Ron Ron Ron

An entirely different subject, involving mostly private investment for a private business. Aviation is busy, slowly clawing back the 2 years of huge losses incurred due to the Pandemic and its outfall. Let's stick to HS2 please. .

There are suggestions and unofficial proposals to rebuild the HW line and bring it into a bay platform, at the western end of the surface level OOC station. The new and much wider bridge that will carry the new GWML formation over OOC Lane, has a new, separate bridge span added at its northern end, for this specific purpose. I believe the reason it's being provided as a separate span, is because the under bridge headroom would be too tight, if the new larger bridge was extended any further north, due to the rising gradient of OOC Lane as it emerges from under the bridge. Also, it would be easier to delete this extra span from the plans, if the link was not built. Note that the draft track layout drawings, show that if this link is built, it'll sweep in on a different radius from the original, due to the changed orientation of the widened GWML Relief lines at this point. i.e. a restored line will not follow the line of the old track bed. .

There is no longer a connection from the High Wycombe line (or whatever it was called) to the GWML. The tracks have gone, the bridge over Old Oak Common Lane has been removed and the land has all been excavated and become part of the huge station building site. The HS2 line arrives at OOC in a pair of deep tunnels. The infrastructure that would be needed to create a means for the lines to rise up out to surface level and connect to the GWML, would be very expensive and would take up a lot of real estate, over a long distance. Plus, where would it go? The OOC station is in the way. It's a total non-starter this late in the day. .

The two shafts at Green Park way, Greenford, are located just to the north of the railway track, on a former industrial site, not railway land. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5400709,-0.3352257,165m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu .

That's kind of missing the point Mick was making. .

The looming water shortage is a time bomb that which will dwarf any controversy over HS2, when it goes off, in a few years time. Please don't go down this avenue of discussion on the HS2 thread. .

The French ban on domestic flights, only affects routes where a train journey of under 2.5 hours already exists. There is an exemption for flights which provide a connection to international services, which means that flights on the limited number of routes affected by the ban, still operate. Away from the affected routes, there are lots of domestic flights, criss- crossing France. In fact there has been an increase in the number of such flights operating, since the “ ban” came in ! .

Says some bloke who makes model locomotives ? Really, come on Keith ? The link from HS2 to the WCML at the northern end of Phase 1, is located just to the S/SE of Handsacre, some 2.5 miles from the old Rugeley power station site. The route is defined, set and authorised by an act of parliament. A government could pause, delay or cancel the building of that route, but they can't substantially move it by that amount, without a whole load of new process and a new act of parliament. Phase 2A (if it gets built) deviates from the Phase 1 route, nearly 3 miles to the south of Handsacre (i.e. NE of Lichfield), routing and passing to the east of the HS2/WCML junction at Handsacre by about a mile and passing about 1.5 miles to the east of Rugeley. Again, this route is defined, set and authorised by an act of parliament. .

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To cancel the whole thing now is not tenable. It would cost as much to put back the land to near its original state, as it would to complete the job. Even the insane lunatics supposedly running the asylum, won't cancel OOC to New St. The worst outcome will be something like "mothballing" until the national finances are in better shape. The opposition and very likely next government will make lots of positive noises over HS2 and "levelling up", but will be presented with the same sort of "guidance" from the treasury. A choice between the public services they will be promising, or HS2 ? Meanwhile in the real world, great engineering work continues.......at least for the time being. .

The plan all along, was to allow a sizeable proportion of passengers to use OOC, to connect across central London, West London and out west Heathrow, with the rest using Euston. The Elizabeth line will make some journeys quicker and more convenient than using Euston, but unfortunately with this "pause", those many journeys that would be better served by using Euston, will become more time consuming and inconvenient via OOC. Well, they'll have little alternative choice if they want to make the journey.. Most of the IC services out of Euston will be gradually switched to HS2. HS2 isn't an additional service. It's a replacement. .

He's referring to Handsacre, which is closer to Rugeley than Lichfield and which is at the northern end of Phase 1. .

Unfortunately, those are the only legal methods to rid yourself of the infestation.

There hasn't been a reduction in Le shuttle capacity though, unless there are more shuttle vehicles needing maintenance and repair these days, due to age and very high usage. Well the German's certainly didn't invest much in their infrastructure during that period, hence the crumbling railway and road infrastructure that has caused so much criticism domestIcally. .

DCC decoders, both sound equipped or non-sound, should work on DC. However, DC running may be deselect on the decoders CV settings, meaning they won't respond to DC control. Note: Switching DC off is often done to prevent runaways. In this case, you would need to have access to DCC system, or a DCC programming facility like a "Sprog" and suitable computer software (e.g. DecoderPro), to change the CV that will enable DC operation. Some DC controllers can be a bit hit and miss with DCC decoders and could give erratic running (e.g. older feedback types) and under no circumstances should any Relco or other types of so called "electronic track cleaner" be used when decoder equipped locos are on a layout. In all cases, you will have turn up the DC controller a little bit further, before a decoder equipped loco will move. That's because there needs to be a minimum amount of electrical energy flowing, to allow the decoder circuits to power up and be able to respond. When it comes to the sound effects, DC will usually provide a reduced or limited amount of sound function, but many of the selectable or switched effects cannot be accessed. Also sound performance may not be consistent or give a particularly effective result. Note that Hornby's TTS and newer TXS sound decoders will not produce any sound under DC control. Start checking out those DCC systems and doing your homework early, but don't rush. There's lots of good advice on here......and "out there". . .

Yes, this is entirely possible. With more than a handful of points (and possibly signals), the wiring for DC operation of these alone, will be a daunting prospect for many and usually will involve a lot of wiring back to the control panel, or whatever. It is quite easy to keep DC for train control, if you don't want DCC for your locos and have all your points and signals running off a stand-alone DCC arrangement, such the DCC Concepts Alpha system. That way you could operate the points and signals from a mimic or other control panel, a bank of switches, or a lever frame set up, where the buttons, switches or levers, all connect through a mini box of tricks (a DCC encoder). The encoder circuit module can be housed underneath the control panel, resulting in just a single pair of wires running out to the layout's DCC accessories, either directly, or via an accessory bus. This would save an enormous amount of wiring, in exchange for the relatively more expensive, extra cost of the appropriate bits of kit. e.g. 20 points with 40 wires back to the panel (possibly 60 or 80 wires with panel LED's), replaced with just 2 wires. .

Coming late to the hobby 20 years ago, in my late 40’s and more seriously in my early 50’s, I had no legacy investment in DC equipment, other than a couple of train-set controllers, so I went straight in to DCC from the beginning, although I kept the DC capability for playing with and test running a large collection of non-fitted locos. Much later on I purchased a Gaugemaster Model D controller, but it’s used purely for testing locos on my rolling road and length of test track. I would second the others and recommend just getting on with it and going straight into DCC. NMRA DCC has been around for nearly 30 years and mainstream for about 20 years, even if the UK hobby was a bit slow in taking it up en-masse. It’s every bit as “ conventional” or “ traditional” as DC control these days. .

I'm just wondering Hugh, what is ""normal DC" ? Is there an "abnormal"", or unusual DC" ? Some good advice and points made above. Don't skimp on wire gauge and wire up the point frogs properly. Colour code the wiring, using different colours from the track power, for other purposes, like point switching and accessories. Do not use Relco or other types of so called electronic "track cleaners" with DCC. With a bit of simple planning, the switching for DC operation can easily be just turned on to make all tracks live for DCC operation. Just remember to completely disconnect and remove the DC controller or DCC system, when switching back from one type of control to the other. .

To my simple mind, they should have used WiFi for comms between the device (phone or iPad) and a dongle. That way, multiple users could have connected through a single dongle. The devices themselves can usually communicate on both Bluetooth (direct train control) and WiFi (dongle) simultaneously. Somebody with better knowledge of these wireless comms should be able to correct me if I've got that wrong? .

Remember that "green tunnel"at Chipping Warden, the one being made with prefabricated sections, looking like the McDonald's Golden Arches ? The one under the vague remains of a disused WW2 airfield, part of which is used for vehicle storage ? Work stopped there last year, after something like a 100 metres or more had been completed, because of serious issues with the concrete casting, or some such issue. Well, finally they've started to make progress over the last few months, since restarting work (earlier this year?). Still, this tunnel is a complete waste of a vast amount of money, in my poor, humble opinion. You can see how far they've got in this video, filmed a few weeks ago and posted on YouTube yesterday...... .

Curzon Street HS2 Station. Contractors have now moved back on site to begin construction of the large station building. In previous posts and looking online and on YouTube etc, most of us will be aware that since the entire site was dug up and cleared, with local services removed and diverted, the actual station site has laid empty and dormant for over a year. Meanwhile, all efforts in the area in recent times, have been focussed on construction of the adjacent approach viaduct. Last week, work finally started on preparing the site for actual construction of the station itself. Piling work is due to start over the next couple of weeks and months. I'm surprised at how much vegetation has sprung up on the site, over this spring and summer....... .

Blimey! If you'd asked me yesterday, "when do you thing Roger Whittaker died? I would probably had guessed about 25 or 30 years ago !

Most DCC decoders (sound or non-sound) will work under DC control, unless DC running has been disabled in the CV settings, in which case, they won't work under DC at all.. (This is usually done to prevent runaways). If DC running has been disabled, then you will need a DCC system, or computer program with an interface (e.g. a Sprog) to access the CV settings to enable DC running. When it comes to sound decoders, sound operation is limited and not always consistent on DC running. Various sound effects can't be accessed either. Also, as already mentioned, Hornby's TTS and TXS decoders will not produce any sound under DC control. You can buy a DCC system for the price of 1 or 2 new locos. Don't buy the EZ DCC Plus though. It is very limited in what it can do and you can't change CV's through it. . .

I hope that was meant as a joke? Enough land ? .

They won't. The line is being built to UIC GC Gauge to allow wider and double deck stock to be used in due course (Captive fleet). The "Classic Compatible" HS2 stock will have specific provision to be able to use the HS2 platforms. Pendolino's and other standard UK gauge stock won't. The HS2 platforms are also being designed at a hybrid height, which may be incompatible with existing stock, notwithstanding the wide gap from door to platform edge. In addition, there will be platform edge doors on the HS2 station platforms. Pendolino's and other classic non-HS2 specific stock will not fit. Then there is the in-cab signalling and control systems to consider. Retro-fitting old, classic line stock may not only be difficult and problematic, but not cost effective, if in fact possible. The order for the initial train fleet, is in progress and although an expensive purchase, the cost is a fraction of the overall cost of building Phase 1. Plus, the cost of the trains will be spread over a couple of decades, so there'll be no large upfront cost. It would make no sense (as if sense counted now ????) to cancel that order. .