APOLLO

A'Zzuma along on electricity, A goes a bit slower on a diesel !!!

 

Brit15

Bring back to the good old days !!

 

 

 

 

Brit15

Some Acro info on rmweb here Tony

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/65524-kings-cross-model-shop/page-9&do=findComment&comment=1336148

 

Brit15

Deltics - you don't have to see one, just hear one !

 

 

As to DCC and sound, technically wonderful as it is it is not for me either.

 

A few months ago I bought quite cheaply a secondhand though mint Atlas O gauge F7 diesel loco (American outline). 

 

 

Quite a nice loco (but no Deltic!!)

 

On placing her on  the layout power was applied - nothing, turned up the controller (non DCC) and the headlamp starts flashing, next a loud engine start noise was emitted, then off she moves with the various hisses clanks, thumps and engine acceleration etc sounds. What the hell do I have here ? - no instructions were  in the box.

 

It turns out (thanks Google) that the loco is fitted with the Atlas Quantum sound system, this works on either DC or DCC. Flicking the reversing switch on the controller and the bell starts, flick again and the bell rate slows stops, Slow change of direction switch sounds the horn. You have to actually stop the loco to reverse it.. All good fun and a surprise buy for me - BUT it is loud (you can hear it outside the shed !!) and it gets on your nerves after a bit, no off switch on the loco either. I had to google for the instructions - which are quite complicated the further I delve into them - A magnetic wand is needed to switch / reset various parameters etc. I don't have a magnetic wand so she will stay as is.

 

I won't (knowingly) buy another Atlas sound loco - the neighbours might complain !!.

 

Technology - where next ?

 

Brit15

 

 

 

Brit15

Clive & other DMU fans

 

I was in WH Smiths this afternoon and bought the Modern Locomotives Illustrated mag, June-July 2018 No 231 entitled Departmental Multiple Units. Well illustrated and interesting, lots of info for the departmental DMU modeler.

 

Brit15

Failure is not an option.

 

 

Best film I've ever seen.

 

Brit15

The Chinese, Japanese and other far eastern races are very adept at making intricate small and complex articles from all manner of electronics etc to model railways.

 

Could other less developed countries do similar ? I doubt it without a lot of culture change, training etc. A huge investment in both time and money would, I think, be required.

 

Hornby could not afford it.

 

Brit15

Well perhaps sacking half the board and saving on their exorbitant salary and pension conributions would get us a good way there!

 

Agree. I received the National Grid Annual report yesterday. The Chairman and directors wages, bonuses, performance pay and share options etc are astronomical sums, Some are well over £3 million in total. Are they worth it ? - I don't know but their pay increases year on year are not small numbers either.

 

I know Hornby are nowhere near this - it's all proportional, but none are on minimum wage !!!!!!!!!!

 

Brit15

Firstly good luck and best wishes to Clem and Bucoops above. Health comes first though model railways is surely a tonic !!

 

A couple of weeks ago I was reading this interesting thread about Cadeby and the Late Teddy Boston

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134675-cadeby/

 

His book "From Font to Footplate" was mentioned, a quick look on Amazon and a copy found for just over a tenner posted. What a wonderful book this is, divided into two parts, his model trains and the real ones that ran round his Vicarage at Cadeby.

 

I've often seen references and photos of both Teddy and his railways, and this little book is packed full of interest. His large GWR layout in his shed would win no cups at exhibitions, but it brought immense pleasure to Teddy and his visitors, as the many photos in his book clearly show.

 

More photos here  http://cadebyvillage.wixsite.com/cadeby/teddy-boston

 

Incidentally my copy is annotated "Happy memories Teddy and Audrey" signed Audrey Boston - an thoughtful touch to whoever the recipient was.

 

What a diverse and wonderful hobby we all have. May the diversity continue !!!

 

Brit15

I have to take my twin girls from Wigan to Liverpool to view both Universities there next Friday & Saturday (22 & 23 June).

 

Lime St is closed with buses from Huyton. The other route Wigan - Kirby (change to an electric train) there is a mess with some trains cancelled, some bustitutions etc, a revised timetable is in effect on this line, and to cap it all Northern strike action on the Sat 23rd.

 

The Wigan-St Helens-Liverpool line was a jewel of "Northern" rail investment - newly electrified & decent refurbished 319 4 car trains, train every 30 mins minimum.

 

They put the fares up in January, revised timetables last week due to the current chaos and Lime St shut -with NO extra services etc on the Wigan to Kirby route  - indeed they have CUT those !!  A real mess. Can't complain re Lime St closure - it has been well advertised - but why no enhanced service on the Kirkby line ?.

 

I'll go by car and will book cheap subsidised (by the Universities for the visit days) parking in the City centre. It will be cheaper also, but I would have preferred to go by train.

 

The whole management of our railways is a complete and utter shambles. Yes I feel sorry for the poor sods on the ground who run the services, but the senior managers at Northern and politicians concerned can all go and rot in Hell.

 

Brit15

Spectacular, stunning, superb, probably not good enough adjectives for this layout.

 

 

Brit15

It's not detail accuracy I particularly look for on a layout - or even try to achieve on my layouts. It's Atmosphere. A difficult substance to describe or discuss, we all have widely varying definitions of it.

 

Tony's Little Bytham is loaded with it, and I've only seen it in his excellent photographs. It's not the detailed accuracy of his locos and stock, but the long sweeping four track main line, tall signals, laboriously applied point rodding etc etc I particularly like - it all says to me "Great Northern main line, British Railways late 50's"

 

The layout is the stage, the trains are the actors. Stand back a little when you view your (or any) layout - does it really matter if a few details are wrong or missing ? It's the overall scene that matters to me. If something stands out and looks wrong / out of place then it probably is - so I sort it, hopefully improving the atmosphere of the layout. It's a constant thing I tend to do also. Little changes here and there. Constant improvement

 

Brit15

I took another run out to Wigan Springs Branch today to view progress. They are cracking on with groundworks at three separate locations. Difficult to photograph mid summer with all the rampant vegetation though.

 

Views from Taylors lane bridge just to the south. A lot of work is being done where I presume the headshunt will be. The old Whelley Loop bridge abutment seems iffy - probably due for demolition. Lots of activity here this afternoon

 

 

 

 

Within the existing shed area was a breaker at work breaking concrete, with a load of ballast behind. This is at the side of the existing shed, the old diesel refueling area. Difficult to photograph

 

 

Photos at the north end from Warrington Road bridge and the shed entrance road. The old Brewery Sidings are cleared and seemingly ready for ballast etc soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly a view looking south from Cemetery Road bridge.

 

 

I'll visit again in a couple of weeks.

 

Brit15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fascinating line the M&GN. I hope there is another life, because with eternity it will be possible to model everything. This green isle alone offers more than a lifetime's choices.

 

I remember the late (and great) Fred Dibnah talking about the same subject. He stated that upon passing away all he wished for was an eternal supply of old steam traction engines, tools and material to restore them !! The interviewer quipped about there being no blacksmiths furnaces in Heaven - Fred said he wasn't bothered where he ended up - just let there be engines !!!!

 

Brit15

Anyway ------------

 

 

Brit 15

^^^  I presume the fourth picture is distorted in some way otherwise the cab has taken a heck of a bash. The loco doesn't seem to be off the rails?

 

Pity you can't read the numbers on most, the top one could well be ex Annesley having a 1F tender, the bottom one has taken a knock around the front buffer beam as well

 

Lovely atmospheric photos, real giants of steam just as I remember them.

 

Being the biggest and most impressive locos I saw regularly, probably my favourites

 

I've never noticed that before - quite interesting ! Perhaps a negative / scanner fault I don't recall. long, long time ago !!

 

If it's real, take a lump hammer to your prized 9F !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yes I loved the old steam sheds towards the end. Atmosphere you could chew !!

 

Brit15

 

Brit15

Mucky old Nine Two'ers, my second favourite loco after the Britannia.

 

Here is one at Springs Branch (Fir Tree House Jcn - Whelley Loop). Just crossing the WCML and about to drop down the short but fierce grade to the St Helens line. Long Meg Anhydrite bound for USAC at Widnes. 1967.

 

 

 

92223 on Springs Branch again 1967

 

 

Of course the lair of the 9F at this time was Birkenhead shed. Wonderful place (as was the Gas works behind) !!

 

 

 

My trainspotting pals enveloped with steam from a pair of mucky 9F's

 

 

No need to super detail your 9F's - just add tons of filth !!

 

Brit15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brit15

Nice USA photos on your Flikr site Beast.

 

brit15

I've put most of mine on my Flikr site (below), previously in a thread on here (also below). 

 

None of us is immortal and time marches on. If anyone can find use from my photos all well and good. If anyone wishes to publish them then just please acknowledge me as the photographer (though a lot were taken by my late father).

 

Is Flikr a trustworthy place in the long run after the recent shenanigans with photobucket ?. I honestly don't know.

 

All my photos are also backed up at home on multiple hard drives also.

 

Looking forward to seeing your photos Beast.

 

Brit15

Retail is in a pickle everywhere. Not model railways but --

 

HOUSE OF FRASER is closing stores to survive the current crisis hitting the British high street, in recent news. Which stores are closing? Where will the closures be? It was revealed today the company is closing over half its stores, 31 in total, including its Oxford Street branch. This could effect 6,000 jobs

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/954663/house-of-Fraser-stores-news-closing-closures-which

 

Brit15

Back in the late 70's Guinness had a depot in Runcorn.   A small ship would  dock nearby on the Manchester Ship Canal and unload into waiting road tankers. Once at the depot it was bottled / casked and distributed.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/34793333@N02/5503945438/

 

Later in the 80's / 90's Guinness was transported by rail to a depot in Salford from Park Royal London

 

Brit15