Suzie

4' high for the infirm, 4' 1.5" (49.5") is not a lot more for the slightly more infirm, and 51" + or - half an inch has a nice ring to it...

Less than 5p each from Screwfix, a lot cheaper than the 'T' nuts if you want to make a dozen modules. Longer ones available too. They call them "M6 Insert nuts type 'D'." and appear to have a hexagonal drive which might make them easier to screw into the end of a bit of DIY store 2" x 2" knotty pine. Can't find the M6 feet in Screwfix though.

The use of either phono plugs or 3.5mm jack plugs should be avoided for various reasons:- 1. They are normally used as low level signal connectors and therefore not intended for high current use. DCC on a modular set up will typically be using 5A boosters. 2. Being very cheap consumer grade products most are of variable quality and likely to fail (especially jacks - most are a weak riveted construction). 3. Any pre-made leads will have inadequate wire size. 4. Jack plugs short when being plugged in. 5. Jack plugs come in 2-pole and 3-pole versions that are not particularly compatible with one another. 6. Jack plugs tend to not be capable of taking sensible sized wires. 7. Jack plugs are not reversible so crossover cables would have to be used between modules which are not always easy to wire. To that end 4mm banana plugs will be much more sensible and both already popular and readily available. They are a similar size to 3.5mm jack plugs and smaller than phonos but designed for the job of high current interconnection. I would favour the use of Speakon connectors as being inexpensive, robust, having big screw terminals and positive latching but I suspect there will be some resistance to the use of a connector that is unfamiliar to most even though it will make connecting up on the day a foolproof doddle. If bananas are used the colours should be the same for the two wires of each bus. It will be confusing to plug red to black in some cases and red to red in others, just make the track bus all red. Through wiring of a separate accessory bus using a different colour will be a good idea as a recommended practice since many people will have DCC accessories. Wire size through a module for the bus needs to be a sensible size and 0.25mm2 is totally inadequate. 2.5mm2 will be more suitable and is readily available. The DCC track signal may need to go a considerable distance from the booster to the loco and anything that creates either voltage drop or increases the impedance of the track supply must be avoided. This is a UK module spec and it must be appreciated that some people are likely to be using decoders from the likes of ESU, Bachman and Hornby that do not like voltage spikes - big voltage spikes are likely at the end of a long run of thin cable if a short circuit occurs. 0.25mm2 cable will have a resistance of about 4 Ohms to a module only 30' from the booster, far too much resistance such that if a short occurs the booster will not even see a 5A load! Live frog points must be specified if Peco track is to be used. There is no difference in the wiring so no reason not to use live frog points, but plenty of reasons not to use dead frogs (especially Peco 'Insulfrog'). Again this is a UK module spec so the foibles of the poor pickup quality of many UK locos needs to be considered unless a ban on non-bogie and asymmetric pickup tender drive locos is to prevail. It has to be remembered that when building a module it has to work for everyone, not just a limited range of stock on a small layout. Minimum radius must be specified. I suspect that the forthcoming APT-E will be the most challenging piece of stock to accommodate. 50mm track spacing at module ends has been specified but minimum radius and track spacing on curves needs to be specified too. It will be sensible to specify a large radius to start with as it can always be relaxed later if no one builds any modules with curves or points. If we are talking Peco track the curve of a large radius point might make a sensible starting point so that anyone providing stock will know where they stand.

It would make sense to have a 6 foot that matches the spacing between a pair of Peco streamline points with insulated joiners since that is what most people will be using to make connections between double track.

If you want to use existing standards, that is excellent - I don't subscribe to 'you can never have too many standards' but... ... We are now in the 21st century and technology has moved on since the last lot of standards were created - so if a new set of standards is being proposed make use of current technology and specify tighter standards that are now easily adhered to. Baseboard ends can be precision cut and copperclad end sleepers can be precision routed to make easy precise alignment with bolts possible, allow an extra set of oversize holes in a defined place for if adjustment against another module is required. It should not be hard to position holes for half a dozen 4mm banana sockets so that 4mm pins can be inserted when joining modules to completely eliminate any need to hook up loose cables to the next module. I am sure that someone will step up to the tape and make a module end kit - perhaps a magazine can offer a kit (hint hint...) of a pair of ends with bolt on adjustable legs. Getting a couple of hundred kits out into the wild should produce a pool of usable modules such that there will be a few outings possible for peoples modules. Wireless operation is becoming very popular and easily done so no point in specifying a cab bus that is going to see little use for a lot of installation effort but through wiring of both track bus, accessory bus and feedback bus will be useful and are easily done. Specifying that each module should have its own local circuit breaker on the track bus is not unreasonable given the amount of layout that could be shut down if a short occurs, and that is more likely to be a problem on a busy double track setup than on a sprawling single track foreign prototype.

If you are going to clamp you need to define the clamping areas, there is no point in colouring the track bus sockets if the modules are reversable - left goes to left and right to right regardless of the colour (having to connect red to black on a reversed module will confuse people!). If modules only have local control then the module will need someone to man the 'box - having DCC control allows control from the regional signal centre (easy with JMRI nowadays) and perfectly prototypical, and if colour light signalling is used there might be something happening three modules away that will affect the local aspects. A separate accessory bus makes life easier, and specifying track circuit detectors would be a good idea too. The minimum radius does need to be defined - and the nature of modular setups is that they are big so there is no need to compromise - be brave and specify 60" or whatever a long radius Peco code 70 point is and run those close-coupled trains. Different running sessions can run different stock so coupling standards are not mega important unless there is a lot of wagon load freight to be dealt with. It is going to be hard to make modules that are both DC and DCC friendly - not many DC users are going to be convinced that wiring their track bus through the module with 2.5mm2 cable and adding the accessory bus and feedback bus is essential for when it pops up in a DCC set-up. Someone will have to set the standards, and if people want to join in they can and if they don't like it they can stay at home. I think there is no doubt that a UK setup will be quite a bit different to a US one and probably a lot busier with double track main line, single track branch line, junction stations, terminal stations and branch stations with passenger timetables (and cancellations!) rather than lots of industries. It should not be too hard to stock up for depicting the last thirty years in a secondary area, 14x, 15x or 17x DMUs and the odd block freight with a 59/60/66/70 (or perhaps something older) on it and that could be almost any part of the country - the stock only gets seriously regional as you go back in time.

I see, it is a very long loop! The turnout should be way of scene. I just found this picture of Santa Barbara East which might be relevant, looks to have been taken when searchlights were being replaced with 'Darth Vader' types. If the loops were just used for right hand running originally I guess there was no signal on the left track, but the left track now has the twin head. Google maps satellite view appears to show a twin head for the right track now with a smaller head at the top, so probably can only show red over aspects.

You will have to install some signals. The viewing public will be so much more patient seeing that the train is held at a red and not going anywhere, or see that the route is set for a train about to appear on scene. Not easy to get signals in 'N' though...

Just as long as the DC version comes with a Plu-x decoder socket. The sound version would have been cheaper with a Zimo decoder.

There is the potential to corrupt the DCC waveform by attaching a poorly designed piece of equipment to the track feed, but that could be anything and is most likely to be a rake of lit coaches. There is nothing to worry about if you are just adding good quality accessories. If you start running low on power you can easily add a booster, but you are likely to be having a pretty busy layout before that happens. I suspect that what you were told does not come from experience. Attaching accessories has to be given proper consideration as to how it is done to get the most from your system, but there is no reason not to do it. Good quality accessories will have flexible wiring arrangements to suit your situation.

Time to legislate for safer bicycles with wide tyres. It is not like trams are going away - they are popping up all over the place!

A picture of the prototype on this page:- http://www.rail-news.com/2009/11/26/tilting-wagon-delivers-milestone/

Have you got enough power for it? Servos can draw quite a high current and if you have more than one servo you will probably need a 2A supply at least to be on the safe side.

While EMU sets are likely to be seen coupled together in different liveries (tripple unit Blue/Grey - Jaffa cake - NSE class 309 pictures exist for example) I cannot recall ever seeing a mixed set. Mixed DMUs still exist in recent times. 2-car 'Anglia' 170 with a 'One' liveried centre car added is a nice prototype one to model since there is no ready to run 'Anglia' liveried centre car.

The round bridge rectifier shown in that picture is unlikely to be suitable for DCC. It will most likely get hot and if you have more than a few coaches it will overload your command station resulting in difficulty powering up your command station and giving unreliable running with some decoders. You must use four fast diodes for DCC like UF4001 or similar. They are not expensive - probably cheaper than the bridge rectifier shown.

Market Roundham is my favourite round layout. Anything Woodhead is good of course, but being on a constant curve really hides the curvature well.

Not much chance of these becoming available ready to run so good to have a go. You have just made it from standard parts just like the prototypes I guess. A true model! JMRI will drive it fine, but probably not much point if you only have one, but activating the call-on light might be fun.

Here's my test panel I used in JMRI to check that it worked as per the information I could find. If you want to run it you can download the daily developer build of JMRI (if you cannot wait for a proper release and you have somewhere to test it). Panel file here :-LMS New Lines.xml Just load the panel in PanelPro, then go in to Tools/Tables/Sensors from the main PanelPro window and activate the sensors from IS9 to IS1 to simulate a train running through. Follow another train behind and you will see the 1-minute delay before the calling on light comes on when the following train comes up to a stop aspect. The repeater signals only have a stop and proceed aspect so no need for call on. I have added a 4-aspect signal using a Mirfield mast. You can mix and match at will because although the New Lines and Mirfield systems were separated by a good few miles they are basically the same system at heart and fully compatible. I have seen mention that 4-aspect signals existed on the new lines but not what type they were (stop or repeater) or where they were located. I can add a 4-aspect repeater mast if required. I think it is fair game to use the signals anywhere on the former LMS in a location that might have been signalled in 1932 (it is a narrow window - 1933 is too late, the ministry of transport had already put their foot down!). The Great Western used searchlights too as did the LNER so there is always a good reason to have searchlights if you are North of the river. There is some signal wiring and configuration information for DCC on the Signalist website.

Camden to Watford DC lines and Bow to Upminster LTS (the bit that is now District line before it was LT). It works really well in JMRI and you can get the yellow call-on light working nicely if you have overlap track circuit sections after the stop signals and set a delay to set the call on.

I have submitted the signal system to JMRI and it should be in the next test release. Web page for it is here:- http://jmri.org/xml/signals/LMS-1932/index.shtml

Gaugemaster have them listed with part numbers.

Servos shouldn't twitch. If you have twitchy servos then it would be cheaper and a lot less messing about to buy new servos that don't twitch. The TowerPro ones I have don't twitch and you don't get much cheaper than those. A mechanical solution like those shown in the video (and which Rovex used on the Triang System 2 points!) has the other benefit which is not to be sniffed at of moving the spring force holding the switch rail against the stock rail away from the servo which is a good thing. I guess that some controllers might be a bit twitchy, but the only one I have seen twitching is the ESU Switchpilot Servo and only then when it was first powered up, the whole layout was twitching a miniscule amount until the first point was moved when they all suddenly stopped, but the twitching was not enough to see the servos moving, you can just hear them.

Is anyone modelling (or wants to model) the LMS 1932 signalling? I have been having a play at building an LMS signal system for JMRI but because it became obsolete by 1933 by which time all new installations were of the type of system we are all more familiar with there is not much information around. I am sure it must be of interest to someone since it was still in use on the DC lines until the 1980s and it would be handy if someone was able to verify that it is a reasonable approximation to the prototype before I submit it to be included in JMRI. As well as the New Lines signals I have included the Mirfield system as well to make it complete. Anyone going 'off piste' should be able to mix and match parts of the different systems to fill in any holes where there were no prototype examples used. For example the 5-aspect Mirfield stop signals can be used to provide 4-aspect new lines stop signals if required. JMRI has a few limitations in that it does not automatically handle splitting signals very well and I have not worked out how to include the overlap after a stop signal automatically but I guess if anyone is keen enough they can add an extra sensor with a bit of logic to generate the held state, and the automatic wait for one minute operation of the call-on yellow light too - the average viewer is not likely to notice if these bits are not quite as the prototype unless something goes wrong and trains get bunched up a bit. I have not bothered posting it up yet in case no one is interested, but let me know if you are. it will be handy to get some feedback.

There appear to be two types of Ratio semaphores available - I have seen both types for sale recently. The older ones - an example of which I made several years ago - were a complete disaster, but a new one I bought recently (No 469) is completely re-engineered with metal cranks and bearings and with pre-painted arms with working spectacle plates too. It looks like it might actually work when I get time to put it together, I am just planning on how to fit the working lamps before I start.

That reminds me of my surprise at someone not getting lynched as he calmly walked up to a very nice 3rd rail 7mm layout with ground signals and rested his elbow on the track. The layout noticeably rocked as he placed all his weight on it. I was quite speechless. I was even more shocked when he moved along the layout and promptly rested his elbow on a nice grassy hillock. Quite extraordinary.