PhilM

Thanks for the advice so far. My point about the side window cabs was that as they were also most of the class that were vacuum fitted, if there was a reason for the vacuum fitting on the side window cab variants that related to them being designed for the Colne Valley, then would a non-window cab, vaccum fitted, version also be likely to turn up on the same branch. And my understanding is the cab window version was designed for the Colne Valley where steam hauled passenger services tended to run the 20-odd miles Haverhill to Marks Tey rather than the Stour Valley where they ran Cambridge to Colchester where there was a turntable each end. Of course they did turn-up on the latter and other places. Thanks for the tip about the GERS, I am a longstanding member, thoroughly recommend it and will probably post on the site at some point if someone doesnt beat me to it, but felt posting on here will get any answers to a wider potential audience. Also I am slightly less interested in a more perfect model (which is probably beyond my capabilities) than a plausable back story that I can tell myself! Can anyone tell me the shed code on the other 2 models (LNER and late BR) please?

Thanks Bernard and Andy for inf on the BR early crest 65356. Are you able to provide a bit more advice please? Early crest and shed plate 31A (Cambridge) are perfect for me. I have checked my library and cant find any photos of this loco but I assume it could have turned up on the CVHR or the Stour Valley which are my main interest. If the other vacuum brake fitted J15s were mainly the side window cab version was this something to do with the needs of the CVHR and similar branches? So I think my choices are: Most likely for an easy life - Keep it as it is and live without the vacuum ejector pipe (maybe fit one in the future if someone provides an easy fit part). With and oval layout I can only see one side anyway! Only fit the brake pipe on the bufferbeam. Goods only. Change the number to a steam brake only (any advice on suitable 31A numbers?), or live with a wrong number. No pipes on the buffer beam. Unfitted goods only. Buy a late crest westinghouse fitted version for passenger work! Thanks for any help you can give. Phil

Just got mine in early BR crest. All I can say is she is an absolute beauty and runs very well straight out of the box - even tender first on some pretty poorly laid track. Must start saving for a second!

Mal yes they do http://www.coastaldcc.co.uk/services/decoder/index.php haven't used it yet myself but I intend to as they have been very helpful so far. As for my question - thanks for all the advice. I don't have a working camera at the minute but the Atlas GP40-2 Master series is dcc ready with a large lump of metal to mount a circular speaker in. So I am assuming that a loksound V4 NEM 652 with a 23mm speaker will be an easy fit? And hopefully wont have the lights problem of the Soundtraxx that PhilH is having? I did try fitting a non-sound TCS decoder but the 8 pin socket in the loco is next to some lumpy electronics and it wouldn't fit - so I am hoping that the loksound with its separate 652 plug will negate that problem

Absolutely new to sound and vey naïve when it comes to DCC generally. For an Atlas Master GP40-2 Phase 2 do I need a Loksound v4 NEM 652 or a Select? And which is easier to fit and get going well (using a Powercab)? Thank you for your assistance!

Anyone used Hogtrainz? - they seem to be very cheap, for Intermountain GP10s at least, and were very prompt in responding to an email I sent.

Mid west 1966-69 http://melpatrick.shutterfly.com/pictures/183

Chris I cant make as much progress in as many years! Can you tell me how do you do the rough stony ground surface?

I was struck by how English the house looks in the GP9 in the drive photo.

I am not very good with desels either but the BTH 1 (Class 15) were around from 1957 - Heljan make a good model. Other available models - for ease I will stick with the later TOPS designations - the Class 40s had started to appear on express passneger workings. Class 31s (actually at your time period they were Clas 30s but I dont know if there were any significant external differences) must have been seen at LS as they were Stratford based early on, and possibly Class 24s although I thik they were freight engines and a little bit later. I suspect all the erly shunters were around 03, 04 and 08 but you better check that.

Somehow I have only just picked up on this. It's brilliant Andrew.

I really like the modular backscene idea - most people can manage some sky painted but to be able to add "flats" of urban scenes like runs of terrace backs, factories, warehouses - whatever you typically see/saw out of the train window would be great (there is a US firm that does something similar but not for download and obviously US prototypes) or even buildings suitable for a more rural scene. Obviuosly many/most of the exiting kits can be used in this way but I was thinking of something a bit simpler - cut and paste basically!