Steven B

Standard ECML formation: TF TF Buffet TS TS TS TS TGS Dapol's HST box sets come with the TGS and buffet. You'll need two first class and four second class to make up the full rake. Make should the Mk3s you buy to add to the basic set don't have buffers - Dapol also make the loco hauled Mk3a. SB

This is what the Kato switches do. The go from a "parked" position with no power being fed to the motor coil, through both polarity and then to the other parked location. I.e. they get a pulse of power that resets them to the current route, before a pulse that switches to the other route. SB

Revolution designed the chassis so they could re-use it on other 63' DMUs. Only driving one bogie means they can also do a cut'n'shut on the CAD to make a 57' version too. Role on the class 120. And after that the class 104, 110. A 124 would be rather nice too! SB

Is there anywhere on the PCB to fit a stay-alive? It would be a shame to waste all that empty space. I was a little surprised to see it only drives one bogie - I suppose any future class 124 would need a pair of them! 😋 SB

My Royal Mail one arrived yesterday and I have to agree with this comment. The underframe in particular is nicely detailed (better than a Dapol 121) but feels more robust than the equivalent on a Farish 101 or 108. Drive is only to one bogie which might limit tail loads if combined with a Dapol dummy 121 or 122. As Revolution intend to use the chassis on other 63' DMUs we might end up with two motors should they decide to make a class 124! Early reports on N Gauge Forum are positive with a couple mentioning issues with the speaker crackling when fitted with a sound decoder. There's a bag of detailing parts including pipes and a very nice tail-lamp - on mine they were located on the top plastic clam-shell rather than under the bottom one. I was minutes from firing off an email to RT before I found it. Steven B.

Peco's code 55 large radius points/turn-outs have similar issues with the wheelsets dropping as they move from point rail to frog/common crossing. As mention above, it's possible to improve matters by packing the hole with plasticard or lining the check-rails/points with extra material such that the wheelset is better supported. Switching to the British Finescale track is a option, but ultimately the problem will remain until Peco decide to catch up with modern wheel standards rather than making something that's so backward compatible it works with 1970s pizza cutter wheels better than what's currently on sale (including their own kits!). SB

Don't do that - you'll spend a long time not running trains! The chances of Accurascale going into competition with Bachmann/Farish's Mk1 range is probably tiny, although plugging some of the gaps would be nice. I think we're much likely to see them shrink the Mk2b, Mk2c. Loco-wise, I suspect the market is perhaps there for a Class 37 by virtue of the number of the class built. Dapol announced a new tool class 66 back in March: https://www.Dapol.co.uk/blogs/news/all-new-n-gauge-class-66

When new, the Doncaster trial train was white: I'd suggest white with just a hint of black, dark grey, brown or track-dirt to take the edge of it, particularly if modelling it later on in its use. Or try rail grey? Watch out for your donor coaches - only the BSO were Mk2d. ADB977788 - Mk2d BSO (former 14157) ADB977789 - Mk2e TSO (former 5765) ADB977790 - Mk2e TSO (former 5830) ADB977791 - Mk2e TSO (former 5855) ADB977792 - Mk2e TSO (former 5856) ADB977793 - Mk2c TSO (former 5596) ADB977794 - Mk2d BSO (former 14139) Steven B.

I think you'll agree this is a rather lovely scratch built Flatrol MJ. They've done a half-decent job of photo-shopping out the railway room clutter too. (Dave McDigital on Flickr)

You can also add classes 11, 58 and 77. There's also the locos that served in the UK and on the continent during war time.

Coal train at Newcastle, c. 1970: Using it as an industrial shunter is an option. The sole survivor went into industrial use, firstly at Hemelite block works near Hemel Hempstead and later at Clitheroe's cement works. Steven B.

The free version of Anyrail has a limit on the number of track pieces that can be used which might account for the missing "return to fiddle yard" track at the left hand side of the plan. @Hewlett87 what are you trying to achieve? What era? A class 68 + Mk5 suggests current, where good sheds aren't that common. What other trains will you be running? Have a look at real locations for some inspiration. Seamer is a two track station with stabling sidings that could be turned into a small distribution hub like those at Blackburn, Wakefield or Middlesbrough. Have a look at Google Earth's aerial views - Blackburn's site no longer has rail access but the historic images show the connection. SB.

As a rail enthusiast the prospect of a tram system in Leeds is interested, but is it what the city really needs? My guess is that it'll help travel times from the outskirts to the city centre but won't actually help travel around the city. If it follows the old/existing supertram route proposals, it won't even serve Leeds-Bradford airport. Public transport into Leeds city centre isn't too bad. Travel times are OK and it usually works out less expensive than paying car-parking unless there's a car full and you're not stopping long. Travelling between the suburbs is another matter. My journey to work takes about 15min in the car, around the top side of the outer ring-road. According to Google, the same trip by bus can take 3-4 times as long, involve up to 25min of walking to the nearest bus stop where if I get times wrong I can be waiting 30 or 60 min for the next bus depending on the route. More frequent buses that travel at more than 20mph would make it a viable option - a tram won't. Looking further afield, I can drive to my parents in about an hour. The equivalent by public transport takes nearly 3 and costs much, much more! Until the public transport options actually reduce journey times the car will remain king - unless a government decides to drop speed limits or make car ownership unaffordable nothing's likely to change. SB.

My first visit to the Wakefield show since 2019 and it was well worth the short trip down the M1 (although I did miss having a ride on the miniature railway). Thank-you to everyone involved with running it!

Most DCC command stations allow decoder addresses to be read back. The Bachmann train set decoder above will only let you program them to short addresses between 1 and 10. Most DCC locos can be set so they won't run on DC, whilst a few others won't because of the way they've been made.

So which option is better for DC modellers: 1. Lights that are on/off based on a switch which you may need to take the roof off to access? 2. Lights that are on whenever there's power with no way of turning them off? 3. Lights that are on whenever there's power but can be turned off by waving a magnet over them? 4. No lights fitted - let DCC modellers buy them as an option like Dapol do. SB

An extra £60 for the Paddington one (based on Google's ￥to £ conversion). I'd imagine a chunk of that will be taken up with licensing costs, and another chunk with the extra tampo printing needed for the Paddington unit. Kato's batches are in the 10's of thousands - I can't imagine them making fewer Paddington branded units - if anything I'd suggest they're likely to sell more as somone who's already got a GWR class 800 may prefer to get the branded one rather than another plain vanila version.. Steven B.

The rear red lights on the Rapido class 28 work the same way. As long as there's track power the magnet switch stays latched. When the power is turned off, it resets turning the light back on. The track power on DCC is always on so it's not a problem. Personally I'd prefer some hidden DIP switches as used on some OO Gauge models (yet accessiblefrom the outside). Whether there's room in N is a other matter. Steven B

Shouldn't the 9F have arrived carrying a Class 1 head-code rather than class 0? (light engine going to assist disabled train rather than just a light engine).

The trouble with waiting for the reviews is that models are often sold out within a week or two of arriving in the shops (e.g. Farish Mk2F) or in the case of Revolution cost more than the early bird prices. Fortunately our consumer laws means it's easy enough to get a refund should you decide a model isn't worth keeping. Steven B

You may find you need different lengths as the location of the NEM pocket isn't always where it should be on the model. They should work with electromagnets. Another options I've seen used is a permanent magnet being moved with a servo - either lowering it or moving to one side of the track. For alternatives, look for B&B or DG. Both involve some etched brass origami and are a bit harder to fit than just swapping one NEM coupling for another. They are less obtrusive than the Dapol easy shunt (or standard Rapido). SB.

Stop it! Despite being able to justify a rake of 30 of these, I passed on these and chose to extend my rake of C=Rail kits instead. You're making me regret my decision.... Steven B

What DC controller do you have? A reasonably modern one without feedback should be fine. I'd avoid 40+ year old H&M controllers too. As mentioned, make sure any relco type track cleaners or high-frequency coach lighting add-ons are removed. If you want to make sure the locos you have work, there's a lot to be said for a length of track and a 9V PP3 battery! Steven B

They were found regularly on the Huddersfield to Workington TPO: Bee Line (2) by Andrew Gallon, on Flickr TPO Workington 1990 by Dave Marks, on Flickr I believe three compartments were removed but with access to the area created restricted, rather than being open access like other BG/POS/POT vans. Steven B

Lovely work James. Have you ever considered building a T-TRAK module? SB.