Supaned

Very impressive scenic work , and I do think it's worth all the effort you've been putting in. The coal siding looks suitably run down and overgrown , and the corrugated sheeting looks great.

Managed to get hold of a copy of this book yesterday , an excellent selection of pictures - Any chance a D30 "Scott" will appear on the layout?

Stewart , I wouldn't worry too much about the varied interests - I think many of us are like that (I know I certainly am) - you've made a great start in having a good layout on which to run whatever you choose to build. As they often say, all in good time....

Very nice indeed , and a pity the period can't be move forward to the 1960s and allow the use of those NBL type 2 diesels...

From what I remember , I just wired in a Lenz accessory decoder - it all worked ok first time , whether by luck or judgement I can't say.. I think the Piko coach instructions show how to wire in the decoder.

I reckon the 93xxx headcodes are light engine moves - if you look at the timings these correspond to the arrival/departure time of the night train ferry at Sassnitz , and Stralsund would be the nearest stabling point and train crew booking-on point. 93028 - engine detached from D318 (0320 arrival) - the coaches were shunted onto the ferry by a 346 pilot. 93028 - engine attached to D319 (0230 departure) after coaches shunted off train ferry I suspect the actual headcodes would have a L0 prefix , inferring Light engine movement. HTH

Ref your Push-pull set . I did the same thing with an S-bahn set , DR 242 loco and 2 Piko Dostos , including a driving trailer, I fitted an accessory decoder to the driving trailer and consisted it with the same address as the loco , so when changing ends , both vehicle lights changeover. As you can't see both ends of the train at the same time , it's a good way around this problem. Now to get the loco pantographs to change ends.....

That nose end looks much better now it sticks out a little , definately a marked improvement. A pity there isn't an etch to improve the windows in the same way that the Shawplan etch does for the 4mm version - maybe a word with an enterprising etcher could provide this?

Slightly OT , but do you remember me banging on about 37068? I've just been researching a few things and turned up this pic of 415 paired with 068 :icon_drool: http://www.bescot.plus.com/trains/37415_Pensnett/

It's almost a pity to put it inside a loco - that is outstanding work I can't wait for the finished article - it's certainly continuing to the same high standard as your 4mm stuff :icon_thumbsup2:

Fantastic job Martin - that driver's desk really looks well-used , and I love the rust/wear on the power handle.

The panels you've marked for removing are all to do with the train heating boiler - the small rectangular ones above the steps are a blanked off hole for filling the boiler from platform height (and as built the locos had a round hole with a flap for this purpose) , the larger panel by the grille is also adjacent to where the boiler would be located at no 2 end , not entirely sure of it's purpose.

Was the kit you purchased for an unrefurbished 37? I thought JLTRT did both variants.. I'll be watching this with interest too

I think the issue is more to do with Network Rail's ludicrious punitive charges for using electric traction , and no DfT encouragement to use them. We're supposed to be more environmentally aware , surely using an electric loco is better than a 66 on full blat under the wires (and yes , I am well aware that the electricity in those wires has to be generated somehow). Perhaps Lord Adonis could direct NR to alter the track access costs to encourage the use of electric locos (and in turn encourage overhauls and possibly even new builds). Siemens and Bombardier have off the shelf traction units - whilst they need fitting into a UK spec bodyshell , it can't be that hard....

Once I've cleared some space in the railway room , which has become a general dumping ground , I'll take a few pics for the site. As far as signalling goes , I originally planned to use DR Hl type signals made by a company called Erbert , however I'm not sure if these are still in production , but the following seem to be : http://www.modellbahnbau-reinhardt.de/index.html For the shunting "W" signals (Ra11) , I intended to use the Viessmann ones with the illuminated position lights - these seem to be widespread across the former DR , AIUI , drivers stop behind the "W" for shunting movements , when they have authority to move, the position lights illuminate (similar to a UK ground signal). A good explaination of the Hl systemn can be found on this page : http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hl-Signalsystem or in interactive form : http://www.stellwerke.de/signal/deutsch/hl.html Hope this is of interest Best wishes

Glad I could be of help The more I see this, the more I look again at my DR era 4 layout , which I'd say is around 60% complete - track laid & wired up (although I've since lifted a problematic double slip and re-jigged some of the sidings) , platform edges in place and some initial electrification work done. The main reason for it stalling was the overheads - I'm using Viessmann bits and on a headspan over 4 tracks was having no end of trouble with the tensioning - I think I've found a fix by using an extra mast in the centre of the span to reduce the deflection. I'd also like to rewire the point motors to full DCC control (as built they are worked via a traditional panel) , so who knows what will happen....

I think the issue with the 60s is much the same as the 58s , namely they are becoming due for a major and costly overhaul. As traffic levels have declined significantly , there simply isn't a business case to spend money for the handful of services that really do need the type of haulage power that only a 60 can provide. Naturally, should a lucrative foreign contract arise, no doubt they will be re-activated with a swanky paintjob and give sterling service , as have the supposedly life-expired 58s Despite ORR rules regarding sale of surplus assets , these seem to be ignored, and the locos will undoubtedly sit rotting away until they are too far gone to be of any use and then sold for scrap.

Not sure if you've seen this site before but the archive section may well be of use to you : www.fernbahn.de If you click on the Lauf- und Reihungsplanarchiv section , there are files containing the actual coach formations for every D,IC,EC & IR train . 1999 & 2000 are available. Where trains had portions , these are also shown ; for example , the UEx that I referred to earlier was IIRC a Koln - Binz , which detached a portion at Stralsund for Zinnowitz/Herringsdorf which the 219 worked forwards ; this train still ran in 2009 although with a 218...a pity Erfurt's pet 219084 couldn't get involved...

Looking good there Brian , plenty of Warwells to look at in Didcot yard no doubt... Do I take it that Appleby kits are still available?

Yep , that just about tallies with my memory of the area from your chosen period. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but 1 train worth modelling is IR319 "Kurt Tucholsky" from Berlin Lichtenburg - Malmo via Sassnitz. During 1999/2000 this was booked for a class 155 , and was only a short rake of stock ; when I did the train it was a neurot 155 with bibs. The IR network was in it's heyday then before the rancid white worms arrived , plenty of scope for decent trains with unusual power ; remember that there was also an Urlaubs Express to Seebad Herringsdorf , worked by a 219 from Stralsund. If you can get hold of a copy, the EK Blue book on Interregio is full of information and inspiring pics , also the "Janes pictorial" style "Unterwegs mit der Interegio".

I can see where you're coming from there. My first trips to Germany were 1999/2000 when there was that great variety of older and newer stock , it was that that fired my interest. Nowadays , I'm more of a DR era 4 man , mainly because the only units were ferkeltaxis , everything else being loco hauled. What were you thinking of using for the Privatbahn? Bemo 650 single unit?

I do like the weathered 232 & 202. Will be watching this one

When you mentioned 37s , I thought of 37068 "Grainflow" in either Railfreight Red Stripe or RFD diamonds :icon_drool: If this idea progresses to the standard of Chittle then it certainly will be something worth seeing.