GreenDiesel

I had a change of plan. In the end (for a few different reasons) I opted for the Hornby Drummond 700 class (R3304). Haven't received it just yet, but it seems that it's a fairly short tender loco, which should work well on a tight shunting layout.

Yes, that indeed may be the best option and livery. It's also a good size (not too large) for my shunting, er switching layout, and would have good electrical pickup. Thanks for everyone's feedback here!

Yes, but would I not still be "fudging" things a little to run the E4 at Medstead, since they primarily ran on the LBSC route? Unless they ran there during the BR period in BR black livery ... and I also believe one may have visited in recent years in preservation.

Thanks... leaning towards the E4 or (more likely) the 700. I have room for a tender loco -- it just makes shunting more of a challenge (which isn't a bad thing!).

Thanks ... Also helpful and I'm narrowing it down. Didn't mean to get this thread off-topic though!

Thanks... this is helpful, especially re the electrical pickup info. I have a few 0-6-0's already that run well (GWR Panniers, 3Fs, etc.) but am looking for something a little different. Would I have similar problems with an ex-LSWR M7? (I'm actually looking something more Southern-based but got distracted by the 14xx because of the price and I've seen the prototype on trips to the UK.)

I'm thinking of purchasing one of these for my new switching layout (based on Medstead & Four Marks station). I'm hoping it will creep slowly and well through my points and not get jammed or stall, etc. I sold my older Airfix version not too long ago as it was a skittish runner and I'd had problems with the traction tyres, etc.

Yes, I try to be realistic with my layout but to a point. So I might get more LMS or GWR vans in due course -- no hurry!

I'm mainly modelling the Big Four era in N. The layout basically a GWR setting but the SR has running rights -- as does the LMS occasionally! In other words, depending on my mood, I run an SR/GWR combination or an LMS/GWR mixture. I don't have too many brake vans, hence my question re mixing up brake vans of one livery with locos of another. Hope that makes sense ... Ultimately, I probably just need to buy more suitable brake vans! Rob

Thanks for this feedback! Yes, I was thinking of how this might have been handled mainly during the Big Four era (ie not during the transition to BR). This is helpful; will read all of these replies and respond later. Rob

During the steam era, would it have been common to see a brake van of one livery pulled by an engine of a different livery? For example, would one have even seen a GWR engine hauling a goods train with (say) a Southern Railway or LMS brake van? Just curious -- thanks! Rob

Thanks, John. I was typing a fast reply too late at night without fully digesting the info! At any rate, the Tech6 sounds ideal for me. I could use it (and obtain slow/fine running) even if I decide to only stay with DC. But it would be great to have one of my locos (probably the Hornby Black 5) sound-chipped so I could enjoy sound on at least one loco, which is what I'm trying to do. Cheers, Rob

Thanks, John. Yes, the Tech6 does sound like a good compromise to start off in. So, if the Tech6 is in DC mode, I could run a sound-equipped loco on it, but will probably not get the full range of sound. Cheers, Rob

Hi John, Thanks for this. BTW, Donald Trump has created a kind of trade war with Canada, imposing all sorts of tariffs, saying NAFTA is not fair to the US! But that's a huge side topic. I'm in a similar situation to you, but maybe on a smaller scale. About 19 years ago, I inherited a large HO & 00 collection of model trains from my Dad, which is partly what got me back in model railways. Since then, I've bought several of my own locos, so I have 35-40 -- a mixture of old Dublo, Triang, and now modern Hornby & Bachmann -- and I can't afford to convert all of these to DCC or add sound, etc. That's the main reason why I've held off on the DCC side -- plus, as you say, DC works quite well. However, I would really like to add 1-2 sound-equipped locos to my switching layout and am willing to tinker with sound and/or DCC on a limited or gradual basic. Thanks, Rob

Thanks, John. This is helpful -- the Gaugemaster Tech6 sounds really good, especially if it can operate in both modes. I'm in Canada but I have ordered from Hattons, etc., in the past. Alternatively, I could try to source one of these here as well. This would be great to improve smooth running. I'm on a bit of a budget right now, so I'm hoping to add all of these improvements gradually. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I currently have a small 1x4' switching layout in 00 (it's actually slightly smaller than 1x4!). I'm not too fussed about DCC but really love the sound. Thanks for this feedback -- I'll continue to look into this over the next few weeks/months.

I posted a question on here recently (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/135930-dccsound-on-a-small-00-layout/) about purchasing and adding DCC sound-equipped locos and then running them on my DC layout. I just realized that I probably could add sound decoders to some of my locos that I've purchased fairly recently. For example, I have a Hornby Black Five and a Bachmann Pannier Tank, both purchased new within the past 5 years. How difficult or expensive would it be to add sound decoders to either one of these locos, and then run them on my DC shunting layout, etc.? I'm pretty sure this is possible and not that hard, but I've never really paid attention to this as I haven't really considered it until now. Thanks in advance, Rob

Thanks! -- but do they sell 00 British outline locos? Rob

Thanks. These are all helpful points. So, if I were to buy a sound equipped loco from a retailer (i.e. Hattons), maybe someone there could enable the CV for me before shipping (as I live in Canada).

Thanks, John! So it is possible to run a DC sound-equipped loco on a DC layout, although you'd get limited sound? Cheers, Rob

I used to be totally into 00, but now have a small 1x6' 00 switching layout as well as a 2.5x6' N scale layout. I'm thinking of, over time, converting the 00 one to DCC with sound. Actually, I'm not that interested in DCC -- it's really sound-chipped locos that appeal to me. I'm thinking that the 00 switching layout would be the easiest and best to convert. BTW, its track is laid but the scenery has not been finished (whereas the N scale layout is practically done). I realize that you cannot run sound-equipped locos on a DC layout, so I need to consider DCC. It would be great to run (say) Bachmann's sound-equipped 3F tank engine on this layout. This could be expensive but I could budget for this over time. I have 6-7 small Hornby and Bachmann locos that I run on this 00 layout. I think you can still run one additional loco in DC mode, once DCC is set up? Just exploring early ideas and suggestions. Rob

Your layout doesn't sound like it is very amenable to sequence of timetable operation. You really need either a pair of stations on the same line or a station and fiddle yard. The Fiddle yard is the rest of the railway system. With an oval of track one part a Fiddle yard, and another part a station with a loop you can Run an up Passenger train, Run an up Goods Train, run a down Passenger, run a down Goods have down Passenger cross an UP goods and vice versa. Have a Down goods run through and reverse into the loop to let a Down Passenger overtake and vice versa. Have a Passenger train terminate, the loco run round and depart the opposite direction, you could have a pick up goods set back into the loop to let a through goods overtake, plenty of variety. Few things look dafter than an express sidetracked to let a pick up goods or local overtake and yet every now and again pictures of exactly that pop up in Railway Wobbler Thanks, David. I'm going to study your suggestions above and see if I can get something like this to work. I try to run a schedule of sorts, but it's often made up as I go! I forgot to mention that I do have two stations --- a main station and a smaller one (practically a halt). One of my long passing sidings and another long siding might substitute as a fiddle yard of sorts. Cheers, Rob

Can anyone suggest any railway operation/sequence timetables? I've heard these referred to in the various magazines I've read. I've tried using a fast clock in the past, which worked fairly well. I used that to try to operate my layout to a real-life timetable. However, I just thought I'd ask this question here to see if there are any websites or online info that folks recommend. I'm thinking of using this for my 6' long by 2.5' wide N-scale layout. It's a fairly basic layout that has two loops, both with sidings. The inner loop has a small passing siding while the large loop has a much longer passing siding. I don't have a fiddle yard. (Apologies if I've posted this in the wrong area -- please feel free to move if necessary.) Thanks in advance, Rob

Yes, totally agree. Fortunately, I live in Toronto, so I know of 3 steam locos that are in regular operation within 1-2 hours drive. The Waterloo Central might have an 0-4-0 tank engine in service in the next year or so as well.

Sometimes things have a way of working out perfectly. Last weekend, my family and I were visiting friends in Waterloo, Ont. (Canada), and I knew that the main steam engine from the Waterloo Central Railway was running that day. Well, at the last minute, my son & I had a chance to sneak out to try to catch it. I thought we'd simply see it waiting at its engine shed but to my surprise, we saw it almost immediately. We had just left in the car and about 3 minutes later we spotted it traveling to the south. When it stopped at one of its "stations," we were able to view it again and watch it steam off to the south. Here's a photo ... trying to post a video but it seems too large. Again, this was a mere 2-3 miles from where we were staying and our timing was perfect. This is a 'big deal' for steam fans as there are only 3-4 steam locos in operation in Ontario, and often run only during special events. Rob