Steve Hewitt

The majority of the signals I've built have been for LMS or BR (M) layouts and as such either LNWR or LMS products. This next signal is a bit out of my usual area. It is the Swindon East Down Inner Home bracket signal. (Thanks Stationmaster) This rather dull image is photogaphed from a reproduction of the cover of a book, but it shows the main characteristics quite well: The model is to 4mm scale and will be servo operated. The three Calling On arms will be dummies, ie. not operating. Because it will normally be viewed from the rear, there is to be no lighting on this model. Steve.

Hello Ian, As I said in my earlier post, I wasn't directly involved in the Fugurex installation. However, John has responded with the following: Hi Ian, Sorry to hear you have had those problems with the fulgurex point motors, I can fully understand you having no confidence in them given your own experience indeed I have heard similar tales from others. All I can say is we have 45 of them (I have just been underneath the baseboards to check !), and up to now they all perform well and have done over the last six years or so without any problems once fitted properly. The little spring you speak of is there to hold the changeover contact against either of the contacts it can make with. On a standard microswitch it is built in, and gives the switch it's characteristic "click". This is definitely the weak spot on these point motors it would have been better if a miniature version of a standard microswitch could have been used, this would also alleviate any issues with dust/dirt. One can only assume cost has a part to play. Fulgurex do suggest you use the bubble packaging as a cover but I find this a bit Heath Robinson, so I fit plates made from clear acrylic over the point motors to protect them from both dust, and damage from fingers etc. I too "ping" out this spring once or twice whilst fitting them, but luckily for me I found them and was able to refit them, and once aware of this issue care was taken in handling and fitting. Since then I have had no issues with them. I looked at the alternative point motor i.e.the tortoise, and concluded that for me, they were too big, and I prefer the mechanics of microswitches to a sliding circuit board with wiper pick ups even if care has to be taken in set up. With regard to the motor not moving the contacts I can only assume the microswitch mounting block needed adjusting. This to me is a quality control issue and should have been checked before your motor was packed ! Regards, John.

That's a very neat and tidy signal Jon. The lattice looks particularly fine. Well done. Steve.

Lime Street is scheduled to make the following appearances in 2013: Watford Finescale in February. Lancashire Show (formerly the Blackburn Show) in September, see: http://www.belmrs.org/ Southport in September. Hope you can make it to one or more of those. Steve.

Michael, The Control Panels. I'll have to describe the way the control panels are constructed without pictures, I'm afraid. First the diagram was produced in a computer package. The printing was done by "Proto-Print". Two versions: One on paper to use as a drilling and cutting template etc. One on Acetate sheet which is used in the final assembly. The front of each panel is actually a sandwich. Bottom layer is 2mm Aluminium sheet - sourced locally from a metal merchant. The Acetate layer is in the middle. The Top layer is 3mm Acrylic, sourced from B&Q. The paper version was used on the Aluminium layer to drill all the fine holes for the Lamp Strings which indicate a Route when it has been set. The Lamp Strings are chains of 2mm Yellow LEDs which shine through the holes in the Aluminium layer. With the Acrylic front layer also in place, both layers were drilled for the push buttons and other switches. Finally, the Acetate layer replaced the paper layer for final assembly of all the switches etc. The whole sandwich is then mounted in its wooden frame which forms the console. There is of course a vast amount of wiring inside each panel, and this is all covered by a back plate which carries the external cable sockets. This cover also prevents ramdom access and damage. (I remember being at Bracknell with the layout when the panels were only part completed. Being open to the rear, something shorted and blew some electronic thingies. We had to operate using the "back-up" manual boards for a couple hours while Geoff sorted it all out! Not a good experience. Its a nightmare trying to set up routes point by point when you don't practice it.) Steve.

Michael, Fulurex Point Motors next: All the track laying and point motors etc. were in place when I joined the Lime Street team, but I've learnt a bit about the way it all goes together. The point motors certainly seem to be very reliable. I think I can only recall one unit having to be changed in my time. I say unit, because the point motors are made up into a "quick change" standard module, so if one goes down at a show, it should be relatively easy to swap it.! (Says prayers after a comment like that!) I've got a few snaps I took some time ago, which I hope will help to explain what we do: This is a standard module, with the Fulgurex motor mounted on a small wooden board, all the connections made in a standard way to a 9-pin D Plug on a short length of cable. Remember, we don't use the built-in micro-switches for traction current. Frogs etc, are all switched using relays controlled by the "Router". The micro-switch does feed a signal back to the Router to confirm the motor has actually moved. If it fails to move the Router stops and flags up an error. This shows a standard unit mounted under a baseboard, and shows the next standard elements: Each motor is connected to its point's operating crank by a "Z" shaped N/S push-pull wire. The "Z" shape acts as an "Omega Loop" so the motor can drive fully in each direction ensuring the point blades are fully home. Up on top of the board, the crank which drives the Tie Bar is more to scale: This final shot shows a number of such standard units in place under one of the boards: Steve.

Michael, Thanks very much for your questions. I hope I can answer them fully (and accurately). I'll post a separate answer to each, so if they start off a dialogue, they can be followed more easily. First the CCTV: This is very much one of Geoff Peters' bits of magic. The original cameras were sourced from CPC, but they are no longer available. Recent ones have been found from China via the internet. I'm not sure of the specification, but getting the right field of view (focal length) is important. The monitors are also from CPC, and other suppliers like RS, Farnells, etc. have them. The bit in the middle - The Video Switch - is all Geoffs own design and construction. Its the thing that lets different camera views be presented to each monitor, and is what makes the operation of the layout possible. It is triggered by button selection on the consoles and also by the Router and the progress of a train along its route. This means an operator who sets a route is presented with an appropriate view automatically. e.g A Station operator might set a route "Down Fast to Platform 3". Besides the Router setting the route, clearing the signals etc. it triggers the Video Switch to show the operator a view of the Sector Plate, where he can watch his train being prepared. As he drives the train down the Cutting, an infra-red sensor tells the Router where it has got to. The Router then resets the Gantry signals, and triggers the Video Switch to show the train crossing the station throat and travelling into its platform. As it approaches the end of the platform the operator then selects for himself a view which will allow him to see the uncoupling point where he will stop the train. He does this by pressing one of eight selection buttons adjacent to his monitor. Point Motors and the Control Panels to follow. Steve.

Interesting! Was it the one out of the box we have modelled? Do you still have it, or know of its whereabouts? Steve.

Jamie, I don't think there is a record of the hours spent, but they have been spread over many years. Its a privately owned layout, but many of the team who work on it are past and present members of the Blackburn & East Lancs MRS. Steve.

I've just got a CD with the shots Tony took, so here are a few: The van has been emptied, and the layout is lined up ready for erection to start: First the more important step, fuelling the team; L to R: John R., Rob, John H., Steve and Les. Tony is behind the camera of course. Chris and Michael still somewhere up on Merseyside and Geoff is also en route. Once the show opened we had a fairly good crowd: Here are Chris and John R. at the Station controls: The late afternoon sun flooded Hall 5. It made operating quite difficult at times particularly if it hit the video screens, without which you're driving blind. It did give Tony some good shots though: Finally, the intense sunlight brought out the reflections in the protective perspex edges. It almost looks like we've modelled the buildings on the far side of Skelhorne Street and further along Lime Street: Steve.

Thanks for your kind comments. Why not DCC? Becasue the whole concept was developed before DCC was available. The principle of "all track live" for DCC perposes, is diametrically opposed to the control priciple of Lime Street. Because we use the "Routing Computers" to control all the movement, there is only ever traction current available where and when it is needed. That's not the full,story of course! We do have the facility to plug in John's "Black Box" and operate DCC locos. The router then takes the DCC supply instead of the inbuilt DC supplies, and routes it in the same way, I believe. I've no real experience of this, or DCC in general, so I'm not sure what the effect is on things like sound systems etc. I could imagine Diesel locos having to go through the "start up" procedure every time a route was set for them. Steve.

John, Brian and I got the the main "spine" boards up this morning and were able to test out the changes John had made. The first change removed a long standing problem of a spurious feed causing a loco in the Neck to move when a Departure was being driven on the Up Fast. The second change is the optional extension of the "handover" section on the Down lines to the Signal Gantry in the Cutting. This was eventually tested successfully, once the "Common Returns" became really common between the Sector Plate and Station areas. At present the switching is effected by twisting wires together to operate the relays which select the area being controlled! The control panels, and their control computers will be going to Geoffs place shortly. When they return, the selection will be by use of the buttons more normally used on the control panels. Once they are returned we will assess the impact of the changes on the current operation sequence, and then modify it to maximise the benefit in terms of operation flexibility and train freqency. Hopefully all this will be apparent when we take the layout to Watford in February. See you there? Steve.

Here's the video clip for what its worth. Steve.

Once all the operating linkages are installed its time to prepare for the installation on the layout. As I said earlier, these three signals are destined for our club layout "Oxenholme", so I have prepared a "Storage and Carriage" frame which will ensure safe handling whenever the signals have to be moved. This will also double up as a set-up and test tool, so I've made it to accurately represent the baseboard in the place each signal will be installed. What we have is a top surface which is the same thickness as the baseboards: Two end supports ensure there is ample room below the "baseboard" for installation of the servos and LEDs. The 1/2in plywood is OK for one signal, which is in the cess. The other two are in the ballast, so the thickness has been increased by a couple of mm. using thin balsa wood. The location is drilled 1/2in dia. to take the foundation tube for each signal. Each servo motor is mounted on a small sub-board which is also located by the foundation tube: Each servo board is fixed below its signal, ensuring accurate location with a longer piece of 1/2in brass tube: This procedure will be repaeated on the layout boards when the signals are installed. All three servos mounted: Looking vertically upwards, you can just see where the lower ends of the operating wires, sleeved up to 1/32in dia with brass tube, align with the servo "horns": This gap is bridged by a length of 1/16in brass tube, carefully bent to get the alignment exact, and with a right angle at the bottom end where it locates in the servo horn. The operating length of this tube is important, and is adjusted as follows. First, connect up the servo motor to its controller, in this case I'm using Embedded Cotrols units, which have been standard for all our club layouts for years. Carefully adjust the controller to set the servo to "mid-position": If necessary refit the horn on its spline to its best position. Slide the 1/16 tube over the operating wire (1/32in tube) and locate it in the servo horn. With the servo in mid-position, now adjust the signal arm to its mid position (the operating wire will slide inside the 1/16in tube to allow this. When all is correct, solder the 1/16in tube to the 1/32 tube. To make this final solder joint, I file through the edge of the 1/16in tube, where it will expose the inner 1/32 tube: Drop of flux, hot iron with a little solder and the jobs done: Finally adjust the servo controller to give the desired movement of the signal arm: On the layout, the 12v supply for the LEDs will be provided by a transformer feed. For now, I've lashed up a 9v supply using a PP3 battery: And here we are: A small video will follow, if its up to it..... Hopefully some shots of the signals on the layout in a little while, Steve.

John has just sent this picture of one of the Cutting baseboards up on the bench for the wiring changes: He explains that the board propped up on the chair is an "outrigger" which presents all the connections from a 25 pin D socket for checking without having to take the covers off and poke inside! All the wiring changes has been completed, just the documentation to bring up to date. MOST IMPORTANT. We hope to put enough of the boards up tomorrow to allow us to check it out. Steve.

These are all "revenue earners". There were also a lot of shunting and light engine movements. Steve.

The operating wires are 0.4mm N/S, blackened with "Gun Blue". The links down below ground are soldered into 1/32in brass tube, to slide smoothly in their guide tubes which I showed earlier. The ends of each wire are bent at a right angle to pass through the appropriate crank etc, and the ends pinched with the "parallel plyers". These have a great mechanical advantage compared to ordinary plyers, making the job really easy. The result: Steve.

Hi Jim, Twenty-four hours. Steve.

A couple of weeks ago I was chatting in the Blackburn (B&ELMRS) clubroom with Noel Coates about the work I'd been doing to revise the operating sequence we use on Lime Street as a result of the article in LMS Journal by Graham Warburton on Lime Street re-signalling. The article had given us a better insight into how the platforms had been used for Arrivals and Departures etc. and we wished to reflect this in our operations. Noel suggested that we should look at the Working Timetable for the Western Division of the LMS in our chosen period - 1945 to 1947 and described the sort of information we could expect to find there. A couple of days later he emailed me to say he'd found a copy on eBay. He then went on to offer to puchase it, analyse the contents as they apply to Lime street and present us with the results. How's that for a really helpful guy!!!! Today I received the four Excel spreadhseets of his work. One each for "Weekdays", "Saturdays only", "Sundays only" and "All days". The "Weekdays" looks likely to be most useful. The data presented covers some 175 services, both Arrivals and Departures, but not Light Engines and Empty Stock movements. The first departure is 2 mins. past midnight, Express to Euston; the first Arrival is 12:43, the Noon express from Penzance the previous day! The last Departure is 11:05pm Passenger to Ditton Junction; the last arrival at 11:52pm being the 8:08 from Leeds. I don't think we'll ever have enough stock or fiddle yard space to accomodate them all, but we'll be aiming to cover a representative selection. Steve.

Once the Halfords black had dried, the masking was removed and the brush painting completed. The fibres optic cables to the lamps were then carefully threaded through the drilled out lamp castings and down the signal structure to disappear into the main stem and out below ground level. The fibres are "tie wrapped" with white cotton thread at strategic points along their route. Although fully visible, they are very unobtrusive on the finished model.: Now its time to start on the operating linkages. First the "Rocking Shafts" which transfer the movement of the signal wires along the bracket: The balance arms are also fitted to their bearing: More soon, Steve.

Thanks Jon, sorry we didn't get to chat on Saturday. I'm afraid the painting is my least favourite process. I never feel really in control of it. My favourite part comes shortly - assembling all the components and linking them up. Its at that stage that the signal comes to life for me. Steve.

Progress has been a bit slow recently. Taking Lime Street to the Warley show took precedence. However, the two wooden post signals have been assembled. Here we see the base of one post glued securely into its brass foundation tube: The post cap, lamp bracket and ladder have also been added: The three signals have been cleaned and are now ready for the paint shop: A few coats of Halfords White Primer then they were masked up ready for the Halfords Satin Black: The upper areas of the bracket signal are too fiddly to mask for spraying, so they will be brush painted later. More in a little while, Steve.

Sorry to be pedantic, but Waterfoot is on the Bury to Bacup line. Its about half way between Rawtenstall and Bacup. Its where I used to alight for school each morning. ex L&Y 2-4-2T push-pull until the first diesel railcars came along. Great sitting right behind the driver, even in First Class until the guard threw us out. It was possible to free-wheel on my bike all the way from Bacup Shed, which was almost in Britannia, right down the valley to Rawtenstall station. Really enjoying the story of your build. Most inspiring. Steve.

All the Lime Street team are home again after a really good weekend at Warley. The layout was unloaded in the pouring rain at 10:30 pm and put safely away in the shed. Thank goodness for those trolleys and boxes etc. Unloading the van with just three people takes only about 20 mins. (Loading took about half an hour). Thanks to all who came to see us and the great number of complements you paid us. We do appreciate your interest in what we do. It was great to meet one or two RMwebbers in person. Thanks for making yourselves known. I hope we managed to entertain you and to answer your questions fully and clearly. I'm hoping to post some photos and video from the show as soon as I can get my hands on them. I didn't get chance to take any myself during the weekend. The next major change to the layout concerns the way we operate Arrivals in the cutting. At present, the handover point between the Sector Plate and the Station is in the short tunnel, just prior to the train entering public view. This limits us to only having one Arrival or Departure at any one time, and the waiting arrival also locks up the sector plate, preventing the operator there preparing for any subsequent Arrival or Departure. This is a major handicap to operating a more frequent service. The change will extend the handover section all the way to the Sgnal Gantry in the cutting. This will allow the sector plate operator to drive a train up to the Home signal where he can leave it to be driven forward by the Station operator when he is ready for it. This will be possible on both the Slow and Fast lines simultanuously. All bar the very longest trains will occupy the new handover sections without fouling the Sector Plate, allowing the operator to get on with other tasks. This will allow simultaneous Arrivals or Arrival and Departures. I spoke with John a short while ago, and he already has the soldering iron out and is starting to make the changes necessary. Geoff will be collecting the two control computers - the "X" and "Y" boxes - to install the modified software necessary to implement the changes. The intention is to have the changes completed and the Operators trained in the new system in time for our next show, which is Watford Finescale in February. Steve.

I think you were looking at the "View Layouts" part of the Warley website. This is only a sub-set of the layouts at the show, for which they've chosen to publish photographs. The "Exhibitors", tab on the top of their Home Page gives you the complete list. Steve. p.s. We had better be going, the van is paid for, and I'll be delivering it to John's place tomorrow afternoon, ready for an early start on Friday.