Iskra

It's not too late, the track isn't pinned down yet Firstly, thank you for your considered response. There is a 4ft (ish) fiddle yard out of sight on the bottom of the picture, which allows 3 Mk1 carriages and a loco to operate, plus I use some suburban Mk1's and BG's, parcels vehicles etc which are shorter, a couple of DMU's feature; a 2 car 101, a Park Royal railbus and short freights so on thorough testing it does pretty much work. The 'hand of god' does come into play sometimes at the fiddle yard end, but the beauty of including a small shed means I can run another locomotive 'light engine' onto the rear of a train and then just work it straight back from the fiddle yard or remove the engine on the arrived train, move the carriages slightly and simply place it at the back of the consist by hand. I'm fairly happy with that solution currently, although I can see why some people might not want to have to do that. In the space available, operational Loco-Hauled Stock perfection would be difficult and pure DMU's would be a bit dull, so I'm happy to compromise to make loco-hauled stock work. I looked at some historical Scottish secondary mainline/suburban terminus' and found that shunt release and the subsequent inclusion of a carriage siding was a common method of working, so this was a deliberate decision and I quite like it because it adds more moves and therefore operational interest to the layout. Yes, I generally keep a spare loco and brakevan to enable this method of operation, but I think this is fairly realistic and it does make sense as it allows an arriving loco to be serviced before departure again. Alternatively, the station pilot can release a locomotive or shunt a brakevan to where it needs to be. I could currently make one of the platforms operate using 'run around,'quite easily and it would work but it also works without it and reduces operational interest. I might pop it in and then just use it some of the time. Cassettes are certainly something I would want to use in the future when my skills allow. The idea of the hidden track under the roadway is really interesting actually, I will give that some thought.

My hopes: Clan Class Reworked class 142 Class 73/9 Caledonian Sleeper Some classic HST liveries; GNER, Midland Mainline.

Just by way of update, here is where I've got to: I dispensed with the idea of an L-shape as the additional complication wasn't going to provide much additional benefit. So it's now just a total straight line. The platform will be the 3 lines on the top right, providing two 'long' platforms with a bay cut out of the middle for stabling/motorail/DMU use (this will be from a Metcalfe platform kit). My station is now a terminus but also a junction between a secondary mainline and a branch line, a bit like at Fort William. This provides plenty of operational interest and movement possibilities with both lines having their own traffic but also moves between the two. There's a small shed and fuelling point, room for a small goods siding and a carriage siding too. It's all a bit congested, but it suits my agenda which is running lots of trains in a fairly small space. Excuse the current standard, there's still obviously much to be done at this point.

While we're on the subject; In a temperature controlled room, what would the optimal temperature be for a layout to be stored at?

Also the cheapest I've seen the Oxford Rail Carflat Wagon anywhere too at £23.95 http://herefordmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=369_370_472&products_id=9829

In terms of my Bachmann models; 1) Class 37 DCC Sound. The best model I have ever had, a great performer and looks fantastic. 2) Class 20 DCC Sound from the Whiskies Galores set. Another beautiful model and a great performer. 3) Class 47 DCC Sound. An excellent model and runs very well. The only thing I don't like about this one is the plastic windscreen wipers don't look great. I have a DCC Sound 57 and 66 on the way so maybe they will enter my top three.

Have you tried looking at Youtube reviews reviews. I do that for most models I buy (or don't buy...).

I don't know if it's any use but Kernow have new original livery DRS 37's in stock, in DC, DCC and DCC Sound versions I believe. http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/51679/32-780U-Bachmann-Class-37-Diesel-Locomotive-number-37-261-DRS

Bidding, on an auction site. Who'd have thought it. Hardly madness is it? Perhaps up your offer? This is how markets work to determine the value of something, it seems childish to complain when it's within your control to either make a better offer, a higher bid or watch it and nip in in the dying seconds. If you don't want to pay the going rate for something it's hardly reasonable to complain about. You aren't automatically entitled to bargains.

While it is far from the worst offender, can anyone explain what makes this to be so special that it's worth £600? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New-Bachmann-DYNAMIS-DCC-Train-Set-CAT-30146-Class-150-DMU-2-Car-Sprinter/164420492571?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D6227603afac247838881ddd8cc00ddd9%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D143793451914%26itm%3D164420492571%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DBachmann&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A9af0f8f6-1310-11eb-af08-9a599fcd2dd3|parentrq%3A47a470781750a6e558578eaefff4d5dc|iid%3A1

I only have 2 factory fitted DCC class 20's. Individually they run great, but as a pair things are not so good, so I rarely do it.

Does anyone know when this product will actually be in stock? Or can anyone find any in stock, the major retailers have it available to order but not in stock? Also, has anyone got any experience of using this stuff and how did they find it? It seems a great idea in theory, but is it in reality?

Bure Valley models have a couple of Weathered BR Blue Suburban Mk1's at £22 http://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/7045/34-632---BR-Mk1-Suburban-Brake-2nd-Blue-Weathered Weathered DCC Fitted 3f Tender Locomotive £93.20 at Hereford Models, 6 in Stock http://herefordmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=340_350_355_356&products_id=11528

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornby-R2729X-Honourable-Artillery-Locomotive/dp/B00260GBOQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?dchild=1&keywords=DCC+Fitted+locomotive+honourable+artillery+company&qid=1598988172&sr=8-1-fkmr0 This seems good. £102 for a DCC fitted Express Passenger locomotive. It's Hornby, but not railroad as far as I can see. Says first available in 2009, so maybe it's just an older model going cheap but £102 seems to compare favourably compared to other prices a quick google brings up. It's showing out of stock, but it still lets you order, so we will see if it ever gets fulfilled or not...

Wow, that's really interesting, thank you for sharing. I am relatively new to the Sheffield area, so that is all news to me!

Yes, it is.

Very nice! So much atmosphere going on there.

According to the T&C's that only counts if you physically use the card in store I believe. Unless, I'm misunderstanding something. Okay if you live near such a store though.

That could work thank you. That is very true!

I did explain it, just not in the verbose detail you desired I assumed that on an internet rail forum most readers would have a basic knowledge of the railway and/or the internet at their finger tips. As explained, IC services do pass through too and have previously called there. I find it of interest, if you don't that's fine. A couple of other things driving my interest are; that it's fairly local for me, it hasn't to my knowledge been modelled before, the juxtaposition of Northern post-industrial grime and 'modern' redevelopment. The priority for me would be to attempt to run a vaguely realistic timetable, including the through trains with a representative selection of stock, ie there would need to be enough Northern DMU types to convincingly represent the wide variety within the Northern DMU fleet, not just the same 158 doing laps for example and these would obviously need to be accommodated somewhere. OO is my preferred scale, but this would obviously be much easier in N and I wouldn't rule N out completely, providing reasonably realistic rolling stock could be portrayed. Compromise is an option; if the exact angle of the Barnsley branch is slightly off that's okay by me, it is just a portrayal of a location not an exact replica to me and a little artistic license would be okay. I have one room that measures approx 18ft x 12ft, although as said I wasn't planning on making it at this point, just seeing how other people would approach it at this stage.

It does of course depend on what interests you. It's a busy station, that (currently) features a wide variety of Northern and TP DMU's, XC 220/221's, XC and EMR HST's (and 222's on Summer Saturdays), freight, charters, railtours and NR trains (some hauled by 20's/37's/6X's). In days gone by there was more variety. It also has freight loops to the west of the station and trams too. Some modellers may also apply Rule 1, which would of course increase the scope further. If it's not your scene that's fine. It's a bit different as it has platforms on both arms of the converging junction. Obviously, it is not totally unique as there are thousands of stations and thousands of junctions. Shipley wins the platform/junction competition and even that isn't unique. Thank you for a very sensible answer.

Theoretically (as I'm already engaged on another project), I was thinking how you would best model Meadowhall station? It seems an interesting project with a decent variety of workings and traction depending on the era, plus the option of including trams in a prototypical setting, it's quite an unusual layout too. Would you do it as an end to end or as a pair of loops that converge (other options are available)? How would you integrate a fiddle yard that could generate enough interesting workings? How would you achieve this in a limited space?

Did anything other than the dedicated EMU fleet venture onto the historically electrified Lancaster to Morecambe and Heysham railway?

Although, not my cup of tea; I thought the best deal on there was this: http://www.monkbarmodelshop.co.uk/model-railways/oo-gauge-model-railways/Bachmann-oo-locos/38835-30-525-shakespeare-express.html Bachmann 'The Shakespeare Express Train Pack - Includes GWR Hall Class 'Rood Ashton Hall' - 3 Chocolate & Cream Coaches - EFE Stratford-Upon-Avon Open Top Tour Bus - Loco is DCC Ready (8Pin) - OO Scale' DCC-ready Bachmann Loco, 3 coaches and a bus for £150. In comparison, The Station Pilot with a small tank loco and 3 coaches and an oval of track is £250!

Depending exactly what you're wanting Hereford Models and The Model Centre also have similar offers; http://herefordmodels.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=369_370_377_387_390&sort=3a&page=1 https://www.themodelcentre.com/oo-gauge?cat=688&manufacturer=852&p=1&product_list_order=price Start at the bottom of P1 on the model centre link. Between the various suppliers you can pick up a few different types at a good price so it's worth shopping around.