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We wondered this when the 85 first appeared, with wild speculation that an 86 and or an 81 may soon appear, instead we got the class 90 from Bachmann and the 87 from Hornby. Technically, yes you could just change the body of the 85 to an 81. But, there are differences between the bogies on 81 and 86, namely to do with cable and hose routing. Regardless of people’s personal views on if that would constitute a valid criticism, it would still be an error. I strongly suspect caution is being excised in all areas OHLE, following the fallout of the Heljan 86/2, which at the time threatened Heljan never making another AC electric locomotive again. Luckily, it seems that last part has not become true, and we have the 86/0’s coming next year and even the possibility of retooled 86/2’s. (Lord knows how my credit card will survive 2021.) OHLE modelling has always suffered from an odd perversion of the ‘Chicken and the Egg’ concept. No one makes the OHLE infrastructure, so no one makes OHLE locomotives, because no one makes OHLE locomotives, no one makes OHLE infrastructure. But, this is changing. Dare I say it but we’ve _____ had it __ good. Regards

Just caught up with this thread, excellent work John. Regards Matt

Not applicable to my own area of interest, but, nevertheless interested to see any UK Outline OHLE developments.

Are you saying hopes and dreams fail to contribute to brake force?

Class 81

I suggest the half-splitting technique. Find a convenient location, approximately separating the layout into two halves. Continuity test both halves of the layout. Hopefully, one half should have the fault, the other half should not. repeat this process until you locate the short. Regards Matt

Does the unit display the error message when disconnected from the layout?

Perhaps TOCs could look at running additional services, as some sort of relief. You could all them "relief services". I'll get my coat...

That’s some incredible detail, are you working to drawings? Regards Matt

Saw the news on Facebook, an amazing achievement! Regards Matt

Excellent, thank you Paul. Regards Matt

Afternoon all, Scale seven has always had a certain appeal to me, and with a number of interesting RTR items on the way, it's temping to set foot into the larger scale. But, does anyone know if anyone is making O Gauge electric locomotive kits (Class 76, 81-87, etc.)? If I search the murky depths of my memory, I seem to recall JLTRL may have done a Class 87? Not sure. A google search has revealed nothing of note, and a quick forum search has likewise been fruitless. As always, any input gratefully received. Regards Matt

Indeed, inertia directly effects supply frequency, so anything running synchronously with the grid (synchronous generators feeding too the grid, or Synchronous motors in use for correcting power factor) start to suffer. It's why Nuclear is the only viable short to medium term solution, but try telling that to normals. Still once we've left the EU, we might be more reluctant to keep increasing our energy imports from France. Hell, might even have to start mining and burning coal again, like the Germans Regards Matt

That's because 'renewable' energy of almost every source has to be put through and inverter in order to be compatible with the national grid, this results in a 'stepped' equivalent of AC and not true sinusoidal power from power stations. This combination of renewable and, I'll use the term 'proper' power produces harmonics within the system which start drastically increasing heat in components and/or increased power usage. Here in the sunny southwest, there are strict controls on how much solar can be fed into the grid for this reason. Regards Matt

Damn, I guess that means another month or so until I can buy 400 spare cross-arm pantographs.

I am not, and have not been talking about "science fiction", as I state in post 35, I work in Automation and Robotics as my field as an Electrical Engineering technician and a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. Everything you keep alluding too is some foggy ill-defined fear mongering, which demonstrates you have a woeful lack of understanding of how engineering works, along with the slippery slope logical fallacy. While some businesses employing low skilled labor roles want humans to act as "robots" (generally through the use of targets), these low skill highly repetitive roles will be replaced with automation. Right now, every Robot put into use in industry replaces one low skilled job, and creates three new jobs (System integrator, System installer, System Maintainer). Are you under the impression the skilled people employed in such roles don't talk to each other? I suggest you also look at Co-bots (Collaborative Robots), I've done some work with both Universal and Kuka using their respective co-bots, which in interesting as 'hard' automation generally removes humans as much as possible from any process (primarily for safety reasons, every industrial Robot I've worked with is more than capable of killing a man). Co-bots actually allow humans much greater interaction with Autonomous systems, right now. If you want to be worried about something, be worried about how there are no current job roles suitable for people with an IQ of 87 of less, which is 10% of the population, That is going to be the challenge of the future, as Automation and Robotics erode the low skill labor market place. Regards Matt

I've outlined why this premise is incorrect in post #35 http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134941-a-rathery-scary-vision-of-the-future-from-trains-magazine/page-2&do=findComment&comment=3213830 Regards Matt

AI is another common misconception. Artificial Intelligence, does not exist. It's basically a buzzword. What we have at the present, at most, is augmented intelligence. Which is basically a mix Machine Learning, and clever computer programming by a human. Machines, as they currently exist, are very, very stupid. Regards Matt

I work in Automation and Robotics. Automation is bound to happen, and railways are ripe for it. But the following points: 1. Humans like to see people in charge, this is why the London Underground still has "Drivers" on four of it's semi-automated routes (In actual fact, these people operate the doors, and are there to assist in an emergency). 2, Automation is not an 'instant' thing. You don't wave a magic wand and poof! things are automated. Automation is carefully targeted through a cost-benefit analysis process. Railways being a incredible complex system, will need each process that is automated to be cost effective, and in terms of safety be more than or equal to current safety standards. Every change to a system, will have knock-on effects to other elements in the system. 3. Automation is highly suited to 'repetitive' tasks. The more variance within process, the harder it is to automate. As such cost of automation is an exponential increase in relation to the complexity of the process. Humans are highly suited to adaptable and varied job roles. I've lost count of the number of times I have been asked 'what do your robots do', and I've had disappoint the questioner with the answer of 'Pick thing up, put it somewhere else'. or 'it does x to y'. A common misconception is that Automation will replace all jobs, this is only lauded by people who don't work in Automation. Automation generally increases quality and productivity at the cost of 'low skilled' jobs, often allowing businesses to grow and employ more people albeit in higher skilled roles. Regards Matt

I've been looking at the possibility of modeling this as a small layout. Am I right in thinking this image from Alan Rintoul, is taken from near the 'offices' at the northern end of the building? Carlisle New Yard depot Jun75 by Alan Rintoul, on Flickr Regards Matt

Hi John, Thanks for the clarification, I wish Phil the best of luck in resolving these issues. Regards Matt

The old Axiom "you can't cost cut your way to profitability". Springs to mind. If the volume of business is to large to be achievable by one person, as witnessed by the backlog, then you need more staff. But then, If the business is not profitable because having X number of staff, then there is a far bigger problem with the business model than 'staffing'. Hopefully the issues will soon sort themselves out. Long live the free market. Regards Matt

Never actually had a proper 'boxed set' as it were. I just had hand me downs from friends and family. Two triang-Hornby locos, a red 0-4-0 and a GWR pannier tank with a mix of rolling stock. a 4x6 double oval in the kitchen. which was primarily used as launch facilities for the world's fastest Percy... Regards Matt

This looks excellent. Regards Matt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZt-KMs8aEg&list=PLk-Ae5yhUGhuQfnvvB3rfF0TWHNq6hsUl