GreenDiesel

Due to my space limitations, I'm now thinking of putting in a generic SR station that is loosely based on Ropley, as I wouldn't have room for all the sidings and buildings, etc., that are currently there. I'm not in a hurry so I'll weigh my options!

Thanks! Checking it now...

I'm working on a small shunting layout and have part of the station area of Medstead & Four Marks (on the Mid-Hants Railway) almost completed on my layout. This section is about 1 foot wide by 4 feet long. I have a large fiddle yard but I was thinking of converting this into Ropley. When I was working on the Medstead & Four Marks section, I found a few simple track diagrams (both online & in magazines) that were very useful in designing my layout, but I haven't found any for Ropley. Does anyone know when I could find a very basic track plan for this? I've found a few online but they're generally too small or confusing. For the Ropley area, I have space for 1 foot wide again by just over 4 feet long. As usual, I will have to do some compression or compromises for the layout to work. Mods: I hope this is in the correct location. If not, please feel free to move it. Thanks in advance. Rob

Thanks, I might try this, experimenting with various paints/polish types.

I'm working on a small switching layout that's based on Medstead & Four Marks on the Watercress Lines. I'm doing some ballasting right now (since I now have time for this!) but am limited to using up what supplies I have on hand, as all non-essential shots (including model shops, of course) are now closed here due to COVID-19. I have some fine ballast that I want to use between the various lines of track. This ballast is great except it's colour is light brown and I want to make it grey or blacker. Can anyone suggest a good, inexpensive way of painting or adding colour to the ballast using common household items/supplies? FYI, I also have various Humbrol and other paints on hand that I might be able to thin down and use. Thanks in advance, Rob

Thanks -- that's good to know that locos sometimes stop beyond the signal -- and will help me with my modelling as well. I'd just based my thoughts on what I'd seen and then kind of jumped to conclusions. Quite a story -- BTW, what does STRPS stand for?

Thanks! That's what I thought and was hoping for. I was curious as, whenever I've ridden on the Watercress Line, the engine always stops just beyond the platform but, then, all of their trains seem to be about 8-9 coaches long. I'm thinking of lengthening my current Medstead and Four Marks layout and running short trains on it.

Normally, when a 7- to 8-coach train pulls into a small- to medium-sized station, the loco will stop just beyond the station platform but obviously before the home signal. However, if it’s a short 2- to 3-coach train (or less), would the loco ever stop earlier, i.e. further down the platform, possibly even in the middle of the station area? If so, this would enable passengers to be closer to the exits, etc. I’m thinking of steam days and the station (or type of station) I have in mind is Medstead and Four Marks, of which my current layout is based on. Hope I’m making sense. I’m an anglophile based in Canada, so I’ve been looking at some of my steam railway photo albums. Thanks in advance.

Today, I had the clutch replaced. The mechanic said that the previous clutch was shot, totally worn down -- he showed it to me. I asked about the flywheel and he said they machined it. He said is was NOT a Dual Mass Flywheel, so it was OK. Total cost was $1,240 CAD which is about £770.00. As expected, the clutch feels very different now, grabbing much further down -- will take a little getting used to but at least it's done. Thanks again for your feedback above. Now we don't have to worry about getting stranded and towed during a long trip (at least not for clutch reasons!).

I believe that was everything except tax, which is usually added at the end.

My mechanic quoted approx. $1,200 CAD which is about £800.00. Not sure if he said they wanted to replace the flywheel or simply machine it. I'll ask tomorrow.

Yes, we do some long trips. My (English-born) wife often rolls her eyes at some of the long trips we take. We've gone on day trips as far as 150 or more miles away. So we wouldn't want to have our car towed while on one of those.

Thanks for this feedback. I think I'm second-guessing myself now.... At an any rate, it's still curious that I noticed it twice last weekend but seems fine now. But maybe the early signs can be very intermittent?

Thanks! Sorry to hear about the Ford Escort problems -- we had a very similar problem with a Subaru Legacy. I think they were using aftermarket parts, which, while economical, are poor quality. So, is it likely for the clutch to slip one weekend but then seem to be totally fine the next?

Quick car question... My wife & I have a 2011 Mazda3 which we bought used in 2016. It had about 55,000 miles on it then and now has about 90,000 on it now. Earlier in the summer, my mechanic — whom I trust -- advised me that its clutch was wearing out and (when I asked him) he said probably would need replacing in the fall. Well, on Sept. 2 after coming back from holidays, I just noticed it slipping. It happened at least twice. Since then, my wife has driven the car all week and didn’t notice it slipping. Also, I drove it about 15-20 miles today on a highway, and did not notice it slipping at all. I’ve now booked it into our garage to be repaired on Monday morning. Questions: should I still keep or postpone my appointment? Also, is it possible for it to slip last week but now be fine? FYI, I live in Canada but I don't think that should make any difference? Mods: Please advise if this is too off-topic, etc., so feel free to remove if necessary. Thanks in advance! Rob

Thanks to everyone for your help with this. I had a great view of the train yesterday & will try to post a video later. It was very brief but still worth seeing!

Interesting, thanks. So it looks like it might not pass Winchester then on the return journey, i.e. it's going from Southampton past Basingstoke, etc., via another route?

Thanks... but their website says it's still travelling through Winchester on the return journey (unless the route has changed).

Thanks! I'll check that site for the return journey as well.

My family and I (we're visiting from Toronto) are staying with relatives in Winchester, UK this week. My son & I are steam buffs and -- if I'm reading the timetable below correctly -- the Dorset Coast Express is scheduled to pass by Winchester this Thursday, 22 August. https://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/the-dorset-coast-express During our visits, we often spot trains from a train bridge and have seen steam pass by there before. Based on this schedule, could anyone recommend what times we should be at the train bridge to catch this train? I was thinking about 11:00 am for the morning train and about 19:15 for the evening. Again, I hope I'm reading this schedule correctly! Thanks in advance. Rob

OK, I fully realize only I can answer this question, but I thought I'd toss it out here anyway. I'm feeling very conflicted. I currently have two small layouts which seem to satisfy my layout interests. I have a 6' long by 2.5' wide N scale layout (has two loops of track) and a 1x4' 00 shunting layout. Even though I've focused on the N scale layout a lot in recent months, I'm thinking of putting it into temporary storage and focussing on the 00 one more. I'd like to lengthen it to about 6' to increase its operational possibilities. We're limited on space here, which is partly why it's hard to have both layouts out at the same time. This is a personal question, but just curious re your thoughts and if anyone else gets conflicted like this? Thanks...

Thx... I may try this this weekend then as I have lots of spare track.

Thanks. That's basically what I thought. For now, at least, it's only going to be used at low speeds shunting a few wagons around.

I've just bought a new Hornby (R3304) ex-LSWR 700 Drummond loco. The loco is great and runs fine on my shunting layout. However, should I quickly set up a loop of track and run it in for a couple hours in either direction, etc.? The instructions sheet makes no mention of running it in and I'm only planning to use it on this small layout (at least so far). Thanks in advance. Rob

Thx! This is encouraging. I'm looking forward to running it. Thx! This is encouraging. I'm looking forward to running it. Thx! This is encouraging. I'm looking forward to running it. Thx! This is encouraging. I'm looking forward to running it. Thx! This is encouraging. I'm looking forward to running it. Thx! This is encouraging. I'm looking forward to running it. Thx! This is encouraging. I'm looking forward to running it.