PenrithBeacon

7 hours ago, Mike Storey said:

Some more cheerful news from the Manchester end, but it seems like chicken-feed to me:

 

https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/government-allocates-84m-to-enhance-reliability-as-manchester-rail-blueprint-emerges/61160.article

 

They still can't bring themselves to admit that four tracking between Piccadilly and Oxford Road is the only sensible medium term solution to many of the reliability issues, preferring instead little bits of tinkering. However, some grander schemes emerging, but by no means approved as yet.

 

I think the idea of quadrupling the South Junction line is nuts; absolutely crackers. No one in Manchester will ever agree to it.

The link above isn't useful,  try this https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/rail-minister-hit-train-delays-23364147v

Duplicate post

TfL reckon it takes just 2mins to walk from Alexandra Palace stn to venue! Barmy!

I think I'll use W3 bus from Finsbury Park to get there. Not sure about return. 

19 minutes ago, kipford said:

Thank you to the organisers for a very enjoyable weekend from the Hope under Dinmore team. It was great to be out again after the two year hiatus. David M can let me have a copy of your photo of my  crane tank please? 

Done!

Great show, surprised so many people aren't wearing a mask though.

Best of luck, but I think you're attempting too much too soon. Join the EMGS and join a club which has a EM layout/test track. Get a working three vehicle train and then think about track. Gives you something to run if only as a distraction when you get overwhelmed by the issues. 

Believe me I know about issues and it's great to talk to a mate down the club.

On 06/03/2022 at 22:23, Paul Cram said:

P4 is not "far more difficult" than OO or EM if you are building kits. It requires the same amount of care to get good running. It is more difficult than opening a box. I could nvever get OO vehilcles to stay on the track as I can't build them perfectly square, howver my P4 vehicles run perfectly.

Yeah me too. P4 wagon and coach kits are far easier than 00. But locos can be more difficult particularly as the compensation regimes are often far more difficult than they need to be.

I have found that most P4 loco RTR conversions are best done with Comet chassis kits (although I haven't attempted much), but I have also found that following the EMGS conversions (intended for EM not P4) works well too. Compensation isn't essential but it does improve running if you pick up power from the rails. But then if you go down the battery RC route you can solve that issue too.

I'm surprised that the OP seems to want to go the whole hog. I think baby steps are a great idea. Do a brake van, stop and think; do a wagon, ditto. Do a tank engine  (following EMGS manual) then you have a train! Yippee!

25 minutes ago, Jeff Smith said:

Understood but being labeled a 'bodger' might upset some people.....

It doesn't upset this P4 bodger.

http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/model_omwb189.html

https://www.themodelrailwayclub.org/class-20-conversion-to-em-with-gibson-wheels/

https://yeovilmrg.org/converting-the-kernowbachmann-4tc-to-em-gauge/

https://accurascale.co.uk/blogs/lets-get-involved/converting-the-pfa-to-em-gauge-with-simon-howard-lets-get-involved

https://www.modelrailforum.com/threads/Bachmann-em-conversion.22221/

https://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=11998&forum_id=150

There's loads!

My experience is with P4 but I'm an EMGS member 

Converting coach and freight bogies is easy, just pop out the wheels and replace. Many EM modellers just alter the B/B to suit as the  profile is much the same. RTR wagons need to have solebars and W-irons thinned, but it just needs a bit of patience.

Converting dmus isn't too difficult, use Gibson or Branchlines wheelsets. Converting diesel locos is a little more difficult as converting dmus, but use Gibson or Ultrascale wheelsets. Doing steam engines is more of a challenge, but again Gibson and Ultrascale do a lot of wheels.

Best to join the EMGS, there's lots of destructions in the manual. 

5 hours ago, AY Mod said:

 

What happens elsewhere has no bearing on the rules stipulated for this private event. I fully support Rob's intention to make the event as safe as possible for all and the rules are not asking anything difficult, uncomfortable or untoward.

 

1. LFT packs are still available free of charge (just ordered another pack now) so make sure you have some in hand ahead of the event. If you don't get 'free' ones it's evident that some retailers such as Boots will be selling them so there's no reason to abandon that intent. 

 

2. Covid passes - at least make sure you generate a pass (valid for 28 days) by 31st March or arrange for a printed version.

 

3. Masks - as long as everyone can comply with 1 and 2 then this can be left to personal choice.

 

These are the conditions of entry to the event even if we are down to very low levels of incidence.

Okay i get that, these are the rules so get over it! As has been mentioned elsewhere you don't have to go and, regrettably,  I won't. Tough.

Having said that I think it's true that Covid-19 is with us for all eternity, forever. Absolutely forever.

In the light of that is the group going to insist on testing forever? And are they going to refuse to attend other shows that don't demand LFT results? How many members, I wonder, went to the Doncaster show which was pretty free and easy (but I was one of the many who wore the optional mask).

It just seems to be an over the top reaction to waning pandemic. Sorry. 

BBC News - Covid: Tube and bus mask rules to be scrapped in London
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-60494230

Things are moving in the right direction 

Last Thursdays edition of The Guardian mentioned that excess deaths are now lower than they were in February 2020 ie before the pandemic. 

How is this affected by the government's latest announcement removing all restrictions? 

I notice that Scaleforum is planned for the Cressex  but no mention yet of Scalefour North 2022. Is a show planned for 2022?

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/feb/14/station-to-station-a-spotters-guide-to-prefab-design-on-the-railways

I went today, arriving at 2 after a 2h45 drive.

It was still heaving but calmed down after 3. Didn't matter much just nice to be at a show again. 

On the question of masks: lots of people, most I thought (including me), were wearing them which was good I thought particularly as there was no chance of social distancing. No chance at all. A personal choice, but a good one.

I noticed in The Guardian last Thursday that excess deaths are fewer now than they were pre-lockdown so we shouldn't be too condemnatory of those who draw different conclusions and I'm starting to come out of my hermitage at long last,  I might get my hair cut next week. 

I enjoyed it,  thanks 

I'm  being told that my Jazz doesn't qualify for the ULEZ charge but that Alexandra Palace is within the congestion zone.

Public transport is by far the best way to get Ally Pally but I'm boycotting trains and buses because of Covid-19. 

Perhaps I'll give it a miss this year. 

The finished wagon after a bit of work with W&N Burnt Sienna. I think it's an improvement 

I bought two of these before Christmas and they are a great disappointment. The weathering is grossly overdone as the picture, I think, shows. The centre panels on the picture shows its condition after I had a go at it  the outer panels are still in the 'as received ' state.

I don't think it will be possible to do a decent job on them unless I strip off every trace of paint and go again. The Parkside kits would have been a better idea.

On 04/12/2021 at 22:21, Dunsignalling said:

Would that be a Gulf Red herring?

To what period does the Gulf Red apply, please.

21 hours ago, Vistisen said:

My colleague who lives in Copenhagen City center sold his car and bought one of these. https://www.fribikeshop.dk/prod/45-8422701/winther-kangaroo-luxe-shimano-steps-di2. Mind you it cost over £5000.

I would have thought that electric bikes are cold in weather like this. When I was a cyclist it was the effort put in that kept me warm. Just trundling about with a electric motor for power is a recipe for getting very cold.