70000 Britannia

Really good effort by the Neepsend team. Looked after everyone throughout. Even the failure of the nearby sub-station didn’t diminish the event, with the public given free drinks and fortunately normal service was resumed after not too long. Well done!

Very enjoyable first day, good atmosphere and layouts. Anyone in the area will find it is well worth a visit.

29th Street Wharf packed and ready to go, for this weekend's first Neepsend MRS Exhibition.

Back home and APT stored until May, after another excellent Liverpool weekend. Well done Chris and the team for hosting a really show and quality set of layouts. As always, a very friendly atmosphere, great facilities and pleasant surroundings. Hope to return again soon.

Looking forward to the Liverpool exhibition and bringing US O: Arcadia Pennsylvania Terminal. A grubby Louisville & Nashville SDP35 #1700 waits to depart the freight depot!

Back home after an excellent weekend. Great atmosphere with all involved and many thanks to Andy and the team for their support over the weekend.

Here is a schematic of the test-bed (excludes the variable resistor) and A & B relate to the connects shown previously. Also, an image of my Heath Robinson ESU test-bed (includes variable resistor). This has not been installed in the loco and will not be - until I have the Zero Crossover relay and have tested it running in a plastic box (to simulate) loco body. I have absolutely no intention of risking warping my Alco body!

Hi John, rumour has it that one of the 4 newbies has baseboards built, all Megapoint components wired and fitted on a control board, ready for code 75 track (currently on the shelf) to be fitted. ;-). Also, good to hear that the Prussians are coming!

Just an update re the Lionel/TAS Smoke unit - for proposed use with DCC systems. A test-bed has been created using ESU Decoder Tester. Smoke unit heater element has been connected (via B) to the DCC input connector on ESU test-bed (to replicate track feed) and I have cannibalised the Atlas loco's original variable resistor unit to permit fan speed control. The heater element requires 10.7 volts and consumes 1.08 amps; the heater fan 4.95 volts and 0.10 amps. The test confirms both heating and exhaust emission - as I have no smoke fluid as yet, a piece of tissue was ejected, when the fan was switched on to verify the exhaust effect. An AC Solid State, Zero Crossover switching relay (controlled via a DCC function) will be used to start/stop the diesel exhaust system (relay not yet acquired). I tried to upload a very short (4sec) mp4 video but the system won't allow it?

That AC issue was also my concern at the outset. However, the loco is 2-rail and I've established that my connection B is directly from the track (i.e. before decoder converts to DC). Will need to add a switch to control the heater otherwise it will be on all the time - if it works!

Jason, thanks for that info and for the link. I have started to work on it and, fortunately, the link info on the TAS unit has tied in with progress to date. Will post a bit more on outcomes - if it works I'll see if I can show it working.

Hi, I would be grateful for some guidance re: a smoke unit that I am trying to resurrect for DCC use (Atlas O Gauge Alco RS-1). Here is a photo showing the Trains America Studios AC version - I have annotated it to help with replies: - There are two red/black connect points A & B - does anyone know which would be the track feed and which could be the connect point for a DCC function; - The smoke fan motor C seems to have no obvious electrical connection - fan will rotate when wires are applied to the base of the motor (3rd view C). - I am trying to work out what "??" connects to. Any help: ideas, manuals, an expert on this stuff, would be really appreciated. Thanks.

Looking forward to bringing Arcadia Pennsylvania.

Looking forward to bringing US O scale, Arcadia Pennsylvania Terminal. For those that haven't seen it:

Back home after an excellent day - thanks to Terry, Ian and the MKMRS members. Congratulations on a highly successful and well supported event.

29th Street Wharf all set up, tested, ready to roll in the morning.

Just to help with your promos, have noticed that you have not listed 29th Street Wharf on your website :-)

Very much looking forward to showing 29th Street Wharf at the Neepsend M R S inaugural exhibition.

That looks a cracker John! See you at the show - advanced tickets already purchased.

Absolutely, Mr marms gives the impression that exhibitors should fund the costs of exhibiting. I exhibit and never make a penny in “profit” and would not expect to. It is perfectly reasonable that a show offering model layouts to view and attract attendance should contribute something towards the cost.

Looking forward to bringing 29th Street Wharf in February.

Sounds like a delightful prospect. 29th Street being tested and packed ready for journey south - will switch on the Cognac sensors to guide us in,

Thoroughly enjoyed the show - great blend of layouts. Well done to the exhibition team!

Looking forward to our first visit to WYCRAIL - we will be bringing 29th Street Wharf. Here are some pictures:

Just a note to say how much we enjoyed bringing 29th Street Wharf to the show - good venue, friendly faces - and thanks to Ian and the team for their support. Looking forward to bringing Arcadia Pennsylvania next year. In the meantime, a picture from 29th: