklaying weather. Having witnessed the up and return running of fixed rakes on your 'shunting plank' I am also investigating some cross over pointwork for the new fiddle yard to achieve similar workings of my passenger trains but before you get too excited and we have to get your nurse to sedate you again, I am not yet wealthy enough to embrace DCC. The Ancaster Ludite

Gilbert, It's actually a 13 feet long viaduct which I suspect might amount to about 30 arches. Anyway, I got Julie to put another log on the fire (in between cooking dinner of course) and was able to spend a little time working out my birch ply requirements, Not Cheap! but I don't want to run the risk of another woodworm attack. I was all ready to nip into town to place an order this morning when a whiteTransit with three blokes in the cab turned up, my initial thought was that my old mate Gilbert had sent his Newark 'Pikey' mates to quote to tarmac the drive (or nick my roof lead) but no, they were actually here to install the granite worktops so another delay in ordering the baseboard wood. Have no fear, Thursday looks clear for a shopping trip to Sleaford and I hope work can start on the new layout within a week or so. Spent up of Ancaster.

Gilbert, I hope you know the name of a good solicitor since I'm afraid I may have to litigate. I've left the site early this afternoon with the intention of making a start on sizing up and preparing the cut schedule for the new baseboards intending to order the necessary sheets of birch ply, I've even cleared the new garage to receive said timber. I became distracted by the need to 'Google' a building item on this new fangled 'Manchester United Red' laptop of mine which unfortunately allows me to 'Silver Surf' in the comfort of my armchair in front of our roaring wood fire. A slip of the odd didget on this unfamiliar keyboard and before I realised I'd somehow called in at 'Peterborough North'. That was over an hour and a mug of tea (courtesy of Julie) ago! There should be a law against interesting steam era layouts available on line even amongst consenting adults. Damn it Sir, I'll never get those baseboards built! Distracted of Ancaster

Derek, It was actually SKDC and for once I have to be cautious in how I respond but if I say during my entire Police career dealing with all manner of lower life forms including being assaulted a few times I never felt the hatred and animosity that the planning officer invited by his spiteful attitude. So if you want to build anything in Grantham or SKDC especially if you want to include space for a model railway, move elsewhere! Now it just so happens that Great Northern does live outside of SKDC and he's in need of a bit more storage space for a few more trains,let's face it the poor chap is strapped for space for his 'shunting plank' and I've got the cement mixer and he's got the bacon butties,now what am I doing next thursday?

It proves you CAN fancy an ugly woman if she's wearing enough makeup, An A2/3 might be towards the bottom of my wish list but what red blooded railway modeller would not be tempted by such a dirty girl? Unless of course you're a 60108.

Gilbert, As you can see, I took your advice, nice to see Tony is back on 'The Main Line' and since I've got a couple of days enforced rest from building the new railway room and if I need to hide from the grandkids I'll back track through your post to get the steam oil coursing through my viens again.I feel the urge to buy some sheets of Birch ply.

One of my Hampshire Police friends and ex-collegue managed to get an ex-Portsmouth Corporation bus plate GOT 301N GOT 30 IN (The usual service before pension) he wasn't however comfortable using it so passed it on to another ex-Hants officer and mutual friend. As an aside, whilst travelling to see 'Great Northern' one morning I was waiting at a roundabout on the A46 when a Jaguar passed bearing a plate --- V8 to show he hadn't got a 'low rent' V6 engine. The driver must have felt pretty pleased but the next car (and I swear this is 100% true)was an Aston Martin bearing the plate --- V12 I often wonder whether the Aston passed and pulled in front of the Jag and how did the jag owner feel?

My wife and I are also privelaged to count Tony and Mo as very good friends and near neighbours and I can't wait to get The grumpy, outspoken, argumentive, politically incorrect ......... old B. back to his old self. (Likewise of Ancaster)

Gordon, I met with 'Great Northern' at Spalding and he hinted that you'd 'Come Out'. There's no shame believe me. Keep it simple and with your undoubted abilities you'll be up and running in no time, I've logged on for the first time in several months and as I worked through your earlier track plans I had flash backs to when Julie and I recently laid 600m of underfloor heating pipework! Fortunately our floor is only on one level and we had to get it done before F1 qualifying one Saturday morning. Seriously though (well almost), I believe you are now within reach of your goal and I can see trains running within the year at Eastwood with your revised plans, plenty of storage and an interesting station area, in fact very much like Great Northern's layout and I've seen that running and don't it look good? I think you might be in need of some therapy, so point one of those flash cars north up the A1 and get down to 'Tetleys Towers'. We've got central heating in the new railway room and I'm planning on laying the laminate flooring any time soon although as yet no railway which remains in situ beneath a gathering mountain of dust in the old house so we could still play trains. Dave

Gilbert. Found it at last. Dave S.

Thanks Nerron, I have a suspicion I tried to order the coach hinges when I ordered the kit but they were out of stock, they certainly do finish off the coaches, the problem I now have is, do I retrospectively fit the hinges to all three coaches since one fitted in isolation would stick out like the poverbial 'soar thumb' or do I live with it? I know what I would like to do but I fear the weather may improve and force me back into house building mode, having seen the finished article I'm sure I feel the urge to bite on a certain bullett sooner or later. Thanks again Nerron (you may have delaid Mrs. S's Kitchen being fitted!)

I've been A.W.O.L. for a few months while I build a new railway room / house in our back garden but the recent bad weather has forced me indoors and after dusting off my layout I've re-kindled my modelling interests that included purchasing a black split fram L1 that I will re-number for one of the group allocated to Ardsley in the early 1960's. I ran mine in as usual and also found front pony truck issues although there was no problem running in reverse, fortunately the derailments on my code 100 storage tracks appear to be intermittent. Having said that I will certainly consider the suggestions made by members to cure the problem if it persists. It does appear to be a production fault so there is no point in my returning the model for a replacement, whilst it is a pity Hornby didn't get it right before production I'm not going to rant and rave since like others I'm only too greatful for a decent LNER loco. For the record I have a Hornby 8F, Fowler and Stanier 2-6-4 tanks and none of them have any de-railing problems whatsoever and all run sweet as a nut. I think it was Coachman who suggested the L1 was a better alternative to a kit and I have to agree, I'm making my third Comet Thompson non-gangway coach and all three will form a rake for the L1 to haul. The coaches are OK and look like Thompsons but are bereft of hinges unless I drill and piercing saw minute slots, the roof profile is more BR Mk1 than Thompson and they take a lot of time to build even without the cosmetic brake gear at a total cost of over £120. Now if Hornby or Bachmann were to manufacture the same coaches they would probably not be perfect but would come with hinges, accurate door handles and probably half decent brake detail and roof profile all for less than £25 a coach. AND Some members would still complain they were too expensive. Bring 'em on Hornby and I'll forgive you for the L1 problem.

Gordon, Remember the next one is Tetleys Mk 3, the first one got eaten by woodworm and my ever whinging neighbours to the north are, even as I write conspiring to 'de-rail' the new layout. strange how the local planning department couldn't find time to visit and discuss my intended new-build but the moment the neighbours complain I'm building out of position the enforcement officer arrives at warp speed. (We anticipated the likely complaints and we are well within the specified parameters) Pete I'm not a brickie and having laboured for 'Mick The Brick' my 67 year old bricklayer virtually every weekday since since June before starting the blockwork in the evenings I certainly don't aspire to that trade. My recent work demands should hold me in good stead for the next Tetleys Mills AND I'll be able to use my 90mm air framing nail gun to build the baseboards and fix the track!

PhilH Don't say that. Gordon is already aware of the reason for my prolonged absence from RMWeb since his layout based above a garage inspired me self building another house before I'm too old, the largest room in the new house is my railway room of 6.9m by 5.4m. I'm no where near as clever as Gordon with his precision engineering so I'm hoping I can devote all my time to building the layout although I may have to pay him a visit to pick his brains on track building although my new layout will not be as complex as that of Gordon's. More a sit back with a pint and watch trains go by.

Gordon. Rain has stopped play on building Tetleys Mills 3 so I've had to retire indoors with a pint of home brew and now Tony (you met him last year at Tetleys Towers)has just arrived so I've still got a couple of pages of your post to catch up on. I have to say I am amazed and very impressed at your progress. But can you please get your finger out and get Eastwood finished before this time next year. Then I'll get the beer in, all you have to do is drink it, oh and bring your tools with you,that is your OO tools, I'm OK for the rest. Dave