ianwales

Hi andrew Can I add a "me too" Ian

Hi Robert Thanks for posting this, superb, I started the "other" Grantham thread on RMweb, you are way ahead of me at the moment as I am still building the storage yard, When are you aiming to have this ready for the exhibition circuit? Ian

Hi No apologies needed, they say when you can see the tops of the mountains in Wales its a sign of rain, when you can't its already raining, talking of rain I'm marshalling for the F1 at Silverstone this weekend and I've just had a message from the MSA saying the campsites and car parks are already waterlogged! Ian

Hi Ouch!! Cymru am byth Ian PS: only closed when the english are about!

Hi Gilbert I found a photo of the prototype signal on Page 9 of BR Steaming through Peterborough, now I don't profess to be an expert on signalling, but, with my signalman's hat on I would say that is a stop signal placed there to protect the crossover, a driver wouldn't be allowed to disregard that signal in case the crossover was set aginst it causing a run through. Trains stopping in the platform would have the signal cleared to allow them to access the full length of the platform, and fouling the crossover in the process. The other giveaway that it is a signal in its own right and not a reapeater is that it is fitted with a white diamond plate indicating the line was track circuited and therefore releiving the train crew of the requirement to remind the bobby of the prescence of the train when detained at the signal. If as you say the starter signals were further out I think what you have there is a model of North Box's home signal. Ian

Hi Gilbert Love the photos, especially the 2nd one, has the feel of a gloomy wet day about it, I suspect the driver may be in trouble though for overunning the stop signal and fouling the crossover!!!! Ian

Hi Granted it is the best, but, the downside is it costs £181 plus motor and you've still got to build it or get it built for which price you can possibly get 2 or 3 Bachmanns. Ian

Hi Did D&S do a model of a GNR 8 Wheel Brake van and if so does anyone know if Mr Pinnock would be interested in releasing it again in 4mm scale please? Ian

Hi Gilbert I hope you have started planning major celebrations for page no 100! Ian

Hi iain Look forward to following progress on this layout, what period are you going to be modelling and are you intending to have the watford EMU's passing in the background? Ian

The Banner Repeaters were not always present on signalling diagrams and plans, when I came to Port Talbot PSB there were 9 banner repeaters none of which was indicated on the panel diagram and one of the questions the signalling inspector used to ask before passing us out was how many banner repeaters were there and what were the locations. Ian

Hi Gordon Really enjoying this thread, looking at you most recent track plan are the tracks in red at a higher level than those in blue, also, there doesn't seem to be any connection between the two, is this intentional or is there a connection omitted from the plan? Ian

Hi Gilbert Nice to see some more photos of PN, just one question, wasn't the final destination of the Colchester service Glasgow rather than Edinburgh? Looking at the Carriage working book I have it shows 4 passenger coaches(6 on FO) and no less than 8 BG's Ian

Hi Gilbert Another superb set of photos, funnilly enough I don't notice the bookshelves unless you actually mention them in the caption!!! Ian

Hi Gilbert 34A had 73071 along with a Black 5 no 44911 from Feb 56 to May 57 for AWS trials, the other 3 Std 5's allocated to 34A were 73157/8/9 from Nov 57 to Nov 58. Ian

Hi Gordon I am doing it slightly different in that I just drop a feed where needed, but, rather than rely on just the fishplate to transmit current I bond each joint with a small loop of wire. I can do that on the top of the basebord and avoid dripping solder!! Ian

Hi Gilbert I think I have mentioned before that a friend of mine has a model of Chippenham on which he runs a sequence representing the 24 hour timetable, there are something in the way of 320 moves in that time and he reckons it takes about 12 weeks to get back to the beginning of the sequence operating twice a week. Ian

Hi Beast66606 Without wanting to take this thread away from a superb layout I think you are getting confused between permissive working of freight trains over goods lines between signalboxes and permissive working of passenger stations to allow the joining and splitting of passenger trains, the latter of which would apply to Lime Street, both are known as permissive working, but, are governed by different rules. I work both according to which panel I am working within the box. Ian (32 years in the signalling grades, currently permissive working Swansea High St)

Hi Gilbert More great photos and I enjoyed the Model Rail article, My wife's comment was it was very realistic, but, the signals and ballast were too clean! On a different note, you've mentiond in connection with various phoos that for example, a gateshead looc would work the up tlisman and I am aware that there were certain KX and Haymarket corr tender A4's dedicated to the Elizabethan, but, is this info written down anywhere as to which shed was responsible for working which trains or is this from your own memories and notes that were made at the time? Ian

Hi all Slightly different problem from this, Scene in the Davies household yesterday after lunch Me: Just going up to the layout room to do some soldering dear SWMBO: (suddenly decides) I Need to go to town to fetch some things, can you come and sit in the car with Dulcie(our 2 yr old) to save me getting her out of the car seat, We will only be 10 mins!!!!! We Got home 2 hours later in time to fetch the 2 boys from school and then the various taxing services that dads provide for clubs and practises, hence nothing got done on the layout, SWMB 1 Me 0. Ian