jpendle

When adding a sound decoder, is a speaker already fitted to the loco or is that something which needs to be added? Thanks, John P

I think they are assuming that you don't need to see the turnout numbers on the main control panel, once the numbers are assigned you can forget about them, as you just touch the relevant icon to change the point. Routes on the other hand ..... Regards, John P

I have the Z21 and a single slip. The app allows me to setup 3 routes, as you would expect. Each route has its own configuration for the point motors. Looking at the options for a double slip I get 4 route options. You have to set the configuration yourself to get the point motors to do what you want. E.g. the left right route could be any combination of 0101,0110,1001, or 1010. You have to try each setting on each route to see which works based on the wiring of your point motors. Regards, John P

N Gauge Electrofrogs don’t need to be modified I am led to beleive that OO do. Regards, John P

You’ll also need a DCC system to control the engine, if you haven’t got one already! Regards, John P

The z21 does not have the functionality of the Z21. I use the Z21 on a large N Gauge layout and like it. I use the phone/iPad app for control. Regards, John P

Hi Tony, The Z21 works fine with NCE Switch 8's, etc. BUT there are a couple of things to note. 1) Due to ambiguity in the standard around accessory addresses you will find that addresses 0-4 on the Z21 don't do anything. To get the addresses 1-8 on the Switch 8 working, you have to sedn data to addresses 5-12 (increment the NCE address by 4 on the Z21) 2) Turn off Railcom on the Z21 as some US products don't like it. 3) I found that my Switch 8's didn't fully switch on (boot) until I had sent a command to any other thing on the DCC bus. So after a complete power down, you need to place a loco on the tracks, send it a command (lights on for example), and then the Switch 8's will finish there power up sequence and work fine. This drove me crazy when it first happened as the Switch 8's appeared to work or not randomly, until I figured out what was going on. Regards, John P

OK what is better about the new app? I like the old app, why should I change? Regards, John P

OK what is better about the new app? I like the old app, why should I change? Regards, John P

Take the train to Malmo in Sweden. It's a short journey across the Oresund crossing (bridge and tunnel) 45 mins from the centre and 24 mins from the airport.. Depending on your schedule you can get a train to Odense (about 1:45 hours) and visit the Danish Railway Museum. Regards, John P

And a bonus!! Just saw on the opentraintimes site that the Wilton to Knowlsey Bin Liner is now routed over the old L&Y Atherton line from Man Vic, this is the only freight that works this line. Now a question for those who may know. Originally, this service ran from Rochdale through Piccadilly and then on the Liverpool line to Parside Junction and then up the WCML. The route through Atherton would seem to be the better one as it is shorter and less congested, so why the delay in adopting it? Was route knowledge the issue? Regards, John P

Thanks for all your replies, the sectional appendix and the opentraintimes website have answered all my questions. They are a lot better than trying to interpret Google satellite images, especially when the Down Slow is in shadow! Regards, John P

I've been looking at the tracks running south from Wigan NW to Golborne and I am very confused as to which lines are which. I know that the Up and Down main (fast?) lines run though the middle of WNW on Platforms 4 and 5, and that platforms 1 and 6 are the Up and down loops. Immediately north of the station the WCML is a 2 track formation, but south running past spring branch and as far as Golborne Junc things get confusing. There are numerous ladders and crossings and there is a burrowing junction near Springs branch. Immediately to the North of Golborne junction the formation is 4 tracks, which I'm numbering 1-4 counting from the Liverpool side. Here's here I get lost (especially if I were driving a train). Tracks 1 & 2 merge, they then merge with track 3 and then there is a facing crossover to track 4. It appears to be UP and Down slow connecting to UP and Down Fast to result in a 2 track line south of the junction. But at Wigan we have Down Slow, Down Fast, Up Fast, and Up slow. Where is the switch over made, and what about the 6 track section at Springs Branch?? Ideally I'd like to see a map which names each individual track but as I can't find one I thought I'd ask the experts on here. Regards, John P

Hi Ben, Do Rapido have any of the City of Birmingham units for us foreigners or can we order them direct from you? Regards, John P

I would agree, just look at the historical OS maps available on the Scottish National Library website. They cover all of the UK and are available free of charge. I was able to look at my home station (Westhoughton) to see where the goods yard was, and all the colliery connections close to the station. My latest layout is based on Wigan and I've been able to draw up an accurate plan using satellite images on Google Maps. The internet is our friend. Regards, John P

I think some reviews from folks who haven't been involved in the project is a great idea, a, hopefully, neutral reviewer will give a lot of credibility to Revolution and Rapido, rather than us lot drooling over models we been waiting for. My only complaint is that I wasn't one of the people picked to do a review. I'm also on the Rapido list and us foreigners have even less clue when they will arrive in our sweaty little palms :) Regards, John P

I agree about the 350's, all mine have been vinyled to old TPE livery, they are a great model and the new TPE livery looks good on the real thing, and also the 150, why this hasn't been released in any kind of recent Northern Livery baffles me. John P

OK a very basic question. We purchased an LGB Christmas train starter set, it uses the 0-4-0 Stainz loco which has a smoke generator. So how do I access the smoke generator to add fluid? Do I just pour it into the chimney. Thanks, John P

I've just tried to use an HP T1300 large format printer to print out my track plan. I can't set the printer properties from Scarm and I get a "Class Not Found" error if I try to print or print preview. Every other printer I have access to at work has 11" x 17" as it's biggest size and they all work fine. Has anyone else seen this issue, or do you know of a large format printer that does work? My wife has agreed to get me a large format printer for Christmas but if they don't work with Scarm I'll need to buy some trains instead! Thanks, John P

Oresund crossing between Copenhagen and Malmo, frequent trains over the sound. Regards, John P

Hi All, Thanks for all the replies. It kind of confirms what I thought. I was frustrated by the available sales literature and reviews as the assumption was always that a DAC was a no-brainer. There never seemed to be any analysis of when it would be good to use one, rather than use analog outputs from a computer, or Ipad I think I'll have to borrow a decent DAC from my local HiFi dealer to hear how it sounds. Regards, John P

I wonder if the HiFi enthusiasts can help with a question? I have a bunch of Rega stuff plus a pair of B & W speakers. I was considering buying a DAC to listen to digital music, but can't see what benefits it gives over a headphone jack for any kind of compressed formats. I listen to ITunes and Pandora! AFAIK both are compressed. I hooked up the headphone outlet from my Macbook and turned up my amp. To my ears everything sounds fine. So why buy a DAC? Thanks, John P

Just to defend the poor old mobile for a minute....... My first mobile was a Nokia 2210 (GSM). On my first business trip out of the country, coincidentally to Nokia in Finland, my phone rang and caller ID brought up my home number!!!!!! This was in 1989. It also meant that SWMBO could always contact me, she didn't need to know where I was or which hotel I was staying in. This did lead to some awkward comments from friends, such as, 'How was the weather in Germany?', when actually I'd been to Italy. With a smartphone I no longer need a map to visit anywhere, just get off a plane and pick up a rental car and get the phone's mapping app to get me to my destination. I also feel a lot better hopping a cab in China, as you can tell immediately if the taxi driver is taking you on 'the scenic route'. And finally, although this doesn't need a mobile, being able to make Facetime calls to my Grandchildren in the UK,and it's free if your'e connected to the internet. ( I have an unlimited data plan through work) BTW has anyone seen a pager in use recently? And just remember I'm sure there were lots of 50 somethings and above who would have preferred that steam would have died a death, let's face it horses and canals are much simpler. Regards, John P

I upgraded my IPhone and the App works fine. Now I need to try my IPad. Regards, John P

Just to be clear, I'm using the Black Z21 rather than the white z21. I have done a couple of consists with no problems. All my loco's are N Gauge from Dapol or Farish and use Zimo decoders. Regards, John P