Ron Ron Ron

The suffix letters denote the type of connector interface for the particular model of decoder (MX634 in this case). No suffix - wires no plug C - 21-pin (special type with logic level outputs) D - 21-pin F - 6-pin on wires R - 8-pin on wires All versions of the same MX634. As Kaput points out, Bachmann say MX634C as the Class 90 has a 21-pin connector. .

Calvert HS2 and E-W Rail, inc. the HS2 Infrastructure depot. A map of the affected area, showing the path of the diverted road.... https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7eb9c9ed915d74e33f2084/C222-ATK-CV-DPL-020-000016_0.pdf (You should be able to zoom in, for a detailed look) .

It's not a rail bridge to carry the track. That's the new road bridge which will carry the diverted north-south road (I don't know the name or B route number) over HS2. The bridge is wide as along with the HS2 mainline, it will also accommodate the tracks leading into and out of the depot to/from the north. You can see that bridge in this recent video. It's briefly visible in the opening seconds, but skip to 6min 44secs and then to 7min 57secs, for a closer look. The road has already been diverted along a temporary route, linking in to the new bridge carrying the road under E-W Rail. .

The main reason for the cut and cover section at the southern end of the twin bore Long Itichington tunnel, is that the tunnel has to be at a shallow depth along this stretch, as the track has to emerge at the right level to cross the nearby River Itchen. You can see construction work on a bridge pier, next to the river, at 2mins 55secs into the video (Starting the video below goes straight there). The bored tunnel would be too close to the surface to be viable, so it was either switching from bored tunnel to an open cutting, or to cut and cover for this section. The former was not practical or desirable in that location. .

Long Itchington Wood tunnel, south portal. This end of the twin bore tunnel, becomes a cut and cover (green) tunnel for the last X hundred metres. .

Can anyone explain why a cutting isn't sufficient for this stretch of line? The Chipping Warden "green tunnel". At 6 mins in, you get a glimpse of the nearby village, which is a long way from most of the tunnel that's been built so far. The cutting has already been created. Why fill it with goodness knows how many hundreds of millions of ££££'s worth of concrete tunnel? .

Chilterns Tunnel South portal, where it all began. Construction of the aerodynamic tunnel portals are well in advance. Also, the 3 production plants at the site, tunnel sections, viaduct segments and the slurry treatment plant, are no longer needed and are due to be dismantled next. (note: the last viaduct segment has already been made). .

Speeded up Timelapse .... This is how they do it...... .

A brief view of a viaduct segment being delivered from the on-site factory at West Hyde (next to the Chilterns tunnel south portal), to the Colne Valley viaduct. A good view of progress on the chalk grassland landscape being created alongside the new railway, using the spoil from the 10 mile long twin bore, Chiltern tunnels. .

That section of tunnel has been covered over from very early on, not long after it was completed. I can't remember when, but it must be at least 6 months ago, if not a lot longer. They haven't covered any more up yet, so maybe it was done early on as some sort of test or assessment. .

We get over the air map updates sent to our cars, every so often. Most older cars have to have their sat-nav updated at the dealership. Those cars that have Google Maps embedded in their car operating system are always up-to-date. A small number of manufacturers are using the Google Android Automotive operating system (not to be confused with the Android auto app). Volvo, Polestar and Renault (on their EV only Megane e-tech) are an example. .

The infinity pool on the roof garden is something else. We had lunch at one of the restaurants up there, a couple of years ago. We watched the F15’s passing by at eye level on their way back in.

Yes, those are trees on the roof gardens…..

I see that Roco list a B-Bus to CDE Booster adapter Cat no. 10789 https://www.coastaldcc.co.uk/products/roco/z21-booster-adapter https://www.z21.eu/en/products/z21/connections-z21/1246:793:1354:image:child:image .

There is a NMRA standard for Command Station outputs to external Boosters (Power Station in Lenz and NMRA speak). That is the “Power Station Interface”, the output of which is a “ Control Bus”. The usual indication is connections labelled as C, D, E. However it isn’t mandatory and some manufacturers use their own arrangements for either direct connection to Boosters, or routing the signal via their cab/ data network (e.g. LocoNet or ECoSlink). The other option is to use Boosters that read the DCC signals off the track (Power Bus) output from the DCC system’s built in, primary Booster and use it to generate their own track (Power Bus) output. Sorry that doesn’t answer your specific enquiry. I’ve no idea about the z21 and NCE booster connections. . .

Quite so Iain, but my point was that if sound can be provided at a much lower premium (over non-sound), then the uptake would be much higher. p.s. TXS isn't that bad either, especially considering the low purchase cost. .

For sound fitted out of the box, the added cost over non-sound DCC (£100 plus or minus £20) is bound to dampen the uptake. RTR DCC sound fitted at anything from £260 to £360 per loco is certainly going to restrict the market to a degree. If the cost difference was very close, I imagine there’d be very high proportion of sound equipped sales. When you break down the comparative costing of Hornby’s TXS sound decoders, the sound element is only adding approx. £25 compared to a non-sound decoder (Bluetooth capability also adds another (approx.) £15 to the cost). .

I thought "Chuff" was used as a euphemism for backside? Puts a different light on the idea of a fragrance with that name. 🤣

Track laying is a long way off, by all accounts. They haven't signed any contracts yet for the supply of materials or the infrastructure and logistics. .

A few of points about that video. He completely ignores, or doesn’t notice, the work going on to create the mainline side of the station. Some initial foundations are already clearly evident. He mentions the logistics tunnel, but appears to think it runs to the Victoria crossover box and not the Euston end of the OOC station box. When looking down into the crossover box, he makes no mention that you can see tail end of TBM “Anne”. Does he even realise it there? There’s also no mention of TBM “Emily” when he notes the down tunnel portal, at the bottom of the adjacent ventilation shaft. Also surprising that having spent time extensively covering Willesden, he doesn’t take a good look at Atlas Rd, where you can clearly see the logistics tunnel entrance. .

If you can get past the "physical interface" bit and are definitely looking for sound, then the most inexpensive DCC system is no system. i.e. not a physical hardware based system, but a virtual one...as in something along the lines of Hornby's Bluetooth based HM7000 / HM DCC system. (North American modellers can look towards the similar BlueRail Trains based, Soundtraxx Blunami system) If already in possession of a smartphone and/or a tablet (e.g. iPad), then all you need to get started is a suitable power supply. The virtual DCC system is "free". Downsides... Only works with Hornby's own range of Bluetooth fitted decoders, out of the metaphorical box. Sounds available are currently only limited to prototypes that Hornby offer in model form. Sound project rollout is slow but steadily progressing. Non-sound versions of the Bluetooth decoders, have yet to be released, but are in the pipeline. The expansion option, by linking with a physical DCC system, to control other (non-Bluetooth) DCC locos and accessories, is currently limited to DCC systems with XPressNet interfaces. If you can put up with those limitations in the short term, this is the least expensive and easiest way in DCC, particularly with sound. It would save you the risk of buying a DCC system that may end up being the wrong choice, or one you don't particularly get on with. In addition, if you eventually decide on a physical hardware based control system, there's no money lost and everything remains compatible. Food for thought ? .

Just not noise. High fuel consumption. The RR Conway on the VC10, SVC10 and a relatively small number of B707’s (-420 series) and DC8’s (-40 series), was one of the early low bypass turbofan jet engines. The most numerous, popular and successful (by far) on multi- engine long range airliners, was the P&W JT3D (e.g. B707 B&C series, B720B, DC8 -50 & 60series) “Pure Jets” refers to the earlier engined airliners, preceding these, without bypass fans. These include the very earliest (late 1950’s) B707, B720 & DC8 examples, some of which were refitted with Turbofans in the early/mid 1960’s, but most continued in service with their original engine types until the 1973 fuel crisis hit and their relatively much higher fuel costs saw mass retirements in short order. Other “pure jet” airliners that were phased out in the 1970’s for the same reason, included the Convair 880 and the RR Avon powered Caravelle 3 and the last of the Comet 4 series. .

Colne Valley viaduct. The span over the Grand Union Canal has all but been been completed. (it looks like the joining centre section is being cast) I would expect the launching girder, "Dominique", to move forward to the next pier early in the coming week. Three quarters of the viaduct is complete, with just the one final lake to span. .

Use the NCE PB5 UK. booster. It's designed to go with the CS02. https://www.ncedcc.com/online-store/PB5-UK-5-Amp-Booster-with-International-Power-Supply-p86747320 .

That has only occurred at some marginal examples, such as the deals struck by a certain Irish based airliner, with some very small regional airports in Europe. There is no subsidy on the fares, only reduced or waved landing and handling fees for the airline. You won’t see anything like that at the likes of Geneva, or any of the London airports. .