PaulRhB

Axminster tools hold a good range of tools and accessories with models to suit a range of budgets, I looked at the proxxon range but felt that they were too expensive compared to some of the other small mills and drills unless you really need something very small that can do everything. http://www.axminster.co.uk/ Camden Miniature Steam Services carry an excellent range of machine tool guides from less than a tenner, well worth asking for the catalogue and browsing or do it online. (I think the books Paul mentions above are one of the sets they carry) http://www.camdenmin...ills-c-320.html Personally I have a Toyo mini lathe as I only need it for small projects, that's 19 years old and as good as new. I also have a nice small bench drill and currently looking at aquiring a small mill of my own. I have friends with larger machines if I need them but it would be nice to have a mill so I can just get on with jobs. I find the lathe has a multitude of uses from models through to bits for the car and household.

I wish Arran & Charlie well with this and I'm amazed it stayed fairly secret as Charlie mentioned it to me (never met him before that), at The Epsom show. I kept quiet as it seemed unfair to spoil their news and he seemed genuinely excited about filling the gap and couldn't keep in the news! How many did you tell Charlie?

In my previous post I mentioned the droopy coupling on the end without the railing, this was the same on all eight wagons so they all had the coupler box removed and gently bent up and then checked when re-assembled. I've left them a couple of days and all seems well so a simple fix to that one. I finally got some short kadee number 17 NEM couplers and fitted them, still a bit of a gap but much better than the tension locks. I'm considering experimenting with body mounted couplers to get them even closer but it will depend on how they perform uncoupling and coupling on the curve in my quarry.

or Freightliner Assuming there was an upgrade then the cost of installing colour lights and full cctv barriers would also see the platforms modified or rebuilt to modern standards (grandfather rights don't apply to closed stations). Marchwood box would close and be added onto Eastleigh Panel so you might see the current building replaced with a bus shelter or one of the new modular stations. I also believe that due to the current track layout the retention of bi directional signalling on both sides of the loop would be seen as essential for operational flexibility if you had the Port and Fliner terminal joining the branch at Marchwood. ( the FLT connection was planned to be down the south beyond the end of the loop so the two down starters might even have feathers on both) Depends on how far you want to take it.

You could leave the signalling as it is and introduce a platform on the Up side if you wanted to retain bi-directional running on both lines, personally I think this would be the likely case as the signalling is designed around the freight operation and I doubt they would compromise this just to add a passenger service. I also doubt a second platform would actually be used as the current one would hold a two car unit which is all that would be likely to run on the branch. The current token and track circuit systems work fine with Passenger trains as well. Modifying the signalling to single direction for each line and putting in a platform would be prohibitively expensive as it requires a total redesign of the interlocking. Upgrading to colour lights would also be unlikely just to add a passenger service as with Yeovil Pen Mill they would just update the semaphores as required by wear. Upgrading the track is all that's required to meet the standard for higher line speed, it wouldn't actually look any different just have tighter tolerances on it. If your plan is to include the proposed Dibden bay terminal then a more radical scheme is required. For this I would expect the Signalbox to close the gates be replaced by four raising booms and CCTV cameras and the signalling to be colour light as the port would be paying for the enhancements. (Beasts diagram of the UP staters is correct mind you as I just used a generic double bracket)

Here's the signalling at Marchwood, the box also monitors the six AHB's on the line and controls the Up Fawley Starter remotely. The Marchwood to Fawley section is controlled by Tokens held in the box and auxillary machines. The Starter into the Port shouldn't be pulled until the train is at or nearly at a stand due to the tight curvature and the Port must get permission before a train leaves the Port to approach the Ground signal protecting the loop. The second ground signal allows for trains to move up the loop and run round clear of the platform but a barrier operator is required for the AHB's South of the loop as the treadles are put out of sequence if a loco runs out of the south end without carrying on over the crossing, so not a common move. DBS doesn't allow token exchanges to be made on the move any more so anything post about 2004 would require all trains to and from Fawley to stop at the platform. The Marchwood to Totton section is track circuited with flow arrows so no tokens there. The box is in the old station and the yellow walkway on the main track is to allow the Signalman to exchange tokens with the Drivers using the loop. The abundance of sand drags and full rather than trap points is due to the nature of the goods carried so Marchwood is still capable of allowing two trains to enter opposite sides of the loop at the same time though the Down train would have to stop while the Up trains token is cycled through the machines. Passenger use would be covered by the current signalling as it is more flexible than many loops that don't have traps either end. The track would need upgrading though as it is currently considered a goods only line and restricted to 40mph. Oakwood Press do a nice book with the history and a few of my pics of the inside are in their as well and it hasn't changed since I was there 10 years ago. Couple of the guys on here drive down the branch and might have some more pics.

These are No3 & 13 the Down Home signals for the main and Loop respectively. Rear of No22 the Up Loop starter and 21 the Up Starter. No22 the Up Loop starter and 21 the Up Starter. This is Number 5 controlling entrance to the MOD Port and Number 4 that takes you up to the Down Starter at the far end of the loop. This was a lattice post until approx 2001-2 but was condemned due to the metal looking like flaky pastry. Used to be entertaining climbing up there with 2 oil lamps! Oil lamps replaced by electric ones about 2004ish

Sorry I meant the pen y mount bit not the bit they built towards pont croesor. Ians original link is to a site that has always been pro the new WHR so that press release got a bit more credance than other runours I've heard. There is an unfortunate history of a minority causing bad blood hence I won't condemn either railway and I hope that something postitive does emerge. My direct links are a little out of date and I understand the errors lie in both camps at times. No matter what this is a stunning railway that will overcome these squabbles with time and I wish it the very best as it has created something unique with Garratts designs back in their birthplace.

Thank you Martin, your carefully considered statement is far more representative of the majority of FR and WHR supporters I've known and met. I agree with several of the points made above about a minority of empire builders and just think it's a shame that this has flared up again, let us hope sense prevails and cooler heads propose some limited access for the heritage trains. Just to clarify a point the heritage group used there occupation of a very short stretch of the old trackbed at Pen y mount as a bargaining chip to as they thought guarantee limited access to the new line. Withdrawing their objection to the FR side taking over their land was their part. Some other stipulations were agreed and these form the basis of the breach of contract cited by the FR. Now to me the logical step for wider goodwill would be to say ok you've not fullfilled all the conditions so we will offer reduced access to the original planned. Let us hope that that statement was indeed a hastily drawn up draft and something better is offered. Having ridden the section north from Rhydd Ddu I was highly impressed but I won't be rejoining to support them until an attitude more akin to that displayed by other preserved railways is obvious. Help the little guys and use their facility to enrich your railway, please.

Very sad that a few people are playing politics like this to get things then go back on the earlier deals on minor technicalites. Yes the WHR-FR needs to run it as a business but there do seem to be one or two up top who like pushing their weight around, this certainly isn't true of the operating staff though. You'd have thought an offer to let them run even a limited amount of trains in the gaps in the timetable would have been better PR to at least show some willing. I used to be a member of the 64co. (when I had more time on my hands to travel all the way to Wales regularly), at the time that the previous hostilities were going before rebuilding. We used to socialise with the FR staff and volunteers and none of us could see why they were playing confrontational politics then.

Not sure it will drop much as once you remove the tram and controllers value from the set the track plate costs about the same as some of the other 'popular' kato track sets. Combo is £265 Tram £99 Controller £49 so trackplate is £117 (you need to add a second controller for the other circuit) Trackplate on it's own is around £170 so there's a big saving in the set on the three items individually. Ties you down to those parts but a good start. Now if they produced a set of points, a roadplate to complete the second street side on two sides and a made the straight tram & road section available on its own you could extend it a lot. Tomix's tram track is much cheaper but it's just the paving around the track and the turnout infill doesn't cover the blades at all. I think building your own is going to remain the best way to build a sophisticated tramway system as opposed to a glorified trainset like this one, but it cater for my interest in trams ass a display. Now does anyone do the Prague trams in N?

Here's the link, they're going to be a bit more this time but still worth it as I bet the chrome ones will be more too by then. http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/index.html?action=search&searchtype=catID&quicksearch=621&p_start=18&sortType=&submit=next

Yes but when the 40-800 basic track plate sells for £160-185, the controller is £40 and the tram £90-100 there's quite a saving buying the 40-900 set. Helps that it was announced months ago and plenty of time to save the pennies but not enough to walk away with both the sets in the shop!

As far as I know the MOD rent out a lot of space for storage so all sorts of equipment is kept there in safer long term storage than in rail yards. There are still occasional MOD trains too but they tend to be during the start or end of big deployments.

The Tomix one is certainly value for money as you can get nearly two for the price of a kato one but you can also see what extra you are getting from kato. If you build a bigger layout including a depot then several of the unpowered Tomix ones would look superb filling out the shed. Fingers crossed that kato release the track parts as separates and some points so you can extend the set as a street system. The unitrack does attach to it but there aren't any matching street sections to carry on the road alone too. The road plates are 7mm thick so 6mm mdf painted to match might offer some possibilities.

Got mine for £265 at the local Salisbury modelshop but have seen it for £250 on the net, for the minor difference after postage I supported my local.

The yard is still in limited use for running round trains off the Ludgershall branch if they are heading West. It also is used by SWT if a 158/9 coach has to go away for repairs as there is no road rail access at Salisbury depot since they built a housing estate on the old up yard. Regularly used by Luggy trains and last used by SWT 2 weeks ago. The company occupying the warehouse is Switch Transport and they do not use the rail link.

At last the set arrived and after 5 minutes I was running trams on the carpet! I need to buy some buildings as the cardboard cutout in the set doesn't really cut it The instructions are all Japanese but the excellent diagrams mean it's easy to follow and they even give you three different ideas for a set of buildings to buy, Urban, Town or city not suprisingly all from the diotown range. I've got a slightly more ambitious idea involving n airport terminal They also include ideas for extending the track using standard unitrack but there aren't any extra road sections, yet?, to match up the tram plate sections so they look a bit odd. Here's what you find inside and a load of accessories including dummy catenary poles, traffic lights, tram stop and fencing The track plate includes printed, textured detail such as manhole covers and the blind assistance paving. The set only includes one controller so the second tram is waiting it's turn (the supplied railer really is a help) comparing the Kato (right) and Tomy models, Kato has lights on front and back as well as interior ones, Kato also has a much lower top speed but runs slightly smoother. Detail wise the kato one is finer and crisper with more working detail on the roof.

We found some old pics in the office at work, They were taken by the late Ted Fry All taken at Salisbury but show the variety of traction and weathering. Salisbury Quid tanks cl37 1007 6-9-1999 Salisbury Quid tanks cl56 date unknown Salisbury Quid tanks cl58 date unknown Salisbury Quid tanks cl66 0934 18-8-99 Salisbury Quid tanks cl73 0915 16-7-99

Kadees were adjusted as usual but if you look at the pics you can see one coupler is angled down by nearly 2mm where they meet so that really is low. I'll be getting some of the shorty kadees again but had run out so temporarily fitted some 18's to allow my locos to pull them. Going to have a look at them later and decide whether to tweak the Dapol box or body mount the kadees. I prefer the kadees hands off style auto coupling.

Pics from the Epsom show First the latest offering from Bemo, one of the NEVA driving trailers. I added a driver and a few passengers before the show and if anyone gets one the best way in is to gently ease apart the coach sides from the chassis and pop in wooden stirrers while you ease the sides apart nearer the ends, out drops the chassis and the drivers position is just clipped into the bodyshell and comes out if persuaded gently. A low quality video too Now to finish off the signalling by October

Slip through the door when I got home saying you weren't in so naturally I went straight back out again, it was worth it. Lovely stuff and even the ladders don't look bad from normal viewing distances though I concede they won't stand up to close scrutiny like the rest of the wagon. Nice weathering and subtly different on all of them. Only minor problem is that the end without the platform has a droopy coupling on all of mine which will need some tweaking. Worth it? . . . . When can I buy more? I don't know how they do it for such a small price increase but I like it Droopy tension locks and kadees

With a couple of you saying you got calls to confirm or money taken I rang up to check as I'd not heard. Thought this would save anyone else a call. Kernow are working their way through and are doing orders from January still so it may take up to another week or even two to get all orders processed. Think I'll go and make sure my 37's are ready for this new flow

Also see Pete Harveys latest post on his product page http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/210-product-development/page__pid__122465__st__0entry122465

The secret to exhibiting is to test it like this before going to a show and iron out the bugs gradually, list the improvements you need and either modify it or plan for an improved version. As to the intense operation add more sidings or look at an alternative like cassettes to quickly swap sets over. Like others said in you appeal for help at shows have spare operators and you get to stand back and enjoy it at the show without pressure. I limit myself to 5 shows a year by choice as I have very few free weekends due to work and domestic bliss. Exhibiting is as much about nattering as running trains if you organise it right Beautiful layout so it needs to be shared