Trains4U

What decoder is fitted? Have you tried a factory reset of the decoder, or tried changing to 128 speed steps? Also, Have you had the body off? - is the decoder or motor running hot? Its possible it is a mechanical issue rather than DCC - if possible, (and the model is DCC ready) fit a blanking plate and test it on DC to rule out an issue with the loco itself.

The model number is 4062

Agreed - it is 2-rail. The plunger is for operating fleischmann automatic block signalling and other accessories (Now defunct) if 3-rail it will be equipped with a "Skate" between the axles.

The streamlined railcar returns for the GWR of the 21st century...

Does the driver have to look out of the door window to see where he is going?

It's no surprise to me. We sell a phenomenal amount of paint (Humbrol, Revell, Railmatch, Games Workshop, Tamiya) I honestly don't know where it all goes.

The "Tanks" on one end are coal bunkers

I assume Dapol know what they are doing with the red buffer shanks on the above loco The TOPS version has yellow shanks

I'm afraid they are the same, early, hinged-door type. (You could always get the scalpel out! )

That's bizarre, I literally just made the loco up using bits of Hornby images - Perhaps I am a genius loco designer after all...

Now available: http://www.trains4u.com/c/444/Diesel-Electric-Locomotives

Hornby and Peco setrack are pretty much interchangeable, with a couple of minor differences. Namely, Peco have two types of short straight, neither of which are the same size as the R610, so if planning, make sure you use the correct track pieces and measurements. Also, whilst the geometry of the points is identical, the sleeper patterns are not, so surface mounted point motors are not interchangeable between Hornby and peco. Our original shop layout was made with Fleischmann track, and we experienced the same issues, particularly on curved points. The rails are filed to take the switching rails and make the gauge a little bit too wide where the loco back-to-backs are a bit narrow (Usually Hornby locos) causing them to ground on the sleepers and derail. Personally, I'd go for Peco. It is generally better quality, and is made by lovely ladies in white lab-coats in Devon.

The horror... What the 156 could have been!

Most of those pics are about 10 years old - when I had time to mess around - before children!

And someone mentioned a tender conversion for a Terrier?

I always enjoyed the cut and shut stuff I was particularly fond of my streamlined (A4) tank and double deck Mk3

Ooh, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on that Land Rover Centaur (Behind the Striker CVRT) I've always been a fan of AFVs, I'd like to own one at some point, but I think its a dream that may never come to fruition. I was lucky enough to drive a Warrior MCV and be driven around Bordon on top of a Chally 1 when I was an Air Cadet!

The latest variants of the Dapol 08 are due to land with us tomorrow Priced at £199.50 each

So , September has arrived, Holidays are over (Sadly) and work is progressing on the layout. During last week, Alan added a few more of the cladding boards, further tidying the appearance of the layout Saturday was pretty quiet trade-wise (I guess the weather was too nice - or everyone had gone to Old Oak Common) so I took the opportunity to get some more woodwork done. Uprights were added to the corner closest to the counter, and a frame fashioned for the cupboard door I then measured and cut a board and marked out the door, which was cut in one piece from the board. (Using a combination of a stanley knife, razor saw and full size wood saw - I'm sure there are more appropriate tools out there, but i managed!) And then added a little pull-hole Not too bad for a Saturday, during opening hours. - I have yet to fit hinges, so the door is standing loose in the hole. Next job is to complete the cladding at the other end, closest to the door, though I now really want to get some electric work done, as the controllers are a bit of a nightmare to manage and operate at the moment.

I have recently returned from a lovely holiday with my family in France, One week of which was spent in a renovated railway station, rented via Gites de France. The fact that I booked a railway station was entirely coincidental and secondary to the choice of location! Deep in the Department of Loire (42) about halfway between Lyon and Cleremont-Ferrand is the village of La Tuiliere. sitting in a high valley at about 720 meters, It was once served by the Chemin de Fer du Centre's (CFC) Allier railway, which was a metre-gauge secondary railway and ran between Roanne and Vichy. According to the owners, the station closed in 1938, just before world war 2, though the railway continued to run for some time afterwards. The building has been beautifully restored externally The garden runs along the old alignment for 200m I'm not sure if this is a picture of the station itself, but it appears to be, in terms of the positioning of the trees and roadway in front, but gives a good idea of what the renovation has achieved. Inside has been completely gutted and modeled in a clean and modern style, the old goods shed is now the kitchen, and the booking hall/waiting room is the lounge and dining area. upstairs has been converted into three bedrooms and a large bathroom. It is available to rent via gites du france http://www.gites-de-france-loire.com/gite-rural-ossedat-jean-paul-a-la-tuiliere-dans-LE-ROANNAIS-3192.html The area is beautiful, quiet, with a good local bakery and a supermarket 5 minutes away - I would highly recommend it for a quiet family getaway. Within easy reach were the Volcans du auvergne. So we took a trip up to the Puy du Dome, just outside Clermont Ferrand on the rack railway: An interesting 20 minute trip up the mountain and later in the week, to the Puy du Sancy and Le Mont Dore, with a trip up the Capuchin Funicular, which dates from 1886 and still uses the original cars. My youngest, James, is beginning to become obsessed with trains (And I'm honestly not forcing it on him) - we did try to watch some TGVs at Cluny (We were there a few days before staying at the above gite) but typically, the SNCF were on strike! We all had a great time and the gite is very highly recommended, it added a nice bit of history to the holiday and It is by far the best Gite I've stayed in in france.