melmerby

Hi Iain The advantage of the dongle is that someone might have a home layout, exhibition layout also working on something at a club. Only the dongle needs to move, it can be used on any PC Using other methods would require three licences, surely? (unless the PC is moved to each layout!) Cheers Keith

Complete with buffers and couplings. I think it may be in Bangalore (Bengalaru) or somewhere else in Karnataka, If so AFAIK they don't have any tram systems. Keith

Talgo type trains have been operating for many years without a problem (1968-) See this demo: Keith The Variable gauge trains are relatively modern but Talgo axle-less trains have been around for a long time. They were originally designed for their light weight.

See here: http://parquemineroderiotinto.es/ Keith 11 Euros for a steam train ride doesn't seem a bad price. Here is the Garratt that you could see in the background: https://goo.gl/maps/LHktvWGNGiv

Hordes of Gold Finches in their regular stop-over chat room (top of next door's ash tree) this afternoon. Four of them here: (30x zoom hand held compact) Keith

Depends if you are hauling on the level or up a gradient. On the level more than nine coaches is no problem but it is challenged on the gradient as I mentioned earlier Keith

I wonder whether there might be room for some extra ballast in the boiler area? It is IMHO not as heavy as it should be based on the overall bulk. I shall have to investigate further. Keith

It wasn't very clear that what he was describing was any different from what had gone before. Unfortunately his sometimes over jocular presentation doesn't help. Keith

Rather a lot of protection for a tram line? This sort of thing suffices in the UK: https://goo.gl/maps/bRcQUKcxkaU2 Keith

Good one on Spain. Nice variety of trains on offer and you can see how Spain has changed from importing TGVs for it's first AVE services to building it's own Talgo trains to use. Fair bit of history as well. Keith

I thought it was something Noel Edmonds thought up. Condiments or no Condiments. Dill.......... Keith

Stop. You'll get me going on the Daily Wail and it's shifty proprietor. Kwith

That's a new one on me. I always thought he was an outspoken supporter of company owned & operated premises and made a big song and a dance about it some years ago during one of his other politcal/economic crusades. Mind you he has somersaulted before on "red-line" policies. Convinced that the Euro was a failure he stated that JDW would never accept payment in Euros. That changed when he realised Europeans would willingly pay in Euros in London and other touristy hotspots and go elsewhere if they couldn't. He was dead against a smoking ban and said it would be bad for business, but he changed his mind and was one of the first pub chains to introduce a ban before the actual deadline (sales went up). Keith

Too many visits to 'Spoons by the look of it! Keith

Wetherspoons = beer. Where are we off topic? Oh, sorry we were doing politics. Keith

IMHO ABInbev, once the proud brewer of Stella in Leuven, now the assimilator and exterminator of the world's breweries. Keith

I think he risks alienating 50% of his customers and placating 50% of his customers. What effect that will have on his customer base I don't know. Overt politicising by big business just annoys me and Wetherspoons IMHO has overstepped the mark. He makes claims that are "true" whilst berating other's claims as being "lies". As most people in the UK know by now there has already been too many vacuous claims from both sides of the argument and the accuracy or otherwise of many will not be ascertained until it happens (or doesn't). Keith

You mean they actually have them? I hadn't noticed! Keith

Unfortunately not, or at least I haven't checked if any locos have springs (I have mostly tank engines & 0-6-0s) Keith

I'll set out the reasoning why I made my comments. Gleaned from many books over the years The Princess was designed when there was a need to provide engines suitable for the long journey to the north with the heaviest expresses. The King which Stanier was familiar with from his time at Swindon would be powerful enough but the firebox would be a limiting factor. A new wide firebox design was produced but keeping some major dimensions & features from the King. The cylinders were raised (for clearance purposes?) but kept their relative position on the frames. The resulting loco was good but not the best that could be derived from the package. When more locomotives were required Stanier reviews the good and bad points of the Princess That long coupled wheelbase designed for a long boiler 4-6-0 had to go as it was of no benefit. (probably more of a hindrance?) The GWR's dogmatic cylinder positioning and steam passage layout again provide no benefit and could be improved, by moving the cylinders forward, although a marginal increase of quarter inch diameter in size was made, the stroke remained the same. The loco would also benefit from greater heating surfaces. The boiler was obvious generally of a sound design as was the firebox but improvements could be made. The boiler barrel length, tube plate distance and front ring dimensions were retained but more tube heating surface was provided. The firebox was also improved with more heating surface, the dimensional increases of firebox and boiler are not dramatic as (AFAIK) the firebox length & height stays the same but the width is increased somewhat and provides worthwhile gains in steam raising performance. The overall increase of heating surface was in the order of 15% Change in wheel size - No idea why - Although you explained earlier that was Riddles doing! To me these changes suggested development of an existing design rather than a brand new clean sheet job, forgetting what had gone before. Cheers Keith Edited to make clearer my observations!

Ok you know best. Keith

Ah! But that's clever German engineering, it knows best! Keith

A question about the Chainages. Are all the siding ends, points etc. always measured as if they are alongside the running line, even if at 45o etc.? Cheers Keith

Agreed. I watch for the scenery,culture etc. and not just trains (Is that the only episode where he never set foot on a train, tram, subway etc? ) Keith

The idiot tried a long way around the closed crossing and came unstuck! Bit puzzled at what exactly was going on. The other vehicles are from CSX and the crossing is coned off. Keith