The Black Hat

Hello all, I am after some advice for the signalling on my layout. Having been looking at the possible track layout for the town scene that I am building the spur for a branch line is further away that originally envisaged. To get to it will involve bi-directional working on the up line from the junction north of the station to the branch. The down line after the after the junction has no branch access so can have a signal protecting the junction for shunting moves. My question is - is there a limit on the minimum distance that a block section would be? Would they be needing to be long enough to take a train length ie freight - or could you have one smaller and then have it so that longer trains can not enter this section if they are to be stopped and then foul the preceding point and so occupy two sections. Also, would you have to have a signal at each end of the block as I am thinking you would - I am certain of this. So in that case you would have a signal prior to the branch and a one before the north junction on the up line if it were possible to insert a small block section. If not then the signals would be prior to the branch on the mainline and the whole area would be one block section. My period of operating is relatively recent, say about the last 15 years. Thanks in advance for any forthcoming advice.

New Jubilee with Galatea in Maroon as collectors club?

Ying, ying, ying, ying...

Quite a few I would think: Just from my area of interest - your missing J21, J25, B16 (all variants), Q7, A8, BR Standard 3... Thats just steam too. But as steam now is being redone with DCC sound option and some lights as standard to design older options not done for ages are due a retool not due to the body but due to electrics. That brings things like the A4, 8F back into scope front and centre, so much so that I am worries that something like the J21 with its gorgeous profile would miss out following the success of the Southern C-class that was done. Then you can add in others that fit between the options and a lot of choices become available - HST, Voyagers and Meridians, Turbostar, class 110 DMU, 141 thats never been done... The issue is that oddities and novelties sell and help someone add to collections. The extra engine for the added interest of this was also seen here or could visit. But in all this a lot of oddities are aimed at Southern region and it wont be long before we are back to a pre-covid level of some choices being discounted and on bargain levels as people get some but not others, as the market I think here is saturated. Something like a J21 or B16 will be a sure winner if an Adams radial can be a viable option - hence I've lobbied for a while on this point and no doubt some detractors on this will return. So - yes there are plenty that could be done - some definite mainstream options that could be repeat cashflow winners but all this does in terms of Hornby is show the deft hand of a management that has not kept up with choices in the market and churns out things that have been a strategy for far too long. With changes apparently happening there maybe future choices might not be so strange afterall...

If only that were true....

Dont show this to Hosking at Crewe or they will building one!

Got to love how someone located in the Western region is complaining about polished brass/copper...

Think so. Me and you had a discussion on the shared appreciation of 66044...

The plan for my layout, Briganton (see the Layout Topics area) is for it to encompass a lot of the various parts here. There is a depot / stabling point that can have diesels parked up for charter work or the nearby Loading area. This Loading area is also there for prototypical operation such as the ones that Mick has done on his steel layout before Deadman's lane. The station itself has branch and mainline running through, but also has an operation built in for engine changes for charters and that's before things like test trains, saloons, engineering and freight all want to pass through. Hopefully it should have a nice mix between good operation with lots of interest, at least... that's the plan...

Id be looking at following in both of your footsteps with this idea. Doing a 3-car 144 looks great but is also challenging. I like the fact that there is a guide, but some more details on how could be really useful - as in where cuts were made and how you get the electrics right. At the moment the livery for my choice of 3-car has not been done as either it would be Realtrack for Northern and so very expensive and hard wiring not not yet done by EFE and so possible to adapt. Still, it could be an option to do sometime so I would be interested to know more.

Hi all, A few more of the town scene board being done. Another view of the end of the layout. With some parts being done here there are the beginnings of more classic view points that the layout can become well known for. The shot from the right of the bridge with trains coming towards it does give a town feel and I hope would look better with more townscape behind it. One area that has been managed is the area of woodland thats next to the track. Here there are a few trees in an area of land away from the main road into town. However, to give a classic look and one that can be much fun for kids - old and young alike - the trees have been planted so that you get a clear view down through the station, past the junction and then onto the curves at the other end. This will give those watching the layout a full view from end to end and be able to track the progress of any train passing through the station on the front. More to follow soon.

As work continues on the town scene board some photos over how the work is progressing. Ballasting work has been done to the track area. The trunking is in for this to go down alongside the track work but the dummy point motors for scenery need to be redone as stock was catching on them. Some planting of trees has been started as well with the grass having had the scatter mix with pva down first and then allowing the static grass to take hold. Buildings placed in town will see some older ones amongst modern. Here the McDonalds drive through is in place with the lining down for the car park area. Lampposts have been sighted and wired in so that they can light up, as to the buildings. The hotel to the side, has been taken apart because of light bleed through the plastic but the card inserts for windows not allowing much out. This view here from slightly lower gives a view of the station approach and pointwork. I am thinking that a clear plastic screen might be needed to go on the side of the board to protect stock that's passing close to where the public would be. More on this area soon and the station building thats had some work done.

Is the join in the boiler supposed to be as pronounced as that?

Do the class 60s that seemed to last forever in some liveries: 60014 Alexander Flemming had Petroleum for ages 60060 James Watt had Trainload Coal 60056 William Beveridge was transrail Pick a decent EWS class 60 too. 60071 Ribblehead Viaduct? I am not sure about GWR or Teenage Cancer as do wonder how many would convert across as prices rise...

GBRf trainload ones will be hot cakes....

Yeah its kinda covered, but the first run has now been done and more are being asked for. There are a few plain engine liveries that would sell well for this new version of the class 66... EWS, Freightliner 66/6, GBRf blue and yellow instead of corporate orange (as seen on 66740), GBRf grey 66748, Colas... A few older ones - Fastline, Advensa?

66044 in EWS...

As the station gets more work done on it, parts of what were ideas have finally come to fruition. Cameras have been installed into the station buildings so that those watching can see the full station interior on a screen mounted onto the backboard, while also a screen will allow the operator to run the layout and know where to stop. Some of the test shots here showing the view from the laptop give an idea of where the cameras would be looking towards. Here the view is down into the station for platform 5 and 6 but able to see over to trains arriving for platform 4. This next view has part of the wall into shot. Its looking down platforms 1 and 2, with monitors getting in the way / or adding to realism. Again this can be used so that trains can arrive and be stopped easily. This next view is saved as wonky, showing the third camera looking out over the front of the 'north' end of the station. The camera needs to be straightened up and right now the class 66 is blocking the view. Once clear you can see across the station and this is the view that is needed. Here the steam engine should be stopped with the end of the tender over the magnets under the track so that the kaydee couplings, once fitted can move and allow the stock to be detached. This camera view, past the obvious column should be really useful for operators working the layout, even if to the public it might not have the complete visual vista of the station. More updates on the town scene soon.

That has the potential to open a can of worms and drift this away from what Accurascale should do next into a mass whinge session over previous releases. I think the diesel and electric part of the hobby is at a counterpoint in development, such as the same is for Steam. To get this right I'm calling it DCC: The Next Generation. The first generation of DCC models have all had DCC control for movement, with some basic lights - such as headcodes or front lights (Bachmann 25 or 37/4 for an example). Next comes more lights and switches underneath to help control functions and some include sound. This still limits the ability for realistic operation, with some functions not able to be controlled - the obvious one being red lights at either end when parked up. (For steam it is control of the engine and then slowly adding sound) Now extra functions will be that you can control everything. Lights, sound, control. It gives full and detailed operation. Add that a retool to the body can improve models somewhat and give options that have previously not been done before, such as 37/6 or DRS 37/4 with LEDS. Some previous models were ok when it comes to the body and profile. Often in comparison these will still stand the test of looking the part in when alongside other newer models, essentially as the tech used to make these was already pretty good. Now its electronics and kit inside that lifts the newer models into the next chapter and the next league in standards. But as the price point bites for all these lovely new models, some will be resold on or others, like me, will keep what they have as the models right now are good at doing the role needed to come on in amongst all the other stuff moving. So, it then becomes what current models are good enough to hold their own and in this Accurascale have been very adept in seeing what the popular choices are and then aiming for them. This blows a hole into the range of Bachmann and Hornby as models are picked for Accurascale's range, but carves our the latter a gorgeous and large market share that has come from no where and here to stay. So while pretty much all the popular choice diesels have been picked for retooling and upgrade by someone, don't expect some of the generation that went before not to still be in demand by many (for that see Hornby 31 / 56 / 60, Bachmann 37 / 47 / 57). Its also why I think head and shoulders above all else stands the need and option for a full blown new standard DCC HST.

Depending on your take on things the next one for Accurascale should be: HST. Including stock. While people are after engines and locos... the ones that are needed are units. Voyagers, Meridians, Turbostar...

The Bishop Auckland liveried 156 would my personal choice....

More work has been going on during the recent weeks on the first town board of the three that will make up the far side of the layout. There have been several tests done on the layout of the pointwork so that both the bridge under the railway can be included as well as the access to all lines and routes into the station from all lines arriving. This will be 2 main and 1 branch at this end (I am still musing over a headshunt off the branch!) As part of the main trackwork is done over the layout - the scenic work starts on part of the townscape. In order to build in the electrics under the layout, the floor for the streets are raised slightly off the baseboard and then have the wires in between. This allows the streets to be built and have the wiring protected. Part of the build also needs for the street next to the station for the entrance on the far side to then drop down to street level. The problem here was it not to take up much space and be able to be built in a way that could be taken apart and put back in as wiring and parts were done. Eventually this has been completed, but pretty much not exactly finesse in terms of boards and woodwork. Still there is a frame so that the wiring is protected, but once some parts such as pollyfiller goes down I cant now see the boards coming back up easily despiting trying to design them as such. Still... hopefully its never needed anyway... Finally, for this update a photo of the bridge under the layout under construction. Half the problem with the townscene has been that to build the roads and scenery it needs to be done so that wiring and things are placed and done, but sometimes this means some scenery is started, such as roads. Here under the bridge the trackwork above could be lifted out, while some extra features, such as lighting were added. Also, this part of the road, descends to full baseboard depth so that double decker buses can pass underneath. More on this as it comes along. Hope its of interest.

Really pleased that you like the station and think that its similar to the prototype. Its great to hear that you think I have captured the spirit and feel of the place. Darlington has always been somewhere that's mattered to me as I've changed here and started many journeys or seen the branch line units serving mainline connections. I'd like to think that Briganton will capture a lot of this activity - although with it being an exhibition layout you can bet there will be several charters and test trains passing through on the same day, not long after each other as well...

Northern Spirit, unbranded, with small northern logos for the next franchise would be a very specific, but good choice.

Regional Railways Express Northern Spirit or.. Northern Rail lilac 156451... http://members.madasafish.com/~dysgraphyk/156/class156_liv-nt.htm