Savoyard

HS2 possibly!

Activity has been a little slower over the last couple of days as I have been preparing the Fairburn Tank Engine for a partial repaint and resulted in a sorting out of my airbrushes and all the paints. Yesterday I tidied up the temporary platforms and the back scenes, they are a bit of mismatch but I will look at ways to hide the joins. I've also added two Dapol O gauge LMS signals. probably not prototypical but there for some play value Last year I bought a used 3 car Derby Lightweight DMU and today I started to convert it to DCC with sound. I completed one power car and will finish off the other tomorrow, I am also considering adding lights. Here is the converted power car with the centre trailer. The V had been over painted with a yellow panel, which I removed using the sand blasting airbrush. The white domes need repainting and I am considering a complete repaint as the shade of green is different from that of the Bachmann Lightweight being lighter, also to lining is more yellow than cream.

Rod thanks for your post and I think I have got my modelling mojo back! I will certainly look at your thread on The Chronicles of Ramchester. Paul we moved two years ago in March and one thing I wanted was space for a decent sized shed, which I am glad to say I got. It is amazing the prices of sheds, I was quoted in excess of £8000 for a 18' x 10' shed, I ended up paying less than £1900 for a 20' x 12'. So it certainly pays to shop around. Progress over the last couple of days has been a little slower than I had planned but all the track is now laid and running nicely, the Dapol Jinty is a greart test loco. I used my NCE Power Cab to test and program each section as it progressed but tonight I changed to the ESU ECoS so that I can use TouchCab. I have twelve Cobalt S levers which will do nicely for this layout, so I've ordered the Cobalt Mimic panel kit from Coastal DCC, for which I thank Kevin for his guidance on what I needed. In preparation I've made a mimic diagram of the layout using the template provided by DCC Concepts. I've made some adjustments to their symbols, but it was a great starting point, thanks DCC Concepts. Here are a couple of pictures of the completed trackwork. The station end. The fiddle yard. The track nearest the edge has been wired to be a programming track. This arrived today after a mad moment on Ebay. The lining is very wonky to say the least but I will be redoing that as I've ordered the appropriate transfers from Fox Transfers. It will be renumbered 42292 as I've got a photograph of that loco running on the line that is now the edge of the back of my shed. I will fit a sound chip tomorrow and give it a test run, perhaps even a video. Tomorrow I am planning on tidying up the temporary foam board station platforms until I get ones from Ten Commandments. I have also found a reasonably cheap way to store my 'O' gauge stock which I will post about later.

A long and busy day but I've completed laying the track on the scenic part of the layout, along with all the Smails wired up and running OK. I been doing test runs with a Dapol Jinty and it all runs quite nicely. Here are some pics of the work so far. Tomorrow I will start work on the fiddle yard section.

Hi John, Just had a quick look and will have a good read later once I've finished my permanent way work. Great looking baseboards and track, I look forward to reading more later. Peter

I've had a number of Cobalts over the years from the early ones and some have worked no problem including those on my Holcombe Brook & Tottington layout, though I must admit I haven't run the layout for over twelve months. I have had the same clicking problems on my home layout and a couple of the DCC ones which proved a little unreliable so I switched back to Tortoise, but I ran out of those and also Lenz LS150's to drive them so I bought a pack of 12 last year for my 'OO' layout in the shed. I currently have six on the layout and every time I get a short they invariably loose there address and they have to be reprogrammed. I brought this up the the lads at DCC Concepts and was told there was a faulty batch, incorrect part or something which caused the problem. I was told to use a bulb to lower the power to I think prevent the short or use a separate bus, I wasn't really happy with answer as it was extra expense and time and one of the main reasons for buying them was for ease of use and installation. I tried using the remaining Cobalts on my new 'O' gauge layout, but out of the remaining six, three appear to be faulty and not responding to anything. I therefore decided to scrap that idea and have bought some Smails instead, the DCC version of the Tortoise and they work like a dream and easy to install. So for the time being the Colbalts are back in the box but once this lock down is over I will pop over to Settle and have a chat with the lads to see what can be done with the faulty ones as I would like to make use of them in a future project.

Thanks Jim, I am enjoying getting my modelling mojo back and also trying something different and little easier to see! As I had restricted space the 'N' gauge scenery was the only option and I was surprised how effective it looks, I think the following photos show that. First point laid and wired up. I am using Smail (decoder fitted Tortoise) point motors, and they are excellent. Second line laid. I am impressed how effective the 'N' gauge scenery looks in this shot, it gives a real perspective of distance in the background. I've pasted the scenic sections on to foam board so they will be easy to move if necessary. Preparation of the next section with the next straight laid. I've positioned the point but I will do the wiring tomorrow. I use the white foam board to make sure the track is as straight as possible. I am using Smails, DCC fitted Tortoise, point motors, they work like a dream. I've done a slight mode to the Smails and added a PCB board connector, I've done it with all my Tortoise motors in the past. It means I can easily unplug a point motor should it go faulty. Here are a couple of pics of the mod, the sockets are soldered to the Smail and the pins line up perfectly with the holes on the Smail.

I've taken the first steps into building an 'O' gauge layout in my garden shed. It was going to be just a simple test track to run my locos until I built a garden railway, but it has gradually evolved into a small terminal station layout and the track plan is not too different from my first 'OO' gauge layout called 'Rederring', so with a little play on words I've called it 'Knott Rederring'. It is just under 20' long and 19" deep at the station end going down to 12" in the middle. It sits about 2' above my 'OO' gauge layout and I plan to have it going all the way round the shed when I can get some more wood, I had to use whatever scraps I had around to build it so far. It will be fully DCC with sound. The layout plan will be something like this, but it will no doubt evolve as I build it:- It doesn't represent anywhere but it will be a kind of preserved railway so I can run anything I like without having any hangups! I've made a start on the track and hope to have it all laid by weekend if not or should that be Knott before! The baseboard:- The leg sitting on the 'OO' layout is actual on the fiddle yard so it will not spoil the view on the scenic part of the 'OO' layout. I suppose if could be disguised as a big mill chimney or phone mast. A 'N' gauge Gaugemaster scenic background just to add some colour. More to follow.

Third time lucky and so after three attempts (the main board was in danger of having more holes than a swiss cheese), I think I have the track plan that I want and gives the essence of Longton Bridge Station. Track is now laid and ready for wiring. Test run with a converted Bachmann Radial Tank, it's been back in the workshop for over two years or more but I will be finishing it off once the track has all been laid on the rest of the layout. And Trap Points fitted. I have used Peco Bullhead track and points where I can, the rest are a mixture of PECO Code 75 and Tillig which I plan to replace when alternatives become or available or I have time to build them.

In March last year (2018) I moved to Longton and the back garden touches the former track bed of the West Lancashire Railway Preston to Southport line, so I thought one of the local stations may make a good subject for a layout. I had the shed built when I moved in but for twelve months or so it was just used for storage until March when I finally got the shed insulated and panelled out. So I now set about re-igniting my modelling mo-jo and after a year of no modelling I started to plan my next layout. Initially I was going to incorporate my old Rederring layout but decided against this and start a fresh with a new layout, so looking at the two Longton Stations (Longton Bridge and New Longton & Hutton) I decided on Longton Bridge Station. Using the side by side map provided by the National Library of Scotland I looked at the station plan and with the help of AnyRail I was able to draw up a track plan, which I adapted to suit the constraints of the shed, in this case just over 19' long and a 2' depth. I am using PECO Bullhead rail with and some of the points are the Bullhead points, the rest of the points for the time being will be PECO Code 75 or Tillig as I've a few of them spare. I plan to replace these by either using the PECO version, this will apply to the Single Slp, or scratch build my own when I have more time. My intention is to get the track work in place and play with, whoops I meant test it! Here is an early attempt at the track plan with the original track plan on a map. The plan has been tweaked since then. Having got all the base boards in place I printed out the track plan to scale and it seemed to work OK. I've now laid the cork and started laying the track, more pics to follow....

Thanks Paul for your comments it is much appreciated. We already have some exciting layouts for next year. The reintroduced DCC Seminars were popular so they will be back next week with more topics to be covered.

This must be a first, both David and Ray have come over from the Dark Side at an Exhibition. This must be worth a visit for this alone!

Details were posted in the diary section but please find details below.

Thanks David for your post. Here is the Show Guide with details of layouts, Traders and Demonstrators. Please note we have re introduced the DCC Seminars. Details below.

Hi Alan, Apologies for not replying sooner, I don't come on RMWeb that often these days so just catching up. I would now only recommend using a 2EPB as the basis of a Class 504 for a number of reasons:- 1. It will work out cheaper, by the time you've paid for two replica coaches and their motorised chassis I reckon you could pick up a Bachmann 2EPB for less. 2. From memory I think the Replica body is a form of resin and was not as easy to work with than using the 2EPB when trying to hide the join. 3. The 2EPB has a full interior and lights as well, though I have had problems with lights failing which I intended to investigate. 4. I wasn't impressed with the Replica chassis and it broke fairly easily and you can't have normal seating, so not as pleasing on the eye from my point of view. 5. Shawplan do excellent replacement glazing for the 2EPB. I haven't done any serious modelling for a couple of years or more due to lots of reasons but I moved recently and I have now got a new shed which once I have got in a reasonable state I can start getting back in to some modelling. I want to revisit the Class 504 as the one above got damaged and I want to rebuild it, I also want to convert a couple more so I will post the progress on here when I eventually start. I have a new idea on how to do the cab front which if successful I will share on here. With regards to the sound it was one I created using a generic DC EMU sound file and adding Class 504 sounds like horns and bells from various recordings I found on videos. The video above was shot on a layout we use to have in the club rooms and so no 3rd rail but Holcombe Brook and Tottington has 3rd rail and I will find some shots of it.

This is the advertised train timetable on the Northern Rail website. https://be803fe5c416e39d38ae-aa21086260d3bd4e072d597fe09c2e80.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/images/disruption-timetables/2018-09-08-strike/Liverpool---Warrington-Central---Manchester.pdf

As the revised hourly service only works for arrivals in one direction and as the majority come via Manchester I choose to meet the trains arriving from Manchester. Then again it will all be irrelevant if there are no trains!

There is planned industrial action and engineering works so Northern are advertising a reduced service so I have altered the bus service to suit. The times as last year are timed to meet the trains from Manchester till after lunch and then to meet them going to Manchester. See Below. Please Note it will be a proper bus, a Manchester Letyland PD2 and not the Routemaster.

Thanks for the info I can now see where I travelled from and too, not having a present day 15 route it wasn't easy to locate the stops. I will now be searching for an old WMPTE timetable!

I've just been looking through a journey log I kept for a few years in the 1970's and I came across these journeys:- 08/07/1976 2792 (WMPTE) Route 15 New Street Station (1035) to Stoney Lane (Fare: 5p) 3119 (WMPTE) Route 11C Stoney Lane (1104) to Handsworth Road (Fare 12p) 2615 (WMPTE) Route 15 Handsworth Road (1232) to City (Fare 5p) It was nearly 42 years since I last rode on the 11 and on 'New Look' 3119 a Daimler CVG with a Crossley body. Interesting to get to the 11 we travelled on route 15 on a 'New Look' 2792 (CVG6/Crossley) and back on 'New Look' 2615 (Guy/MCCW). Checking on google maps the stops names are not correct, I will have to check a timetable from the time to work out the correct ones.

You were certainly nonstop on 3706 on Sunday! :lol:

I did try and tell Jason to avoid the low trees, but he didn't listen! https://www.flickr.com/photos/adogriff/6630515655/

An additional layout:- Blackwood (UK, OO, DCC, Trams)

Two Days to go and the latest updates have been added above.

Attachments removed.