LNERGE

Is this a real Triang tank?..

Another process here?.. https://fredstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/Hitchin-Steam-Reformer-Site-for-fredstarr.com-converted.pdf

Another experience I had at Cambridge was when I was around ten or eleven years old. I’d made it there from Letchworth by myself to watch trains. I noted a trap point had both blades standing open in the South Bay. I reported it to a member of staff. They had a look and said they’d find someone who could explain what was going on. They did find someone and the chap explained it was a wide to gauge trap and why it was like it. Neither person had to go as far as they did. It was most educational and inspirational.

A couple opf years ago i had around 30 minutes to kill waiting for a train onto the GN. I decided a good way to pass the time would be to work out how the track circuits are arranged through the scissors crossover. It was to be done in my minds eye as there are two separate track circuits on the straight lines. I'd been at this about ten minutes when a voice out of nowhere said 'would you like a cup of tea and a chat'.. I had hell n all job convincing the lady i wasn't contemplting jumping.

Super thank you. I’ve been buying these wagons as and when I see them at toy fairs etc.

Where did you get the bogies?

Many thanks for this. I’ll investigate what appears on the loco circuit board

I've done quite a few searches but nothing conclusive has turned up. Can i fit a stay alive capacitor to a Zimo MX638D decoder? The solder pads appear to be very similar to the MX634.

Again moving next door to my previous posting...

I never have got my head around what appears to be a disc signal in the four foot..

Adding lamps to the signals today. Couldn’t resist this one..

TSR restores the signal and gives it a one shot feature. The lever needs to be placed normal after each train and pulled again once B track is clear. With GR energised and A track occupied the disengagement of the signal is delayed after B track occupies until A track clears.

Let’s hope this is the only time you see this many tracks occupied. Looking magnificent.

A very quick sketch and literally a screen shot. I will try to answer any questions.

I’ve applied last wheel replacement to all the colourlights and motor operated semaphores in work I’ve done in 12inch to the foot stuff I’m involved with. It was a lesson learned from early on in doing this sort of thing. The first double headed steam service to pass one of my signals produced an outcry of reports of a signal restoring early.

In my own boxes most of the early colourlight return to danger as the last wheel passes over the block joint at the signal. 45, 42 and 40* last wheel replace. 11, 19 and 20 first wheel replace. 40* = 40 is the distant for Chettisham. ENJ ncontrolled red to yellow. Chettisham controlled yellow to green. If 40 was at green as soon as the first wheel passed over the block joint between ENJ G track circuit and Chettisham D track (not depicted) the signal changed from green to yellow. When G track cleared the signal changed from yellow to red. Earlier colourlight = last wheel replace. Newer = first wheel replace..... The latter is causing me a slight problem on my layout. A train passing the signal restores it and i see a slight reduction in speed induced by the asymetric brake. I'm starting a program of conversion to last wheel replacement to overcome this. The track circuit relay and signal control relay both need extra contacts to do this. It's proving a proper trauma to fit this all in. Edit to add.. Oops the above box diagram has 19 as a semaphore. edit to edit the edit.. I can draw the last wheel replacement circuit for you in BS376 if that helps?.

A setback after this running session. I can’t get round 11 hoppers and a brake van in the run round loop on the lower level. Everything is arranged with uncoupling ramps etc so operation down there doesn’t need the big hand. I guess one hopper is going to sit around in a siding. The wagons made several journeys between the upper and lower levels with no problems. More to the point the train wasn’t too heavy for a single class 25 to bring back up. I wonder how much difference there will be with the hoppers loaded?

They do sound rather chunky. They are growing on me. Thoughts turn to getting them painted etc. Grey with rust is first choice and a fictional private owner inscription. My search for a site for the unloading facility has been narrowed down to somewhere on the lower level of the layout. Unfortunately they seem to object going there. This section was an afterthought tunnelled down after the bulk of the layout was built. The next time I can get to run the railway I’ll investigate. There is rather a lot sticking out the side of these wagons and it’s possible something is catching. They travel the rest of the layout with ease including both return loops. The lower one is a bit tight on clearance for some stock.

Definitely something not hygroscopic

What to use as a load is going to be a question. I seem to recall black plastic beads, possibly a raw material pellet?

I did see just one of these at the toyfair on Sunday. I was out with the full tribe and forgot to go back for it once they started nagging to go. I will give one a go in due course.

The hoppers on test.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/32297024@N08/51911610926/in/photostream

I have a signalbox that has a corrugated asbestos roof it gained after being 'modified' on the 2nd June 1944. I wonder if it was an American product or simply the material of the day? I was able to source some replacement sheets from RAF Lakenheath when a WW2 building was demolished. I believe the box at Carterton dates from 1944 but can't find anything conclusive yet.