chriswright03

Went out last night for a meal which meant travelling 12 miles away. It was snowing but very light and although we were forecast 10cm (four inches sounds much better) I decided to go anyway. We managed to have a window seat where we could keep an eye on the snow coming down. There was less than an inch of snow and the main road through the town was rutted but it was freezing. Whilst we enjoyed our meal we saw three drivers fail to manage the 90 degree right turn opposite the hotel! All of them had to have another go at a more reasonable speed. On our way out of town we saw a car in the dyke having lost control on a slight bend. Two other cars were there assisting so we decided not to bother stopping to risk getting bumped into by the next muppet who happened by. OK the roads were icy as the snow had compacted and rutted but nothing that should have worried anyone driving with common sense. I was pleased to have the chance to try out the winter tyres fitted to my car. Very good and even on quite a steep incline on a bend they gripped without a problem. On another note Charlie the puppy loves the snow so we are going to take him out for a romp in it. He has already done 15 laps at full speed around the garden! Regards Chris

I started a thread here here"]http://www.rmweb.co....msearch__1] some while ago about these. In fact despite the recent boost in signal from the digital switch over mine still plays up from time to time. It has a problem at the moment receiving quite a number of channels yet the tv has no problem. I think it is time it went back befre the warranty expires next month. Only problem with that is what to replace it with and the fact that I will lose all the programmes that are saved on the hard drive. So if you have an option to go a different way like with Virgin it could well be better. Regards Chris

Well to me it looks like a Deltic and I suppose to me that is what matters. If you are concerned about the looks then I guess you will choose not to buy one. Having read the posts about the grille I understand what they say and having looked at the pictures can see the difference but as mine is blue it will not be as noticeable. Pay your money take your choice I suppose but I don't have the skill or time to build one from a kit and this will do me. It is a shame if Heljan have had errors pointed out to them and they have done nothing but I am sure many folk will be more than happy with the end result and if they are I suppose that is what matters. No criticism of anyone who wants their loco to be an exact replica. Chris

Well mine has arrived belated Chrimbo pressie from my wife or is it next years? Not sure probably both. Anyway I didn't have it numbered and named by Tower as I still don't know what I want it to be.. Have to say I was tempted to let them number, name and weather it as I thought the price was reasonable. Anyway here is mine as it stands. Of course it will need a sound decoder fitting as well so as yet it has not been run. I have borrowed a DC controller so who knows this afternoon it may have to have a short trip up and down just to make sure it works of course. Chris

I just hate them all and in fact record anything that has adverts in it and then zap through them. So an hours programme last about 28 minutes once you have got rid of all the adverts and the bits that tell you what is going to happen in the programme what is going to happen in the second half and what has happened in the first half just in case you are too stupid to remember. I think radio adverts are just as bad and of course in the car you cannot zap through them. Why do so many of them have to shout all the way through them? Of course as someone has already mentioned even the BBC are not immune from ads/trailers and then they send you an email to tell you that you can watch some weird programme on catchup or whatever it is called if you missed it. No I didn't see it but that does not mean I missed it. Chris

Just done mine for another year. Company I am with who were the cheapest last year want £90 more this year. Went onto MCN comparison site and found one for £60 cheaper than they want. Settled for Carole Nash in the end as although they were £5 dearer than the cheapest it included breakdown cover in the UK and Europe. I always shop around for all of my Insurance in fact have just save 50% off my House Insurance by doing the comparison sites. No one offers you a loyalty bonus for staying with them and they just rely on the fact that most of us are too lazy to check for ourselves and we will just accept what they say. If you can post on here you are savvy enough with computers to check the various comparison sites and come up with a money saving quote. All I would say is check that you are getting like for like and that means checking your Voluntary and Compulsory Excess. Chris

I have recently come across Simon Kernick and have read 3 or 4 so far. They are perhaps best read in order if you can work it out via the dates of publication as they seem to build on the characters in them. It is mostly based around the work of SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency) that is the new version of the National Crime Squad which replaced the Regional Crime Squad that I worked in for 4 years. So I do have an insight into the writings and from my memory he is fairly accurate and in one book does even mention one case that I was involved in which took me a little by surprise. He obviously has good contacts within the Police and his writing style is engaging and believable. Well worth a read and I am steadily wading through them when I can find them. Have found a couple in charity shops and some from people at work who have come across him as well but I will not hesitate to buy them new if I have to. Via RMWeb Amazon of course. Regards Chris

Kenton I didn't bother copying and pasting the entire page but I fail to see how it can be confusing that the OP needs to do a CBT as he does not meet any of the other criteria. As regards the CBT well no it isn't just a piece of red tape or jobs for the boys. Having been a CBT instructor I can tell you that it does actually ensure that riders know how to handle the machine BEFORE riding on the public roads where they can be a danger to themselves or others. Many moons ago when I purchased my Lambretta the only thing I had to do was learn how to use the controls which I did by watching my mates. None of them taught me how to brake properly or how to plan ahead so that I was in a better position to react to danger. Don't forget that two wheel users are at far greater risk in an accident and at least now before they go out on the road someone has taught them the basics. As regards having to pass a test later if they want a full licence well many never bother and just like the OP use it until they can afford to drive a car. Also don't forget a learner in a car has an Instructor often with dual controls sat beside them. On two wheels they are on their own. I can also say from my Police days that any training that stops a young bobby from having to knock on a parents door and give them the worst possible news is worth it's weight in gold. Regards Chris

Not too sure where you have been looking that is complicated. Copied from the DVLA web site. You will need to do your Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and then you can ride a moped as defined. That is it. Hope this helps Chris

Our company have just disciplined and sacked a driver for wearing his Hi Vis whilst driving as it against Company policy. Not the first time he was warned about it but nonetheless.......As regards the headlights it is also Company Policy that we run with dipped headlights in the bus station and depot to make us more visible. Err it is a bloody great big bus with a noisy diesel engine. So what happens is most of us turn them on in the morning and leave them on as it stops you having to remember to turn them on and off all day. We also have to wear our Hi Vis whilst walking in the depot area INCLUDING the footpath that is protected by a metal barrier. If the driver hits you through that it is because he has lost control not because he hasn't seen you Hi Vis or not. Being an Ex Police Trained Advanced driver of cars and motor bikes and an Ex Instructor and Examiner to Advanced level on motorbikes for the British Motorcycle Federation my personal opinion is that all that does is make some riders 'think' they are safe and transfer the responsibility to the other motorist. I have commented on this before in threads that a common comment made when motorcyclists have been knocked off by another driver is "Sorry mate I didn't see you". In fact there is a whole web site on this. In actual fact very often the motor cyclist would have had a clear view of the vehicle that knocked him off and with a bit of self preservation and observation could have done something about it rather than just ride into trouble. Many ride on full beam as they think it makes them more visible and just don't care that they are dazzling other motorists. In fact you see some riding with red headlight covers (other colours as well) which it totally illegal but little is done about it. My motorbike when I got it was three years old and the headlight was pointing skywards and illuminating tree tops having never been adjusted since new. It is now. As others have said common sense is what is required but sad as it may be that is lacking now in most walks of life so we are in a situation where others have to think for a minority and that affects all of us. Another good example from work is that we have to sound the horn on our vehicles before going through a depot door or gate. So what happens is the driver sounds his horn and to him that means he has done his bit and if you haven't heard it or took no notice then it is your own fault. At the gate on the entrance to the main road the sign says sound your horn when it should say stop and look both ways. As regards Volvo drivers....well I do drive one and no I cannot turn the lights off. My motorcycle is new enough to be one that you cannot turn the lights off and as I said the buses I turn them on and leave them on as it is easier. None of these remove my requirement or ability as a driver/rider to use my own common sense and drive in a manner that protects me and other road users. Chris

Thanks for that Brian. I can get on with it now as I have plenty of both cable. If it goes bang I will let you know. Chris

Yes sorry Brian and the rest of you that are kind enough to help me. I now realise that my description leaves a little bit to be desired. What I have is 1.0mm multi strand wire that has come out of a 13 amp extension lead that was no longer required. I am assuming this is rated at 13 amps because that is what it is said it was, a 13 amp extension lead. As the layout is only 10' 6" long I don't think their will be much voltage drop in that. It will have sound loco's on it but I would have thought two running (not both moving) would be a maximum at any one time. As regards some of the other replies well I am afraid that whooshing sound is them going over the top of my head. Honestly guys all I wanted was to know what size wire to use for the bus and droppers. As I have said already I have the 3amp booster and of course a transformer to go with it. I have this weird sort of logic that tells me if the wire from the mains to the booster/transformer can handle the power surely that is big enough for the bus and droppers to run the locos. I don't wish to sound ungrateful because I am not but I am becoming more confused than what I was at the start. Thanks again. Chris

OK Brian I have now had a look at your information about the wire. Have to say I am still confused though. Without going to somewhere like Maplins I do not have a clue what 16/0.2mm looks like. Nor do I understand what AWG actually is other than American wire gauge which doesn't help me associate it with anything that I know I have had a look at Wikipedia as well but it is way too technical for me. Having been told in the thread that 13 amp household wire is OK for the bus I think I will use that because I have enough of it lying around. Quite happy to buy new stuff but if I don't need to I may as well use what I have. So what would be best for the droppers? Can I for example use the thinner lighting wire? Maybe it is just as easy to go into Maplins and buy some. Thing is if the bus wire is rated at 3 amp don't the droppers have to be the same? Sorry if this is more difficult than it should be but I think this is what can put some people off when the mind cannot picture what it is that is being discussed. I can understand what household 13 amp wire is because I see it every day and the same with lighting wire for a table lamp for example. I am off for another trawl now to see if I can make sense of it all. Thanks Chris

Yes I am Brian but at the moment I am looking at the pages on how to wire the electrofrog points. Just have to decide which point motors to have and would really prefer to have manual throws in lever frames as long as I can change the polarity with them. Didn't get around to looking at the wire on there. Just off to do it now. Thanks to you and everyone else for the help. Chris

Colin, No it doesn't help at all really. Sorry but that is my point that I do not have a clue what 14 or 18 gauge is or what I could compare it to. Of course 13amp household wire will mean about the same to you in Florida I would think. Chris

Just getting on with the boards for my O gauge layout at long last. As stated above I have the Powercab with the 3 amp booster and it is only a short layout so will only have one loco running at a time even if others with sound are active. So I just want to know what size wire is best to use. Having looked at sites like Wiring for DCC and others they all seem to mention the size in some form that means nothing at all to me. I am thinking of using 13amp household blue and brown wire for the bus and then maybe the same for droppers or could I get away with smaller? I do have some 7/0 2mm Gaugemasters wire but it looks a little thin for the current although it is often used in OO layouts. Any help appreciated. Chris

Well if you have as much snow there as we do in Caistor then you must have some really heavy duty stuff to move it all. I recall the last time we had snow as bad as this was in 1979 and I was in Gainsborough then. I agree with James though pictures we need pictures.

Decided today to see if I could catch a 60 at Barnetby. Decided to go to Knabbs Bridge instead and caught two of them.B)

Isn't that for the 03 shunter to sit in its place by the signal box? At least that is where it sat so I suppose it had to get in there somehow. I have seen a picture of it somewhere I will go and look. Chris