Waverley West

Hi folks, I don't think anyone else has mentioned this issue on this thread, but on my layout thread I mentioned that I found the feature which shuts down the loco after a preset time frustrating. I adjusted this setting to the maximum of 4 mins idling before shutdown, but I still wasn't entirely happy. So I sent an email to Jennie at SLW, asking whether it was possible to disable this feature. For anyone else like me who wants to have indefinite idling, here is her reply... Philip advises that for constant idle you should add 64 to the current value in CV843. (The default value is 26 so if no other user changes have been made the new value should be 90). I'll certainly be resetting mine, so this is good news. While I'm here, here are a few shots of my new arrival, 25324, on the layout. It's quickly become a favourite and I'm looking forward to double-heading it on my rake of tankers with my next SLW 25 when it arrives. While I fully understand the wait is frustrating for some, I'm happy to wait for my orders to arrive when they arrive. Most modellers have plenty of traction to choose from on their layout after all and any delay helps to spread the cost. Cheers, Dave

Hi folks, Here as promised is the reply from the ever-helpful, but busy Jennie at SLW re. the auto-shutdown on the 25: Hello David, I do apologise that it has taken me some time to come back to you but I do have good news at least. Philip advises that for constant idle you should add 64 to the current value in CV843. (The default value is 26 so if no other user changes have been made the new value should be 90). I hope that this is helpful for you. Please just let me know if we can do anything else to help. Best regards, Jennie Brownlie Office Manager Hope that helps! It certainly helps me. Regards Dave

Hi Steve, Interesting to see I'm not the only one thinking this way. I understand it's a new feature on the 25 and will presumably follow on the new 24s as well. I've emailed Jamie at SLW asking whether it's possible to disable it and letting her know my preferences (in the nicest possible way, of course!). If I get any useful tips back, I'll let everyone know. Dave

Hi again folks, While I'm here, I thought I'd post a few pics taken during some recent operating sessions. I've actually been quite busy on the modelling front this year, mainly on loco projects, rather than anything to do with the layout, although I have had a few sessions aimed at improving the reliability of the layout (track cleaning, minor track adjustments, cutting of baseboard holes inside the fiddle yard loops to improve access, etc.) The Class 37 fleet is currently undergoing a major upgrade, with my older models being sold off and replaced by Accurascale's version and Bachmann's new tooling, both of which I like, although I think the Accurascale one wins on sound and price. First up are some speed shots, including relatively new arrival SLW 25324... Next is 37404 Ben Cruachan, one of the new 37s taking over the layout. I was a bit sceptical at first about the idea of replacing all my 37s, but having bought a few of the new versions, I've must admit I've been won over. The main improvements in the new versions for me are in the windscreen area and the reduced gap between the bogies and the body (including the bogie chains in particular). The proportions of the new versions also just seem to be "right" somehow too. Here is another of the new 37s on the layout in the shape of 37260, passing through Princes St Gardens with a Speedlink service... Moving on to the station, we see 25324 again with an inspection saloon in tow. To the right of 25324 is a glimpse of 56135, a resprayed Cavalex 56. My old Hornby fleet of 56s has now all been sold off and replaced by the Cavalex version. More on that to follow I hope. My Hornby fleet will shortly solely consist of my HSTs/Mk 3s, some 87s and a single 08 (probably to be replaced with the new Bachmann version soon too). When I first started modelling back in the 1980s, 80-90% of my (admittedly small!) fleet was Hornby, with a few items from Airfix and Lima. Hornby seem to have lost interest in the 00 market these days (especially as regards diesels/electrics) and they're sadly becoming less and less relevant to me with every passing year it seems. The 87s is nice, but very limited in terms of its electronics and sound provision compared with other recent releases. My few Bachmann 25s have now also been sold off and so far replaced with a solitary SLW version. These are lovely locos, but I do find the auto switch-off a bit annoying. I've adjusted the timing to the maximum of 4 minutes which helps a bit, but I've always liked just leaving the odd loco idling in the background between movements, especially when it makes a noise as nice as the SLW 25! Unless I'm mistaken, there doesn't seem to be any way of disabling this feature. I believe it was added in response to feedback from exhibitors about locos idling on exhibition layouts, but I think this ignores the needs/wishes of home-based layout owners. After all, if you want a loco to be silent for any length of time, just switch it off! An option to disable it would have been good. Currently on my workbench are two more Accurascale 37s, a Large Loco 37/0 to be modified/renumbered to Large Logo 37111 Loch Eil Outward Bound and a 37/7 which will become Petroleum sector-liveried 37706 Conidae (or possibly 37707, which was based in Scotland in the 80s - I haven't decided yet!). Another Bachmann 37/4 in the shape of renumbered 37418 has also just entered service as a direct replacement for my previous version of the same loco. I've seen photos of this loco on Edinburgh - Inverness services and it makes a nice change from the regular diet of 47s on these services. The same goes for 37423, of which there is also a new version on the layout in the shape of a new tooling Bachmann 37. Cheers for now and happy modelling! Dave

Cheers Murray. Good luck with the house move and the new layout build. I look forward to watching your progress. Feel free to ask questions if you're wondering about anything. Happy modelling, Dave PS Forgot to say - great to see the DBSO still in service!

Hi Murray, Thanks for your kind post! The tunnel portals are based on photos either taken by me during various visits to the station or pinched off the internet. They're constructed from plasticard built up from drawings created from the photos. The photo below is of the west end of The Mound tunnels. This particular photo dates from the 80s, so I used this colouring when painting and weathering this portal. Basically, I cut out a thick backing sheet to the shape of the portals and then another identical thin sheet. I then drew the outlines of the individual stones onto the thin sheet, cut them out and then stuck them on the backing sheet. This gives a good impression of individual stones, with depth. A little compression was needed to get the tunnels to fit in the space available, but hopefully not so much as to spoil the character of the portals. The portals were painted using matt enamels, my favoured paint type. If you're doing the Princes St Gardens section, you'll need to do the portal at the west end of The Mound tunnels and the one at the west end of the gardens. You could use the first photo above for the former, but I don't have any usable photos of the other one unfortunately. I've often tried to work out a way of including this portal, but have so far failed due to lack of space. I would have to compromise on my countryside section, but I like this section a lot and I sometimes just like to sit back and watch trains go by there, so I'm reluctant to sacrifice it. Hope that helps anyway. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any further questions! Cheers and happy modelling, Dave

First post in a while... 25324 at speed

I don't see why maximising haulage capacity would have to come at the expense of smooth running. Virtually all recently released models offer both these days. I want both and I'd be very surprised if Bachmann didn't too. Let's hope we're all happy when it arrives. 😀

I hope Bachmann won't be assuming that modellers won't be wanting their 08s to pull anything more than a few wagons or coaches. I would hope they would seek to maximise the haulage capabilities of the loco, within the limitations of the design/weight/size of the loco of course. Personally, to be any use to me as a station pilot, I would need any 08 to be capable of pulling 6-8 coaches around third or preferably second radius curves. My current Hornby 08 isn't capable of that, so isn't much use to me. That's why I often use a class 26 (prototypically) for this purpose and also why I sold off all my 08s bar one. I'm looking forward to seeing what this newly tooled 08 is capable of. I would really like a few for stock movements/platform changes around the station. The prototype 08s could haul amazing loads for their size, albeit not at high speeds.

Yes, my idea was double-sided tape along those edges, but that sounds a good idea. I should add that the biggest problem I encountered when fitting the new body was a lack of space for the cab inserts. In the end, I found that some slightly cut-down cab inserts from an old Heljan 47 body fitted OK. That requires you to have an old Heljan body to hand though of course.

Don't give up yet. Yes, the screw holes are in different places, but dimensionally the new body is a reasonable fit on the old chassis. On my workbench at the moment is Kernow's new body 47363 on an old chassis... I have still to work out how to attach the body to the chassis securely, but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

In Waverley station, 37423 was waiting to depart from Platform 15 for Inverness... 37027 was parked in the siding, waiting patiently for its next duty... Three PRAs bringing up the rear of a Speedlink service... Some more wagons in the rake... A close-up of 37026... ...and at speed... An unusual visitor to Haymarket in the shape of 37403...

37260 entering Waverley station... Followed shortly after by Inverness-based 26038 on a rake of Polybulks...

After walking back to Haymarket station, I took a quick trip to Waverley and Princes St Gardens... I was lucky to see 37026 passing through on a Speedlink service... There were some interesting wagons in the rake, including a ferry wagon... A Polybulk bogie wagon... and a china clay slurry wagon... Shortly after, 37260 Radio Highland passed through on another Speedlink service...

Hi folks, Well, a very belated Happy New Year to you all. Not a lot of modelling has been done recently, but I've had quite a few operating sessions over the past few weeks, so I thought I'd post some photos. First up is a trip to Haymarket MPD, courtesy of a depot pass... Eastfield-based 47004 in its Construction subsector guise was on shed... ScotRail-liveried 47461 was also on parked on road 5... As the space-time displacement machine was set to the late 1980s, 47s were in the ascendency, with 47541 The Queen Mother and 47562 Sir William Burrell being given attention... 20227 was on road 8, here glimpsed through the window of the shed... Keeping a fleet going requires long hours into the night... Eastfield-based 20063 was also in evidence (partnered with 20067)...