Jaggzuk

Cheers Al. Well I did end up having to follow the train round and the operate the points as I went by the lever frame. I guess I could have also hid myself under the layout with my Smartphone and watched it from there. But I was a bit worried in case I messed up my routing and derailed it crashing it to the floor! The top for rail to the very top of the camera (the rocker switch on top ) is a total of 55mm. There is just 1mm clearance underneath the cradle to the rail. Next time I built a layout I will have better clearances and so could use a normal wagon. For example the camera fits perfectly on a Wrenn Lowmac wagon with 63mm clearance. One thing I do like about the camera is that the angle of view is such that the track stays pretty much in the middle of the frame even when going round corners. Some train cam videos I have seen online appear to have been shoot too far in the distance such that you see the lineside on the outside of the curve as you go round a corner rather then where you are actually going, if that makes sense?

Ok, so it was too obvious then! I recently splashed on a Tomtom Bandit barrel video camera, ready for some family holidays, biking and general messing about on water etc.. But I also chose a barrel type camera as I wanted the boys to be able to video cab rides on the layout. The cool feature of the camera is that you can use a Smartphone of Tablet to act as the viewfinder, so you can actually be the driver of the train in real time. The camera creates a mini WIFI network so you can control the camera from the phone and also stream direct to the phone in real time. As the clearance on the layout under the flyover and in the tunnels was a bit tight I had to make a special cradle wagon. A normal low loader wagon would be ideal if you have a bit more clearance So here is the finished item A bit tight, but it was made to measure And the final show off bit, the first cab ride video around the complete layout. https://youtu.be/QV_fc1kmfCw Sorry for the lineside clutter and dead animals, hopefully the next video will be better directed and will include other trains running.

Wow coming on really fast. Just adding legs make it look like a proper little layout!

Well I think you can tell Spring has arrived and the garden and family outings have overtaken any time for railway efforts!! However, one little project has been under progress and has finally been finished. The boys have yet to see/play with it and I am not going to let on here just yet as to what it is for, but, here are a few sneaky peaks in to what is my first completely scratch built item of rolling stock. I just need to sort a few things out "behind the scenes" before I can show the final result, but least to say I am quite excited at the result and future possibility!! Guesses welcome :-) The black 0-6-0 has just joined our shed. It was one of my Dads old locos and the one that I loved to play with as a youngster; it holds a lot of memories. After a quick search online, I found out it was made by Wrenn and was a Class R1 0-6-0. After just a bit a light oil, it still runs very well after 40 years! So I shall give it a further clean up and then chip it.

Nice progress Nick Do you think the soldering the droppers to the fish plates is worth the effort vs just soldering to the side of the rail once the track is fixed in place? I read about 'invisible' dropper connection to the underside or rails, but to be honest I cannot see any of my connections now I have weathered the track. Also, you may find you have more flexibility of wire location soldering once the track is fixed. Ah, you did not apply the golden rule, the Chainlad holds the the pin the Engineer uses the hammer ;-) I heard a story when started out in Civil engineering where an Engineer was doing some setting out with his Chainlad and was eyeing in a line of steel pins for a road kerbline. When he had got is right and still holding the pin he said to the Chainlad "Ok, hit it", so the lad swung the sledge hammer and hit the pin, but the Engineer had forgotten to remove his thumb from the top of the pin!!! Do you intend to ballast over the Peco foam underlay? I think there are three main issues with it. Firstly you cannot hammer track pins full down otherwise you end up with lots of depressions in the track, secondly it just looks naff (IMPO) if no ballast is used. and finally not sure what its life span is before it breaks down, see this chaps experience http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/106980-model-railway-restoration-rebuilding-the-yard/page-1 But on the plus side, I think it will have great sound deadening properties?

Exciting progress Nick.

Its not so much that first radius curves are not to be considered, it is more that I was suggesting a rule that would help the layout to be future proof and would not create running frustration/disappointment. Combining first radius and a steep gradient, will significantly reduce loco hauling capability. From person experience for example, I found that some of my old Replica coaching kept derailing on my 2nd radius. When inspected close up I found that due to the coupling types on the bogies that the buffers were binding on the inside of the curve and causing the coach to tilt and derail. So these would have been even worse on 1st radius. I had to modify the couplings to solve the problem. It is also wise to consider what new modern rolling stock might be bought in the future and the numbers of wheels/arrangement vs the minimum radius these can negotiate. I think with the test board is a good idea to check this out on.

I may be wrong, but I think the whole cantilever gantry (an head?) is old and had been stored for quite some time down in the NWR yard off Boroughbridge Road next to the station. It can bee seen in the June 2015 Streetview image. I had seen it there and always wonder why, my memory is that it had been in the yard for longer than 2015. Recycling hardware?

Hi Nick To mark out the plan I just cut slots at regular intervals and then marked using black felt tip, a bit laborious, but it did the job. If using flexi track, I just increased the frequency of the marks.

Hi Nick So glad to find another layout for a father and son, you will definatley enjoy the build and playhtime together!! I think this layout plan is a great start as you have incorporated lots of interest with the three loops, tunnels, flyover, branch line and mail line station with goods sidings. It will keep your play/running time filled with fun. I have a few obs if that is OK? 1) The main line station is very busy trackwork wise. There is almost no space for any platforms? I think you could easily loose some of the crossover ladders which appear duplicated. I would loose the middle one to start with. I do like the location of the level crossing. 2) Move the 3 three goods sidings more towards the middle of the board and that would free up space for a platform 3) You may need some space to create the bay platform at the bottom? Here is a modified layout as a suggestion, I have swapped some of the points around at the left-hand junction so to get longer platforms. Secondly, the the branch line is very problematic in my view. I wanted a branch line but really struggled to get one on my original plan as a 4' wide board is just too narrow, so dropped the idea. It just never looked right with the main line track being in in a cutting and just looked too odd. The three main issues for the branch I see are: a) You have used R1 curves, a big no no really. You will just find they are too tight and will seriously limit what rolling stock can use it, plus, added to a steep gradient this will cause real running issues - tight curves on a gradient limit the load haul capacity of a loco significantly b) Currently you only have 50mm clearance between the track at the branch buffers and the line that runs underneath in the tunnel. You will need a minimum of say 75mm. I have 70mm rail to rail at my flyover and have found out that the Hornby Railroad crane jib when at rest hits the bridge!! c) The gradient to achieve 75mm clearance would now be greater that 3%. Again, if you go too steep, you will find running issues with some trains. If you can work with Peco Medium radius points as the minimum rather then Hornby/Peco Setrack as these have a gentler radius and your rolling stock will derail less. I have used Peco Setrack in my goos yard and have found some Railroad freight stock constantly derails on the Vs. General rules I suggest to follow for the type of layout you are building: 1. No gradient greater then 3% - it can help to spilt your gradients so that the main station is at say +40 and then you have both an incline to +80 and an decline to zero thus achieving 80mm at the flyover in half the distance 2. No curve tighter than R2. 3. Medium radius points or better. 4. 75-80mm track to track clearance or better. 5. Less is more. 6. Leave some space for town buildings around the main line station. PM me your SCARM plan if you want, I will send you mine. Really looking forward to watching your progress! Kind regards Paul

Good progress has been made with the IEP platform extension at Northallerton. The section over the bridge still has to be done, with the old deck currently sat on scaffolding. Also, the new cantilever signal Y476 has now been commissioned and the old one removed. Parts of the old signal have been retained, in particular the theater route indicator box.

Very interesting, is there any further info on the web? Nice to know there is a bit more science behind the app rather than just a gimmick. Possibly a good idea on a new thread rather than flooding this one with lots of manipulated images.

Thats a great App, and one that actually creates some very good effects. So many of these sort of photo auto filter apps do not actually do a very good job, but I really like some of the effects in this one. Here's my Dreams filter efforts, just love this filter. York Bewdley North signal box

Great artistic image and nice App too. Can I ask which filter did you use?

View of the platform extension taken this morning. In this view you can see the new grey insulator pods in the OLE headspan, The beginnings of the foundations for the new platform can be seen. These these are the square steel plates which are on top of steel tubes which I am assuming may be helical piles (like this http://www.fliscrewpiles.co.uk/screw-piles.php. Looks like signal will have to be move.

Came across this unit movement 373013 & 014 on the move https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWLQv0EyQdg But then found out that units 013 and 014 had actually been stored "on track" for over 9 months: Photo dated 18-09-16 https://www.flickr.com/photos/136510631@N08/29470633520/in/photostream/ Google street view has it still there Oct 2016 https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4224241,0.3184373,3a,15y,216.21h,90.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRHwAf1FjeOjHF3iRylTfyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 But had been there back in June 2016 https://www.britishrailways.tv/train-videos/2016-09/withdrawn-eurostar-373013-373014-stored-at-fawkham-junction-11th-june-2016/

Northallerton's 20m platform extension starts in earnest this weekend 25th Feb. https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/network-rail-to-extend-platform-at-northallerton-station/. Will post a few progress photos as an when interesting things happen.

Not to go too much off topic here, but just to say that work started a couple of weekends ago at Northallerton for the Platform 2 extension. Vortock fencing is up. The OLE headspan has had insulators moved towards the track so that the horizontal wires over the new platform extension are not live. Also, signal and track circuit cabling is currently being relocated. Also, yellow track monitoring retro reflective targetss have been added to the webs of the rails.

All things come in small packages. Just goes to show you can have a nice looking bridge without having use up too much space. When I can remember where this actually is I will post and update.

Managed to catch my first viewing of the new Class 800. Popped down to York station over lunch Friday 17th and saw units 001 and 002 coupled and perfoming diesel running testing between York and Darlington. Saw 5X13 (DAR to YRK) and 5X14 (YRK to DAR) http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97142/2017/02/17/advanced. Looking at the timings, they must have been doing high speed testing on the Northallerton race track; 18min NTR to YRK? In one of Unit 001 coaches there were quite a few on board computer work stations. One PC was showing a live video stream of the panto. There were two powered coaches operating per 5 car set. Set 001 had no seat, but the each empty coaches were weighed down with lots of 20kg weights to simulate seats and I guess passengers. My first impressions was mixed. The nose looks great and quiet even under diesel power. I thought the door step looks high in relation to York platforms. Not sure if this this meets Access for All policy. Was surprised by the sliding doors as these are not being very aerodynamic. But I have read previous post on Hitachi's view of plug doors. Even so they just look dated and the door frames will end up catch all the dirt and grim, so an issue for them being kept clean in auto washers? The cables between the coaches just looks mad, as it creates a nice ladder between the coaches for anyone mad enough to want to trespass and get on the roof. Here are a few pic taken on the day. They will look so much better when they are carrying the proper TOC colourful liveries.

A little project that is on a very slow burn, but was ignited whilst I was doing my Class 43 HST project, is a Class 31 in BR blue. I have, from old, three Class 31s, and Triang, and Airfix and a Lima. Both the Triang and Airfix version are motor dead and the Lima is a fairly good runner with its Ringfield motor (currently DC only) and the bogies look fine Triang top, Airfix middle Lima bottom Triang right, Airfix middle Lima left Now, I am what could be said desperate for a good BR blue Class 31 in my collection. My childhood memory is that they were such a versatile loco back in the the 70s, and 80s and could be seen hauling long and short rakes of passenger coaches and all sorts of freight and departmentals trains. So whilst I wait for Horny to produce another version of R2649, as they are like hens teeth second hand and well over £110, I am left with a bit of a dliemma. My loco MR shop has one of the current Hornby Railroad BR blues for £44, Ok sounds like a good buy, but I know it will have to be super detailed to look right. Or do I buy the spare parts (Chassis, dummy and motor bogies) super-detail and then respray the old ones I have got; considering they are pretty much same moulding as the Railroad version (Triang excepted) I recon I can get a chassis, dummy and motor bogies new spares for about £34 ex postage, but only from two different supplies So, do I go the recycle option or buy the railroad version? As its going to work out a similar price before I get any of the super detail bits. As I want to super detail the 31 which ever way I go, this may involve the Railroad one being resprayed anyway. The other aspect is I have never super detailed a loco before, so messing up the old ones feels safer and maybe more satisfying. Anyway my current thinking is this. Leaving the Triang to one side, may be turn it into a scraped/parts/body donor static model one day. Buy a completely new chassis and bogies for the Aifix convert this in to a 31/4 version. Convert the Lima to DCC and see what the motor is like. If not very good then get a Railroad motor bogie and then super detail this up to be 31/0. Finally get the railroad version anyway cos of the price and super detail. So, I should end up with three different BR Blue 31s Oh yes, for me my, first super detailing project will hopefully be along the lines of: flush window, wire hand rails, lights, fan, buffer beam detail and re-spay. So any thoughts on which way I should go? Any thoughts on which way I should go?

Well it was your layout and tunnel efforts that inspired me to try and weather my card kit. But I do think the Metacalfe stone card kits suffer from a lack of relief. The brick card ones are OK and I am very happy with result of weathering my brick retaining wall. I am now experimenting with home printed kits (Scalesecene etc) and seeing how easy it it to weather them effectively. I have bought the brick version of the medium town station to build. But I need to finish the girder bridge first. However, I made a bit of a booboo in that I glued the lower plinths flush with the bottom of bridge abutment, only to realise I need had least 10mm of road sub-surface under the bridge to get up to level crossing height! So its back out with the knife and glue.

Cheers for the comment guys. I was not sure about the over all finish, but for first effort on the stone card I am happy. Might try use of the airbrush for overall grime when I come to do the long length of the retaining wall along on the right-hand side tunnel. I used Woodland Scenics Earth Colours "Green Undercoat". I goes on like a wash if mixed with a bit of water.

Can't belie we are already into February!! So little progress, not sure where the time is going. Anyway a very minor update. I have had a dabble in trying to weather the stone tunnel portals. I found this much harder to do than the brickwork retaining wall, not sure why. The overall effect is OK and will be much enhanced when I add a bit of foliage around the the base and up the buttresses. This is the before This is the effect after, but I forgot to the the tunnel parapet. I am rather pleased with my calcite treatment. I also tried to give some of the stonework a better sense of depth as the card kit just looks too flat. I think plasticard stonework would have been a better building material. But I went for speed of build. This is sort of where some of the inspiration came from: I hope to model my cutting scenics/grass on this one as well https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Totley_Tunnel_western_portal.jpg And a classic portal. https://locoyard.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/038-2014-paignton-and-dartmouth-steam-railway-view-from-pullman-devon-belle-observation-car-greenway-tunnel.jpg

A very interesting concept FREMO. Looks like a lot of fun and some great modelling.