ColinW

Hi Andy, Dave is now living in Norfolk, but he is a lifetime meber of the club now. We felt that the layout was best to be left as it was scenically, the work we have done iin the last month or so, was what we felt neccesary as it was going to exhibitions on a regular occurance. Will look forward to meeting you at Tonbridge in February, keep an eye on the thread about the show. top see what is there. Colin

Hi Andy, Yes it was Denis's layout, a group of Tonbridge MRC member's bought from him a couple of years ago to save it from being broken up. How long ago were you in Tonbridge MRC, I am now the secretary of the club and have been in the club for 13 years, so possibly (probably) remember you. Colin

All the uncouplers have now been fitted and wired into the control panel, and the track cleaned in readiness for going to Brighton this weekend. Any RM Webbers going please say hello. Colin

Here are a couple of photos of the first of the uncouplers being fitted into the layout. Again apologies about the standard of the pics, only have my mobile available to take the pics with. Uncoupling plate in position on track, next to cattle dock. The point motor that activates the uncoupler being fited in position. The block also acts as a limiter on how high the point motor will raise the uncoupler. The uncoupler being electrically tested before being wired up to the layout. Will hopefully have the other 4 made and fitted before we go to Brighton next week. Colin

The first uncoupler has been made and fitted alongside the cattle dock. A Seep point motor is being used to operate the uncoupler, the central wire from brass plate is soldered to the latching pin, have also strengthened the wire with solder to prevent slackness from the movement. It was then electrically tested before finishing the wiring under the board. All that I have to do with this one will be to wire it into the control panel, probably next week when I have done the other 4 uncouplers. Colin

That roof is getting ever more impressive Ron. Colin

Had it confirmed last night that after Brighton in a couple of weeks time, Avon Junction's next outing will be at Tenterden in March 2012. Colin

The way you have the station laid out Gordon, you can just imagine the heavy expresses thundering through, whilst the local suburban trains, freights & parcels carry on slowly. It will be great to watch what you do with this one. Colin

Hmmmm a scary warning a week before Halloween , hopefully no trick or treating going on, on here Colin

the aroma would cause queues wanting to look behind there though . Colin

That screen will just make people more curious as to what you have to hide behind it Colin

Well, managed to getting the lighting sorted out over the weekend, just some B&Q wall spotlights fixed to a cross piece that is attached to a piece of 2"x1" planed timber about 3' long. This is then bolted to the legs. We have 6 such lights currently and these are to cover the main operating area, but a couple more may be added later. I have also started on the additional uncouplers and these will be fitted by the cattle dock, goods shed, bay platform, timber yard building & another one on the main platform for shunting purposes, this means that all the goods yard area sidings will have at least one uncoupler (goods shed & cattle dock siding to have two). We will be using point motors on these to begin with, as we have them available to us now. Colin

Its great to see the progress you have made on this layout. Colin

Having been at the Uckfield show today, with a couple of the other owners, we had a chat about what our work should be for the layout over the next couple of months. As mentioned earlier, we are going to put floodlights on the layout, we have this equipment already and should be able to do this over the next week or so and should be with us at Brighton in November. There is also a possibility that we will have fitted 4/5 uncouplers around the goods yard area, which will allow us to shunt in the goods yard and also keep things moving whilst some trains have a very quick turn round in the fiddleyards. After Brighton, the new bolt on fiddleyard ends will be made. Also we have started looking at the stock we run, and how we can detail them, especially some of the older stock, more of this later. Colin

That roof looks stunning now, will be incredible when it is finished. Colin

As promised, here are some pictures of the work that was being done on Sunday. showing the prepared space for the track selection switch. The push buttons you can see have now been withdrawn. This shows the electrics for the track selection switch and the Fulgrex point motors before fitting. the 3 way point after the peco point motors have been removed and before the Fulgrex motors are installed. The Grange is the biggest loco we use on Avon Junction, so if that can clear the motors all the stock should. Having installed everything, the fiddleyard was attached to the rest of the layout for full testing. To confirm that the point motors are in the correct position for each track, there are 2 LEDs and both have to be lit to confirm track ( a lot easier than operators pressing push buttons several times and then looking to see if points are correct. This is just an overall view of the layout. Well it is a Sunday with works being carried out, so a quiet day in the station. The 3 wagons that can be seen beside the cattle dock were helping us decide where an uncoupler would be located in that area. Colin

Those etches look great Ron, will look forward to seeing the pictures of them all in place (shortly no doubt) Colin

We had a good day yesterday working on Avon Junction, the point motors and track selection mechanism is now fitted in one of our fiddleyard's (the one with the thatched cottage on it.) and was tested and proved to be very successful (another may be fitted at the the other end.) We also highlighted several other areas where we can 'improve' the layout, this includes lighting for exhibitions, increasing the size of the bolt-on additions to each 3 track fiddleyard area, to 12", and several more uncouplers in the goods yard area. We have the ability to seperate the goods yard area from the main line controller and use a hand held controller to run the goods yard, so at future shows more shunting may be taking place. Will add some photo's later this week. Colin

Avon Junction is being put up this weekend to allow for the new point motors and track selection mechanism to be fitted to a fiddleyard, and also to allow us to carry out any minor repairs and stock testing, as it will be due to go to the Brighton MRC exhibition on the weekend of November 12-13. Will try and get some more pictures when it is up. Colin

It was great to meet the guys on the layout at Folkestone, and agree with the others it is a great layout to watch. Colin

The long building looks great on the layout Chris, nice to see some of the other areas of the layout as well. Colin

I like the way you have done the engine shed area. its great to catch up on this layout and look forward to seeing more soon hopefully. Colin

Definitely not Ron . Colin

:blink: (Totally speechless!) Colin