70000 Britannia

Not long now and it will be good to return to one of our former stamping grounds.  Always enjoyed our time in the West Midlands.

Looking forward to taking 29th Street Wharf.

Come and say hello.

Dave

Excellent day yesterday.  Great to meet up with so many friends on the circuit again, which helped to put the last 18 'missing' months behind us.  Last but not least, excellent hospitality and support by the ECT team.  Thanks Chris.

Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces again.  Will be bringing US O Arcadia Pennsylvania, after our enforced break. Come and say hello!

19 hours ago, snitzl said:

Here's a few images illustrating the construction of the Bramhope Tunnel entrance, this is quite a nice tunnel with gothic features.

The whole structure is constructed from 0.5mm - 1.0mm styrene sheet.

Stone positions are marked with a scaper and then stained with acrylic paint.

The stones are textured with dental bur's mounted in a mini drill and then scrubbed with a wire brush to remove any bits.

The curved ends are made up of multiple layers of 0.5mm styrene sheet.

.................

Here's a few images of the now complete tunnel entrance.

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Thanks for Looking.

Outstanding work.

On 10/03/2021 at 11:57, ardbealach said:

In today's Times there is an article about Oasis - I understand they are a popular music beat band - and a performance  contract they had before they were famous.  I am thinking as model railway enthusiasts we might have the same contract for our own performances at model railway exhibitions.  The contract stated

 

"The management agrees to provide and pay for at least two able bodied and sober speaking persons to assist the road crew in unloading, setting up, breaking down and reloading of the artist's equipment"   It also asks for "a good quality hot meal" and "24 large cans of quality lager".

 

I would settle for the lager being struck out as at my age my bladder could not accommodate 24 cans of lager - even if it was a quality lager.  What do you think?  [Alisdair]    

My wife says she wants a bottle of Merlot - and kittens in her dressing room!

I have been developing a quarry Stone Terminal, as an extension to my OO 'Clayton End Signalman' layout.

It has (so far) three scratch built structures: left to right, a limestone Hopper, a tower, and a second loading structure.  The designs are very loosely based on elements around Tunstead.  "Loosely" meaning an attempt to recreate the atmosphere of the Peak Forest area.

The limestone Hopper is unfinished (first base coat).

Dave

18 hours ago, TheQ said:

That covid is a really nasty virus, gives you a really fuzzy yellow head..

I reckon that is the first ever, photographic evidence of a formation of low-lying UFOs in Nottingham.

On 24/02/2021 at 17:04, Phatbob said:

Good point well made sir.
The fly in the ointment for Stage 3 is whether or not it comes with any need for social distancing.  I'm not aware of any layout than can be set-up or taken down while people all stay at least 2m appart! ;-)

We are all going to have to create new bubbles then :-).  Fortunately, my 3 layouts are set up by Sue and I.  I hope that new rules are not suggesting my wife and I stay 2 metres apart!

Of course, everything will depend on the progression and efficacy of the vaccines, significantly reducing and then planing infections.  If that is maintained and generates public confidence, the  earliest possibilities must surely be late this year.

Was expecting this discussion to happen following Boris' Lockdown Release Roadmap.

I see that stage 3 is interesting?

Stage three - No earlier than 17 May, includes:

• Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and children's play areas can open
• Performances and large events will be subject to limits though. For indoor events they can be at half capacity or 1,000 people, and outdoors they can be at half capacity or 4,000 people - whichever is lower. For large venues (at least 40,000 capacity) up to 10,000 will be allowed to attend
• Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen

Whilst no mention of actual exhibitions, the middle one looks interesting - even before the June 21 free-for-all?

Dave

Finally, more locally, on the western edge of the Pennines, some dear freinds who have been forced to smile (only joking), whilst enjoying a really interesting presentation of wagon movements at an ICI works.  No prizes for identifying the characters!

Dave

I am on a roll, I don't think there is any need to name this excellent show!  I am sure that many will readily recognise this Friday afternoon setup scene at a 'northerly' location in Summer, 2018?

Dave

Here's a picture of a relatively new exhibition by Sheffield Neepsend MRC, showing part of the gathering at their 2nd show at a former swimming baths - in 2019.  I was on the 'spectator' balcony, just checking that my other half, lower right, was not having a problem with a two-engined Alco RS-1 that we were testing at the time.

Lovely show, very freindly atmosphere, and well worth a visit when it next appears.

Dave

6 hours ago, ardbealach said:

As I commented earlier in this thread it was certainly quiet on that Sunday afternoon at Macclesfield.  None of us knew back then just what an effect Covid would have on life, not least on our exhibitions.   The attached picture illustrates just how quiet it was.  But we cannot blame ourselves for what you say are "complacency, irresponsibility, and stupidity"  It was just that we were then innocent, as was everyone at that time.

 

So are we agreed that Macclesfield was the final exhibition before lockdown?  (Alisdair)

Hi Alisdair, we have crossed paths a few times. I recall you were "back-to-back"  with us at Liverpool in June 2019, in the Church (Clayton End Signalman)!  Also, I thought we were indeed operating at the last exhibition (or one of) last year.  Very unusual but enjoyable weekend. I agree, we have learned a lot since then.

Forgive my criticism - it was reserved for just some of the recent publicised transgressors :-).  Even so, I can understand the frustrations we are all feeling.  It will be very interesting to see which show will be the first to launch in the future.

Dave

52 minutes ago, Pete the Elaner said:

 

Or may be just a lack of knowledge & understanding?

We know a lot more now than we did back then, some (but not all) of which was due to information being suppressed.

There has been plenty of wide-ranging knowledge and guidance disseminated. Unfortunately, the proverb "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" has been often demonstrated.

No matter, returning to the theme of the thread, the joy of exhibitions will be a joyous moment for many and, hopefully, will produce many new presentations for us all to enjoy.

Dave

On 20/01/2021 at 21:42, Dragonfly said:

Mine would be Macclesfield, 14-15 March. Just as things were on the precipice. In fact, looking back through my photo album, it literally goes from one photo being of a layout at Macclesfield, to the next being of the working-from-home office I set up three days later as we went into the spiral towards lockdown 1.

That was our last show of 2020.  Managed to also exhibit/visit at Pontefract and Rainhill, Stafford and SECC, which now makes it all so painfull to be 'locked away' from the beautiful hobby.

The weekend we were at Macclesfield, we set up on the Friday, unsure if it would last until the Sunday.  There were various news bulletins being relayed around the hall, about ‘elderly’ types being confined to barracks on the Monday 16th.  We were in the Premier Inn and the only guests were exhibitors/traders for the show.  When 4:30pm breakdown arrived, everyone packed up quickly and we drove through Cheshire hardly seeing many cars or people, until we got to Lymm M6.  We all know what has gone on since then, and now we are paying the price of what some of us would describe as complacency, irresponsibility, and stupidity out there.

It was a great weekend, with a real sense of camaraderie!  Well done to the club for having made a carefully considered decision to go for it.

Roll on the vaccines, and let's hope a chink of light starts to appear in the Autumn.  Until then, with no sense of urgency, I am slowly getting on with improvements to a couple of layouts.

Dave

14 hours ago, merlin46 said:

Hi Les

 

It definitely  isn't the Manchester Museum of Transport ;-) Maybe Macclesfields?

 

HTH

 

Tim

First of Les' photo looks like Macclesfield, would suggest 2nd photo is indeed Museum of Transport.

Ever so slightly off the exhibition beaten track, who out there would hazard a guess and name (a) the location and (b) identify any of the usual 'suspects' having a serious session, playing trains?  I know 1 of them.

Dave

OK, to maintain the retrospective nature of the thread and to re-kindle lost moments of contentment - who would like to guess where this pre-show opening scene may have taken place?

Dave

12 hours ago, Johnfromoz said:

Relevance to Hattons 66 thread???.....

Dear oh dear.  A modest aside on a post that was initially related to the issue adding cab personnel in locos. My transgression being motivated by a natural reaction to recognise a quality model loco.

My deepest and humblest apologies if it offended you and caused you to have to post a somewhat churlish remark.

17 hours ago, Vecchio said:

Well I rather put two drivers in and do not leave it empty. Also I have seen quite frequently staff sitting in the second cab (This was not a 66 but trains on the continent).

This is a point of compromise all the time, as if a loco sits in the yard or half in it's shed you always have a driver in it.

 

There are even countries where two people are in the cab - Italy is one of them. I heard some stories this is because their unions are very strong - and after the end of steam the fireman was replaced by a guard sitting in the electric loco next to the driver... No idea if this is the truth. Anyway I tried to take that into consideration...

 

 

Ah yes, and typified very nicely in the presence of the lovely Adtranz FS Brennerlok model - a Roco I assume?  I had two of them until recently: excellent multi-current roof detail and super smooth operation. Now I wish I had kept them .

On 01/01/2021 at 22:44, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said:

 

Quite a lot of those are also 'trade mark protection' cars.  Original schemes are not so prevalent these days.  Rarest I've seen were two Great Nothern blue woodchip cars complete with Rocky the mountain goat logos. These were in California heading east towards Barstow at Monolith. 

 

That's what makes Freight in America so fascinating.

One of my greatest regrets, is in not having an interest in US railroads in June 2002.  At the time we stayed overnight in the Hitching Post Inn in Cheyenne, on our way towards Yellowstone.  Right outside our room, opposite our parked car, were the tracks to a UP marshalling yard.  I could kick myself!

23 hours ago, Johnfromoz said:

A useful fleet survey,  remarkably similar to my findings over a similar number acquired.  All bar one of mine have been seconds / returns. Perversely, you have the likelihood of a better purchase outcome from the pre-owned ones rather than the ‘new’ stock, purely because the photos are of the actual loco your buying, so you can see presence or not of axle boxes, handrails, steps etc.

 

In relation to the gear tower clip, was just fitting a chip to my 66756, and sure enough, noted a loose bogie on one end. Examining the bogie, it seems that the clip over the brass worm which holds the bogie in place is a weak design. I pushed mine back in place but there is no reassuring ‘click’ as it relocates, suggesting it may fail/loosen in the future. That said, this is the first instance of this of a large number purchased.  With the axle box caps cut and fixed in place, all are rock solid, silent runners now.  Overall good value, with most (apart from sound ones) picked up for 100 GBP or less.

Same with me - the gear tower clip came away far too easily first removing the body - your “no reassuring click” was instantly apparent when I replaced mine.  Wonder just how often others have found this?

I've now installed ESU V5 + EM2 in my My FL 66/9 and there is no way whatsoever that its sound is remotely flat or weak.  Having said that, I have several Bachmann 66s, including a 66/5 FL with factory sound, and whilst it is not so powerful sounding, I have found the Bachmanns perfectly suitable and reliable for full weekend operations on the exhibition circuit.  I have never had a drive tower and shaft come apart as I foundf when I opened the Hattons loco (beautiful but fragile as it is) to install sound.  Swings and roundabouts.  Nevertheless , each loco manufacturer type has a part to play and I cherish both.

On 24/11/2020 at 11:34, dave56 said:

So at the reduced price I bit the bullet and brought a new class 66 in DB red. Everything is good apart from the axle boxes, no matter how many times I tried to glue the central boxes on each bogie, they would keep on displacing. The inner and outside axles were fine after a touch of super glue on two of them which were loose. 

I followed what others suggested and cut the backs off and glued in place , everything is now working perfectly and the the loco is extremely smooth. 

On a positive note, there are some good ones available.

I took delivery of £119 FL 66957 yesterday.  Was very apprehensive when opening the box.  Locomotive was pristine, all ABs were centred correctly, all wheels grounded on flat surface, and test run was fine - no wobble!!

Perhaps I've been fortunate. Certainly not smug, just relieved - as I may get another.  No doubt the ABs will work loose at some point.  Is there a stock part number for them?