Miserable

Have a look here, another Paul Bartlett site - there was some pretty ancient stuff still going in late BR https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/axleboxes

I had this discussion with the DVLA, trying to change the taxation class of a vehicle - "We don't do cards for this payment.... cheque or postal orders". I haven't written a cheque in 10 years, nor had a cheque book since then. I didn't know postal orders were still a thing! The postal order cost £12, and they wouldn't accept it because it was 1p out. Another £12.....

4 hours ago, TheSignalEngineer said:

Solenoid under the baseboard with operating rod inside the post?

Probably a lazy job. Didn't want to take the head off to renew the cable through the post.

All LMS standard cupboards. Two nearest the signal are main cable terminations. The third one would have the operating relays and batteries for the signal. 

Note that the signal is oil lit. Ones on mains electricity were usually lit by an internal 12 volt or 110 volt lamp and have a solid convex back cover. 

A rod up the post isn't practical - too many corners (3) allowing flexing, or a lot of un-prototypical cranks, hence my wondering if there were a mechanical variant. The cable hanging like like is the camouflage for the operating rod I was looking for ;-) If anyone asks, "it's a cable - look I've got a photo!" The kit is principally for the oil (external) lamp flavour GWR, which is what I'm after, at least lighting that is easy.

Since there's no chance of getting even the tiniest of motors in there it'll have to be mechanical to make it 'work' I guess... I found this photo somewhere deep in the RMWeb site. It may/seems to show mechanical operation (such a shame the bottom of the post is not in view). Could be a dangling cable though. At least if the control rod looks like whatever the black rod or cable then it's protypicalsih. It answers the finial question I had though. Also this is the only one I found that has a butt. Anyway, I'm going to base the model on this one.

All ok, I found a photo at last!

I'm building an MSE Sykes Banner Repeater kit and making it 'work'. My question is; Did banner repeaters of this sort exist before electricity came along? All the prototype photos I can find are of electric ones, it would be ace to know how mechanical versions were done, if there were such things.

I was a guard and then signalman, so I'm pretty au fait with the regs c. 1980. FWIW the guard was required to ring the signalman when the train had arrived in a loop (where the bobby couldn't see the tail lamp themselves) and report 'Train arrived complete with tail lamp' before the bobby could give 2-1 ('Train out of section') . If I had £1 for every Guard who then walked back a actually checked the lamp was there (which was entirely unnecessary) I'd be rich - there was no hand or lamp signal for doing such.

Well it's gone off topic a bit, but thanks for the replies. Two points re Bardics, one is that the batteries were deliberately unique to stop people getting batteries from the stores for home use (it also made nicking a lamp relatively pointless), and secondly *in theory* only Guards should have had the yellow aspect (which was actually redundant by 1979 when I passed out, hence I guess why they ended up everywhere).

Apropos nothing really, but does anyone happen to know who made oil tail lamps for BR? I just got to wondering...

On Travellers Fair... The (private) buffet on Exeter St. Davids c. 1980 - pasties to die for. And a good staff discount. Also at Yeovil Junction.

On 10/11/2020 at 11:19, The Stationmaster said:

 

 

A new national Instruction was issued in March 1968 which allowed a maximum of 20 vehicles behind the brakevan on passenger and ECS trains with no limitations due to gradients.  The general requirement to provided a brakevan with brake ends outwards at both ends of passenger trains was discontinued at the same date but in effect had long ceased to be applied in published train formations.

I can't speak for earlier rules, but by 1979 when I passed out as a guard the only requirement on passenger trains was that there should be at least one vehicle with an internal handbrake in the set (which would also carry emergency tools etc), where it was was irrelevant (though 'vans' had a valve to operate the train brake in addition, the Guard was not authorised to use it). This also served as stowage cycles, rather awfully wheel chair bound passengers, Red Star parcels and Royal Mail. There was no mention of number of axles or such in the rules. In all the 5 coach sets I worked the 'van' was always in the middle, simply so RM and station staff knew where to stand  - it wans't a 'Rule' as such - on others, MystEx's etc, the set was any old order. There was a fairly  complex set of rules concerning actions after a train brake failure, but that was about working/not working brakes, gradients etc, nothings about axles though. 

Post abolition of brake vans on fitted freights the guard rode in the back cab of the engine (in theory, anyway), so where a van was in the train was irrelevant except for a couple of special cases, e.g. nuclear flasks. It's worth noting that by that time very few vans, even if painted bauxite, had a train brake at all. 

4 hours ago, Andymsa said:

So do I take the plunge and get the nerve to post and would it even be of help to anyone. 

Yes. It's your railway, you can do it how you want. No one can tell you you are 'wrong' (unless you are claiming to model Kings Cross on August 5th 1959, about tea time). It's a hobby at the end of the day, just enjoy it.

I've used Peco Twistlocks. Simplicity to install, no big holes or such - and easy to detach later if necessary, say for soldering. They work brilliantly with Peco points, which I guess shouldn't be a surprise, but are not really any good for my home made points since there's no over-centre spring a la Peco. I'm getting away with it, but a latching motor would be better there. The only slight concern I have is that the bodies of the solenoids are 'open' at the top, meaning ballast etc could drop down the  rod hole into the motor. So far anyway, that hasn't happened.

17 minutes ago, Crisis Rail said:

Hope you got sorted - lack of exhibitions not helping the sourcing of bits - pricing things up for an assault on 7 mill myself - it seems cost goes out of the window in this gauge.

 

Ian

I'm hanging on in there for s/h (yep, cost! Especially the possible set of points) for a while after the card took a battering last lock-down, but at least I now know Hattons can do the biz.

I entered the exciting world of O gauge at the last lockdown, the 'small diorama' for something to do just grewed a bit, after being OO and N. It's expensive, but you can make so much either from scratch or kits, or bits of kits, you get (I feel) an lot more bang for you buck - adding lights to signal kits etc is relatively easy, that sort of thing.. Always hide your credit card before visiting Wizard Models or Invertrain, they both have so many 'Oh isn't that cute, I must have one' things in 7mm...

On 06/11/2020 at 21:35, The Johnster said:

What's with the username, mate?  Things can't be that bad surely (and this is from someone who tends to gravitate to the gloomy side). 

There is a reason : it's a moniker/persona I've 'acquired' from my musical efforts, mostly blues:-)

2 hours ago, Nile said:

In stock at Hattons , and they charge £4 postage (using DPD).

Indeed. Thank you.

3 hours ago, meatloaf said:

Hobby goblin in burslem has a box of flexi in stock. They also have a few points. Hes operating a click and collect service

 

Topp trains stafford also stocks it but is closed until december.

 

Triedent trains in nantwich stock it also and are operating click and collect.

Alas not O gauge according to their site.

1 minute ago, Crisis Rail said:

Why not MO?

 

Tower Models Blackpool have a decent service - the majority of their trade is MO.

 

Ian

Cost - everyone charges the same postage as a full box, not unreasonably, most won't supply single lengths anyway. Inc. Tower.

Does anyone in the Staffs Moorlands area happen to have 1 to 5 yards of the above track going? Used is ok if not mangled. Might be be interested in a set of right-hand curved points. Can collect on a Covid-safe manner (i.e. yelling at each other from a good distance, package in the middle of a badly lit girder bridge etc).

Does anyone know if Peco have a stockist in the Stoke-on-Trent area that actually carries stock of O gauge bullhead track. I'm after 5 yards, so mail order isn't an option!

2 hours ago, doilum said:

Don't forget to drill the holes for the chairs to match the local pattern. Sometimes the ends of the sleeper would be trimmed off at an angle to prevent water accumulating and soaking into the end grain. Being heavy items set by eye they were not quite perfectly level, though not far away.

I can use the sleepers from one end of a yard of Peco bullhead track, the first two sleepers on each length (or at least the ones I have) have no bolts in the chairs, just holes ;-)

Thanks for that. Yes, I too like making 'sub-models'.

I'm sure I remember a siding in a goods yard (might have been UKF at Andover, early 80s) that had forklift activity. To prevent the forklifts fouling adjacent lines there was a 'fence' made of sleeper uprights, I seem to recall, with one or maybe two lengths of rail fixed to them forming a substantial barrier. The sort if thing they use armco for these days. Would any one happen to have a photo, or link to one, so I can see how it 'works'? Or failing that, does anyone make 7mm armco?

I 'came out' as a railway modeller as I started a 'working diorama' at the beginning of the lock-down (and got a tad carried away). Almost all the people I know are in the arts in all sorts ways, and no one has, to my surprise, sneered. In fact it was more 'I didn't know you had it in you' as they seem too accept it as 3d art - that said if I'd literally gone out a boutght a Train Set it might be different I  guess. Plus trains and blues go together anyway ;-)

Here's a coupe of pics of the Permaway fishplates, which highlight the quality of the fishplates and the not-terribly-goodness of my track laying skills. Fitting them to existing track complete (both sides with the web in between the rail ends) doesn't appear possible due to getting them over the rail head, but chopping them and glueing is simplicity itself, they fit nicely into the web. The mould marks aren't worth getting excited over - I suspect paint will hide them easily. Very pleased with them, slightly grumpy I didn't pay more attention to where they would go when track laying. Hey ho!