gordon s

I'm fairly sure I've been in those trees loads of times when playing golf at Sonning.....I'm sure the trains must get hit occasionally as the line is so close to the course.... A really lovely piece of work....

Where's your spirit of adventure?.... They said we'd never get on the moon, let alone Mars, so I'm sure collectively we can come up with a solution. It may be something completely different, but at least we tried..... Some form of latch with a form insert to protect the loco should hold it in place, so being absolutely level shouldn't be an issue. I could even have foam lined, hinged side panels that hold a whole train in place.......Who knows, until you see the real pitfalls. Gordon S. Overdosed on optimism.......

Body is off and this is what greeted me. The data sheet say it's a 551-114 motor, but there are no labels or identifying marks. Did a Google search on that part number, but none the wiser. Perhaps I'll give Bachmann a call before I start shortening springs etc......

Thanks for that info Z. I really didn’t want to take the body off if there was an issue. I must have run it in both directions slowly and flat out for several hours and the body was cool. To be on the safe side, I’ll take the body off this afternoon and see what lurks beneath. I suppose I could have rung Bachmann, but you guys are very knowledgeable.....

I’m sure you may well be proven right, but sometimes you have to try things. I have used these braked wheels on both my wife’s dog trolley and my mobile saw bench that allows me to move my large De Walt saw around the outside of the house and round to the garden when I’m working out there. The wheels are very free running and it’s easy to move around, not only on flat surfaces but even across our gravel drivel. The cassettes will be designed to hold trains in place, so possible derailments are something to think about. There is no mechanical lift, just done manually. I’ll never know without trying and it may be the first model doesn’t work, but these things often provide an alternative solution. Will it work? No idea, but worthy of further consideration.

Thanks Martin, I'm with you. No problem having 20 engines as I have far too many anyway. Don't we all..... .....but surprisingly I have found I have room to rotate an 8' cassette trolley, which can now double as a drugs trolley when I go to hospital. Thanks Mike.... When I was a young lad, I recall Peter Denny's train turntable on Buckingham, so it's funny how these things come around. Just been upstairs and the bottom of the trackbed would be 970mm from the floor, so allowing 200mm for the bottom frame and wheels, I could have 7 layers of 110mm each. I suspect that may be too close between the layers, so I'll probably have to come down to 6 at 128mm each. the idea would be a single access road on top of the frame which is pushed up to the incoming road and a train can just run on. There would be a minimal distance to move the cassette down onto a holding position and once all trains had accessed storage, the whole rack can be rotated, so all trains are now facing the right way. Probably a totally hair brained scheme, but I won't know without some drawings and a mock up. Advantages is that it can be moved out of the way easily and shouldn't measure much more than 8' long. Width may be an issue as it has to be stable and of course the wheels etc have to be man enough to support the weight. Centre of gravity will also be important. The last thing you want is everything tipping over. This is my wife's dog grooming trolley I built for her, so something along these lines.....Cassette storage will be a bit bigger I grant you, but the principles are the same.

Perhaps someone can refresh my memory. Tried searching without success. I've been ploughing through boxes and found this loco which hasn't been run at all. Put it up on a rolling road on DC and ran it for a couple of hours and it runs very well. I was just about to fit a decoder when I recalled there was an issue with a Bachmann loco some time ago where the motor was suspect and it didn't perform very well. I think there were mods some done at a later date and the motor replaced. Blowed if I can remember which one it was and wondered if it was this A1 as I have had it numerous years. It runs well on DC, but I can't run it on my layout to see what it will pull without some work as ET is DCC based. If it's OK, I may well keep it or it could be heading for eBay......

Well I'm sitting here once again chuckling away to myself and as always reminded of the joke 'Can you tell me the way to Dublin'? Yes, but I wouldn't start from here..... ET is a fictitious place, designed for me to enjoy watching trains run and relive those times back in the 50s and 60's when steam was still the norm, but diesels were just appearing on the scene. I know little about the operation of a railway, so going to shows for me is all about running quality and overall scenic presentation and not looking to see that everything conforms to prototype practice. Apart from a few tweaks, I am where I am regarding a layout plan, so any changes to bring it in line with real life would mean scrapping what I have and there I don't have the time, money or motivation to even consider it. I'm stuck with this, but can see past it's faults and limitations and still enjoy building and running trains on my big train set..... Where I'm really grateful for input is where I'm stuck on a particular problem and a fresh pair of eyes is a great help. Working on your own can be hard and tunnel vision is often a problem, stopping you seeing the obvious. Your support and encouragement over the years has been invaluable and long may it continue as I bumble along in my own way. Right, 'nuff said....so back to this particular problem. I probably have 100 or so loco's and enough stock to fill ET several times over. I'm looking to have a storage area hold 15 complete trains that can be pulled up onto the main circuit as required and run a few laps. It may well be in future that should this become boring, then I'll start to delve into timetable running etc, but that is a long way away. The storage area is no different to anything you see on most layouts, other than design constraints mean it has to be single ended. 15 trains require 15 loco's and I believe the shed area and other places around the layout will allow me to have around 40+ locos on display and available. Every few weeks, loco's and stock will be changed and swapped with the others from my bulk store. The reason for the turntable at the end of the storage is simple. It provides a storage area for 15 complete trains and allows me to turn loco's around to return from storage. Once returned to the main layout, they can go on shed or be replaced by another loco. Bear in mind this won't happen every five minutes, so whilst wrong road running probably breaks all the rules, I can live with it. Without that, I'm reducing the number of locos available by 15. Of course I could remove them and hold them in small cassettes on their own, but that means additional handling and more room required to hold the cassette and locomotives. I recognise the storage as it stands is not ideal for the reasons you have mentioned, hence my original question. It was only after those replies did the idea of a mobile cassette storage unit arise which would take up far less space and improves access considerably. This is still 'blue sky thinking' in my world, so I have no idea at this stage whether it is feasible or practical within the space confines I have. As I said earlier, I really appreciate your guidance and assistance when I get stuck, but ET is a fictitious place and so my main priorities are track building and a scenic element that will take me back 60 years or so. If that means I have a train set and not a model railway, then I can live with that.... Edit: Just revisited your suggestion, Martin and I can see where you are coming from, but unless any station pilot is going to push the empty stock all the way to storage, won't I have the same problem with tank engines etc trapped in the storage area? I appreciate you were talking about detaching the loco and then free wheeling coaches down a slope. That may be may be exciting, but my new RB coach has a mind of its own. I have never seen such free wheeling capability. The slightest slope from level and its gone.......... Possibly easier to handle tank engines and diesels rather that Pacifics, but I'd like to try and avoid handling unless there is no option.

PSV brake testing in India......Yup, they work...

Well he had to after Giroud during the week. Good to see Bale back in it as well.......The opposition wasn't exactly Premier League standard, but still enjoyable to watch after the past few weeks. Back to ET. The outer road (line 7) is basically omni directional. If you are going clockwise, a shunter will take the train up and leave it in line 7 within the station confines. The main line loco will then couple to the front and away..... If going anti clockwise, the main line loco will take the train up to line 7 at B and then continue right through to line 1 or 2. All the routes are set automatically, so selecting the route you require, shuts down all the other routes where conflicts may occur. Eventually both signals and electrical interlocking will not allow any train to move if one is traversing the station throat at either end, but that is some way away. The reverse is exactly the same, hence the additional crossovers to allow that movement directly across to line 7. I love to have a more prototypical layout, but it is what it is. The ideal of access in both directions just wasn't possible. Sounds like I have just gone from a model railway to a train set in a couple of steps........

...but surely that would only work if the storage was empty. The roads are just over 8’ each and most trains will fill each line. The ends have so much pointwork it may not be practical. I could make a ‘gate’ similar to 92220’s Camden Shed, but suspect it will just be two big to move and accurately align. Joking apart, my quick sketch of vertical storage is fascinating me. Not an automated version, but simply a rack where the top line is in and out and once full it is moved a minimal distance to sit on steel rods projecting each side. The width of each bed could be fairly tight so that trains aren’t free to fall off the rails. Once all 15 cassettes are full, the whole unit is rotated 180 degrees and away you go again. Just lift one cassette to the top of the unit and plug into the access road. I have a workshop including a pillar drill so drilling in line and perpendicular should be fine. I’m sure there are possibly loads of issues, but I fancy a challenge. It can then be simply wheeled away to one side and being a lot shorter will allow access to the other side of the storage area. The big unknown is the shed area and I haven’t thought that one through yet, but as it only needs a single line, it could be parked to one side of the shed which will be 180mm higher.

Needs a bit of work, but job done..... This is the budget model.....

I wish you hadn't reminded me of those as I can see a home made vertical rack on wheels to store the cassettes. Fill it up and turn it round once full. Job done..... Thankfully I'm sure don't have an area big enough in which to turn a fully loaded vertical cassette unit......of course I'll have to check though....

Just out of interest, Companies House says they are still active, but a Statement is due by March 4th and Accounts by 31 October 2021.

As always I’m open to suggestions. I have tried moving a dummy 8’ cassette around and it’s an accident waiting to happen. The other problem is storing 15 x 8’ cassettes and there just isn’t the space. Short of moving home, I’m stuck with the space I have. Other than a few hours on Templot, nothing has been made, so if you can miraculously find an alternative that deals with a 1:100 gradient and 8’ storage, the beers are on me..... Edit: Just to add to that, I haven’t cleaned the track for gone best part of a year and as you saw from the video, everything runs well. There is little or no pointwork on that side of the layout and as the storage is just over 2’ wide, there is a 2’6” space and 4’6” the other. Oh for a bigger house......

That was always the case Jonathan. Sadly no way round it, so the outer line beyond turnout B is omni directional. When travelling clockwise, a tank will move the stock into the confines of ET station. The main line loco will couple up at the other end and away you go. Anti clockwise a main line loco will travel straight through and across to lines 1 or 2. No problem route wise as they are all automated via the ECoS. It is has to cross the clockwise lines, but then all the conflicting routes are shut down and eventually the signalling and power feeds will prevent any potential accidents. The reverse will also be true with trains crossing from line 1 or 2 to line 7. In the clockwise direction trains will go straight down line 7 to storage. Best I can do and another one of life’s compromises....

You may wish to drop a line to Eldavo as he has just gone down a similar route. Doesn’t sound too hopeful.... I have up years ago waiting for a 70’ Cowans and Sheldon.... Click on Feb 6th.

Thanks SS. No, I didn't consider it, but now you have mentioned it, I think it would fail on several grounds. The length alone would be in the region of 10' and the weight of the boards considerable, particularly once loaded with 14 full length trains. I ruled out a traverser as even with three entry points, you need space to move it in and out. What isn't showing on the plan above is the stairwell which is right up against the right hand edge of the storage boards. This means all movement on a traverser has to be towards the left edge and that takes it too close to the main line boards running down the back of the layout. I know what I have will work as I've built it once already. Just a shame I sold all the pointwork when I had a clearout a few years ago..... As always, I'm open to suggestion, but you weren't to know where the boards, balustrade and stairwell are situated from my drawing.

Saw this post earlier, which may be of interest..... May be the answer for those of us with bent footplates, missing parts or poorly fitted cabs. Mine runs so well, I'd be loathe to change it, but a new body would certainly be very welcome.

A five minute check would show they are still on sale direct at £165, so why on earth would someone pay £200. Must be one born every minute......

One of the plusses of being in hospital is that you have plenty of time to think and I've never really been happy with either the shed facility or traverser storage on ET. Whilst you can scribble away to your heart's content, you really can't assess what's possible and what isn't without ploughing into Templot, so any sketches/ideas I had really had to wait until I got home. Having made the recent video, I realised just how much I wanted to make the rear of the layout into a scenic section free from buildings or other railway related paraphernalia. Took me years, but I eventually bought into the less is more camp (honest....) and the raised trackbed around the rear of the layout opened all sorts of possibilities and viewpoints. One of my favourite spotting places is actually going down a couple of stairs that takes me level with the trackbed and there I can happily watch trains and relive those wonderful days of steam in the 50's. The other problem was the gradient down to the traverser, which was just over 1:50 and although it was a relatively short run, I didn't want repeats of 8 coach trains being held on the slope with a red signal and then being unable to get going again. I think I have tried every location known to man within the confines of the existing plan, to resolve the gradient issue and once again compromise is on the cards. I need a 9.5m run to ascend 95mm and that can be done, by extending the descending track from ET station to the top end of the plan and then diving under the main lines to the support frame level. I still need to check the positions of the Tortoise motors, but feel confident with either 180 degree rotation or remote mounting, I can find space to allow the storage access tracks to run through. It's probable the traverser will have to go as that requires too much width, so a fixed board is the answer. The major compromise will be access to the rear of the layout as it will mean ducking under the storage. At 72, that really doesn't thrill me, but the thought that all of that area will be scenic and just four main lines on a gentle curve makes it more acceptable. Care in laying the lines etc, should mean derailments will be very rare or non existent. All of the scenic work can be done before the storage goes in, so that's not an issue. So here's the first attempt at a plan.... The turnout at A may be removed or may lead to the scenic area outlined in yellow. This will descend gently so as not to block the view as described earlier. The turnout at B will ascend to the shed area, but more of that later. Over the years there have been numerous attempts to build ET and whilst they have all failed or been scrapped, the plans are still filed away and I knew I had something that might do the job.....Sadly just a plan as the original was scrapped. Fifteen storage lines on 44.67mm centres, so just 625mm wide and the facility to turn all locos and run round on a vacant track back to the front on the train. I have an old Fleischmann turntable that may still do the job, or I may fabricate something. Another stack of pointwork to build (or buy from Wayne....) but it should keep me out of trouble for a while. Eventually it will look like a shorter version of this with the minimum storage road length set at 8'. Still working on some ideas for the shed, but considering double stacking the shed on top of the storage. There will be sufficient space, but in any case, I will have removable sections in case of emergencies such as a tie bar coming adrift. That provides a central control position with everything within reach, so ideal for a single operator or space for more to operate the other side of the storage. Still need some final checks, but this could be a solution in terms of hidden storage.

Now look what you’ve done......

Thanks Dylan. As the loco runs so well, I'm inclined to keep mine and have it weathered to tone down the green bodywork. I had already been in touch with Hornby regarding my wavy footplate and missing parts, so have mailed them this morning to hopefully secure a new body shell.

That’s a huge improvement and tempted to do the same. Just one question though, can you still apply weathering powders on top of a coating of Klear?

Glad to hear it all went well and I'm with you, Jonathan. The treatment I have had from the NHS has been outstanding, particularly when you consider the COVID situation. Both hospitals really had control of the situation with very strict segregation and COVID tests every few days. Shame there were no visitors, but totally understandable. The next stage may be tougher for the family as I will be laid up in ERU (Enhanced Recovery Unit) for 10-12 days and doubt I will be able to use my phone for a few days. Take it easy for now as a few more months will see us out in the garden bathed in sunshine and the last year will be a distant memory.....