Dicky L

Today we start looking at the scenic part of Chesborough North. Before I start posting photos its important that everyone who views and follows this thread is aware that I did not build this layout. All credit for the build goes to my friend Andrew Jebb. My role in the creation of CN was simply to throw money at the project and allow Andy's creative and technical ability bring my dream to life. With the above in mind I will try and bring Andy into this thread to answer any technical questions anyone may have because I will not be able to answer most of them. I don't have the talent to make a layout like this, I am simply a collector of Locos, Wagons and DMUs and have a passion for taking Photos and making videos of the layout.

Funny name for a Loco that Jim. Will you be getting etched nameplates made for it?????

Here are two photographs taken showing the fiddle yard area of the layout.

it certainly is.

There you go.

A few people have recently requested that I start a thread on here for Chesborough North so here it is. many people ask to see a track plan of the layout, unfortunately I simply don’t have an accurate one anymore because Chesborough North has evolved so much during the last few years. Initially Chesborough North was End to End with a scenic section of 6’6” with trains fed into the layout through Traversers. Today Chesborough North is looped to a fiddle yard allowing me to run the longer freight workings that could never have happened when operations were end to to end. The current layout is approx 11x5. I will kick off this thread with 2 photographs of the track diagram from ECoS controller. I will add photos of the layout past and present and explain the history of Chesborough as we go along.

Not yet, I have only just become active on here recently after being a silent observer for several months. maybe it’s something I should do. I do have a facebook group for Chesborough North which has been running for over a year now as well as the youtube channel I have linked several times in here during the last week. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1693258990738757/?ref=share

A photo of 66593 held at Chesborough North station with a rake of empty HIAs.

I think there are many out there that have had little or no issues and form the silent majority I have spoken about previously. I count myself as fortunate to be very happy with the 4 that I am currently running and I have sympathy for those who have had to return what I am finding to be a superb model. Just keep an eye on those axleboxes Harry, it’s highly likely one will pop out when you are least expecting it.

my latest video of this model.

It looks like the sound chips are now sold out on pre-order too now.

I have got £130 + £12 fitting showing on one of my pre orders. I have actually paid for the loco I want £150 so I am now waiting for the sound to come back into stock and the fitting service to start again to complete my order.

Having said that the decoders were out of stock and the fitting service was suspended until further notice. Not really a problem if you want to order something sound fitted from batch 2 if its sold out on pre-order factory fitted though.

The cost from Hattons is £130 for the decoder and speaker and £12 for fitting. Therefore the total cost is £292. Whilst its not the £265 for ordering factory fitted, its not massively overpriced if it gets you a version that you really want.

I have a set of made up of mainly Bachmann Mk2fs modified to represent the Riviera rake

At the risk of being shot down in this thread I have to confess I was never a fan of the Deltic and this model was a long way down the pecking order for me . All that changed when I heard about this model and the plans Accurascale had for sound on it. I now have a long rake of coaches just waiting for a Deltic to come along and haul a Railtour. Seeing the images of the speakers above just leaves me drooling at the prospect even more. I look forward to watching the final stages of this project evolve and have every confidence that you guys at Accurascale will deliver an absolute beast.

I am very late joining this thread. these wagons are truly wonderful to watch in a large rake. I posted this video link in the Hattons 66 thread a few days ago, although it belongs here too to highlight these amazing wagons.

I wasn’t aware 783 had worked the cements. another one to recreate in the fullness of time.

Another day, another Hattons Class 66 video. This time we have 66789 hauling the equally brilliant Accurascale Castle Cement PCAs

I have just uploaded another video of the Hattons 66. I think it’s sometimes nice for some positivity to break out occasionally.

Whilst this model is not without a few issues, I believe the silent majority are more than happy with it. Most issues can be resolved without too much trouble and Hattons customer service is excellent and prompt when required. Anyone who is put off by some of the comments here is seriously missing out. For me this loco raises the bar considerably and having purchased several already I have seen nothing to stop me wanting more. This Loco is a game changer.

Time for a positive post. I am absolutely delighted with my 4 locos. here’s a video i made earlier.

In the flesh I just see one as brighter than the other so just the photo I think.

I have received 4 today. First impressions are that this is an outstanding model. Still running them in at the moment. The only slight issue being one missing axle box on 66097. The sound quality is way beyond my expectations and an absolute must have on this model. Well done Hattons.

That’s no longer possible, Hattons have suspended their fitting service until further notice.