Suzie

Pretty much any accessory decoder with steady state output that can be track powered will do the job. You can even make your own DIY one if you are keen since you only need a single output:- http://dccdiy.org.uk/index.html 50mA is not much current so should be OK track powered. As said above just make sure that you are not using a low track voltage.

Yes, the cathode (stripe end) of the 1N4148 diodes goes to the positive side of the coil, and the other end to the negative side.

NCE automatically assigns consist addresses (always short addresses) starting from 127 downwards, so perhaps you have a lot of consists? Are you programming your locos as long addresses or short addresses?

Short address (set in CV3) should be 114, long address (set in CV17 and CV18) should be 0114. Make sure that CV29 in the decoder is set appropriately for long or short address.

Use a leading zero for a long address, and don't for a short address. You can have either for addresses 100-127 (short) and 0100-0127 (long)

It would be helpful if these devices (or at least the BS1362 to C8 adaptor part) were fitted with appropriate fuses. Relying on the 30A fuse/32A circuit breaker in the fuse box is less than ideal.

It is quite likely that the back EMF is killing the diodes. Just put a diode across each of the motor coils to shunt the back EMF and stop it building up high voltages greater than the 50V that your diodes are probably rated at. If replacing the matrix diodes use 1N5401, and for back EMF protection diodes us 1N4148 or whatever you have to hand.

There is quite a lot of freight that could go that way to relieve capacity elsewhere if it was part of a greater system of improvements. Unlikely to be much need for passenger traffic - that would be a by-product.

Nice to see one with a 'ski' on it. Only seen these on 33KV pylons. Some have one, some have two, and some have none and all appear to be just made up of what is lying around.

AC only unfortunately. The sooner they get the knitting to Waterloo the better by the sound of things.

Move away from 3+2 seating? That is just a dream in some places all the while it is a cheap way to provide extra seats without giving passengers anywhere to actually sit!

4-4-2 ?

They would add a bit of much needed height to a Norfolk layout!

It is very quiet this year - is everyone sworn to strict secrecy?

26510 was a Bo-Bo centre cab loco in use as a shunter at Ilford in 1500V DC days, so not an unthinkable idea. https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/BRITISH-DIESEL-AND-ELECTRIC/PRE-BR/i-j46fS4w/A No 25KV replacement unfortunately in 1959 - probably got used to using an 08 shunter so did not worry too much. No suitable single cab 25KV locos around in the UK to do the job - would have to import from France... ... but Deltic levels of horsepower probably a bit big for use as a shunter. Could Alsthom have made something smaller?

I think you might be able to fabricate one based on a PLCC-4 surface mount LED which are available in red/yellow/true green form if you are lucky. Just wire it up, encase it in a square of Modroc, spray it black and scratch off the individual dots. ... now the pigs ears will be very tricky and might have to be imagined.

I see that "Essex Express" is in the news today:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48292946 Is the train famous enough now for Hornby to model it?

Ilford used one of the Bo-Bos as a shunter, so perhaps a small shunter would not be needed.

Triang steeple cabs?

It depends on how bright you want them. I would normally use 680R for the red and 1K for the two whites in series as a starting point. If your decoder has brightness adjustment use that to dim them down a bit if required. Your diagram will not work because of how the LEDs are wired. Just connect the common anode pin to the blue wire and the resistors to the other legs. Connect the extra white LED in series with the white resistor.

The chances of the two whites having the same forward voltage are slim so you should put them in series. How are your bi-colour LEDs wired? they normally only have two pins.

Lubrication of the solenoids might help. Likely to be a connection somewhere that is a bit dodgy.

The top row of text originally would have read CD4001BE before it wore off. The bottom row is just manufacturer specific and of no relevance to identify the part.

The Roco ribbon cable is 0.7mm^2 (0.9mm diameter), so I am sure that you can find suitable wire of that size. Not sure where you can get ribbon that size though. Rapid have this solid conductor wire which should work:- https://www.rapidonline.com/catalogue/search?Tier=Cable %26 Wire&Attributes={"conductorcrosssection":["0_71mmamp"]} Only black and white unfortunately. With stranded you might need a slightly smaller cross sectional area to get the same diameter.

If you don't need a full Amp of current, Farnell have the BGX50 which will provide 140mA:- https://uk.farnell.com/infineon/bgx50ae6327htsa1/bridge-rect-single-0-14a-50v-sot/dp/2432683?st=BGX50AE6327HTSA1 And Mouser have the 500mA RMB2S from Vishay (not sure that all RMB2S are fast, so check manufacturer data if ordering from elsewhere):- https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Vishay-Semiconductors/RMB2S-E3-45?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtQ8nqTKtFS%2FMRt2%2F0z7BctqcWJPzcVoHk%3D