Lemmy282

Most sound projects are designed to use 128 speed steps, so try using that. Don't use the momentum button on the Powercab, the sound project  will be set up with it's own momentum. If all else fails reset the decoder (possibly CV8=8 but check your documentation) and start again with 128 speed steps.

Passenger services ended 10th September 1962

Back in the 1970's I was part of the team exhibiting a very large 3 rail layout at the York show in the De Gray rooms. Next to us was an LNER branch terminus layout, possibly Em or P4, anyway the exhibition was over the Easter weekend, and as far a we could tell not a train moved at all. For the first day feverish attempts were made and lots of solder smoke was evident, slightly less activity on the second day. On the last day there was no one with it all day, and after we packed up our layout it was still there!

It really comes down to preference and practice. I use pointy bits for electronic kit and chip soldering, but it is a 50w iron, so it keeps the temperature high enough all the time. If chisel bits work for you, stick with it!

Not unusual. My dad lied about his age to join the army, although somewhere along the line that got changed as well. We only found out when sorting his estate after his death, that the army, his later employer and the social services all had him at different ages, none of which were his real age!

That's not a railway bridge in Beverley, it is the medieval town gate, North Bar.

Not parcels traffic, but in Sheffield in the 70's a northbound cross country service dropped off a buffet car and a couple of coaches at lunchtime, and they were shunted onto the back of a southbound service a few hours later.

Also, a train arrived southbound in the morning on platform 5, and the last two coaches complete with passengers were shunted by the 08 onto the back of a different southbound service on platform 6.

For all that has been said, they were a cheap replacement for the aging DMU's, and probably saved local services on some lines. The problem was they survived too long, I knew someone who was on the design team, and he said their brief was a cheap unit using readily available parts with a life of no more than 15 years.

I travelled on them a lot in South Yorkshire, nearly every local route out of Sheffield had the damn things. They were truly awful, I was sad to see the old 101's etc. go as the 141 and 142's were nowhere near as comfortable. I see that preserved railways are using them, which is probably good for their bank balance, but I wont be parting with my cash for an expensive ride on them, and definitely wouldn't want to have a full railtour on one!

Years ago when I bought my Bob Moore's pen I was told to mix a couple of drops of the lighter fluid in the paint. It thins the paint but doesn't affect the intensity of the colour. I couldn't get it to work at first, the fluid didn't mix with the paint at all, but I tried a cheaper fluid and success! Once it starts flowing it seems to keep going, doesn't dry and block the nib.

Think it is a Network Rail camera. Saw one on a 66 last year and was told it was to check signal sighting.

Having been a regular visitor since the 1970's, even when it was in the older buildings, I have to say that I agree the NRM has lost the plot. Last time I was there was pre-covid, and it was a shadow of its former self. Gone were the magnificent models, the history displays, some of the larger exhibits APT-E, Deltic, etc. The emphasis seemed to be on Flying Scotsman. Displays didn't work, the live York signalling one in particular, and information boards were sadly lacking.

It may have changed and they have a programme to "reinvent" themselves, but I fear it will go the way of a lot of other museums, all show but little substance, run by people with an "ology" but little knowledge of railways.

Rant over.

8 hours ago, Gray69 said:

 

I have been in contact with Zimo who have advised me that I needed to use a MXULFA connected to  PC with Zimo Firmware Flasher. As I don't have a MXULFA and have no Zimo retailers close by, I trying to find a club close to me with one that I can use.

Which is where I came in. I have the MXULFA and it wont update MX623's. In the end I gave up with my attempts.

Nigel L

On 09/04/2023 at 15:31, eastwestdivide said:

... and join the ranks of 'enthusiast drivers' ?

As on yesterday's railtour up the Deepcar branch (former Woodhead route), where the train paused in Sheffield Victoria, two orange people got out of the cab, snapped a couple of pics, jumped back on board and away:

 

I think there is a bit more to this. I'm told the driver had a picture of the last electric passenger service leaving Victoria, and was trying to replicate it by stopping in the same place, on what could well be the last passenger train to run up the line.

Just to check, you say the loco's are all set to default address 3. When you "Select Loco" are you putting just "3" in or "0003"?

There is a difference, 3 is a short address and is the default, 0003 is a long address, so the loco's won't respond to that.

If that is not the problem a couple of pictures of the set up might help, plug connections, screen etc.

Nigel L

23 hours ago, billbedford said:

 

The original trams were trucks that happened to carry passengers. 

The first trams in the UK were introduced by an American, George Francis Train, so the terms came with them. Most were originally 4 wheel trams, a wooden body mounted on a separate truck. The term continued to be used when trams became bigger and were fitted with two trucks, or what the railways would call 'bogies'.

On 09/01/2023 at 20:15, Bucoops said:

Ah, I saw mention of 131 going into preservation in the last day or so but no details. Excellent news :)

131, the last Crewe built loco, and speed record holder is going to the Bo'ness railway.

Live overhead return through both rail. Tramway?

Nigel L

Photo J367 shows the Swansea and Mumbles tram that was scheduled for preservation. Unfortunately it was vandalised along with several other trams stored at the site, and eventually burnt out.

Nigel L

Exactly, shopkeeper very happy with his custom, and quite happy to let him select his own boxes. Apparently he travelled some considerable distance as this was the only shop that let him do this.

6 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good afternoon Steven,

 

I wonder if it's common sense to never take an RTR item out of its box in case it devalues it by opening the packaging? Some Bachmann models came with their boxes wrapped in tissue paper. According to some collectors, remove this and the model inside is worth less! Barmy? 

 

I used to do weathering and renumbering work on diesels for a local model shop some years ago. One day I was in the shop and there were unopened cartons of Bachmann locos on the counter. I was told a special customer was coming in. Sure enough a few minutes later in he came, donned his cotton gloves and the shop owner carefully opened the cartons. Inside were loco boxes wrapped in tissue, the customer carefully checked each wrapped box and selected the one with the neatest tissue wrapping. Then the process was repeated for the other cartons and he happily trotted off with four locos, still wrapped in tissue, and having never seen the contents of the boxes. I was told this happened every time a new release came out!

Nigel L

I was baffled by the Swiss mapping in the manual as well. In Nigel Cliffe's post above there is a link at the bottom of the page to his blog. He has done a couple of pages describing how it works with a couple of examples. I followed that and it all became clear. As he said it is a very powerful tool, and once you "get it" it is very easy to use.

Nigel L

I don't have a select so can't comment from experience, but a quick read online seems to say the sound functions are got at by pressing the number key AND function button simultaneously. As far as I'm aware most projects have the sound switched on by F1, so in your case the 1 and function buttons together. F2 or F3 usually have the whistle, so 2 and function together, and so on.

As stated above you need to find the manufacturer of  the chip and sound project for which functions do what, but give the above a try and see what happens. Once the sound is on you can try other keys and see what sounds you get.

Nigel L

Check the pickups, wheels may be clean but are all the pickups clean and in contact with the wheels. Does the loco run smoothly or stutter as well? Is there a stay alive fitted?

Nigel L

If the running improves over a session I would start to look at the mechanical side of things, not the decoders. First off would be the gearboxes. I have had issues with Hornby grease that, if left long enough, sets completely hard! 

Nigel L