CovDriver

Thanks for your comments I currently sign Wolverhampton to New St, New St to Walsall (via Witton), Redditch to Lichfield TV and of course New St to Northampton. And as for Willenhall yes that can still be a problem with the kids thinking it's a playground I've had a near miss coming past there doing 110mph a while back. And I don't sign the Coventry-Nuneaton branch at the moment as that's for link 1 drivers only but with the franchise changeover and Leamington Spa branch happening in the very near future that could change. I can sometimes get a good run from Rugby to Coventry and be waiting at Coventry for upto 4mins for a right time departure. Cheers Colin

Many thanks Geoff I thought I had the phone the right way up to keep the pic right but the phone must be throwing a hissy fit. Cheers Colin

Only one photo from me tonight 350368 at Northampton about to work 1Y85 the 2156 Northampton to Crewe service via Coventry and New St. So much for being spare today as I copped a New St turn and it was non stop except my bare minimum PnB.

Sorry some of the photo's are the wrong way around its because I use my phone whilst at work as I can't fit my proper camera in my bag. Must buy a small decent compact camera !!

As its been a while I'm back out again now I've been given the all clear after a new pair of glasses. And a trip fown the Redditch branch sorry no photo's as I was late because of problems earlier on the Cross city line. There's just a couple of pics in Coventry North yard The first pic didn't really come out well but it's 66418 stabled in the Kemps siding i can't honestly remember the last time i saw a loco in there. The other two are showing 153334 stabled for the night and 323208 waiting to enter number 1 road while I check the hand points and no taxi again for me so it was a cold damp walk back up to the booking in ooint. I'm spare today from 1600 until 0045 but if I'm utilised by the DTCM I'll try and take some photo's.

Well thats a Bachmann 2 car 150 DCC fitted for the layout to run in late 1980's era. Im wondering can I have dummy point motors and semaphore signals at the same time I'm trying to keep it prototypical and not set the layout in a definitive period as I keep finding stock in the attic that I'd forgotten I had hence the 2 car 150 unit now being DCC fitted. Cheers Colin

Looks like I've been refunded for the 2EPB unit not even an apology for the balls up on there part due to the stocktake fiasco. Sorry Hattons i'll be shopping elsewhere until you can sort your stock levels out

Further to my order for the bargain 2 car EPB that I ordered last Tuesday which appeared to be in stock and ready for next day delivery. Turns out it was in the other warehouse on Wednesday but after I spoke to someone on the chat help they promised to send it out on Thursday using the next day delivery method. And as it was still showing on a picking list on Saturday I contacted them again yesterday to see what the hold up is ? Again I was told it must be at the other warehouse and they would send it out asap and if there was any other problems they would contact me. But they've taken payment from my account as soon as I ordered. This simply isn't good enough to be honest I remember a somewhere in this thread spmeone commented that it takes years to build up a great customer service and it's easily lost overnight. Sort it out Hattons Colin

Cheers Rob for your kind words I see what you mean it does resemble Stratford upon Avon slightly. I'm now thinking that I should complete the scenics best I can then move it on and start the next project which I'm thinking is going to be 1980's diesel depot. Cheers Colin

A couple of pics to show the latest update to the layout Cheers Colin

I've just spoken to someone at Hattons and they have told me that the item I ordered was at the other warehouse and it was deliverred to the store yesterday and it should be out for delivery to me by tomorrow at the latest.

I placed an order on Tuesday For a 2 car EPB using the next day delivery with DPD/Interlink all thats showing on the order page now is that it's been added to a picking list but the payment has been taken from bank account I think I shall contact them to see what is going on ? As all these comments on this thread are worrying me now. Cheers Colin

Just having a trawl through the Hattons website and it appears that they have some Bachmann class 416 2EPB's in the plain BR Blue livery at a bargain price of £72 instead of £124.95 Cheers Colin

I forgot to add the track and wheels especially are spotless it's as if it's drawing to much power and it cuts out.

Having purchased a new Hornby class 31 TTS sound decoder I have installed it in a Hornby Railroad class 31 this morning and well it's a bit rubbish really the sounds seem okay whilst it's stationary but as soon as try to move the loco using my NCE powercab it cuts out altogether and will not move or play the sounds. I have to remove the loco from the track and replace it on to the track again to be able to do anything and it's just a repeat of that whole process again. I'm not the best at reading or reprogramming the CV's using my Powercab so I would be very grateful if aybody had an idea what I could do to improve things ? Many thanks Colin

All I can say is how the hell have I missed this layout i've just read through the whole thread and it's an absolute corker and in that size as well it certainly gives me some ideas for the future. Keep up the great work and I'll be following with great interest. Cheers Colin

I had the same problem when it came to attaching the PL-13's to the point motors and I had heard of problems using various types of glues that may cause problems at a later date but in the end I have opted to use Glue Dots which are available from Hobbycraft for about £2 for around 300 Glue Dots in reel type box and to date I have had no problems at all. Here's a link to show you what I mean as my description may not be the best. http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/valuecrafts-mini-glue-dots-300-pack/566652-1000 Cheers Colin

Probably just for insurance purposes in case one fails unexpectedly.

As I'm currently not allowed to work trains due to my glasses prescription having changed slightly. I'm unable to take any work related pics but this one I couldn't resist. This one is 50017 & 50050 heading towards Coventry on a working from Washwood Heath to Rugby via Coventry CE sidings to deliver a broken track tamper to the Colas Depot at Rugby.

There are some accomodation bogies on the depot they're usually parked in front of the 08 but on this occasion they must have been in the shed. The 323 have been known to go to Longsight for tyre turning after we have put wheel flats on them after the slippy slidy season. Cheers Colin

Just a few from tonight's turn the first is 323222 waiting at New St for the 2252 to Longbridge. The second is a quick shunt into the reversal siding at Longbridge finally the last two are showing the same unit entering Coventry North yard as I have to check the hand points on the way and and easy disposal tonight told by the signaller to leave the pantograph up and no need to ring him as I'm the last unit in for stabling.

I may have passed you near Lea Hall tonight if your on the 67's as I was slipping by on the approach into Lea Hall Cheers Colin

I think there are times when a lot of us wish that line was still there!! Remember the plans for the super pit called Hawkhurst moor and the plan of reinstating the line purely for coal traffic. It should never have been closed and ripped up As far as I know the signalbox name board for the junction at Kenilworth still survives in my uncles retirement fund collection.